Product Key...

[cottonball]

Hi folks!

Have not been here for a while. Been having some 'extraterrestrial' medical experiences, but, made it through them.

Sure could use some help with an install issue.

Have some friends (husband and wife) that want me to do a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit version (OS currently on their PC).

Their son installed the current system, and lost their Product Key. The computer previously had XP on it, and that is on the COA sticker. Have been looking for a Product Key, but some of these look rather dubious. This morning I called Microsoft, and they no longer sell anything for W7. What a surprise!

Anyone have any idea of where a legal retail Product Key for W7 Ultimate 32bit could be purchased?

Thanks much for the help!!

 

[Layback Bear]

Glad to see your back.

First off; you can't just buy a legal COA key by itself. Legal keys are sold with the DVD use to install with.

If the computer has Windows 7 already installed and has one of these you can use that key.



Another option would be to use a free program called Belarc. It will show the COA key that was used to install and activate the installed Windows 7. If that COA key is proper you can use it for a Clean Install.

Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit, for software, hardware and security configuration information on your computer. Software license management, IT asset management, cyber security audits, and more.

 

[Ranger4]

Hi & welcome back. Hope all the medical problems are now under control.

This website should help you get the activation key from your friends PC. It assumes of course that the computer still works & you or they have an installation DVD for the install.

How to Find Your Lost Windows or Office Product Keys

 

[derekimo]

Welcome back cottonball, hope you are feeling better,

This is a great little tool from one of our members at EF and TF,

Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

It works great.

 

[AddRAM]

Speccy will also show you the current windows 7 activation key, in Speccy it will say serial number.

Open Speccy, click operating system on the left side, then it will show you a Serial Number on the right side, that is your activation key

 

[cottonball]

Thank you ALL, for the replies!

Used them all, and confirmed and re-confirmed the Product Key.

However, there is a new twist in the situation. The son cannot find the CD/DVD. He installed the OS while he was in college, and got the OS as a free promotion from Microsoft. Has no idea of whether he had a CD/DVD or whether it was a download.

Been trying to find a W7 Ultimate retail version CD/DVD, however, it appears it will be easier to pull out my own teeth than to find one.

 

[DavidE]

Welcome back and hope you're feeling better.
You can download OS and Office ISO's from MS servers using the ISO Downloader available at Heidoc:
https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techn...icrosoft-windows-and-office-iso-download-tool

 

[cottonball]

Thank you!!

Had no idea something like this was available!!

The links are good for a limited time. After you download the ISO, is there a limited time in which one needs to use it? Or, can you keep it for future use?

Too late right now, but, will go to my friends home tomorrow and give this a whirl, since the Product Key is now available.

BTW, is your avatar a bird? I can't figure it out.

 

[derekimo]

You can use them as long as you have them, it's just the link that expires.

His avatar looks like this to me,

 

[cottonball]

Thanks for the info.

That link is great!

~~~~

Guess I am losing my brains, and on top of that, I am also going blind.

I thought it was a parrot on a limb!!:roflmao:

I'm sorry, DavidE!!! I have 3 parrots...

 

[AddRAM]

Once you`ve downloaded the iso file, it`s yours for all eternity

This is a great simple program to burn iso files to dvd, burn at no faster then x4 speed. (Very important)

Free ISO Burner

All you need is a blank dvd, they sell them cheap at Walgreen`s, buy at least 2 or 3, whatever is in the pack.

And of course a dvd burner.

Put the blank dvd in the burner, open the program, browse to the iso file, set the burn speed to x4 and burn baby burn

 

[torchwood]

Hi Cottonball,
Welcome back.
A word in your ear, re post no 6.
Once youve found the product key i suspect its going to a DreamSpark key, KMS activation hope the college hasn't retired it.

Roy

 

[cottonball]

Well, downloaded the OS ISO from Heidoc, prepared a bootable CD/DVD with ISOBurner, had the Product Key in hand, and took the plunge to install.

It all went well!

Decided to start with the Activation, input the Product Key, and, got an error.

Called Microsoft. The Product Key is expired/retired. The person at MS gave me a brief explanation of why it was no longer valid, and it boils down to torchwood's explanation.

MS no longer sells Product Keys for Windows 7, only for Windows 10.

So, fall back and re-group. It looks like a Linux Zorin install is coming up. The machine is an old Gateway which had XP on it.

Heading for a Linux Forum...

 

[torchwood]

I should have added a rider,
If he's still at college he can apply for a new key,
They would have purchased X amount and might not have used them up.

Roy

 

[cottonball]

No worries!

The son finished with college. He now has a Federal job.

 

[AddRAM]

You can buy windows 7 Pro oem from Newegg if you want. They no longer have Home Premium

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems - Newegg.com

Zorin OS 9 is a great option, good luck with drivers and all that.

Zorin OS - Home

Zorin OS - Download

 

[cottonball]

addRAM,

Thanks for the info!

It is an OEM version, though. Thought it had to be the Retail version.

Some of this stuff I do not quite understand...

 

[DavidE]

You can use a Retail or OEM version, you would be doing a clean install, so the previous version/license used does not make any difference.

The main difference between a Retail and OEM license is a Retail license can be transferred to a different (new) PC.
An OEM license can only be used on the PC it is originally installed on, it can't be transferred to a new PC.

Also, Newegg does have a Windows 7 Home Full version available:
wrong version - removed link

Also, Newegg does have a Windows 8.1 Home Full version available:
Windows 8.1 Update and Full version-Newegg.com

The Full version does not specify it is an OEM or Retail license.
I'm not sure what that really means, maybe someone else here knows for sure if it is a Retail or OEM license.

Also, if you install a Win 7 or 8.1 OS/license before July 29, that PC is eligible for a free Win 10 upgrade.
Some people love Win 10, and some don't, and some folks have problems with Win 10 on their PC.

I have Win 7, 8.1, and 10, and they all work fine for me, even on old legacy XP era hardware.
Win 8.1 and Win 10 can be made to work a lot like Win 7, using the free program Classic Shell.

 

[cottonball]

Have a question...

Do you interpret the following an "OEM License Key for 1 PC" to be the same as a Product Key?

To me, a License Key, an Activation Key, and a Product Key all refer to the 25 alpha-numeric code presented in five sets of five, and the names mentioned all mean the same. They are all used for Activation purposes.

Is this correct?

Thanks for the help!!

 

[DavidE]

As far as i know that is correct, they all refer to the key used for activation.