Question on activation key usage

[jerryp]

I have a Dell win7 that I need to try and run a Repair Install (upgrade with hopes it fixes my windows files needing fixed). Provided was Reinstallation windows dvd. I understand those don't do a repair/upgrade, only a true reinstall of windows. So, I have downloaded an Win 7 64bit ISO. My question is when I use this for the repair, will my windows activation key found on chassis work? Or in my situation, must I just do a full reinstall?

thx
Jerry

 

[seavixen32]

Providing the ISO you've downloaded is exactly the same version as the one provided by Dell, you can use your Dell product key to activate the repair install.

This tuturial shows you how.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[jerryp]

Oh, that won't work for me. Currently my system is running Service Pack 1, and that is the iso I have ready to use. But if I remember right, my system orginally came without, and I added svc pk 1 via update. So you are saying my key only is valid for win7 without svc pk 1.?

And the only way to use it then is to uninstall svc pk 1.

 

[gregrocker]

Isn't that why you downloaded the Win7 64 bit ISO - to have SP1 included so you could Repair Install?

Only if you tried to use a pre-SP1 installer to Repair Install would you then need to uninstall SP1.

Make sure the Product Key is readable and back it up somewhere safe now.

Have you tried running SFC -SCANNOW Command?

If you still have the Recovery Partition or made the Disks you can also run full Factory Recovery as a further option, or clean reinstall with the Win7 SP1 installer:
Dell Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings
Clean Reinstalling Windows 7 Factory OEM

 

[jerryp]

Ah, I thought that since my system & activation key came pre svc pack 1, when time came to activate after the update/repair, MS would be expecting a key matching the same.

 

[gregrocker]

Nope, your key is version-specific not SPecific.

Let us know how it goes.