Cannot activate Windows

Antonionicola · 27 May 2015

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I have a bit of a problem with my mothers laptop and I couldn't find other cases that matched mine.
We bought her a new laptop: Toshiba KIRA, pre installed with windows 8. Due to her work requirements, we needed windows 7 professional. So I wiped it clean and installed windows 7 on it and all was running well. I used a copy of a windows 7 disk I bought 4 years ago with no product key or information, just the disk. 30 days later, of course, the time has come to activate windows. So when I log into the computer and the message appears and I click 'buy a new product key', redirected to Microsoft page and downloaded the LegitCheck for validation. After this process, an error came up saying that product keys are no longer available for purchase and that I couldn't activate. I contacted Microsoft support through live chat and she checked out the Product ID and it was registered as an OEM copy and that I'd need to contact the manufacturer.
I don't know a lot about OEM or whatever, but I do know it's a once of thing, tied to the one PC forever. I have concluded that I would need to buy a whole new OEM copy of windows 7 and wipe the other one off. Finally, I come to my question: If I buy the said product and it comes with the OEM product key, am I able to enter that key under system properties where it says the product ID and 'Change product key', OR do I have to wipe the computer completely and reinstall it, entering the product key when prompted? I would have no problem re installing, but all her work files and programs are loaded on it so if I could avoid having to reinstall all that.
Thank you in advance!
Antonio

Porthos · 27 May 2015

If I buy the said product and it comes with the OEM product key, am I able to enter that key under system properties where it says the product ID and 'Change product key',

Yes

SIW2 · 27 May 2015

Softicle sell product keys to individuals. ( Most, like UsedSoft only deal with big purchasers) You can contact softicle at the old public site. Iirc it is $40 for 7 Home Prem, and $45 for Pro.

NoelDP · 27 May 2015

There is NO legal way to resell OEM licenses without the original packaging, the associated license terms (unopened) OR with the proper COA sticker firmly attached to the machine on which it is installed.

Yes, you can purchase the Get Genuine Kit from MS - this is a Retail Windows 7 License, BUT has secondary license terms attached which effectively make it an OEM installation with limited MS support. This means that the Windows 7 license cannot be moved to a new machine, even if the current one dies 10 minutes after activation.

I would advise against it, since there are cheaper options available - the GGK is priced marginally under the price of a genuine Full Retail license from a genuine discount dealer, and much higher than the price of a genuine OEM System Builder license from a genuine dealer.

Windows 7 is no longer available as a Full Retail license - and stock is almost non-existent. Almost all offered 'second-hand' licenses are going to be counterfeits.

To be honest, what you should have done, is purchase a machine with downgrade rights - at a premium of perhaps $25. Too late now, I know

So - how do you decide which of the many vendors of 'cut-price' Windows 7 installs are genuine?

Anyone claiming to have Full Retail Licenses unused now is lying - so ignore them
How long has their website been registered? What real customer feedback is there?
DO NOT buy from Amazon MarketPlace, or eBay
Buy ONLY from sites with real snail-mail addresses, and phone numbers that can be reached and checked!
There is NO SUCH THING as a 'Key-only' sale of a Windows license from anywhere other than MS - ALL other vendors MUST provide the license WITH the necessary disks - they are not allowed to send the Key and follow it up with the media!

I hope this helps a little!

Antonionicola · 27 May 2015

NoelDP said:

[*]DO NOT buy from Amazon MarketPlace, or eBay[*]Buy ONLY from sites with real snail-mail addresses, and phone numbers that can be reached and checked![*]There is NO SUCH THING as a 'Key-only' sale of a Windows license from anywhere other than MS - ALL other vendors MUST provide the license WITH the necessary disks - they are not allowed to send the Key and follow it up with the media![/LIST]I hope this helps a little!

Thanks for the information. Definitely an eye opener. When you say only legit sites, my thoughts lean to PCcaseGear.com, I've dealt with them for years and can trust them. Their catalogue has Windows 7 Professional x64 OEM for $199. Would this be standard price or do you know of any cheaper than you'd recommend?

Once again thank you everyone for your replies

Porthos · 27 May 2015

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems - Newegg.com

139.99

Antonionicola · 27 May 2015

I have read up on the legal policies with OEM and found that it is only for system builders and manufacturers. Though I do not see another solution for activating windows, other than get it done through Toshiba, who charge a small fortune. Is it legal and OK for me to purchase an OEM copy for personal/small business use?

NoelDP · 28 May 2015

OEM System Builder is the only option available for Win 7 present. The installation terms effectively make the owner the System Builder, which means that no support will be available from MS, but otherwise it is a normal license, with the restriction that it is limited to the first motherboard on which it is activated.

Antonionicola · 28 May 2015

NoelDP said:

OEM System Builder is the only option available for Win 7 present. The installation terms effectively make the owner the System Builder, which means that no support will be available from MS, but otherwise it is a normal license, with the restriction that it is limited to the first motherboard on which it is activated.

Thank you very much, this helps a lot