I am using Windows 7 Home Prem. I wiped the dell 14r hard drive and installed fresh copy of OS from my own disc. The 64bit version of this was successful installed on other computers with the same activation key. The dell 14R is not accepting the activation key. Any ideas? Thanks.
Does dell have some block to installing windows other than the version (with dell addons) that was preinstalled?
is that oem windows or retail version? you mentioned that you use same key on other pcs.
i think you can use one windows license only on one pc, if its oem it is bound to the hardware on which it was activated and you can not transfer it. if its retail you have to use only one active copy if there is hardware change you may need to do phone activation.
Hi John,
Can you please follow the link to run the following tool, then copy and paste the resulting text here so we can help you further?
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012
Regards,
Golden
I do not think so. You should be able to install any retail version with a valid key.
You had installed it on more than one computer and got them activated. From this I presume that you must be having the Family Pack which you can install on three different machines. On this premise I would state as follows.
Sometimes users have difficulty in activating the third copy of the Family Pack.
If you are sure that you have already installed it on only two machines, and activation of third copy fails, then call Microsoft for Manual Phone Activation.
See J W Stuart's post here. Can't get 3rd license of Family Pack Activated - Microsoft Answers
Which Key are you using? the one you found using a tool such as Belarc Advisor, or the one from the COA sticker?
What is the EXACT error message you get when you enter the Key?
What version/edition is the machine licensed for - what version/edition is your disk??
You can opt not to enter a Key at all - the system will assign a Default Key, and that can then be changed during the grace period.
what's oem?/ I have a 64bit and 32bit windows 7 home prem system disc purchased in 2010. It is ONLY installed on this one pc now. I am not purchasing anotehr activation key. I hate seeing ' this copy of windows may not be genuine'. IT IS genuine. I wasted 80 or so dollars and it's not activating on this dell.
What's a contact so I can bicker about this to microsoft b/c it's their fault. they need to fix it. their OS needs to work on this computer (dell inspiron 14R) and it is not activating. I already purchased the os and the key.
Last edited by Brink; 01 Mar 2012 at 15:47. Reason: removed unneeded comments
Hi John,
If you had bothered to answer some of the questions that were asked we would have had you all fixed up by now. Do you want to reconsider the offer of help starting from Post #3?
Regards,
Golden
Be clear on one point.
When you purchased a Retail Windows 7 Premium, you will be given both the 32bit and 64bit version.
You can install either 32 bit or 64 bit on one PC only and activate it.. (If you do not understand, you cannot install 32bit on one PC and 64bit on another PC. The activation on the second PC will fail.)
You have to buy another licence for the second PC.
You asked what is an OEM version of Windows.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer and means that the version of Windows supplied is tied to that one computer only, which is why OEM versions are cheaper than retail versions, which can be transferred to another computer if they are removed from the original machine.
You were also having a rant at Microsoft. This is pointless as support for OEM Windows software is provided by the system manufacturer, not Microsoft.
Microsoft will only offer support for genuine, retail software.
If you want to install Windows on more than one computer at the same time, you need to shell out for a multi-user license or another product key.
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