Solved Can't find Activation Key for Windows 7 ISO from Digital River

[er44tvoll]

I first purchased Windows 7 Home Edition (32-bit), then upgraded online to Windows 7 Pro (32-bit).
The hal.dll corrupted and I couldn't fix the problem because I only had the Home Edition discs.

Several sources in Forums advised me to fix the problem using a boot disk from an ISO downloaded from Digital River.
That disc couldn't fix the hal.dll problem either so I did the Custom Install. That put a new installation of Windows 7 Pro on the computer.
Now I'm being asked for the Activation Key. The Key I was given when I upgraded to Pro isn't being accepted. I'm told that the Key I was given only works for the Windows 7 Pro upgrade..!

I've signed-on to the Microsoft site and followed links around for a while, but I can't find any understandable information about my problem. How do I get the Activation Key for Windows 7 Pro now that it's been reinstalled?

Thanks

 

[Digital Life]

Unfortunately I think you are going to have to install it the way you started install home first then upgrade to pro

 

[er44tvoll]

Can you point me to more information about that? My paid product failed and I was forced to replace it and now I can't find a way to get an Activation Key for this OS obtained legally from Digital River. All I did was replace a broken Windows 7 Pro with a working copy. Is there a specific reason why I can't provide proof of purchase to Microsoft and get this current installation Activated?

 

[VistaKing]

Take a look at this link below

:ar: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Do Option Three

 

[er44tvoll]

I don't think I need to do Option Three in that example. I'm not getting an Error Code 0xc004f061. I'm not getting any error codes at all. I'm just told I need to Activate the OS.
I think I should change the Product Key. I've looked through the files on the boot disc I made from that .ISO, but I don't know what I'm looking for. I'm just guessing, of course, but if I could figure how to get a Product Key for the OS that's installed now, maybe I can get an Activation Key for that.
Do you know where I could find that Product Key?
Thanks

 

[VistaKing]

The product key should be in your Microsoft ID that was created when you purchased the key .

 

[er44tvoll]

The Activation prompt isn't accepting the original Product Key. It says that the Windows 7 Pro product key I'm giving it pertains to that upgrade, not to the software that's installed now.
So I've paid for Windows 7 Pro, which failed, and was replaced with a copy from Digital River, which I can't Activate maybe because I need a different Product Key. I didn't see any mention of any of this when I downloaded that ISO and reinstalled from the boot disc. And like I said, I'm just guessing that maybe this is the reason for the trouble.

Thanks

 

[VistaKing]

You had Windows 7 Home Premium purchased Professional Upgrade key using the Anytime upgrade . Then you reinstalled Win 7 Pro ?

 

[er44tvoll]

Yes, that's correct.
It started with a "hal.dll" error message. The OS wouldn't boot. I put out 'feelers' on a few Forums and the most common replies agreed that I should download Windows 7 Pro .ISO from Digital River and from that boot disc attempt to fix the hal.dll problem.
I went down the list of options on the menu supplied by the boot disc but nothing worked to fix the problem, and the final option was Custom Install. So that's what I finally did since nothing else worked.
Over the last several days I've been reinstalling all my applications, getting everything setup again...

Thanks.

 

[VistaKing]

Ok so do the option 3 in the tutorial I gave you . To activate an upgrade key you'd have to reinstall win7pro on top of your current install from within windows or use the reg hack that is on option 3 of the tutorial on how to do a clean install with an upgrade media .

 

[er44tvoll]

Hi
Okay, I downloaded that .bat file, ran it as Administrator, and rebooted the system when prompted.
I provided the Product Key I was given when I upgraded to Pro, and this time I did see that 0xc004f061error code. I guess it was there before and I failed to recognise it.
So that's good, now I've got a direction in which to think.
I guess I'm ready to try something in Option 4...

Thanks.

 

[er44tvoll]

Slight delay while I get through another snag...
I couldn't install the update from the boot disc until Windows was running. From what I could understand I'm to install from the boot disc after the system has booted. That's where I'm snagged, I'm trying to get the installation disc to fire-up and no matter what I try, either clicking or right-clicking, I'm not finding an .exe file to get things started.
I'm almost out of time tonight, I'll pick this up a.s.a.p.
Thanks again.

 

[VistaKing]

Open up an Elevated Command Prompt. Click on rb: in

type CMD . Right click on CMD under Programs (1) choose

. On the User Access Control window click on the Yes button . Command Prompt opens up to C:\Windows\System32>_

Inside the command prompt input this command and press [Enter]

slmgr -ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

   Note

input your Product Key inplace of the XXXXX

Then input this command and press [ENTER]

slmgr -ato

 

[er44tvoll]

Hi
Cool, I just learned about the Elevated Command Prompt.
Following those instructions above I got two error messages:

#1
On a computer running Microsoft windows non-core edition, run 'slui.exe 0x2a 0xC004F061' to display the error text
Error: 0xC004F061

(The slui.exe error code only gave a pop-up message that said, "An error has occurred" ...)

#2
Activating Windows(R) 7, Professional edition
[snip: not sure if it's safe to post this long number] ...
Error: 0xC004c003 The activation server determined the specified product key is blocked.

What blocks the product key and how can I unblock it?

Thanks

 

[VistaKing]

Microsoft blocks the Product Key . Did you input the Product key that you purchased from the Upgrade anytime ?

 

[er44tvoll]

Microsoft blocks the Product Key . Did you input the Product key that you purchased from the Upgrade anytime ?

I had to look it up to be sure, but yes, I upgraded to Pro on June 4th, and the problem with the hal.dll file happened on July 23rd, almost three weeks past the Activation deadline. I don't like putting-off things like that, I'll Activate right away just to have everything covered.

Might it be blocked because of my earlier attempts to Activate using the upgrade Product Key?


Thanks for all your help with this.

 

[VistaKing]

You're welcome . Call Microsoft

 

[er44tvoll]

OK. Thanks again.

 

[er44tvoll]

It took a while for the Telephone Support folks at Microsoft to solve this.
First we setup remote access so the person could check my Registry.
Then after trying a few commands on the Command Line the Technician contacted someone in another Department who assisted with determining the authenticity of the software and generating a new Product Key. The software was Activated.
Kids, do try this at home. But if you're telephoning mid-day, pack a lunch and bring a book.
Thanks to all the helpers for all the help.

 

[VistaKing]

What command lines did they use ?