I'm not sure if the drive got wiped but I definitely couldn't get it to do anything before the install. Although when I did the install it asked me if I wanted to upgrade or new install and I picked new install. If I have the upgrade version should I just install it again an pick upgrade this time?
The characters were right, I say this because I triple checked it a couple of times and input them a single character at a time.
The message just says the product key is invalid.
No, the Upgrade button is only to do an in-place Upgrade from Vista which is not what you want. It would also not affect how the Product key is accepted.
Go ahead and try the Option 3 workaround in tutorial.
Where did you get Win7? Is this a boxed retail disk with COA key on card insert?
Are you using the disk which came with it or did you download another? Are you sure you installed the correct licensed version as shown on COA sticker?
I got 7 a few years ago but I didn't get a hard copy. I got the digital download which was being offered through my school at a super good student discount with the option to make spare disc and so I am working off of that spare disc now. I am using the code that was provided to me at the time of the download.
Because I had multiple machines in my house I got the license for multiple machines and I installed 7 on my wife's computer with the same disc and using the same code that I am using now and it worked perfectly fine.
The whole reason I got into this was because I got a new computer and I am giving this one to a computerless friend of mine so I wanted to get everything off of there so he would basically have a factory new computer.
On a side, kind of unrelated note; I tried to use the recovery partition on both this machine and my wife's (Both Toshiba Satellite A215-S7422s) and it would never come up so I figured it wasn't there but while doing the install yesterday I was asked which partition to use and the two given were the regular partition and what seemed like the 1.5 GB recovery partition. Why could I not get the recovery partition to work. I followed the instructions for the computer model which is to hold "0" while the computer is booting.
I'm not aware of any Student offers for Win7 that come with multiple license keys, only Home Premium Family 3-pack Upgrade. If you'd provide the requested error message we can better interpret it but it may be already activated on another machine from what you say.
It appears the Recovery partition isn't functioning. Try it again following the steps here: Toshiba HDD Recovery Utility.
If it won't run try setting it Active then reboot and try again: Partition - Mark as Active
If you need to change it back to Inactive to boot Win7 use the Command Line on DVD System Recovery Options to Mark Partition as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums
If Recovery will not in fact run at all then you can delete that partition and recover the space in Disk Mgmt or during reinstall: Partition or Volume - Delete
Partition or Volume - Extend
What I would do if you are using a one-license Student version which isn't transferable anyway is reinstall the licensed version of Vista using the Product Key on the COA sticker on machine with ISO provided here burned to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed: Vista ISO download
Last edited by gregrocker; 13 Feb 2013 at 13:01.
I won't be able provide you with the exact message until I get home this evening. I can tell you though that it isn't popping up an "error" message it just simply highlights the key and says that it is invalid. Once I get home I will give all the above listed things a go. Thank you for being patient with me and also for being so helpful.
Can you also confirm that this key is already activating another PC, if necessary auditing it from the HD using Belarc Advisor to compare and confirm? This might also draw your attention to a character that is being interpreted incorrectly. For example on some MS COA's a B looks a lot like an 8.
I definitely used the same key on my wife's computer right after I installed it on mine and it installed without any problems.
I will take a picture of the screen when I am having the issue. I will also use that tool on her machine to confirm the key.
If the issue is happening because the license is on another computer then I don't understand why I was able to install it on a second machine to begin with.
Do you have any link to the original download or offer, since I think we would have heard about any multiple-license student offer besides retail Home Premium Upgrade 3-pack.
It's possible the second activation was a one-off anomaly. Someone else may know more.
Student offers aren't transferable anyway, so your best option is to reinstall the licensed Vista.
Last edited by gregrocker; 13 Feb 2013 at 13:00.
Like I said I downloaded it a few years ago so I don't have any of that. I figured it was okay to use it on multiple machines in my house.
If I have to, I will just put vista back on it with the ISO you linked.
Vista isn't that bad now with Win7 advancements which were Service Packed into it. Stick with the same steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
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