Win7 Pro 64bit not genuine. Can I use new product key to activate?

fhumbert · 13 Mar 2013

Hello everyone,
I hope someone can help me with this problem.
I bought a laptop with win 7 home premium 18 months ago. It was a genuine copy, installed by the manufacturer (SONY).
I decided to upgrade it to win7 pro 64bit by using an anytime upgrade key which I bought on ebay.
The upgrade went well. The OS is now win 7 pro 64bit. That was about a year ago. IN the interim, I have not used the laptop. When I used it again last week, the screen is black and it says "this copy of windows is not genuine"
It asks me to activate it. I tried the phone activation but it failed.
I presume the upgrade key from ebay was no good.

As the laptop has a number of apps installed, I would like to avoid having to re-install everything if at all possible.

So my question is this: can I purchase a new copy of windows7 pro 64bit and use the product key that comes with it to activate the non-genuine copy that is already on the laptop?
If so, do I need to purchase a RETAIL version or would an OEM version work too?

I have read various threads that seem to say that since I did the original upgrade a long time ago I can no longer activate with a good key and that I have to re-install the OS from scratch. Is this true?

Thanks for any help.
Fred

Golden · 13 Mar 2013

Hi,

Lets double check the existing key just to be sure its the problem:

1. Download and save this tool to your desktop:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

2. Run the tool, and then click 'Copy' - ignore any errors if they appear

3. Use CTRL+V to paste the unedited results of the validation tool here in your next reply.

As long as the installation media you used is not "dodgy" simply activating using the new key will work just fine. This is how you do it:

Product Key Number - Change

Regards,
Golden

gregrocker · 13 Mar 2013

Never buy software keys on eBay. You should inform them that you were sold fraudulent merchandise even if it's outside the refund period. There is no way the seller should be allowed to maintain a reputation, or eBay is continuiing to be complicit with fraud. We've been hearing about this for four years here now.

I'd also contact MS Customer Service and ask to take part in their program to replace fraudulent keys by cooperating with an investigation. You might get lucky.

Otherwise unless you specifically need one of the expensive extra features in Pro version, I would reinstall the licensed OS version since you own it for the life of the PC. You can find the installer and tips for getting a perfect install in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Colin gave you the way to swap out the key to a new Pro product key if it comes to that.