OEM install/license connundrum

paul1149 · 22 Feb 2012

Hi,

I done got me a problem. I have an OEM install with neither an OEM recovery disk or an OEM recovery partition. The install has begun breaking up (freezing, non-booting). I'm actually not sure whether it's the OS or the hard drive that is the problem. The hard drive is a brand new factory warranty refurb from Seagate, and it tests out well, but in the machine in question the MS Windows recovery disk has alternately said it found no Windows install, or no bootable drive. Another time it found the install and fixed it, but that didn't last.

So I did a Repair install of Win7 (ultimate x64) using a retail disk. After I was done, however, my OEM key won't work with it.

So back to square one, I have restored the image of the original installation.

My question is this: how can I do an in-place installation on an OEM install,

OR, how can I manually fix this installation in place,

OR, is this a hardware issue after all, despite the good long generic test results?

Thanks,
p.

whs · 22 Feb 2012

1. First thing to do is document the product key. You can do that with Belarc Advisor or Jelly Bean.

2. You can then use any installation disc of the same edition (e.g. Home Premium) and apply the key.

3. If you have no suitable installation DVD, you can download the .iso - e.g. from here: http://www.mydigitallife.info/windows-7-iso-x86-and-x64-official-direct-download-links-ultimate-professional-and-home-premium/

paul1149 · 22 Feb 2012

Thanks, but that's precisely what I did. I got the key via Belarc. I used a downloaded (from MS) disk that had been "universalized". I selected Ultimate, which was the original edition, and ultimately the key was rejected. Thus I concluded that I need an OEM installation disk for the OEM key?

whs · 22 Feb 2012

paul1149 said:

Thanks, but that's precisely what I did. I got the key via Belarc. I used a downloaded (from MS) disk that had been "universalized". I selected Ultimate, which was the original edition, and ultimately the key was rejected. Thus I concluded that I need an OEM installation disk for the OEM key?

Nah, that should have worked. I would call MS and have them sort it out. Activation and registration of a Microsoft product

gregrocker · 22 Feb 2012

Agreed, the key should work. There hasn't been the need for an OEM-specific installer since XP. As long as you used the licensed version and input the Product Key correctly it should activate.

You may have to use phone activation: How To Activate Windows 7 by Phone Step-by-Step Guide

paul1149 · 22 Feb 2012

Ok, thanks for that info. Something is going on here that I need to get to the root of.

sreedhav · 23 Feb 2012

whs said:

1. First thing to do is document the product key. You can do that with Belarc Advisor or Jelly Bean.

2. You can then use any installation disc of the same edition (e.g. Home Premium) and apply the key.

3. If you have no suitable installation DVD, you can download the .iso - e.g. from here: http://www.mydigitallife.info/windows-7-iso-x86-and-x64-official-direct-download-links-ultimate-professional-and-home-premium/

Dear whs,
I have a sticker pasted on the underside of the sony vaio Laptop. Will it not suffice? Thanks for the .iso link. A rep.is on it's way!:)
regards,
sreedhav

gregrocker · 23 Feb 2012

Yes screedhav, you can rely on the Product Key on the COA sticker which is the one you want.

The key which would be audited from the HD is instead the OEM-SLP factory mass activation key which cannot be used to reactivate by consumer.

**cluberti** · 23 Feb 2012

Correct - if you run a key finder on an OEM machine, it won't match the key on the COA sticker, because the key in an OEM load is just the OEM "master" key that only activates for token-based activation with the certificates also installed into the OEM image and the BIOS check. If you're reinstalling with any media other than the recovery media that came with the machine, you either have to replicate the token-based activation (there are probably guides on how to do that), or you have to use the key on the COA with non-recovery media and activate from Microsoft (either online or phone).

gonerman · 23 Feb 2012

Hi. Got a pc from work today and it has Windows Vista Basic on it. BUT the computer login is set and I have tried everything for the password and can't solve it.
I actually have Windows 7 installation disc and would like to upgrade and erase the Windows Vista since I can't access it anyways. How do I do it step by step?
I assume there is a way to press F2 or F12 upon startup and do it from there but not sure.
Thanks
Gary