Solved Installing Windows 7

[boyboyds]

I acquired a PC without a HDD. It is DELL and used to run W7.

DELL's 25 digit key attached, but MS does not recognize this key.

This is the message:

"The product key you entered appears to be for software pre-installed by the device manufacturer.
Please contact the device manufacturer for software recovery options."

I installed a blank HDD and loaded UBUNTU temporarily,
but I am not familiar with it and do not want to learn.

I also do not want to buy another W7 key, is there any way around the problem in my situation.....?

Thanks,
-BBDS

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Sounds like you need an iso to download and install to me
Please review this post
http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/383716-iso-image-2.html#post3163070

 

[Layback Bear]

Dell's key will not work on a new install on a new Hard Drive.

Does your PC have a Microsoft sticker on it that looks something like this?

 

[boyboyds]

Dell's key will not work on a new install on a new Hard Drive.

Does your PC have a Microsoft sticker on it that looks something like this?

View attachment 377428

Yes, exactly like in your picture. And the 25 bite key is not recognized.
Does it mean all my attempts to download W7 will fail....?

-BBDS

 

[derekimo]

Your key will work but you just can't use that one to download from Microsoft, as you already found out.

Try the link that Thrash posted above, it's a torrent but that's basically all we are left with now.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
After getting the iso via the torrent you can use Option 2 here
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html#option2

Then the rest just follow this
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Personally I would use the digital river mirror torrent download seeing you're in the U.S.A. and not Germany

 

[torchwood]

There is no reason why the key on the sticker will not work unless the motherboard has been changed, HD change does not invalidate the key, ITS more than likely been incorrectly read and input.

Roy

 

[ThrashZone]

OEM's are not supported by M$ for downloads,

Heck I tried a system builders and still is not supported for a download of an iso from M$
Only my retail key worked

I believe Derek said his system builders key worked but it must be an interesting system builders copy

 

[bigmck]

I have a question. I assume this is illegal what I am about to say, but just curious why? Different people on this forum could contribute the ISO that they made their install with and we would have all versions of Win 7 to post on the Forum for folks to use. Why couldn't that be done?

 

[AddRAM]

I suggested that before too.

 

[Layback Bear]

I believe that John is the only one that can answer that question.

It may or may not be permitted on this forum.

 

[boyboyds]

Thank you all for your help - it was a lot of work......but it worked.....!

1. Found a W7 PC with no HDD, but with DELL's Microsoft 25 digit key attached to the box.
2. Tried to load W7 from Microsoft official site - the site did not recognize DELL's key and rejected it.
3. Downloaded W7 ISO file from qBittorent.
4. Created W7 installer on a USB using Rufus, pointing to the ISO file.
Rufus Note: The File System is set to FAT32 by default and may not work. Set it to NTFS and try again.
5. Loaded W7 on the new PC, and it accepted DELL's key without any problems.
6. Loaded Windows updates and all is well now.

3 small problems:

1. Network driver was missing - uploaded it from DELL's site and it worked.
2. Windows updates did not work at first - found a simple fix on-line.
From the CMD Prompt enter 3 commands one at a time, <ENTER> after each command:
---->Net stop wuauserv
---->Sc config wuauserv type= own
---->Net start wuauserv
3. Dedicated video card was not recognized - uploaded drivers from NVIDIA site.

Update:

A week later suddenly a message from MS stating that I need a valid key.
I entered the same very key again and it accepted it......!!!!!


-BBDS

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Very good and thanks for the update
Cheers.

 

[boyboyds]

I have a question. I assume this is illegal what I am about to say, but just curious why? Different people on this forum could contribute the ISO that they made their install with and we would have all versions of Win 7 to post on the Forum for folks to use. Why couldn't that be done?

You can download and install Windows on a PC the way you suggested, but you will not get any updates without a valid unique key.

-BBDS

 

[derekimo]

I believe Derek said his system builders key worked but it must be an interesting system builders copy

It did work. Nothing special about it, I bought it when W7 was released, actually installed it a couple days before it's official release to the public.

Just tried it again and it worked,

 

[ThrashZone]

Cool even qualified for sp1 you lucky dog
Might have to see a mag on that jewel