Solved How can I activate my Windows 7 on a non-connected computer?

[yardbird]

Hmmmm

not a keeper but been doing the activation validation problems checks here for years, and the site owner has never over-ruled me

I have NO problem at all with a machine being OFFline activated
FYI -- OEM machines, dell/hp/etc using thier original setup SELF activate, ie OFFLINE

According to the OP's specs and comments the machine is a custom build, so im not making assumptions
(likely an MSI motherboard)

as and when he gets it back we can check further, i will get him to run this tool,
https://www.sevenforums.com/attachm...vation-issue-posting-instructions-mgadiag.exe

Yes, the machine was custom build many years ago.

The motherboard and the graphics card are somewhat newer, about 10 years old and the main drive is two years old. It replaced the older one after a crash.

The reasons why the machine is offline are to avoid security problems due to the old OS and also because I don't need to have it connected to the net. OK, it's a little trickier when I import music and such from the net. I have to transport it over via external hard drives but no problems with that.

What is that tool in the link and what does it do?

 

[torchwood]

Hi

that tool is MS's standard activation troubleshooter, i analyse them to diagnose the problems

none of the replacement parts will invalidate a retail product key
even a unvalidated system will receive security updates

 

[yardbird]

Hi

that tool is MS's standard activation troubleshooter, i analyse them to diagnose the problems

none of the replacement parts will invalidate a retail product key
even a unvalidated system will receive security updates

Such an device would be great to have, something I actually need for future use.

maybe I should give a copy to the people at the shop who are supposed to repair my computer and discover eventual problems. They seem to have some difficulties to find what's wrong. Unfortunately, I don't know how to build or repair a computer and they are the only ones in town.......

As for my computer, I need the basic OS which is a reason why I'll keep it away from updates, security or not.

As for the validation, I've heard that there can be certain problems with computers who are not activated and validated, such as certain functions shut off.

I don't want such problems, especially since I've actually bought a legal Windows 7 OS.

If I could find a way to validate the computer on-line with the basic OS, I would do it.

 

[nt351]

FYI -- OEM machines, dell/hp/etc using thier original setup SELF activate, ie OFFLINE

You may not know this, but it has been like that since the XP days, when this insult to injury was introduced by Microsoft.

 

[yardbird]

You may not know this, but it has been like that since the XP days, when this insult to injury was introduced by Microsoft.

I didn't have those problems in the XP days, so no, I didn't notice.
I didn't even have those problems with Windows 7 before, not until the latest time I tried to activate the original OS and ran into a wall of trouble.
The point is: How do I solve these problems?
Not to mention that I still haven't been told exactly what is wrong with my computer, still waiting for the computer firm to find that out.
I'll see them tomorrow and I hope to come up with something more constructive here too.

 

[torchwood]

nt351

OEM comps have allways had 2 product keys, even from XP.... got an old Medion Okaya that started that way

it was part of MS's EULA agreement with them
1) was encoded on the motherboard during factory manufacture -- specific key for each OEM/windows version
( i have a complete list of them + some non standard offline keys for companies like Siemens)
2) was a unique code on the COA attached to the comp


Im an old git of 68 whose been around the block looking at these problems for years

 

[yardbird]

@nt351

OEM comps have allways had 2 product keys, even from XP.... got an old Medion Okaya that started that way

it was part of MS's EULA agreement with them
1) was encoded on the motherboard during factory manufacture -- specific key for each OEM/windows version
( i have a complete list of them + some non standard offline keys for companies like Siemens)
2) was a unique code on the COA attached to the comp


Im an old git of 68 whose been around the block looking at these problems for years

And I'm grateful for all help I can get in this case.

My biggest problem right now is that it's been taking so long for those who are supposed to fix my computer to come up with an answer.
Unfortunately they are the only ones in town, otherwise i'd gone for another option.

- - - Updated - - -

OK, here's the current situation.

After 3-4 days of testing, the staff at the shop who are trying to repair my computer haven't managed to find out what is wrong with it.

They have detected the problem with the computer "freezing" but they don't know if it is a hardware problem or a software problem.

The suspect that it can be the capacitors of the motherboard but they are not sure.

So I've decided that they can build a new one for me. But it will cost me a lot of money.

Not to mention that it might take some more weeks due to summer vacations and such.

And when I get the new computer, I'm still stuck with the validation problem.

The shop will use an "image" to install Windows 7 and that will most likely be the latest version with Microsoft Edge while I need Internet Explorer on it.

So as soon as I get the new computer, I must re-install Windows 7 with the original OS and then we'll have the validation problem.

It's a never-ending nightmare all of this.

 

[michael diemer]

At this point I would just buy a reconditioned Windows 7 machine. I just picked one up from Newegg for 131.00. 8 GB ram and W7 Pro, which I was able to authorize and update. But you would just keep it as is, I take it, so you could play that computer game. I would not take it online much, however, without it being updated. but that is what you want, apparently.

Then just pay the repair shop for work done, and figure out what to do with other computer later. Personally, I would put Linux on it.

 

[yardbird]

At this point I would just buy a reconditioned Windows 7 machine. I just picked one up from Newegg for 131.00. 8 GB ram and W7 Pro, which I was able to authorize and update. But you would just keep it as is, I take it, so you could play that computer game. I would not take it online much, however, without it being updated. but that is what you want, apparently.

Then just pay the repair shop for work done, and figure out what to do with other computer later. Personally, I would put Linux on it.

I would rather give Linux a chance too.

But the game I play most and which is the main problem with all this doesn't work on Linux.

I've been asking questions about this for a long time, especially on the site on which they have created a version of the game which can run with Windows 7 (however with a very complicated installation and only their stuff can be used). There was a guy who had started to work with a Linux version of the game but nothing more has happened in years now.

As for reconditioned Windows 7 machines, I haven't found one yet in my country and since I'm not good at building computers, tt would be difficult to modify it the way I want.

 

[torchwood]

The ISO that your repairer >>>MAY<<< use is likely an early SP1

IT will not have Edge included, more likely IE11

please ask them

if you have a >>>PRE SP1<<< (jan2011) disc get them to use it
and TELL them not to go on line

and come back here for more instructions

 

[yardbird]

The ISO that your repairer >>>MAY<<< use is likely an early SP1

IT will not have Edge included, more likely IE11

please ask them

if you have a >>>PRE SP1<<< (jan2011) disc get them to use it
and TELL them not to go on line

and come back here for more instructions

They repaired this computer two years ago when my main drive crashed and then they installed it with Edge and all that.
Therefore I had to re-install the OS and got stuck with that validation problem.

They are aware of the problems.

But whatever they do, I might be stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Option 1: Get the latest version of Windows 7 with Edge and everything, even a validation. But then I have to redo the install and the validation is gone.

Option 2: have the original OS installed but also be faced with the validation problem.

But we'll see what will happen next week

 

[MisterEd]

Even if Windows 7 install is SP1 that is OK. Then just install SP2. Note SP2 for Windows 7 is also called "convenience update"

How to obtain and install Windows 7 SP2
Redirecting

 

[yardbird]

Even if Windows 7 install is SP1 that is OK. Then just install SP2. Note SP2 for Windows 7 is also called "convenience update"
My problem is the opposite if the shop which repair my computer re-install the OS with Microsoft Edge while I need Internet explorer and early Java for some games.

In that case I have to re-install my original Windows 7 (SP1) b and it's then I'll get the problem with how to validate the system.
How to obtain and install Windows 7 SP2
Redirecting

My problem is the opposite if the firm which is about to repair my computer must re-install the OS and installs a recent version with Microsoft Edge instead of Internet explorer.

If that happens, I must re install the original OS and then I'll get the problem with validation.

 

[MisterEd]

My problem is the opposite if the firm which is about to repair my computer must re-install the OS and installs a recent version with Microsoft Edge instead of Internet explorer.

If that happens, I must re install the original OS and then I'll get the problem with validation.

What version have you installed: Windows 7, Windows 7 w/SP 1, or Windows 7 w/SP 2?

How are you trying to activate Windows 7? What error message did you get? If you used phone activation and it failed did you try to call Microsoft support directly? Last year I had to call Microsoft support to help me activate Windows XP when phone activation failed.

 

[michael diemer]

At this point I would get the computer back and forget about the repair shop. I mean, they have had your computer for 2 weeks, and they're still just "about to repair it?" That is unacceptable. I would pull that thing out of there and work with the folks here, they will solve it for you!

 

[Volume Z]

Option 1: Get the latest version of Windows 7 with Edge and everything

There is no such thing as a version of Windows 7 with Edge.

Edge is an optional update in Windows 7 SP1. There is no version of Windows 7 without Internet Explorer, and there is no Windows 7 SP2.

 

[MisterEd]

...there is no Windows 7 SP2.

True but some people call KB3020369 from the Microsoft Update Catalog an unofficial SP2 for Windows 7.

How to obtain and install Windows 7 SP2
Redirecting

Microsoft Update Catalog: KB3020369
Microsoft Update Catalog

 

[Volume Z]

The update that people call an unofficial SP2 is KB3125574.

 

[yardbird]

What version have you installed: Windows 7, Windows 7 w/SP 1, or Windows 7 w/SP 2?

How are you trying to activate Windows 7? What error message did you get? If you used phone activation and it failed did you try to call Microsoft support directly? Last year I had to call Microsoft support to help me activate Windows XP when phone activation failed.

What happened two years ago was that it was impossible to activate via the net because when I clicked on that link, I was faced with a dead address which Microsoft obviously don't use anymore and there was no other option.

So I used the telephone method and it worked. But it was complicated and took a very long time. I'm not exactly looking forward to it.

I had installed my original Windows 7 and I'm gonna do that again since I've managed to get another computer, unfortunately with Internet Explorer 11 which my favorite game don't like.

Yesterday I failed with installing an older version of Internet Explorer since the version I got here, obviously Windows with SP2. So I have to start from scratch.

- - - Updated - - -

At this point I would get the computer back and forget about the repair shop. I mean, they have had your computer for 2 weeks, and they're still just "about to repair it?" That is unacceptable. I would pull that thing out of there and work with the folks here, they will solve it for you!

Which is exactly what I'm doing!

I've got another computer which I bought on-line for a decent price. Unfortunately it has Internet Explorer 11 installed and my NHL 2004 game don't like that. Since I failed with installing an older version of IE because the OS which I got now, obviously Windows 7 with SP2 didn't like it, I have to start from scratch.

I have also faced another problem. I tried to make a partition of one of my hard drives but it became a bit complicated.

My intention is to have Drive 1 as C and Drive 2 which is now D with three partitions, D, E and F.

I managed to created E and F but when I look at D, it still has the same size as the whole disc had before the partition which doesn't make sense since I've chopped off two thirds of it to create E and F. It wasn't that way with my old computer.

It was such a long time ago when I last did a partition on any drive so I've almost forgotten how to do it. So I've tried to follow the instructions on the net but they are sometimes confusing.

- - - Updated - - -

There is no such thing as a version of Windows 7 with Edge.

Edge is an optional update in Windows 7 SP1. There is no version of Windows 7 without Internet Explorer, and there is no Windows 7 SP2.

You're obviously right. I guess I messed it up with IE 11 which most likely was what I got when I had my computer repaired two years ago.

 

[Volume Z]

Since I failed with installing an older version of IE because the OS which I got now, obviously Windows 7 with SP2 didn't like it, I have to start from scratch.

I do not understand what this means. The Service Pack 2 that does not exist cannot keep you from uninstalling IE11, 10 or 9. You do not install lower versions of IE over IE11. You uninstall 11.