Windows 7: Changing product key on cloned installation: activation problem?

Hi,

I had a hard drive fail on a netbook, and I put in a drive from another of the same brand that had died for other reasons. The new drive took like fish to water - no blue screens, etc. And Windows even updated, as did MSE.

But I'd like to make this machine honest by entering the Windows 7 product key that's associated with the motherboard, so the next owner will never have a problem. Will I have a problem doing that? I don't want to lose what I already have.



Thanks.

Hello Paul,

You shouldn't if you use the product key on it's COA sticker. If you do for some reason, a phone activation should sort it.

Product Key Number - Change

Ok, I'm going to tell MS that you said it's ok, Brink..

Thanks.

The odd thing though is that there is no "change produck key" on System. I'll try the slmgr thing.

Worked out fine. Took a while via command line, with no feedback, and the System applet lagged the process and had to be refreshed. But now it's activated again, with a different Product ID, and the Change Product Key command is now there.

Thanks again.

You're most welcome.

Since it was already activated, you should have used OPTION TWO instead.

If you still have the "Change Product Key" link there like under step 3 in OPTION ONE, then it's not activated.

Please post an MGADiag report - then we can see what the status really is.


Please follow this tutorial and post an MGADiag report - then we can see what the problem is.

http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/234159-windows-genuine-activation-issue-posting-instructions.html


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quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine (or inside the battery compartment), but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/Hardware.aspx

Ignore errors produced when clicking on the Copy button - they simply mean that the tool could not create the backup files for some reason. The data is still copied to the clipboard for pasting to your response.