Activation issue after clean install on new hard drive

Yes, the big files will not be bootable - that is normal.

Only the small boot.wim will boot up.

It works like this:

A small wim boots up ( has to be small as it loads into memory )

There is some sort of program in there for reinstalling/repairing.

That program will find the big file on your hard drive and copy it's contents onto the partition you are restoring to.

The big file is really a compressed copy of what was on your hard drive originally ( when it was shipped.)

Sometimes, there is more than one big file - either because they have split them , or because the manufacturer bloatware is in a separate one.

Handy explanation, thanks. Makes a little more sense in my brain now.

Well, well, well... what do we have here?

It suddenly decided to activate?

Or did you try MS one more time.

How did you do this?

If I were you, I would make a backup image of your windpows partition ( and the 100mb partition, if you have one).

Store it somewhere safe.

You could use macrium free version to do that:

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Is there an echo in here?

I'll include the breakdown of what happened to bring me to this beautiful moment:

Tried phoning Samsung about this Recovery thing to see if they could offer me help. They told me that even though they don't provide a disk at the beginning, they don't provide one now either. But they do exist. But they don't have them. Or sell them. But other people do. Like the place I bought the laptop from. But they don't. And I should buy Windows 7 and install it again on new hard drive.

I called PC World (retailer where it came from). They said they don't sell them. And unlikely that anyone does. But they have them only to be used in the first 30 days. So since it's 2 years later, it's a no. They suggested that I contact Microsoft to find out if they can recover what this illegible number was instead of me buying a new one. I don't think I ever used it, cos the laptop was set to go from OEM.

Called Microsoft having gotten the exact date of purchase from my retailer, hoping that they would see on that date that the OEM copy was activated or something.

Microsoft support asked me some questions. Told me to take a photo of the COA. I told her it was worn. She said take a photo anyway. Then she said she'd sent me an email and to reply with the attached photo.

"But it's worn...."

Send it anyway. Which I did.

She called back and gave me a product code to type into the 'Change Product Key' link in System Properties.

Done.

Good work. Persistence often pays off!

That may be only a one-use key so I'd be sure to save enough backup images to have redundant Recovery for the life of the machine:
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
Macrium - Image your system

If you have WD or Seagate HD then there is an excellent free Acronis app.

I coulda lied and said

"Hey I figured it out all by myself, aren't I clever!"

...but considering until a few days ago I didn't even know what an OEM was, I doubt you'd have believed me lol

The blossoming geek within feels like I cheated a bit as I was so determined to nail this through hard work and much headbanging but what I have learned has been well worth it.

MASSIVE thankyou to all who have spent time and patience with me working towards a solution. And like I say, I'm sure there is a solution the hard way and it would have been epic to get there but there's no way I would have gotten to that point without the awesome knowledge available here.

There isn't a smiley for this so, have this instead.

Thankyou.