Windows 7: Can't activate after new motherboard

Help!!!

I have Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.

Recently my PC died, and was diagnosed as needing a new motherboard, which I now have. Windows had to be re-installed, but when I try to enter my product key from the sticker on the DVD case, it comes up "Invalid character" when I try to enter the 4th from last character (which is definitely an "8").

What do I do please?

Hello Smuddell, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It sounds like you may be entering the number incorrectly. Double check that you are only entering the numbers and letters, and not the dashes.

Product Key Number for Windows 7 - Find and See

Hi Brink,

Thankyou for your reply!

I've double and triple checked and I'm definitely entering the same numbers and letters as on my product key sticker! Still get the same "Invalid character" message!

Try using a B rather than an 8 - it usually works

Tried that as well because the character that comes up invalid is 8/B!!

Still doesn't work!

Just tried again and the message is actually "Unacceptable character" - sorry, had remembered it wrong!

Comes up as soon as I try to enter the third from last character, pointing to the 4th from last.

Would it be anything to do with the fact that I have a new motherboard, and this product key was originally registered to the old motherboard?

You need to examine the other characters, there's probably something you missed.

Certainly, if it's an OEM Key, it would be invalid on a new motherboard - but that wouldn't be rejected until activation was attempted.

What character have you just input when you get the error? the valid characters exclude EUIOASLZN and 10 -

Ok, mystery solved, I feel really stupid!!!

Tried again, and the third from last character looked like O or 0 - I tried entering O or 0 earlier in the number with the same error message, so thought obviously they don't allow a O or 0 in the product key, then tried a Q, which has worked!!! In my defence the last few characters of the number have worn off a bit and it was virtually impossible to see the tail of the Q!!! That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!

So problem solved, thanks for the help though!

That's great news. We're happy to hear that you got it sorted.