Should product key be on motherboard?

Just bought a used laptop which originally had xp on and was upgraded to Windows 7 by the seller. There is no windows 7 disk with the laptop.


Anyway virus scanned it, and ran show key to get the product key. It's an OEM copy of Windows 7 professional but show key says the key is not on the motherboard. I had intended to do a clean install using the product key - but now just wondering if the W7 professional install is genuine if it's not locked to the Motherboard? Anyone know? Also need a W7 professional disc! (I only have a Home Premium disc).

Hi Hazel,

XP machines did not have a key on the motherboard.

Depends on showkey+s output,
(google the key if it shows multiple times its likely been used with an activation exploit to make it genuine)

can you also run this tool, copy/paste the output - no personal data
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=52012

ill be able to tell you more


Roy

Cheers. Nothing came up on google. The installation was all messed up so have wiped the disk now. I'll reinstall and enter the product key and then try what you suggested. Just trying to download the iso from tech bench!

Hi Hazel,

if techbench fails, try Heidoc.

Likely that the key is either OEM System Buider or Retail, seeing as no hits on google.

Roy

Hi Hazel,
download w7 sp1 - NON OEM version to desktop
https://www.heidoc.net/php/Windows%2...Downloader.exe
(allow the share)
download the ISO/DVD tool - to desktop
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/down....aspx?id=56485

run tool - import W7 file
send to 4gb+USB its easier
change boot order old XP laptop
No need for any changes efi
run


Roy

Thanks!

Hmm. That was all downloading nicely - right until the end when it said it couldn't download it due to server connection or something. So maybe not working any more? Anyway - have installed Windows 10 on it and used the 7 pro product key and it activated. So clearly it had had 10 activated before via a Windows 7 update. Have decided to leave Windows 10 on it and run the original XP installation in virtual box. It came with original XP recovery disks full of disney kids software

Don't think it once had Win 10 on it.
Most likely it activated because you used the win 7 pro product key.

I tried the XP product key first and that failed. It accepted the W7 one fine though.

Techbench downloaded ok. Not sure if the ei.cfg is already removed or not. There wasn't any option to delete it.