Activation Problem

[WindowsStar]

Here is a new one on me.

I re-installed Windows 7 Professional on a Dell machine what was working perfectly with Windows 7 Professional before the re-install. The hard drive had crashed so I replaced it.

The Windows 7 Professional install went perfectly. I used the Windows 7 Professional DVD that is supplied by Dell to do the re-install.

Once the machine was working and I downloaded the updates it needed; I figured I would activate it right away. See the screen shot.

No matter what I do nothing activates it. If I click to enter the key and add it from the COA on the box everything goes fine. I reboot and then it still says I need to activate in 3 days. If I click on Buy now it goes to MS web site and downloads a bunch of stuff to check things adds the new WAT software and then tells me everything is fine. If I click on the contact Microsoft it opens help and if I click on links there I go back to MS web site with the same thing happening stating everything is ok.

Ideas?????

When I click on the activation I get this screen.

 

[Night Hawk]

When replacing the drive did you backup the recovery partition information at all? On any prebuild the preactivation depends on that was well as the original serial number for the drive the system came with. That is part of the hardware profile.

 

[WindowsStar]

Unfortunately no it was a mechanical failure.

 

[win7clutz]

Curious- What's Dell's tech support recommend?

Since it's under warranty did they supply you with the new drive?

 

[WindowsStar]

I pulled one of my Drives from stock and will back fill it with the Dell replacement when it comes in. This is for a friend. Computer crashed I figured it was a quick 30 min Windows 7 install. How wrong I was. Gotta love computers.

I have not called Dell yet. I was hoping for a quick fix from all the awesome people here.

 

[Bill2]

WindowsStar,

As you probably already know, when you use the OEM dvd, you are attempting an OEM activation. This kind of activation is achieved through the correct combination of 3 distinct components i.e. correct Bios SLIC table, correct OEM certificate and correct edition SLP key (not COA key). The Dell oem dvd supplies the correct certificate and key but your bios must have Dell 2.1 SLIC for the combination to work.

Did your machine come with Win7 preinstalled? In that case, it would have SLIC 2.1 in the bios already and installation/ reinstallation with the OEM dvd would result in automatic activation. If that is not happening, theres probably a problem with the dell dvd and your best bet would be to do a phone activation. There are ways to install the certificate and key manually but I would not advise those since, if you have a legit license, you should not be using those. Also, OEM activation would not be affected by hardware changes since it is only dependent on the 3 components I mentioned earlier. The deactivation caused by hardware changes is peculiar to retail installs.

If your machine did not come preinstalled with Win7 and your manufacturer did not provide a bios update (for SLIC 2.1), then you cannot legally activate with that oem dvd.

 

[WindowsStar]

WindowsStar,

As you probably already know, when you use the OEM dvd, you are attempting an OEM activation. This kind of activation is achieved through the correct combination of 3 distinct components i.e. correct Bios SLIC table, correct OEM certificate and correct edition SLP key (not COA key). The Dell oem dvd supplies the correct certificate and key but your bios must have Dell 2.1 SLIC for the combination to work.

Did your machine come with Win7 preinstalled? In that case, it would have SLIC 2.1 in the bios already and installation/ reinstallation with the OEM dvd would result in automatic activation. If that is not happening, theres probably a problem with the dell dvd and your best bet would be to do a phone activation. There are ways to install the certificate and key manually but I would not advise those since, if you have a legit license, you should not be using those. Also, OEM activation would not be affected by hardware changes since it is only dependent on the 3 components I mentioned earlier. The deactivation caused by hardware changes is peculiar to retail installs.

If your machine did not come preinstalled with Win7 and your manufacturer did not provide a bios update (for SLIC 2.1), then you cannot legally activate with that oem dvd.

Yes you are correct on all accounts. I have never had this issue before the DVD normally just installs and ever asks for the Key. Just as this install did. However the machine keeps telling me to activate, which I have not had to do in the past. I figured this was something different with this machine so I used the KEY on the COA on the box for Windows 7 Professional. That did not work so I posted a quick note here.

Yes the machine came pre-loaded from Dell with W7. I was hoping I missed something or there is an issue with WAT and I needed to do something. I had hoped someone had seen this before and had a quick fix. I can call Dell tomorrow and I know they will fix it. Maybe the drive crash is not the complete problem. I did check Dells site for BIOS updates and I have the same version on the machine that is listed on the Dell site.

 

[baarod]

And this is how WAT is to insinuate itself. Slowly, quietly, without fanfare or negative press.

 

[Bill2]

WindowsStar,
Just FYI, some of the early Dell keys were blacklisted by MS because they were used to hactivate Win7 by pirates. Its possible that the key your dvd is trying to install is one of those blacklisted keys. Theoretically that key should activate but fail MS validation. In your case, darn thing is not activating at all, so ya call Dell/MS.

 

[WindowsStar]

And this is how WAT is to insinuate itself. Slowly, quietly, without fanfare or negative press.

And torture you on a quick install to help a friend. UGH!

 

[WindowsStar]

WindowsStar,
Just FYI, some of the early Dell keys were blacklisted by MS because they were used to hactivate Win7 by pirates. Its possible that the key your dvd is trying to install is one of those blacklisted keys. Theoretically that key should activate but fail MS validation. In your case, darn thing is not activating at all, so ya call Dell/MS.

Excellent point....I nearly forgot about that. But mine seems to doing it the other way around. It passes all validation but will not activate. When I have had issues in the past I would press the Buy key and it would go to Microsoft’s site and let you purchase a key. Until now that was a great test. But this machine does not go to the purchase page it does a bunch of checking and then reports everything is valid. Weirdest thing I have ever seen.

 

[Bill2]

Its passing validation because Windows is in trial mode.

Also, just referring to the point about WAT, WAT has nothing to with activation for the purpose of OEM installs. OEM activation is a mechanical thing and it is completely offline. WAT comes into play when you try to validate windows. You know WAT is at work when your screen turns black (cos your wallpaper disappears) and there is a watermark at the bottom saying your copy is not genuine blah blah. Your problem is not WAT, your problem is that one of the 3 components of OEM activation are not in place/ obsolete.

 

[bobtran]

Just do the phone activation routine which was automated for me and it should activate just fine if it is a legit key. automated system asks how many machines it is installed on (your answer should be one), then guides you through a process where you read off 8/10 hex codes to the system and the automated system will give you codes to replace the existing codes with, then like magic .....your windows install activates. It was actually very easy.

 

[WindowsStar]

Update: According to Dell it is a bad DVD. Dell sent a DVD overnight. I used NEW DVD from Dell and all is working fine. This may be related to what Bill2 was talking about "some of the early Dell keys were blacklisted " above. Although Dell would NOT confirm this they just said the replacement DVD would fix the problem.

 

[Night Hawk]

Did Dell send out the replacement drive as well or just the new disk?

 

[WindowsStar]

DVD was overnighted got it today. The replacement drive will be here Monday.

 

[derekimo]

So it was the DVD huh, At least they sent you another one pretty quick.
Glad you got it sorted out.
Derek

 

[Night Hawk]

As they say: "all is well that ends well"!

 

[zapp22]

Anyone still following this, let me ask a question: I have a Dell Optiplex, but the Windows 7 install was done at a corporate site [big dell client]. These machines rolled off-lease and were sold. Mine was activated, validated, goldplated, all that good stuff, but on a teenie hard drive. Upgraded to a 500g drive, cloned over the system, but it will not activate auto. It will not activate if I manually punch in my COA license number [which is still in its registry, btw]. I've combed all over the web trying to find a fix and can't, other than reading that the issue is likely the result of a server-spray install [with a group or serialized license scheme]. Do I need to change the license key TYPE? how???

 

[derekimo]

Anyone still following this, let me ask a question: I have a Dell Optiplex, but the Windows 7 install was done at a corporate site [big dell client]. These machines rolled off-lease and were sold. Mine was activated, validated, goldplated, all that good stuff, but on a teenie hard drive. Upgraded to a 500g drive, cloned over the system, but it will not activate auto. It will not activate if I manually punch in my COA license number [which is still in its registry, btw]. I've combed all over the web trying to find a fix and can't, other than reading that the issue is likely the result of a server-spray install [with a group or serialized license scheme]. Do I need to change the license key TYPE? how???

Have you tried this method?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html?ltr=A