Solved Awful Experience Gap

[Whazzupdoc]

Not quite sure where to post this. I started with a failing psu that trashed my wife's hard drive. Got good technical advice here and ended up buying a new psu (from the States...I'm in Honduras) as well as a new hard drive. Because of the failed components on this new computer (less than 6 mos old) and the fact that the so-called power seller on eBay imaged the OS without following EULA, she started receiving the infamous "you may have become a victim of software piracy"...or something like that, I purchased a new sealed from Microsoft Win7 Home Premium x64. The eBay seller has a 100% rating and I've had communication with him.

Don't mean to be wordy but you have to know this background. Everything finally arrived and I grabbed all the parts and went to a big computer repair shop I know and literally gave them everything that had just arrived in the various unopened packages/boxes.The repair shop manager has given me a confirmation of the fact that he received everything sealed and unopened. He gave everything to his repairman and I left for 4 hours. When I returned I was told that someone had stripped the Windows Product Key off of the envelope that housed the OS...the one that proves the genuineness of the software.

Now the computer was still on the work bench and was up and running. It was running in Win 7. I used Macrium Reflect to image her system and had given them that peripheral backup so I assumed they had somehow used it (they are Spanish and my Spanish is kindergarden) but he said they had cloned it. I really don't yet know the difference between cloning and imaging but I have a suspicion. That could not have the 100% rating with the 10yr record and several thousand sales...and be shipping out an OS that had a product key stripped from the envelope. I never actually opened the sealed Microsoft envelope. The repairman opened it according to the shop manager in an email I got from him this a.m. So the product key had to have been stripped by the repairman. Now why?

When I returned home and wired up the computer and turned it on, I checked 'My Computer' > right clicked on 'Properties' and lo-and-behold there is her registered product key...first string of digits followed by 'OEM' and then last string of digits of the Key.

This brings me to this post. Why would someone strip off the genuine product key...apparently after installing the OS on this computer? What good is it to anyone after it has been loaded into this computer? Is there a way that computer repairmen and take a number and use it again? That OS cost me $149 which here is worth about 3,500 lempiras, if you can find one that isn't pirated. For a top worker that's about a week's wages. Is it possible for a repairman to image this OS (even though he installed it onto this computer) on other computer(s)?

The eBay seller has offered to refund my $149 + return shipping. So he is up-and-up. But if I take him up on the refund and return the disk without the product key...and that product key is the one that was linked to this computer's OS...and the eBay seller turns around and resells this as an OS without a product key to some other person, does this compromise my system that displays the same product key? Lord, I hope I'm explaining this properly and that you understand. I need some help at knowing what has likely happened and what danger I'm in.

Thanks!

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Nice example of why we do things our self and help others do the same

I'm not sure what there is to return though the most important item of the media is the activation key and sticker which was stolen by the installer.
So it doesn't even sound like you have the dvd anymore ?

 

[Whazzupdoc]

Yes, I am in total agreement with you. I only wish I had more experience under my belt. I'm sure there are lots of seven forums users like me though who have never put together a system. I'm 77 years old and only started learning this stuff since the first of this year. It is not easy!

But yes, I do still have the operating disk and its' packaging. In fact I purchased two (2) of them from the same seller at the same time. The other one was for my own computer; this one was for my wife's. My disk envelope had the proper sticker on the envelope and had not been tampered with. The other one of course is the one with the problem.

So please...let me ask the same lame question but maybe state my concerns a different way. The product key that is showing valid on my wife's computer has the OEM in the string. Does that fact guarantee that she now has a genuine Windows O/S loaded onto her computer?

You see while we were waiting for parts to arrive from the States, a friend installed a loaner HD and an Win7 O/S onto her computer so she could operate. Immediately she got the message that she may have been the victim of product theft. I never thought to actually check to see if there was a Product I.D. on that loaner HD before I took it into the repair shop for installing the new Win7 O/S. So it begs the question now..."where did this current Product I.D. come from?" Did it actually come from the new Win7 O/S disk in some manner even though the envelope was missing the Authentication Code? It surely could not have been cloned from the loaner HD because she was getting the invalid message on the loaner HD.

This is the reason I have posted. I am baffled. Of course the installers of the parts are all claiming they would never do anything fraudulent. And maybe there really is another possibility that I'm not seeing/understanding. What I don't want is to have some sort of system failure in the future that Windows requires me to re-introduce this OEM key and for them to come back and tell me I don't actually have a valid Key.

The Seller of the software has come back and offered to either send me a replacement system once he locates one; or to simply send me an authentication Key. For the latter...once again I would be concerned about some future problem with Windows that might require proof of the Key.

Am I being more organized in my description?

Thanks!

 

[AddRAM]

Not sure why you gave them your Windows DVD along with all the packaging when you gave them the media to do a clone, why would you do that ?

So you`re saying the shop stole from you ? Took your COA you got through Ebay ?

A proper repair shop would not need the dvd, as they would have their own install media and they would not need the key, because you have 30 days to activate windows and you could have done that yourself.

As far as the oem key goes, you are fine. The key/s you bought off ebay were not retail, not for that price, no way. The only difference between an OEM key and a Retail key is, once you use your OEM key it is tied to that motherboard for life (according to the EULA) , a Retail key can be used and activated on any PC as long as it`s only used and activated on 1 PC at any given time.

As long as windows is activated, that`s all that matters.

If the shop stole your COA and did not affix it to your computer, well then, that`s theft and you have to deal with it in your country

And you are also saying you bought the computer off Ebay, less then 6 months ago, and they did not affix a COA to the computer ? Which is totally illegal.

If you bought a legitimate key off Ebay and some repair shop stole the COA, then the Ebay seller owes you nothing, you have to confront the shop.

 

[Whazzupdoc]

Let's answer you from your great answer (from my perspective) about the OEM key being just fine. The rest above in your post is a long story and now apparently irrelevant.

I just validated the registration online. I did it for both mine and her computers. Both are validated. Now what you are telling me is that an OEM is good for life for the computer it is installed on. I just verified that is the case on both of our computers. So anyone else attempting to use that COA would be denied use of it?
If so whoever lifted that COA from the envelope of my OS disks is out of luck? It did them no good whether it was the installer or the eBay seller?

That was a very clear definition between OEM and Retail...thanks!

 

[AddRAM]

Someone who attempted to use the key off your stolen COA would just have to make a Robo call to Microsoft, they would most likely be able to use it, but it would not render your Windows 7 unactivated.

I do know this, I would be furious if some shop stole from me

 

[torchwood]

Hi WhatsUpDoc,
lets start with the basic license types

OEM -- used by Major computer manufacturers and INSTALLED at thier factory
a) each OS version has a base product id key, also installed during manufacture
(and can be found ALL over the web)
b) a COA sticker showing OEM/Version/back-up key must also be attached to the machine.
>>These keys are for use only on the original machine and are NOT transferable<<

OEM System Builder -- Used by smaller specialist manufacturers and some Retailers
a) This is a 1 licence only install and should be sold with the CD and packaging showing the
version and the product ID key.
>> this key is not transferable <<

RETAIL -- Anyone
This type of key, and the most expensive, is widely available, transferable to any machine.
but MUST be sold with its packaging.

Enterprise -- Educational establishments/Large Companies
Sold directly by MS to them on a volume basis, they then pass it to students/employees.


Going back to your posts,
Showing as OEM does NOT guarentee a genuine system.

He offered to simply send me a key, as i stated above items 2,3 must also include the packaging anyone offering key only is breaking the terms of the EULA, and its likely non-genuine

Regarding the loaner, he has made no attempt to disguise the fact its counterfiet thats all i can say as
technically speaking and following forum guidelines, we are not allowed to discuss piracy.

Many users on this forum use imaging/cloning programs to back up thier COMPLETE system, and its quicker and easier to re-install this way, this bypasses the need to enter a product key.

ask away were here to help.
will send you a PM that might help

Roy

 

[torchwood]

xposting
++

if at any stage someone else uses the key, yes the Robocall proceedeure can be used but MS can count so if X number of people call quoting the same key then it will be blocked.

Roy

 

[Whazzupdoc]

Thank you Roy! A very thorough response. If someone did get hold of MS and ask for a Robo copy, would there be anyway for us to be notified? That possibility is unnerving to us. I would somehow like to give notice to the shop that did the work on these two computers that there will be big problems if I later discover such a scheme has been carried off!

 

[torchwood]

Hi Doc,
MS performs 2 types of validation checks.
the first is done everyime you boot up its just a minor one.
the second more thorough WAT check is performed every 90 days, and is when the non-genuine message starts to appear.
as i said MS can count.
1 licence on 2 machines is a no no

Roy

 

[Whazzupdoc]

Thank you Roy! A very thorough response. If someone did get hold of MS and ask for a Robo copy, would there be anyway for us to be notified? That possibility is unnerving to us. I would somehow like to give notice to the shop that did the work on these two computers that there will be big problems if I later discover such a scheme has been carried off!

 

[Whazzupdoc]

Thread is a Good Name!

Like the issues connected with installing a new HD and O/S just keep popping up! Thread, right?

With the install of the new Win7 Home Premium came another problem. Certain programs like Thunderbird are not acting right (mouse print on incoming messages) plus other abnormalities.

Big one though is when I try to do a Windows Update I'm told there are 195 updates to be downloaded. I know these take time but 30+ hours and still sitting on 0% completed???

Seem to recall there was some Windows KB that was a shortcut around all of the previous updates when a person had to reinstall an Operating System. I think all previous updates up thru early 2015 were incorporated into this one KB. Does anyone remember this? Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yes clean installing is a challenge
You can get KB3020369 & KB3125574 & KB3172605 off my OneDrive and manually install them to be updated through April of 2016
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AsjD7o6P3KLKj2TjShn8-SumV1rr

 

[Whazzupdoc]

Wife can't login

I tried to login on my wife's computer (this one) but it wouldn't accept the password. User: ANewman1. ThashZone posted me on her computer with the following:

ThrashZone has just replied to a thread you have subscribed to entitled - Awful Experience Gap - in the Installation & Setup forum of Windows 7 Help Forums. This thread is located at: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/400575-awful-experience-gap-new-post.html Here is the message that has just been posted: *************** Hi, Yes clean installing is a challenge You can get KB3020369 & KB3125574 & KB3172605 off my OneDrive and manually install them to be updated through April of 2016 https://1drv.ms/f/s!AsjD7o6P3KLKj2TjShn8-SumV1rr ***************

These files have been PeaZipped and are waiting to be unzipped, I guess. I'm not too swift at understanding this zipping/unzipping stuff. What tab do I use to get these unipped and downloaded onto her computer...bypassing hours of back Windows Updates?

My 2nd question is...of these 3 KB's is there an order? I seem to recall when I read about two of them much earlier that there was an order as to which should be done 1st.??

Thanks!

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
You'd install in the same order I posted them 1st KB3020369 & 2nd KB3125574 & 3rd KB3172605

I don't know which bit version you need for your wife's computer
You show you have 64 bit so there is a little box on the top right of each zip folder then click on the download listing on the top left.


After the download completes,
Right click the 1st KB3020369 zip folder and select Extract all
It will open a new window with the update
Just double click it and it should ask if you want to install it eventually = click on Yes.

Repeat fr the other 2 updates.

make sure you do this first before attempting to install any of them
Click the Start button and type in the search box
services
Near the bottom you'll see Windows update

 

[torchwood]

Hi WhatsUpDoc,
re login password, follow this tutorial
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85657-password-reset.html?ltr=P

Roy

 

[Whazzupdoc]

Good a.m. Roy. Thanks but I didn't say it right. It isn't a Windows login problem...it is logging in to 7Forums. I thought it would be best to log in from her computer (this one) but apparently I forgot her password. So I logged in as Whazzupdoc. Sorry for the confusion. I'm dealing with several things simultaneously that are over my head (like Macrium XML Validation Error) and then failing to understand .zip issues (like getting downloaded .zip files (3) downloaded to Peazip as .zip files before unzipping them. This has to do with Windows KB files that ThrashZone helpfully sent me yesterday. I can't seem to get them into Peazip one after the other as he has directed. Anyway, that post is the next one to him. Thanks again, Roy.
Doc

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Not sure what Peazip is but like I said earlier you right click one and select Extract all
That will open a new windows where all you have to do is double click on the only file on the page.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,

 

[Whazzupdoc]

O.K., I can see that answering (or asking questions) posts on 7 Forums all seem to appear in the same thread. If that's bad, I'm sorry, really. Likely I needed to do a 'New Post' for another issue while still keeping open a 2nd issue. I can't readily find the tabs/buttons to go from one to another.

So this post is meant for ThrashZone. This is a new O/S. When we moved from the States (to Honduras) all my computer programs like WinZip were in boxes that have yet to be gone thru. So next best thing (I thought) was a free program called PeaZip. For me...hard to understand. Your instructions about downloading the (3) zipped files don't exactly fit PeaZip. There are two examples: 1) I don't seem to be able (know how) to get all three of your KB zipped files into Peazip (one after the other, as you directed)...I can get one but when I leave it and try to bring in another, the first one in Peazip disappears; 2) when I right click on the file I was able to get into Peazip, there is an Extract (not an Extract All) but it will take me to the next window that gives me three option one of which is 'All' but the other is 'By Name'...or something like that. There is no way that I can see that lets me "double click on it to get asked the question "if I want to install it eventually = click on Yes"

Sorry to be so dense. I need a good course in PeaZip, I guess. All of those options in that program really are threatening to me since I don't want to screw anything up. All I want to do here is get those 'Patches' downloaded, unzipped and then somehow activated so I can batch install all of the 195 back Windows Updates. In the meantime I have discovered a potential 'freeze' problem associated with the KB3020369...that is apparently fixed easily enough by a one-time Control>Alt>Ddelete and then proceeding with all other updates coming back for a retry afterwards. Has this been fixed in KB3020369 to your knowledge?