Solved Activation key does not work anymore

[Sbrideau]

Hello guys,

I'm coming here after a while of looking around for a more feasible solution, and after talking to an M$ tech. Apparently a retail key can only be installed a number of 3 times, even if it's on the same computer.

Here's what's going on:

I have bought an OEM copy for my desktop, which had the Retail copy already installed and activated, and changed the product key on the desktop to have it activated on the OEM key, so this way I'd be sure I can use the retail on my laptop, on which I recently added the Crucial M4 SSD. A month later, after being sure that Windows works without issues, I decided to activate it, that was today. Issue: I can't use my activation key that came with the Windows Pro Retail that I bought in 2009, because, supposedly, it's been installed on 3 different computers, which is simply untrue. The M$ tech told me that the phone activation would work, but it was not the case. . If useful, the same tech told me that he couldn't activate it for me because "it had been used on 3 computers".

I have rearmed the evaluation period for the time being, but I do not want to use any illegal means of activating Windows. What I know is that I will never touch a retail version of Windows again, it is just an overpriced piece of garbage, but I am not willing to pay for a new key either. Right now I just feel like M$ just stole nearly $350 from me.

If you guys have any input to help me with this, so that I could reactivate Windows without the need to pay for a new key, I'd be grateful.

As for specs, since it's the desktop's specs in the below computer specs:
Asus G53SW-A1
Crucial M4 128GB SSD
750GB 7200RPM HDD
Windows 7 Pro (needed for college)
8GB RAM
GTX 460M video card.

Probably not useful in this thread anyway.

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Sbrideau,

A product key number can only be activated on 3 computers at the same time if it is one that came with a retail Family Pack copy of Windows 7.

Otherwise, you can only have a retail product key number activated on only 1 computer at a time, with it uninstalled or removed from any other computer it was activated on first. There is not a limit of how many times you are able to activate it as long as it removed from any other installation first, so I have no idea where the operator got the 3 limit from. With that said, you may have to do a phone activation if you have activated it often in a short period.

Either something is missing, or the MS activation operator misunderstood you. You should be able to activate it over the phone. Try doing the phone activation again and wait for a operator if available.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Sbrideau]

Hmm, then I don't know why it's not working. I guess I'll call again for the phone activation and wait for an operator again. The only computer the key is installed on right now is the laptop where it's not activating, to my knowledge, unless someone found a way to my Win 7 plastic box and took the key :\

 

[NoelDP]

Please post an MGADiag report - it mey help us to see the cause of the problem.
To properly analyse and solve problems with Activation and Validation, we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool
(download and save to desktop - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 )
Once saved, run the tool.
Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
To copy the report to your response, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.
- **in your own thread**, please
Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine (or inside the battery compartment), but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
How to Tell - Home

 

[Sbrideau]

Here's the requested MGADiag report. Not sure what you meant with the part **in your own thread** but I guess this might have to do with people that just posted them in any thread?

Decided to remove this as it is not needed anymore.

The installed version of Windows is Windows 7 Professional x64 (the one in the attached picture). The one on the COA sticker is Windows 7 Home Premium.

 

[pparks1]

Apparently a retail key can only be installed a number of 3 times, even if it's on the same computer.

While you might have to call in to get an activation code if you activate more than 3 times in a relatively short period of time, I'm sure you can activate a retail key more than 3 times total.

What I know is that I will never touch a retail version of Windows again, it is just an overpriced piece of garbage, but I am not willing to pay for a new key either. Right now I just feel like M$ just stole nearly $350 from me.

If you felt that it was garbage, whey did you buy 2 copies of the software?

I would suggest calling Microsoft again and try to get them to activate it for you. Ask them to tell you which 3 computers it was installed on, to see what information they might have.

Is there any chance that a friend might have decided to use your license key? Or is there any way that your copy of Windows was from a shady website or other software house that might have sold you a copy with a key that wasn't legit and has now been deactivated?

 

[Sbrideau]

I bought it at staples, so it's legit alright. I'll ask them when I have time to call them back. Also I have more than one copy because I have 2 computers. Retail is garbage, OEM is not. Next time I'll just pay the $150 for OEM and leave the retail alone.

 

[jumanji]

Apparently a retail key can only be installed a number of 3 times, even if it's on the same computer.

While you might have to call in to get an activation code if you activate more than 3 times in a relatively short period of time, I'm sure you can activate a retail key more than 3 times total.....

According to Jason, Microsoft Answers Support Engineer " If you acquired Windows via retail purchase (boxed product), you may activate via the Internet the first five times. Subsequent activations are allowed but must be completed via telephone."
How many times can I activate Windows 7? - Microsoft Answers

Accordingly, the sixth time onwards one would have to activate by phone.

If anyone is aware of any changes announced officially by Microsoft subsequent to this, they are welcome to share it. ( No "I think", please. )

 

[Brink]

Jumanji,

That can't be correct at all unless he meant within a short time frame. I know for a fact that I have activated my system online with a retail Windows 7 way more than 5 times with as many clean reinstalls I end up having to do with all the testing I do on it. This is based on years of personal experience.

I'm sure that there must be some secret number of activations allowed within a short time frame before it gets flagged to require a phone activation for a unknown period of time, but a retail copy is not suppose to have a limit on how many times it can be activated (online or phone) as long as it's only activated on one computer at a time and removed from any others first. An exception is if the retail product key has been invalidated by Microsoft for what ever reason (ex: activation abuse by customer).

 

[NoelDP]

Here's the requested MGADiag report. Not sure what you meant with the part **in your own thread** but I guess this might have to do with people that just posted them in any thread?

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
-----------------------------------------
Windows Validation Data-->
 
Validation Code: 0
Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: (I hope you don't mind me removing the key and the hash?)
Windows Product Key Hash: (if really needed I'll PM it)
Windows Product ID: 00371-177-1430922-85511
Windows Product ID Type: 5
Windows License Type: Retail
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048
 
 
 
The installed version of Windows is Windows 7 Professional x64 (the one in the attached picture). The one on the COA sticker is Windows 7 Home Premium.[/QUOTE]
 
The Product ID is fine - so it's not an MSDN Key (and shouldn't be, seeing as you got it from Staples.
 
As far as I can see, there is no reason why this shouldn't activate fine over the telephone..
 
With a Full Retail License, you can activate it as many times as you like, on as many different machines as you like, so long as it's ONLY installed on one machine at a time. It may be that you didn't tell the operator sufficiently learly that the earlier installs had been 'undone', and so they were under the impression that this was a second install
 
The only thing where '3 installs' comes into play is with the Family Pack Upgrade - which only applies to Home Premium anyhow.
 
I would suggest using telephone activation again - and stressing that all previous installations have been removed, and this is the ONLY computer with this Key currently installed.

 

[jumanji]

Jumanji,

That can't be correct at all unless he meant within a short time frame. I know for a fact that I have activated my system online with a retail Windows 7 way more than 5 times with as many clean reinstalls I end up having to do with all the testing I do on it. This is based on years of personal experience.

I'm sure that there must be some secret number of activations allowed within a short time frame before it gets flagged to require a phone activation for a unknown period of time, but a retail copy is not suppose to have a limit on how many times it can be activated (online or phone) as long as it's only activated on one computer at a time and removed from any others first. An exception is if the retail product key has been invalidated by Microsoft for what ever reason (ex: activation abuse by customer).

Thanks Brink for bringing out your personal experience.

It is a pity that Microsoft keeps the end-users in dark in such matters that affect him and we as users are to rely upon user experiences rather than any authentic official information by the provider.

One reason why I tend to recommend staying with OEM-SLP activations rather than submitting oneself blindly to COA-SLP activation without knowing what is in store next time and the next time however frequent or infrequent the necessity for activation arises. Well Brink, it is not a serious issue for me and those who back up compulsively, but there are thousands and thousands of users who do not back-up and who don't even have a security software in place.We try to reach only a handful and educate them.

As NoelDP seems to point out in the previous post there could also be a communication gap between the user and the service provider especially on a phone conversation due to weak proficiency in oral communication, listening and understanding capabilities on both sides. These are the perils of activation by phone live.

 

[jumanji]

........I would suggest using telephone activation again - and stressing that all previous installations have been removed, and this is the ONLY computer with this Key currently installed.

I took a break and so thought it fit to put this in a subsequent post and as directly related to OP's query.

Hi NoelDP,

The OP states that he changed the retail product key to OEM product key. So I presume that it was not a clean install with the OEM version after wiping out the previous retail install.

Does this by any chance nullify the retail key (just like one loses the original key after an upgrade - sorry if I sound like a noob - I am, on upgrades ) and could be the cause of OP's problem in activation of the retail key? Microsoft servers may have perceived it as an upgrade from Retail to OEM?

However gibberish it may sound, will wiping that install completely and doing a fresh clean OEM install retrieve the retail key if it has been lost that way?

Just my thoughts that was hovering in my mind since I read this post. I was just waiting for your analysis of MGA Diag Report.

 

[pparks1]

Also I have more than one copy because I have 2 computers. Retail is garbage, OEM is not. Next time I'll just pay the $150 for OEM and leave the retail alone.

I understand why you have 2 copies, I just found it odd that you seemed to go from being a fan willing to pay for Windows, to somebody who said it was garbage almost instantly.

I don't think the retail version is garbage at all. If you are the type who will go from computer to computer frequently, it's the most cost effective way to keep Windows installed legitimately on your newest computer. (aside from perhaps having a technet subscription).

And OEM licenses, while gladly sold to you from chains like NewEgg and Tiger Direct are not intended to be sold to the customer for use on their own home computers. Technically, this copy is restricted to an end user builder who builds and sells the system and then provides support to the customer.

Overall, the fact that licensing is so tough is a pain for everyone. And this pain was brought on by piracy and people who don't abide by licensing terms unless forced. And while piracy continues as people use hacked copies and such, the people who do pay for the software often suffer. Generally speaking, things work as they are expected, but occasionally they do not...and we have a situation like the one in this thread. Sad but true.

 

[NoelDP]

The OP states that he changed the retail product key to OEM product key. So I presume that it was not a clean install with the OEM version after wiping out the previous retail install.

That's irrelevant - it is within the allowed procedure to switch from a Retail Key, to an OEM Key (it's very bad practice, but it is allowed)
A Retail Key can be used to activate ANY system, so long as the other criteris are met.

Does this by any chance nullify the retail key (just like one loses the original key after an upgrade - sorry if I sound like a noob - I am, on upgrades ) and could be the cause of OP's problem in activation of the retail key? Microsoft servers may have perceived it as an upgrade from Retail to OEM?

not sure what you're getting at there?


MS Activation servers simply look at the current data and compare it with the history *for that Key*.
If the hardware hash is the same, then it will usually activate without a problem.
If the hash is sufficiently different, then it will require telephone activation, and an explanation to an operator.

The first time a Key is put through the activation system it 'owns' (for want of a better phrase) a hash - many Keys can own the same hash, but only one hash can be owned by any given Key (except for special keys such as Family Upgrade, MAK, or TechNet.MSDN) - so in database termes, you have (for normal Retail or OEM_COA Keys) a many/one relationship, rather than a one/one or a many/many relationship

(Yes - I'm struggling to make sense in the explanation! - once you understand it, it's easy, but the trick is to forget most logic along the way )

However gibberish it may sound, will wiping that install completely and doing a fresh clean OEM install retrieve the retail key if it has been lost that way?
.

TBH - that is gibberish.
The Retail key is on the Retail packaging - or in a valid install. It is nowhere else.

What do you mean by an 'OEM Install'? there are at least three scenarios that I can think of for that, that lead to dramatically different points!

 

[Sbrideau]

Ok, I didn't have time to call because I've been very busy these last few days, but I will call them on Monday as soon as I have time, which should be early afternoon. I'l make sure they know the situation this time and not just tell them and see what their answer is. Let's hope that this time the issue will be resolve, which would mean a successful phone activation.

Also, still being pretty inexperienced with these things, I wasn't aware of just changing the key being a bad practice, and if I have to do a clean reinstall of my desktop I will go ahead and do it, I don't have much on it that I would need to keep anyway. Guess everyone learns one way or the other .

 

[NoelDP]

It's not the change of Key that's bad practice - it's self-installing an OEM License on a computer that's bad practice.

OEM System Builder Licenses come with their own SLT's (Software License Terms) - to which you agree when opening the pack.
These state in part that the installation must be on a new computer for sale to a third party.
MS has never been known to enforce this section yet (to my knowledge) but it does have the ability to rescind a license which has been installed outside of these terms.

 

[Sbrideau]

I see, and is it still bad practice if I built my own desktop? Anyway it's good to know.

 

[NoelDP]

Yes. The OEM System Builder license is intended ONLY for the smaller 'Mom&Pop' store to install Windows for their customers.
It is NOT intended (contrary to popular belief) to allow the enthusiast/hobbyist to install on their own machines.

The proper license for ANYONE who either builds or purchases a 'OS-free' machine for their own use is the Full Retail license. Even Multinitionals have to abide by that rule - and they DO get regularly audited, and ARE occasionally prosecuted for transgressions.

 

[Sbrideau]

Oddly enough when I called today the person at the other end didn't have any trouble giving me the numbers that goes in the step 3 of the activation by phone option. I now have a successful activation.

Thanks for all the information you gave me guys, helped a bit.

 

[Brink]

That's great news. Thank you for posting back with your results.