Help! Win7 product key stolen AFTER activation

dlomax · 05 Feb 2011

Hey guys,

Three months ago I purchased a retail copy of Windows 7 Pro from Staples. I successfully installed and activated the OS, and it has been up and running completely legimately. Yesterday I stupidly left my car unlocked while visiting my sister at her apartment, and my Win7 CD box was in the backseat in a cardboard box along with a few other CD's and electronics I'd gathered from my move. I highly suspect whoever "broke" into my car knows the value of what he took, especially since the only other thing he took out of my car was my copy of Microsoft Office.
So, with all this in mind, what should I do? Should I contact Microsoft? Is there anything they can even do? I have a copy of the product key, a copy of my receipt from Staples, the OS is currently up and running validly on my computer, and has been for around three months. With all these these things in mind, is there anything I can do or am I out $250 if the thief installs Windows and uses my product key?

Thanks in advance for any help,
David

Golden · 05 Feb 2011

Hi,

Since you have already activated Windows, the thief cannot do likewise (easily at least).

Since you also have the key and your receipt, go ahead and contact Microsoft to explain the situation. I'm not sure what they can do about it, but I don't think it will do any harm.

There are some members here that are more knowlagble about how Microsoft works, so perhaps its better to wait until one of them offers some more advice.

Regards,
Golden

Anthony · 05 Feb 2011

Contact Microsoft they will help you.

Bill2 · 05 Feb 2011

Theres no harm in contacting them but I doubt you'll get a sympathetic response from either MS or staples, the standard in such cases is "Its your responsibility to guard your things". The thief might try to sell the key (to multiple users) on Ebay or he may sell locally. Surely, at some point of time the validation servers will reject the key. Hopefully, your own install will not be invalidated/ungenuinated. In that case, phone activation may help.

dlomax · 05 Feb 2011

Thanks for your responses. In getting in contact with Microsoft regarding this issue, what would be the best department to call? I actually did try to contact Microsoft this afternoon, spoke with an Indian CSR in, if I recall correctly, the "technical support" department. He asked me my name, phone number, email address. I explained the whole story, and he put me on hold for 5 minutes, then came back on and said "ok I will transfer you to the 'Product Key Department' and they will be able to assist you to block your Product Key" or something like that. I said "ok". It rang once then the line cut off. I called back, got in touch with the same department, same script, supposed transfer to the enigmatic "Product Key Department", then got cut off AGAIN. Very bizarre case I have on my hands it would seem.

David