Only 'Administrator' account will logon, then "Windows Genuine" issues

Pockmeryn · 08 Jun 2014

Code:

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
-----------------------------------------
Windows Validation Data-->

Validation Code: 0x8004FE21
Cached Online Validation Code: N/A, hr = 0x800700b7
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-6FK7P-XQXFQ-J4MP4
Windows Product Key Hash: lNwLB5MBClr7RptLlxdkJ2WJB4I=
Windows Product ID: 00371-168-2952091-85015
Windows Product ID Type: 5
Windows License Type: Retail
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048
ID: {5CA96619-84CB-4C23-9A86-86035076DCD3}(1)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Professional
Architecture: 0x00000000
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.120830-0333
TTS Error: 
Validation Diagnostic: 
Resolution Status: N/A

Vista WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

Windows XP Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
File Exists: No
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Data-->
Office Status: 109 N/A
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3

Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)
Default Browser: D:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed

File Scan Data-->
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\sppobjs.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\sppc.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\sppcext.dll[6.1.7600.16385], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\sppwinob.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\slc.dll[6.1.7600.16385], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\slcext.dll[6.1.7600.16385], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\sppuinotify.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\slui.exe[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\sppcomapi.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\sppcommdlg.dll[6.1.7600.16385], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\drivers\spsys.sys[6.1.7127.0], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\systemcpl.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100
File Mismatch: D:\Windows\system32\user32.dll[6.1.7601.17514], Hr = 0x800b0100

Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{5CA96619-84CB-4C23-9A86-86035076DCD3}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048</OS><Architecture>x32</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-J4MP4</PKey><PID>00371-168-2952091-85015</PID><PIDType>5</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-121885500-2911217401-183177156</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.                </Manufacturer><Model>Precision WorkStation 380    </Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.                </Manufacturer><Version>A07</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="3"/><Date>20060418000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>2D2C3207018400F6</HWID><UserLCID>0809</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>GMT Standard Time(GMT+00:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM/><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>  

Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002

Licensing Data-->
On a computer running Microsoft Windows non-core edition, run 'slui.exe 0x2a 0x800700B7' to display the error text.
Error: 0x800700B7 

Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x8004FE21
HrOnline: N/A
HealthStatus: 0x000000000001EFF0
Event Time Stamp: 10:26:2012 18:14
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppobjs.dll
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppc.dll|sppc.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppcext.dll|sppcext.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppwinob.dll
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\slc.dll|slc.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\slcext.dll|slcext.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppuinotify.dll|sppuinotify.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\slui.exe|slui.exe.mui|COM Registration
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppcomapi.dll|sppcomapi.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppcommdlg.dll|sppcommdlg.dll.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppsvc.exe|sppsvc.exe.mui
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\drivers\spsys.sys


HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: NAAAAAIABAABAAEAAAABAAAAAgABAAEA6GHYXsoG7Dc4Wl7zqnZI5OYlHDtknGw8hLmA1w==

OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A

OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes, but no SLIC table
Windows marker version: N/A
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: N/A
BIOS Information: 
  ACPI Table Name    OEMID Value    OEMTableID Value
  APIC            DELL          WS 380 
  FACP            DELL          WS 380 
  HPET            DELL          WS 380 
  BOOT            DELL          WS 380 
  MCFG            DELL          WS 380 
  SSDT            DELL        st_ex
  ASF!            DELL          WS 380

CBS.log from SFC also available (should already be attached)

Recently repaired filesystem with ChkDsk on both HDDs - PC originally wouldn't boot. Maybe resulting in certain files getting corrupted?

I get the following error for EVERY user EXCEPT the 'Administrator' account I reactivated through safe-mode-with-command-prompt:

The user profile service failed the logon.
User profile cannot be loaded.

I have tried creating new user accounts from this 'Administrator' account and tried to logon to those with exactly the same result.

Windows Genuine keeps popping up nag-boxes, though I am sure this is indeed a genuine installation.
update - It's now prompting me to reinstall windows!

I'm hoping it won't come to that, especially since the original installation media cannot be found.

System:
CPU - Dual-core 3.2GHz
RAM - 4GB
OS - W7 Pro 32bit
HDDs - 2x WD 250GB SATAs

Hoping that I've provided enough information, can anyone help me with these issues?

NoelDP · 08 Jun 2014

A very rare error, this one!

Cached Online Validation Code: N/A, hr = 0x800700b7

Your SFC scan appears to have crashed - or at least any more data after this is missing...

Code:

2014-06-08 01:24:52, Info                  CSI    000001e2 Ignoring duplicate ownership for directory [l:64{32}]"\??\D:\Windows\Branding\Shellbrd" in component Microsoft-Windows-Branding-Shell-Professional, Version = 6.1.7600.16385, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL (0), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral
2014-06-08 01:24:53, Info                  CSI    000001e3 Ignoring duplicate ownership for directory [l:74{37}]"\??\D:\Windows\Branding\Basebrd\en-US" in component Microsoft-Windows-Branding-Base-Professional.Resources, Version = 6.1.7601.17514, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL (0), Culture = [l:10{5}]"en-US", VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral
2014-06-08 01:24:53, Info                  CSI    000001e4 Ignoring duplicate ownership for directory [l:62{31}]"\??\D:\Windows\Branding\Basebrd" in component Microsoft-Windows-Branding-Base-Professional, Version = 6.1.7600.16385, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL (0), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral

This looks very odd to me - and may be the result of major registry corruption.

The errors with your user accounts are probably the result of corruption in the Default User account.
I'm not certain that attempting manual repair is going to achieve much - but let's have a closer look before going to a repair or clean install...

Open Event Viewer
click on the Windows logs entry in the left pane to expand it.
Now click on the Application entry - wait while it loads.
Click on 'File' in the menu bar and select Save...
Save the file as Appevt.evtx
Repeat for the System log
then zip both, and upload them.

Please run the following command from an Elevated Command Prompt window(1)

Copy and paste set of commands below into the window – once completed, hit the Enter Key to ensure that the last command has run (2)

REG QUERY HKU
REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-20
REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-20\Environment
REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-20"
REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList"

Copy the whole output to your response(3)

Here are some instructions to make life easier :)
1) To open an Elevated Command Prompt Window (the ECP window), click on Start, All Programs, Accessories – then right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator. Accept the UAC prompt.
2) To run the commands easier, highlight the block of commands, and right-click on the highlight – select Copy. In the CP Window, click on the black/white icon at top left – select Paste. The commands will run but may not complete the last command, so hit the Enter Key once.
3) To copy the results... click on the Black/White icon in the top left, and select Edit... 'Select All', and hit the Enter key - then use Ctrl+V or r-click+Paste to paste it into your response.

Pockmeryn · 09 Jun 2014

Hi Noel,

I'm glad you're the one responding to my issue 'cos I saw the thread where you helped "hayitstina" and I was able to follow your instructions without getting confused or being made to feel like a todler. It's not an easy balance to get right, judging by forum-responses I've seen elsewhere 'trying' to help people with other issues.

I've attached the event logs you requested, though as I'm using the 'quick reply' box I can't see any indication of whether they attached properly or not, so I'm hoping it's worked.

Here's the results of the commands you wanted me to run:

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

D:\Users\Administrator>REG QUERY HKU
'REG' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

D:\Users\Administrator>REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-20
'REG' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

D:\Users\Administrator>REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-20\Environment
'REG' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

D:\Users\Administrator>REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVers
ion\ProfileList\S-1-5-20"
'REG' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

D:\Users\Administrator>REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVers
ion\ProfileList"
'REG' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

D:\Users\Administrator>cd d:\windows\system32

d:\Windows\System32>REG QUERY HKU

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-121885500-2911217401-183177156-500
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-121885500-2911217401-183177156-500_Classes
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18

d:\Windows\System32>REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-20

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\AppEvents
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Console
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Control Panel
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Environment
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\EUDC
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Keyboard Layout
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Network
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Printers
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\System

d:\Windows\System32>REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-20\Environment

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Environment
    TEMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp
    TMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp


d:\Windows\System32>REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
\ProfileList\S-1-5-20"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-
5-20
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    D:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkServi
ce
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0x0
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0


d:\Windows\System32>REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
\ProfileList"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
    ProfilesDirectory    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\Users
    Default    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\Users\Default
    Public    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\Users\Public
    ProgramData    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\ProgramData

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-
5-18
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-
5-19
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-
5-20
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-
5-21-121885500-2911217401-183177156-1001.bak
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-
5-21-121885500-2911217401-183177156-500

d:\Windows\System32>

I've wrapped 'code' tags around them so they're easier for you to view (or whatever).

As you can see, originally cmd didn't understand your commands and couldn't find 'reg', but I found the program myself and ran them again from the directory it was located in, which seems to have done the trick.

Is it an error on my machine that it didn't find 'reg' automatically? - At least I didn't waste time for either of us by sending the result of "reg is not recognized...blah blah blah" and having you send me new commands though, eh?

Also, the 'save' command wasn't under the 'file' menu in my Event Viewer, so I right-clicked 'application' in left pane and saw a suitable 'save all events' type of command to use there. Afterward, I spotted similar command under 'actions' menu, but I'd already saved both logs by then. :)

Hope these are everything you requested so we can get to the next step.

Regards,

-Pockmeryn

NoelDP · 09 Jun 2014

Interesting CMD results - which actually give us some clues.
It seems that your machine is missing a number of Environment Variables - so we'll have to see which ones.

Open an Elevated Command Prompt (and CD \Windows\System32 as you did above)

run the following commands

REG QUERY HKCU\Environment /S
REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-18\Environment /S
REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-19\Environment /S
REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-20\Environment /S
REG QUERY "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment"

Post the results.

It'll take me a while to digest the event logs

NoelDP · 09 Jun 2014

Hmmm - the list of problems in the System event log is rather long - but one of the root problems appears to be related to the following base drivers
AVGIDSDriver
AVGIDSShim
Avgldx86
discache
spldr
Wanarpv6

Obviously AVG isn't properly loading, and neither is the Security Processor Loader Driver service
The others are relatively minor.

What other AV's have EVER been installed on this machine?

I can only find CHKDSK results for the D: drive in the Event logs - which doesn't look too bad.

There are a mass of services and other items which are failing to load because of Access Denied errors - it looks to me as if the file-system is hosed.

I can't really see much option except a repair install (if even that will work - it may well not) or a clean install.

Pockmeryn · 09 Jun 2014

Here's the result of the commands you asked me to run:

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

D:\Users\Administrator>cd d:\windows\system32

d:\Windows\System32>REG QUERY HKCU\Environment /S

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment
    TEMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp
    TMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp


d:\Windows\System32>REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-18\Environment /S

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Environment
    TEMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp
    TMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp


d:\Windows\System32>REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-19\Environment /S

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Environment
    TEMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp
    TMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp


d:\Windows\System32>REG QUERY HKU\S-1-5-20\Environment /S

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Environment
    TEMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp
    TMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp


d:\Windows\System32>REG QUERY "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Man
ager\Environment"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment
    ComSpec    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe
    FP_NO_HOST_CHECK    REG_SZ    NO
    OS    REG_SZ    Windows_NT
    Path    REG_SZ    %SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\W
bem;%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;D:\Program Files\Calibre2\
    PATHEXT    REG_SZ    .COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH;.MSC
    PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE    REG_SZ    x86
    TEMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemRoot%\TEMP
    TMP    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemRoot%\TEMP
    USERNAME    REG_SZ    SYSTEM
    windir    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemRoot%
    PSModulePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemRoot%\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.
0\Modules\
    NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS    REG_SZ    2
    PROCESSOR_LEVEL    REG_SZ    15
    PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER    REG_SZ    x86 Family 15 Model 6 Stepping 4, GenuineI
ntel
    PROCESSOR_REVISION    REG_SZ    0604


d:\Windows\System32>

Since you spotted an issue with AVG I've tried to uninstall it - The bulk of it is now gone, but AVG Toolbar refuses to uninstall properly.

I only acquired the machine myself a short time ago, (it was one of my customers' "old" machines he upgraded from!) so I don't know what other AVs might have been installed before/alongside AVG, just that when I got it AVG was the only one on there.

The 'D' drive is where Windows is installed, the 'C' partition is on the other HDD, which has been setup as a 'dynamic disc', though I don't know what difference that would make if any.

As I mentioned previously, I have no installation media for this version of Win7. If repair-install or clean-install is required, what's the best way to proceed? - I'd rather not have to pay MS any more money for the privilege of a new disc, let alone a new PKC if required.

I do have the current W7 Pro PKC, though given the recent "Windows Genuine" related errors I'm not 100% sure whether it would still work to activate windows again...

If there is no other viable alternative fix, I would try repair-install and hope for the best on the PKC I have, assuming Repair-install requires reactivation with PKC like a clean-install would?

Thankyou for your efforts in this matter,

-Pockmeryn

NoelDP · 10 Jun 2014

Oh help!
Windows 7 tends to get upset if it's not installed onto the C: drive, unless the install was done in exactly the correct manner (and even then, many programs will complain.
All the above data looks normal.

You need to run the AVG remover to get rid of the dregs -

Download the AVG Remover from here (
http://www.avg.com/us-en/utilities
Follow the instructions for running it, and then reboot the machine (whether it asks for it or not, and whether the program rebooted already or not).

Having said that, I would want to reformat and reinstall the machine anyhow, since it's impossible to be sure of the integrity of a system that' been through other hands.

From the BIOS date, I assume that the machine shipped with Windows XP Pro installed? Is the current install using an Upgrade , or a Full License? (there's no way to tell reliably from the report)

The fact you talk about a PKC (Product Key Card) worries me a little, since such cards are only for Anytime Upgrades, rather than full Upgrades.

Is it an orange sticker on a card saying 'Proof of License' or what?

Assuming you have a COA sticker for Windows XP Pro, and the Key is a full Upgrade one, you can clean install easily using one of the methods here - Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Anything else, and it could get complex

Pockmeryn · 10 Jun 2014

Have now removed the 'dregs' of AVG with the method you suggested.

The PKCs I refer to (apparently incorrectly) are just the CD-key numbers used to activate windows. Machine was originally XP as you guessed, and seems to have been upgraded rather than full-install of W7-Pro but there's no W7 COA sticker on the machine (apparently the customer didn't bother to stick it on when he upgraded) so I'm left unsure whether he used an upgrade disc, retail full install disc, or OEM full install. I'm aware that retail cd-keys and OEM cd-keys usually only work for their own type of disc, and as I don't have the disc in question anyway (wasn't supplied with computer) I'm not sure how I'd 1: Determine whether my code is for OEM or Retail version, and 2: Get the right install version downloaded to use it with and get this machine working right again.

Any suggestions?

NoelDP · 10 Jun 2014

...and there you have a problem.
Since you don't have the disks or COA/PoL for the 'upgrade', then technically, you have no license for it - and your current install is almost certainly classified as counterfeit.
The machine is still licensed for the OS on the COA sticker - but because of the lack of proof of ownership, no longer licensed for Windows 7 in any shape or form.

You need to contact the previous owner and see if they are prepared to part with the relevant paperwork (specifically) and disks/packaging (generally) which would allow you to properly and legally reinstall Windows 7 Pro.

Failing that, you can try this.
1) recover the current Product key(s), using Belarc Advisor (www.belarc.com) , or ProduKey (www.nirsoft.com)
2) use one of the methods here to clean reinstall using that Key... Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

or you can revert back to XP.

Note that the 'upgrade' may fail due to the Key's lack of provenance (it may be in use elsewhere, and/or have exceeded the activation count) - and it's still not technically legal without the proofs of purchase.

Pockmeryn · 11 Jun 2014

When I said I have the product key (cd-key, pkc, whichever), it's because I used those programs to get it (and Magical Jellybean program too) and compare with each other to make sure they all agreed on the same code key.

The method of reinstall you linked appears to require a "retail upgrade disc" for W7 (pro in my case), which I already stated I don't have.

I did find a link elsewhere on this forum to download ISOs of W7 install discs (re Windows 7 Direct Download Links, Official Disk Images from Digital River from the same server Microsoft use themselves, apparently). I don't know which version of the Pro ISO is OEM and which is Retail though. Assuming the list of ISOs include both types in the first place... There are a variety of different ISOs for the same version of W7 listed with different letters at the end (like U or E or K or RTM etc). Do you know if both versions (OEM and Retail) are in the list? If so, which is which?

Failing that, is there an ISO for the "Retail upgrade disc" somewhere, so I could use the XP CD-key as described on your link?

Would my W7 Pro CD-Key be likely to work with this method? Or perhaps only if a "retail upgrade disc" was used in the first place, maybe?

- You can see now why I've been so hesitant to attempt clean/repair install thusfar, right?

I do appreciate all your help though.