Solved Considering "upgrade" to W10 but concerned about activation

[maxseven]

I am trying to decide if I should do the free "upgrade" to W10 using the method described in the tutorial here, or just continue plodding-away with my W7Pro at least until my favorite software no long works with it. I am very invested in this Primary laptop, with stable hw and sw, so don't need-or-want to get a new computer--this one works great and I have a identical Spare laptop I bought in case this one fails. Further, I see Refurb E6540s for sale running W10 so it does seem the hardware itself will work with it.

So I was thinking to make a clone SSD of my laptop and putting it into the Spare, then working-thru the tutorial to upgrade it, and play with it, before moving that to my Primary, but it seems I might get cross-wise with MS over the activation key? Or can I just avoid Activation until I've verified that I want to go forward with it, then put it in my Primary laptop and Activate there?

I guess my question is: just because my Primary and Spare laptops might have similar specs does NOT mean MS would see them as Identical, right? FWIW I did when I got the Spare laptop put a copy of my Primary laptop's SSD into it to verify it ran, but I didn't leave it in there nor did I realize at that time that eventually MS might say "Hey you can't run that W7Pro in that other laptop!!!"

TIA for any advice about this.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Max,

first thing to consider is regarding your back-up comp, providing they are both the same OEM and W7 version, your spare should auto activate.... ???? hhhhhm whats on it at the moment???

THE BIG BONUS, according to your specs a Dell, the OEM COA product key, IF you need to use it is NOT invalidated if you upgrade to 10

 

[maxseven]

What a good question! See, that's why I came here! It's been almost 4 years since I've touched it so I had to look it up--and it came with Linux Mint...



...and no COA label on it. I got it from amdrecycling in Richardson, Texas. Had same CPU and etc so I went for it.

Back to Post 1 huh.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Max,
lets check what type of licence you have.... run this tool on BOTH laptops... copy/paste the output
https://www.sevenforums.com/attachm...vation-issue-posting-instructions-mgadiag.exe

Note
check the battery compartment for the COA, OEM's started putting them there

 

[maxseven]

Hi Torch, OK so you're going to think I'm an idiot, but... I'm just naive when it comes to the COA. You are right, the COA is in the battery compartment and it is intact! Still, maybe the refurbisher used it on another computer or something? Is there any way to check it ("Windows(r) 7 Pro OA w/Product Key 25chars) against MS to see if still valid? I suppose the obvious thing to do is to install W7Pro x64 from scratch but I'm not sure I want to do that yet.

 

[torchwood]

Hi

your not the first to not know where they hid it, doesnt make you an idiot
post the results of the tool, i can check

it should be noted however that your refurbisher SHOULD have attached a COA with it, and in very small writing on the bottom of the label it will identify it as a refurb key, i have 1 myself

im also running 10 on an old Vista machine with 4Gb ram.... no trouble at all

 

[Bree]

I am trying to decide if I should do the free "upgrade" to W10 using the method described in the tutorial here, or just continue plodding-away with my W7Pro at least until my favorite software no long works with it. I am very invested in this Primary laptop, with stable hw and sw, so don't need-or-want to get a new computer--this one works great and I have a identical Spare laptop I bought in case this one fails. Further, I see Refurb E6540s for sale running W10 so it does seem the hardware itself will work with it.

So I was thinking to make a clone SSD of my laptop and putting it into the Spare, then working-thru the tutorial to upgrade it, and play with it, before moving that to my Primary, but it seems I might get cross-wise with MS over the activation key? Or can I just avoid Activation until I've verified that I want to go forward with it, then put it in my Primary laptop and Activate there?

Activation works differently in Windows 10. It is activated with a digital license stored on Microsoft's activation servers and linked to the hardware ID of the PC. A PC gains a digital license when an activated Win7 is upgraded to Win10.

So, if you activate Win10 on the 'spare' then it's that PC that has a digital licence to run Win10. You cannot transfer that digital license to another PC, it is permanently tied to the hardware ID of the PC you activated.

 

[maxseven]

Below are the results of running the MGA tool on my Primary laptop, though I can't run it on the Spare becase it doesn't have Windows on it. Further, assuming Bree is right that I can only upgrade to W10 with an Activated W7, I can't use the Spare laptop anyway because it doesn't have such, and MS is no longer activating new W7 installations it seems, right? I do have a Repair/Install disc that I could try with the Spare if you think MS would activate it. Otherwise the Spare seems only good for spare parts.

Whaddya think.

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):-----------------------------------------Windows Validation Data-->Validation Code: 0Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0Windows Product Key: *****-*****-M3DJT-4J3WC-733WDWindows Product Key Hash: xo+ajVSpae7/4VoZjS7m6JL0f3A=Windows Product ID: 00371-OEM-8992671-00524Windows Product ID Type: 2Windows License Type: OEM SLPWindows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048ID: {8579BD1E-E3BC-4D59-AC0D-74963B8A761F}(3)Is Admin: YesTestCab: 0x0LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002Product Name: Windows 7 ProfessionalArchitecture: 0x00000009Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_ldr_escrow.200102-1707TTS Error: Validation Diagnostic: Resolution Status: N/AVista WgaER Data-->ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002Windows XP Notifications Data-->Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002File Exists: NoVersion: N/A, hr = 0x80070002WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002OGA Notifications Data-->Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002OGA Data-->Office Status: 109 N/AOGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3Browser Data-->Proxy settings: N/AUser Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)Default Browser: C:\Program Files (x86)\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave.exeDownload signed ActiveX controls: PromptDownload unsigned ActiveX controls: DisabledRun ActiveX controls and plug-ins: AllowedInitialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: DisabledAllow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: DisabledActive scripting: AllowedScript ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: AllowedFile Scan Data-->Other data-->Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{8579BD1E-E3BC-4D59-AC0D-74963B8A761F}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-733WD</PKey><PID>00371-OEM-8992671-00524</PID><PIDType>2</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-3700722257-3226042691-2272868669</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Model>Latitude E6540</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>A27</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="7"/><Date>20190613000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>2FFE3F07018400F4</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Central Standard Time(GMT-06:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>DELL  </OEMID><OEMTableID>CBX3   </OEMTableID></OEM><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>  Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002Licensing Data-->Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514Name: Windows(R) 7, Professional editionDescription: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, OEM_SLP channelActivation ID: 50e329f7-a5fa-46b2-85fd-f224e5da7764Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059fExtended PID: 00371-00178-926-700524-02-1033-7601.0000-2082014Installation ID: 016504303251221770194104799193018474088222800771533802Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340Partial Product Key: 733WDLicense Status: LicensedRemaining Windows rearm count: 2Trusted time: 4/10/2022 2:54:53 PMWindows Activation Technologies-->HrOffline: 0x00000000HrOnline: 0x00000000HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000Event Time Stamp: 4:5:2022 06:13ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395HealthStatus Bitmask Output:HWID Data-->HWID Hash Current: OAAAAAIAAQABAAIAAgABAAAABAABAAEAHKJCTzJuTjT8dkzrUEnMRN6IwKSUTW49srWoo1jhyPY=OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->N/AOEM Activation 2.0 Data-->BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yesWindows marker version: 0x20001OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yesBIOS Information:   ACPI Table Name    OEMID Value    OEMTableID Value  APIC            DELL          CBX3     FACP            DELL          CBX3     HPET            DELL          CBX3     MCFG            DELL          CBX3     FPDT            DELL          CBX3     SLIC            DELL          CBX3     LPIT            DELL          CBX3     SSDT            INTEL        sensrhub  SSDT            INTEL        sensrhub  SSDT            INTEL        sensrhub  SSDT            INTEL        sensrhub  SSDT            INTEL        sensrhub  SSDT            INTEL        sensrhub  ASF!            INTEL          HCG  DMAR            INTEL         HSW   SSDT            INTEL        sensrhub

PS I ran a clone SSD on the Spare drive and I suppose as should be expected, while the Product Key and Hash and ID and ID Type are the same, the 32char "ID:" is not, nor under Licensing info is the Installation ID the same.

I guess I will try do a fresh installation of W7 to the Spare and see if it will activate. If successful, then I would at least have two working PCs with W10 or 11 on them, and in a pinch could transfer files and programs from the Primary to the now-working Spare.

Anyone see a problem with this? Like activating a "new" W7 two years post-support???

 

[torchwood]

Hi Max,

nothing untoward in that report, its still using the original Dell OEM product key
MS W7 validation servers are still active, so you should not have a problem upgrading to W10....if you do just use the COA key.

your spare machine will be missing certain data sets that are required to activate

Note if you install W7 you get a 3 month grace period to play around with it

see this --- #6
https://www.google.com/url?client=i...YQFnoECAMQAg&usg=AOvVaw3kZ7AcPzczI_GcfoaE51Ny

 

[maxseven]

I'm about to head-out for the day but wanted to report: desiring now "simply" to re-install W7Pro to my Spare and then upgrade it all-the-way if possible, I did last evening try to assert a Repair/Install disk to a spare SSD, and while that worked I ended-up with no drivers on the machine. Which caused me to realize something:

My Primary laptop still has the Dell Factory Recovery partition on it! So I SHOULD be able to make (another) copy of that, and boot my Spare Dell with it, and go-thru the Repair Computer and Return to Factory Settings on it, should I not? That feels like the easy way to do this, though I'll still need to update again to W7SP1 after restoring to factory.

Does this seem like the best way to proceed? After which, besides somehow getting the Spare updated to latest/last Windows, the Activation process should go smoothly with the Product Key that is still there in the battery compartment.

 

[Bree]

My Primary laptop still has the Dell Factory Recovery partition on it! So I SHOULD be able to make (another) copy of that, and boot my Spare Dell with it, and go-thru the Repair Computer and Return to Factory Settings on it, should I not?

That should work to install and activate W7 on the spare Dell. If not, the Heidoc Windows and Office ISO download tool can download many of the machine-specific Dell system recovery ISOs direct from Dell.

Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

 

[maxseven]

Thanks Bree, as that seems easiest (to try the Dell Recovery bit) I will do that first, and try the HeiDoc route if plan A failes.



- - - Updated - - -

Hmm in looking at the HeiDoc route, it actually appeared easy to try. So I dl'ed the .iso file form my model of Dell computer, installed it to a USB stick, and used it to install Windows and that worked, but....

When I call-up System in Control Panel it says "Windows is Activated"!!!! The install process didn't even ask me for a Product code!?

Could it have been that easy? :shock:

 

[Bree]

Hmm in looking at the HeiDoc route, it actually appeared easy to try. So I dl'ed the .iso file form my model of Dell computer, installed it to a USB stick, and used it to install Windows and that worked, but....
When I call-up System in Control Panel it says "Windows is Activated"!!!! The install process didn't even ask me for a Product code!?
Could it have been that easy? :shock:

Yes, it really is.

A factory reset image from the OEM self-activates without needing the internet. For machines supplied with Windows 7 pre-installed there is a OEM-specific System Locked Pre-instalation (SLP) marker in the bios. This, together with an OEM certificate and a OEM-specific OEM key in the install media allow the system to know that this machine is entitled to run this edition of Windows 7. It therefore activates automatically.

For machines built with Windows 8 or later pre-installed the system works differently, a full 25 digit OEM key is embedded in the bios.


Windows 7 OEM System Locked Preinstallation Activation - Windows 11 Installation Guides

 

[maxseven]

And to think torch told me this right on Post 2 and I didn't follow:

first thing to consider is regarding your back-up comp, providing they are both the same OEM and W7 version, your spare should auto activate...

I wonder now why the refurbisher put Mint on the laptop when they could simply have used the Dell .iso as I just did. Maybe that is an issue yet-to-arise when I attempt to upgrade to W10 (and then I guess to W11).

In any case, many thanks torchwood and Bree for helping me through this. I'd have never figured this out on my own!

 

[Bree]

I wonder now why the refurbisher put Mint on the laptop when they could simply have used the Dell .iso as I just did. Maybe that is an issue yet-to-arise when I attempt to upgrade to W10 (and then I guess to W11).

Can't say why they used Mint, but at least they seem to be an honest refurbisher. A less scrupulous one would have used an activation hack to illegally activate Windows.

There should be no problem upgrading to W10. I have upgraded far older Dell laptops than your Dell Latitude E6540. My oldest was a Latitude E4310. W11 would be problem though, your E6540 has a 4th gen Intel processor and TPM 1.2. Minimum requirements for W11 are 8th gen or later and TPM 2.0. That's not to say it can't run W11, but it will be an unsupported device with all that entails.

The following disclaimer applies if you install Windows 11 on a device that doesn't meet the minimum system requirements:

This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements for running Windows 11 - these requirements help ensure a more reliable and higher quality experience. Installing Windows 11 on this PC is not recommended and may result in compatibility issues. If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won't be entitled to receive updates. Damages to your PC due to lack of compatibility aren't covered under the manufacturer warranty.

Installing Windows 11 on devices that don't meet minimum system requirements

In order to upgrade from W10 to W11 (there is no upgrade path direct from W7) you'd need to use some workaround to get past the upgrade check for hardware compatibility. Without them it will refuse to install on an unsupported device. Once installed though it should run OK and (so far, at least) it will get all the updates. I have W11 running as a test on my E4310 with its 1st gen i5, for example.

 

[maxseven]

Thank you again Bree, this is just wonderful information.

I think for the time being anyway I will thus upgrade the Spare now LatitudeNo2 to W10 and see if I can become comfortable with the new OS. If the answer is Yes then I will likely migrate my day-to-day programs to that computer given at least one of my keys, FileCenter from Lucion Technologies, is no longer tested-or-supported to run on W7.

Another key program of mine has been Acronis True Image, and it seems there is some problem with running the latest of THAT program with W11 and some TPM-related issue. I've never used TPM and see no reason for it given I'm one old retired guy who never carries his laptop anywhere but Winter house to Summer house and back!

Oh, and since you know Dell, I have three E-Dock docking stations which is another reason I wanna stick with the Eseries of laptops if I can. Snap-in, snap-out, they work great for me.

 

[Bree]

Another key program of mine has been Acronis True Image, and it seems there is some problem with running the latest of THAT program with W11 and some TPM-related issue.

I wouldn't know about that, I use Macrium Reflect. That has no problems with Windows 11.

 

[maxseven]

Hey folks I updated to W10 Pro today using Brink's tutorial and it went flawlessly. I was further pleased to goto the Dell support site and find that Dell Command | Update, which had STOPPED working for W7, was there for me to download and it completed all the updates I needed.

Now to learn Windows 10. Many thanks torchwood and Bree for helping me!

 

[Bree]

Hey folks I updated to W10 Pro today using Brink's tutorial and it went flawlessly. I was further pleased to goto the Dell support site and find that Dell Command | Update, which had STOPPED working for W7, was there for me to download and it completed all the updates I needed.

Now to learn Windows 10. Many thanks torchwood and Bree for helping me!

You'll have to sign up at the sister-site Ten Forums now. You'll find many familiar names there to help you, me included.