would this product key work if I reinstall windows like this...help!

Hi everybody,

first of all I'm sorry if this kinda problem have been answered before, I had to post because I did search with lots of keywords but didn't find a satisfying answer. so here I go,:)

I came to this situation because of my GF cuz 3 days ago she had to re-install windows due to deleted appdata folder( she had deleted it purposely without knowing what is it for , but sad the damage was a high cost)

okay now, she had took it where she had bought her notebook(hp dv7) and she said that they have re-installed windows and MS Office 2010 and charged her like 180$( right now she lives in china and cost was 800yuans and its approximately like 180$).
and they have not given her a installation dvd or office dvd. this thing had happened twice now and now I have made a image so worries but Im concerned about if some scenario occurs that may have to re-install windows then saving this 180$.

here's what I want to know,

1) I dont yet have the windows serial key but soon I will have it. then how to check whether that it is a genuine one or not?
(I use windows ultimate x64 and I have extracted my win key with Magic Jelly Bean KeyFinder and it works well. It gave me my product key which came with my dvd, so Im gonna use it here to find the key)

2) She uses windows home premium x64. so, since we dont have a dvd, can I download a copy of windows home premium from microsoft or from somewhere else and can I aactivate it with this key?
( since we're installing it on same notebook, that wouldn't be illegal right?)

3) and the same question about MS Office too. would this current key will re-activate office after installation of a new copy of office downloaded via microsoft?

Thank you guys.
:)

NoelDP said:

To properly analyse and solve problems with Activation and Validation, we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool
(download and save to desktop - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 )
Once saved, run the tool.
Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
To copy the report to your response, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.
- **in your own thread**, please
Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine (or inside the battery compartment), but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
How to Tell

Follow those steps and paste the report, so the geeks can take a look and see if your installation is legit. If it is, then your key will be usefull for any reinstall you perform in the future.

NoelDP said:

She MUST use the WIndows Key that is on the sticker on HER PC.
NO Key found on your machine will work for hers - and may invalidate its use on your machine if she does manage to get it to work on hers.

Get her to post an MGADiag report here.....

thanks for quick reply.
Okay, as soon as I get it, Will post here.

and Noel, I didn't mean to use my key on her notebook. I know about the consequences if I do so.just posted that in order to provide you with details of how I gonna recover the product key.

and as far as I know, she doesn't have a sticker on notebook. the shop she bought it had installed original win 7 home premium( as she said, and then never had problem with updates and it was a activated, so Im pretty much sure its a original copy but don't know whether its a OEM version) but they haven't provided a dvd.

so guys, dont misunderstand me here, Im asking that If I had to re-install windows, can I use a different home premium dvd for the installation and use her own product key (which she's using right now) to activate it?

thanks again.

NoelDP said:

1) take your pick - Microsoft - OEM and Retail are identical (if it doesn't take the OEM Key, skip entering any key at all, and you can change it later before activation)

2) same site :)

thank you very much, but here I couldn't get that " and you can change it later before activation" phrase meaning. did you meant that skip entering any key on retail version while installation and later activate it by the OEM key?