Solved Bought used netbook - Q's on windows activation

[acernetbook]

I bought a used netbook on Ebay. It was originally supposed to come with W7 Starter, but the seller installed W7 home premium 64. I want to do a clean reinstall, using the current CD key, BUT ONLY IF IT IS LEGIT. Here are some facts and questions:

It has the W7 Starter sticker and key. So that means I am at least entitled to that right? Can I clean install that with the code on the sticker plus a "universal" W7 iso? Or must I order recovery cd's from Acer. (There is no recovery partition)

Here is the mgadiag file. Is this legit? The system properties says it is.

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

Validation Code: 0
Cached Online Validation Code: N/A, hr = 0xc004f012
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-WJ2H8-R6B6D-7QJB7
Windows Product Key Hash: ckKNc+BBPDWmo1LUlOkraNjlQ34=
Windows Product ID: 00359-OEM-8992687-00006
Windows Product ID Type: 2
Windows License Type: OEM SLP
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.003
ID: {3C833C5A-2D23-401F-AB7C-AAB9241611E1}(1)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Home Premium
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.120503-2030
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: C:\Users\Acer\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.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-->

Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{3C833C5A-2D23-401F-AB7C-AAB9241611E1}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.003</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-7QJB7</PKey><PID>00359-OEM-8992687-00006</PID><PIDType>2</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-3171665407-445097077-4069837089</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Acer</Manufacturer><Model>Aspire One 522</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Acer</Manufacturer><Version>V1.12</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="7"/><Date>20110608000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>45FC0B00018400FC</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Pacific Standard Time(GMT-08:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>ACRSYS</OEMID><OEMTableID>ACRPRDCT</OEMTableID></OEM><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>  

Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002

Licensing Data-->
Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514

Name: Windows(R) 7, HomePremium edition
Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, OEM_SLP channel
Activation ID: d2c04e90-c3dd-4260-b0f3-f845f5d27d64
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 00359-00178-926-800006-02-1033-7601.0000-1712012
Installation ID: 020143185045667063854563857314496883404173392841241945
Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338
Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339
Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341
Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340
Partial Product Key: 7QJB7
License Status: Licensed
Remaining Windows rearm count: 3
Trusted time: 6/29/2012 12:52:46 AM

Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x00000000
HrOnline: N/A
HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000
Event Time Stamp: N/A
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:


HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: LAAAAAAAAgABAAEAAAACAAAAAQABAAEA6GHC5VT5TLAWJLwJYj3wPRQw/Ag=

OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A

OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes
Windows marker version: 0x20001
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes
BIOS Information: 
  ACPI Table Name	OEMID Value	OEMTableID Value
  APIC			ACRSYS		ACRPRDCT
  FACP			ACRSYS		ACRPRDCT
  HPET			ACRSYS		ACRPRDCT
  BOOT			ACRSYS		ACRPRDCT
  MCFG			ACRSYS		ACRPRDCT
  SLIC			ACRSYS		ACRPRDCT
  SSDT			AMD   		POWERNOW
  SSDT			AMD   		POWERNOW

I was able to grab the current product key with the Jelly Bean program. Will it work for me to use this key with a W7 home premium 64 disk?

I won't feel too bad if this is not legit because I still have one spot left in a W7 Home premium family pack. It's just that if this key is actually legit, I'd rather save that family pack for another computer in the future.

Thanks

 

[Computerpete]

I would contact the seller who you bought it of or ask him to send you the starter edition disk the seller should have provided you with the serial or product id he must of the serial has put it on your computer.

 

[acernetbook]

seller doesn't have original CD, didn't give me new CD key. Sketchy ebay guy, heh. I would rather not go back to Starter edition anyway.

 

[Golden]

It has the W7 Starter sticker and key. So that means I am at least entitled to that right? Can I clean install that with the code on the sticker plus a "universal" W7 iso?

Hi,

Yes absolutely, you can do exactly that. This tutorial is exactly what you are after:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

I'll take a look at the MGADIAG report and post back here:

I don't see an obvious problem, apart from this:-
Cached Online Validation Code: N/A, hr = 0xc004f012

I'll ask NoelDP to have a look at this for you, so keep an eye out for his reply.

Regards,
Golden

 

[NoelDP]

Your current problem is that you have a machine which shipped with Windows 7 Starter - and someone has installed Home Premium using the same manufacturer's OEM_SLP Key for HP.
This is not legitimate, as the BIOS SLIC table and certificates vary between shipped OS's and may not properly match - and may show as non-genuine.
The error that Golden has highlighted is usually simply one that shows that validation has not been attempted on this machine - if you go to www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate what happens?



You CANNOT use any of the Keys on ANY disk other than the proper Recovery disk your your system, and expect them to work.

You need to either
1) Revert back to the original OS that shipped with the system, using the manufacturer's Recovery media
2) Reformat and reinstall using a Starter disk and your COA Key
3) Purchase an Upgrade (NOT an ANytime Upgrade!) to Home Premium, and then do a repair install to get the license installed
4) Purchase a Full Retail copy of HP, and swap the Key in.

If you pick option 1 or 2, you can then purchase an Anytime Upgrade to get back up to Home Premium.
If you pick option 2, you may need to download drivers from Acer to get the system running properly - but you can download a legitimate copy of Windows from Digital River for the job.

(I'm not sure whether there are Starter downloads available - I'll check)

 

[acernetbook]

Your current problem is that you have a machine which shipped with Windows 7 Starter - and someone has installed Home Premium using the same manufacturer's OEM_SLP Key for HP.
This is not legitimate, as the BIOS SLIC table and certificates vary between shipped OS's and may not properly match - and may show as non-genuine.
The error that Golden has highlighted is usually simply one that shows that validation has not been attempted on this machine - if you go to www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate what happens?

"Because Windows installed on your PC is genuine, enjoy the security, reliability and protection it provides."

You CANNOT use any of the Keys on ANY disk other than the proper Recovery disk your your system, and expect them to work.

You need to either
1) Revert back to the original OS that shipped with the system, using the manufacturer's Recovery media
2) Reformat and reinstall using a Starter disk and your COA Key
3) Purchase an Upgrade (NOT an ANytime Upgrade!) to Home Premium, and then do a repair install to get the license installed
4) Purchase a Full Retail copy of HP, and swap the Key in.

If you pick option 1 or 2, you can then purchase an Anytime Upgrade to get back up to Home Premium.
If you pick option 2, you may need to download drivers from Acer to get the system running properly - but you can download a legitimate copy of Windows from Digital River for the job.

I'm not sure whether there are Starter downloads available - I'll check)

So that webpage says it is genuine. So what I want now is to blow away the installation i.e. (clean reinstall of home premium) while using the same key/license as currently on the machine. Will this work?

Why did you not list as one of my options to reinstall using the key from my family pack? In case I was not clear, I want in any case to do a clean reinstall. I do not want to keep the current running version because I don't trust something I did not install myself.

 

[NoelDP]

Ah - sorry, I missed the Family pack bit
That counts as Option 1/2 with an Upgrade
or Option 3 on its own

However, since you do have a qualfying License for the upgrade, you can short-circuit the system slightly by doing a Clean install of Win7 with your Upgrade disk (so long as that license is currently installed on no more than two other machines)

My preferred method (and one supported by MS), is to clean install using the Default Key, and then immediately do a repair (inplace Upgrade) install, using the Upgrade Key - this ensures that the Key is properly installed and will activate normally over the internet (maybe) or by phone.

 

[acernetbook]

Thanks. So I at least know the family pack will work.
BUT WAIT! That MS web page says my current install is OK as well. So why should I throw away a perfectly good license? Why couldn't I just grab the current key (the one that shows up in the mgadiag file) , and use a w7 hp usb stick to clean reinstall?

 

[NoelDP]

1) Because the current install is classed as counterfeit, as it doesn't have the most important piece of the licensing requirement, the COA sticker.

2) Because installing using a disk other than the recovery disk will not even give the appearance of being genuine.

(Oh and just as a FWIW, I wouldn't install 64-bit Windows in a system with less than 4GB of RAM, as x64 increases the memory footprint significantly - since your system probably has only 1GB it would feel very cramped, and slow)

 

[acernetbook]

Noel,

Thanks for taking all the time to respond.
So it seem like what you are saying is that even though MS thinks it is genuine, it actually is not because it does not contain the sticker? Any oem type license must come with a sticker? Or is it the case than any oem type license for a version of w7 that is different than the original is necessarily fake because you can only upgrade via retail means? The other stuff about BIOS and SLIC and SLP is a bit complicated for me to understand at this time.

Further, I don't understand what you said above in point 2), and also in post #5 that "You CANNOT use any of the Keys on ANY disk other than the proper Recovery disk your your system, and expect them to work." But then you agree later that I can use my family pack key to do a clean install?

Sorry for the confusion and thanks for the help.

 

[NoelDP]

The devil is in the details
let's deal with your second query first.
All Windows disks have embedded Keys. NONE of those Keys can ever be activated over the internet or by phone.

Recovery Disks from majow manufacturers have what are called OEM_SLP Keys embedded in them (as does yours in your report above). These Keys are 'special', in that they acan allow teh proper system to self-activate, given the other parts required. Those other parts are the SLIC table in the BIOS, and certificates in the OS. The SLIC table and the certificates are specific to a particular manufacturer, so an OEM_SLP Key from, say, ASUS, will not work with a disk from Dell, even if it's on an ASUS computer - likewise, an ASUS Key and Disk will not work on a Dell computer.

The Key is only a part of the license.
In the case of machines from large manufacturers, all come with a COA sticker for the pre-installed licensed version of Windows. Unless you can demonstrate ownership through another route (such as an Upgrade disk and license/Key), no other version of Windows is legitimately licensed on that machine, whatever any technical tests may say.

i.e. just passing the tests doesn't make it a legitimate installation, you must also be able to prove ownership of the license - which in Windows is either the COA sticker, or in the case of Retail (including Upgrade) licenses, the Proof of License sticker.

All OEM_SLP Keys are pre-installed, or installed from Recovery disks, and again, the machine must have a COA sticker with a matching COA sticker (with a different - unique - Key).


Does that filter some of the mud out of the water?

 

[acernetbook]

Thanks again for the explanations. I had to read it again and again till it started to sink in.

In the end, I used one of my family pack licenses. I got one of those 0xc004c008 errors on validation. (You used your license too many times) I called in and after giving my install ID, the automated voice asked me how many computers this was installed on. I said "three" because this is the third in a family pack. The robot then told me my license doesn't cover that and hung up on me.

I called again, and used that trick of not saying anything until they finally transferred me to a real person. I gave the ID again, and the real person gave me the code right away, which worked. I don't get it, but whatever.

 

[NoelDP]

The Automated activation line would probably have worked if you'd said 'one' - but it may also have invalidated the other installs you do have. I don't have any idea how MS work the Family pack upgrades into the system, as there's no way to check which machine has been 'moved'. To my mind it would have been better to include three Keys in the pack (and less confusing), but MS may have considered that it was better for the system to allow excess activations than to have people installing the same Key a numner of times and invalidating another machine in the process. (I know what I mean - even if I can't express it well! <G>)