Solved Bought windows 7 sticker without box, has a no return policy.

[Michael21]

As the title mentions, i bought 3 windows 7 home premium stickers from a shop near my house. I got them (3) for $184 (US), while 3 stickers in a box cost $272 (US), and now i have a feeling they are all pirated copies that don't work properly. I haven't tried them yet as all my computers and laptops are already running windows 7 home prem / professional. I never bought from this shop before. Is there a way to get real copies or am i screwed and i spent a lot of money on nothing.

 

[Brink]

Hello Michael, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Since those product keys are not currently activated on a PC, you might see if this below may help to tell if they may be genuine or not.

How to know you're buying genuine Windows - Microsoft Windows

How to Tell - Home
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Hope this may help,
Shawn

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[Michael21]

Sent report to microsoft

Thanks for your help Brink.

All i got from the person i bought it from was a CoA sticker with a product key on it. Please tell me if thats enough. Thx
I sent a report to Microsoft.

Thanks again.

Michael

 

[bobafetthotmail]

I think you got the OEM stickers, that are cheaper but can be installed only on a single PC and will be linked to it forever (not transferable to another after you activated it, but can reinstall and reactivate the same PC all times you want).
The ones that cost more are the Retail version, that isn't linked to a single PC forever. But without seeing them there is no way to tell what is what.

Can you post a pic of them (with the product key covered/deleted from the image of course)?

 

[pebbly]

Hi Michael21, You could also use this Windows 7 Product Key Checker Free Download this will tell you if the key is geuine or not

 

[Michael21]

Thanks for all the support guys

Quote bobafetthotmail: "I think you got the OEM stickers, that are cheaper but can be installed only on a single PC and will be linked to it forever (not transferable to another after you activated it, but can reinstall and reactivate the same PC all times you want).
The ones that cost more are the Retail version, that isn't linked to a single PC forever. But without seeing them there is no way to tell what is what.
Can you post a pic of them (with the product key covered/deleted from the image of course)?"

I think it is the OEM version, thx for the info
I have included a screenie below

 

[Brink]

Michael,

Yep, that's an OEM COA sticker.

When you activate that product key on a computer, it will be permanently tied to that specific motherboard of that computer and cannot be used to activate on any other computer.

 

[Michael21]

Thanks for all the help Brink, and everyone else.

I don't mind having it tied to a specific motherboard.
I will close this thread in 10 mins.

THANKS AGAIN

You are all very

Michael

 

[Michael21]

BTW, is there a way to check if it is already used?????

 

[Brink]

You could use the program that Kathryn (pebbly) posted above to check if it's genuine or not, but there's really no way of knowing for sure (other than calling Microsoft) until you try to activate it. If it fails to active online, then you should be able to just activate by phone without issue though.

 

[Michael21]

Right, thx

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. Please let us know if you have any questions when you activate them.