Solved would this product key work if I reinstall windows like this...help!

[suspect008]

Hi everybody,

first of all I'm sorry if this kinda problem have been answered before, I had to post because I did search with lots of keywords but didn't find a satisfying answer. so here I go,

I came to this situation because of my GF cuz 3 days ago she had to re-install windows due to deleted appdata folder( she had deleted it purposely without knowing what is it for , but sad the damage was a high cost)

okay now, she had took it where she had bought her notebook(hp dv7) and she said that they have re-installed windows and MS Office 2010 and charged her like 180$( right now she lives in china and cost was 800yuans and its approximately like 180$).
and they have not given her a installation dvd or office dvd. this thing had happened twice now and now I have made a image so worries but Im concerned about if some scenario occurs that may have to re-install windows then saving this 180$.

here's what I want to know,

1) I dont yet have the windows serial key but soon I will have it. then how to check whether that it is a genuine one or not?
(I use windows ultimate x64 and I have extracted my win key with Magic Jelly Bean KeyFinder and it works well. It gave me my product key which came with my dvd, so Im gonna use it here to find the key)

2) She uses windows home premium x64. so, since we dont have a dvd, can I download a copy of windows home premium from microsoft or from somewhere else and can I aactivate it with this key?
( since we're installing it on same notebook, that wouldn't be illegal right?)

3) and the same question about MS Office too. would this current key will re-activate office after installation of a new copy of office downloaded via microsoft?

Thank you guys.

 

[OldMX]

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.
- **in your own thread**, please
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

Follow those steps and paste the report, so the geeks can take a look and see if your installation is legit. If it is, then your key will be usefull for any reinstall you perform in the future.

 

[NoelDP]

She MUST use the WIndows Key that is on the sticker on HER PC.
NO Key found on your machine will work for hers - and may invalidate its use on your machine if she does manage to get it to work on hers.

Get her to post an MGADiag report here.....
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.
- **in your own thread**, please
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

 

[NoelDP]

Follow those steps and paste the report, so the geeks can take a look and see if your installation is legit. If it is, then your key will be usefull for any reinstall you perform in the future.

I must be doing somerthing right!

 

[suspect008]

don't misunderstand....

She MUST use the WIndows Key that is on the sticker on HER PC.
NO Key found on your machine will work for hers - and may invalidate its use on your machine if she does manage to get it to work on hers.

Get her to post an MGADiag report here.....

thanks for quick reply.
Okay, as soon as I get it, Will post here.

and Noel, I didn't mean to use my key on her notebook. I know about the consequences if I do so.just posted that in order to provide you with details of how I gonna recover the product key.

and as far as I know, she doesn't have a sticker on notebook. the shop she bought it had installed original win 7 home premium( as she said, and then never had problem with updates and it was a activated, so Im pretty much sure its a original copy but don't know whether its a OEM version) but they haven't provided a dvd.

so guys, dont misunderstand me here, Im asking that If I had to re-install windows, can I use a different home premium dvd for the installation and use her own product key (which she's using right now) to activate it?

thanks again.

 

[NoelDP]

Ah - that's ok then.
Yes, you can use any Home Premium (Retail or System Builder OEM) disk to reinstall - but you must still use the Key that came with the machine. You cannot use a Recovery disk from any other make or model of machine on her PC. You cannot use a Key from any other machine either.


Her Key may be on the COA sticker inside the battery compartment (rather than on the outside).
If there's no COA sticker, and she didn't get disks and Key at the same time as the computer, then the original installation was not genuine anyhow.

 

[suspect008]

Ah - that's ok then.



Her Key may be on the COA sticker inside the battery compartment (rather than on the outside).
If there's no COA sticker, and she didn't get disks and Key at the same time as the computer, then the original installation was not genuine anyhow.

thank you noel. thats what Im afraid too. she had bought her hp dv7 without a OS pre installed in it. it was installed by the shop and they had charged her some amount that time. after that and now they had charged 180$ for windows re-installation and office installation. but no disks or keys provided.

windows problem is almost solved except for,
1) can I download a copy from Microsoft directly?
I'm asking this because, microsoft distributes only retail copies for the end users right? I mean for downloading, they only issue retail copies? So, what if she's having a OEM version? do I have to find a OEM version or would retail version be fine with that OEM key?( EDIT:this has been answered. Missed it with rush)

2) How about the Office 2010 too? same situation. It appears as a genuine copy. but we don't have a disk or printed key.(but magic jelly bean would extract the office key too) So can I download the same version of office from MS and activate it after installing with the key that currently using?

Thanks Noel. repped.

 

[NoelDP]

1) take your pick - Microsoft - OEM and Retail are identical (if it doesn't take the OEM Key, skip entering any key at all, and you can change it later before activation)

2) same site

 

[suspect008]

1) take your pick - Microsoft - OEM and Retail are identical (if it doesn't take the OEM Key, skip entering any key at all, and you can change it later before activation)

2) same site

thank you very much, but here I couldn't get that " and you can change it later before activation" phrase meaning. did you meant that skip entering any key on retail version while installation and later activate it by the OEM key?

 

[NoelDP]

Yep - make sure that the version you download and install is the same one as the Key youhave.
Skipping entering the Key installs a Default Key (a Retail Key which cannot be activated), which allaws the installation to complete - you then have 30 days to swap in the proper Key before Windows screams at you.

 

[OldMX]

I must be doing somerthing right!

Bro, you're the man around here, its a great asset for visitors to have you around.

 

[NoelDP]

Careful - either my head'll swell and explode, or I'll start blushing!

 

[suspect008]

got it
thank you very much noel. same for OldMx.

 

[NoelDP]

You're welcome - good Luck!
Feel free to come back with more questions if you need to.

 

[suspect008]

Actually there is one. is there any place where I can check these product keys are legit or not? I tried searching in MS site but couldnt except for they check product ID before offer there help. as for me, I can't use it due to I use OEM version of Ultimate x64. Im looking into this because I suspect that they have charged her and installed a pirated copy of windows and Office although it seems working fine :/ just wanna be sure.

and I have read some posts in this activation section and really you're the man Noel. hats off!!

 

[NoelDP]

The only way you can check any particular Key without installing it is to telephone the Activation Center for your part of the world, and ask them very specific questions.

The risk is that if you ask them 'is this key valid'? they'll say 'yes' - because it is, at the time. You need to go further and ask 'WHAT type of Key is it?' - if they say anything other than full retail, you have a problem, and need to check whether it may be an MSDN or Volume Key.

There are VERY many fences to trip over in this - and the only really 'approved' way is to purchase from a reputable dealer in the first place.

Posting an MGADiag report will at least get us to the stage of being able to ask the right questions (if it doesn't point already to a major problem)

 

[suspect008]

Hmm....Thanks for your advice Noel. me too thought so calling MS would be the only way. Anyway thank you very much for your help. I will post MGADiag report as soon as I get it.