Windows 7: How can I reuse my Windows 7 Home Premium product key?

I just did a system restore on my Asus netbook since it was going crazy. So, I tried installing the Windows 7 Home Premium that I bought when I got the computer but it isn't working. Any suggestions?

Hello and welcome to the forums crosbykristen!

What do you mean by 'it isn't working'?

Are you referring to the key from the COA that is on the bottom of your laptop ?

The laptop's not booting up properly?

Please be more specific with the problem, thanks in advance!

EDIT:- Also if you could fill up your system specs using this tutorial please.

System Info - See Your System Specs

What have you actually done , a system restore or a fresh install ? Not very clear to me from your post .

Usually for a clean install, you put the license during installation, and check the box "activate automatically when online" . If it fails, try Activate Windows 7 by Phone

I did a system restore. I got my netbook back to factory settings. When the Windows Anytime Update comes up, I put in the product key from the one I bought and it is saying that the product key has already been used but it is on the same computer.

In that case, do what Arc recommended above and Activate Windows by Phone...

Activate Windows 7 by Phone

Ring MS , there is a free phone number.

You are trying to upgrade your starter to home premium ?

You try the Activate Windows 7 by Phone method.

Let's have a look at some details....

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.


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quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine (or inside the battery compartment), but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!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

I am assuming that you originally had Win 7 starter and recovered it. Before you use Windows Anytime Upgrade, you need to check whether the windows is activated on previous OS. Anytime Upgrade does not work for a system which is not activated.