Solved W7 key on laptop sticker is suspect

[Pyrus]

I thought the clean install of Windows 7 (x64) on my son's Acer Aspire laptop had gone OK but I reckoned without Microsoft's activation. I ran the install using a retail disc which came with another computer.

Before running the install I took the precaution of running Belarc Advisor on the laptop to check the W7 licence key was the same as the one on the sticker. It turned out to be completely different, although both keys are in the normal XXXXX-*5 format.

Windows activation will not accept either key, but gives a different error for the two. When I try the sticker key it says

Invalid product key. The product key you have entered does not appear to be a valid Windows 7 product key. Please check your product key and type it again.

When I try the key retrieved by Belarc Advisor it comes up with error code 0xC004003 and message

A problem occurred when Windows tried to activate

- with a button to click for an error description, which turns out to be...

The software licensing service reported that license evaluation failed.

Thanks Microsoft, that's really helpful. (Reminds me of an old IBM mainframe error code whose description was 'An error has occurred. Correct the error and retry the job'. Any other Cobol dinosaurs on the forum remember that one?)

I would appreciate advice what to do next. The laptop was bought new and this is the first time Windows has been reinstalled, so I can't see any reason why the sticker key should be different from the key (according to Belarc) held on the laptop.

Before I did the clean install I took an image copy so if needs be I could restore the original.

I ran MGADiag. Results:

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
-----------------------------------------
Windows Validation Data-->

Validation Code: 0
Cached Online Validation Code: N/A, hr = 0xc004f012
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-WJ2H8-R6B6D-7QJB7
Windows Product Key Hash: ckKNc+BBPDWmo1LUlOkraNjlQ34=
Windows Product ID: 00359-OEM-8992687-00006
Windows Product ID Type: 2
Windows License Type: OEM SLP
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.003
ID: {B5C1000C-C138-46BD-9122-66014E23E35B}(1)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Home Premium
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.130318-1533
TTS Error: 
Validation Diagnostic: 
Resolution Status: N/A

Vista WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

Windows XP Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
File Exists: No
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Data-->
Office Status: 109 N/A
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3

Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed

File Scan Data-->

Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{B5C1000C-C138-46BD-9122-66014E23E35B}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.003</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-7QJB7</PKey><PID>00359-OEM-8992687-00006</PID><PIDType>2</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-1397332206-2344048591-1717802263</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Acer            </Manufacturer><Model>Aspire 5741     </Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Acer            </Manufacturer><Version>V1.02</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="6"/><Date>20100205000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>A2D13507018400FC</HWID><UserLCID>0809</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>GMT Standard Time(GMT+00:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>ACRSYS</OEMID><OEMTableID>ACRPRDCT</OEMTableID></OEM><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>  

Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002

Licensing Data-->
Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514

Name: Windows(R) 7, HomePremium edition
Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, OEM_SLP channel
Activation ID: d2c04e90-c3dd-4260-b0f3-f845f5d27d64
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 00359-00178-926-800006-02-2057-7601.0000-2102013
Installation ID: 003933472925487860275503991215808713101932766256255270
Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338
Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339
Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341
Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340
Partial Product Key: 7QJB7
License Status: Initial grace period
Time remaining: 34380 minute(s) (23 day(s))
Remaining Windows rearm count: 3
Trusted time: 29/07/2013 17:51:35

Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x00000000
HrOnline: N/A
HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000
Event Time Stamp: N/A
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:


HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: MAAAAAEAAgABAAEAAAACAAAAAgABAAEAeqjApeARmjCaUfJD7NTKJgTWxtKcEVxd

OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A

OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes
Windows marker version: 0x20001
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes
BIOS Information: 
  ACPI Table Name    OEMID Value    OEMTableID Value
  APIC            ACRSYS        ACRPRDCT
  FACP            ACRSYS        ACRPRDCT
  HPET            ACRSYS        ACRPRDCT
  BOOT            ACRSYS        ACRPRDCT
  MCFG            ACRSYS        ACRPRDCT
  ASF!            ACRSYS        ACRPRDCT
  SLIC            ACRSYS        ACRPRDCT
  ASPT            ACRSYS        ACRPRDCT
  SSDT            PmRef        CpuPm
  SSDT            PmRef        CpuPm
  SSDT            PmRef        CpuPm

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I would call and phone validate your key number with Microsoft.

 

[whs]

The key you see with Belarc is completely different to the key on the sticker. The OEMs (like Acer) use generic keys with which they activate thousands of PCs (with the same key). But the key on the sticker is unique for your PC.

I suspect that you made a mistake when entering the key. Frequent errors that occur are a mixup of an '8' with a 'B' but it could also be some other mixup. I suggest you try again and be extra careful when reading the key off the sticker. Else you can also call Microsoft and ask for a key verification.

 

[Pyrus]

As suggested by whs I gave it one more go....and it worked . The only difference was I connected directly to the router rather than using the homeplugs. Can't reasonably blame the homeplugs so I must have miskeyed on my earlier attempts, despite my extreme carefulness.

 

[whs]

Good to see that you got it sorted out.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Good job,
Not that it's a MS issue but I hate product keys where they use Letters and numbers and when it comes to O's or 0's, I's and 1's and such you have to try all combo's till it works or you get so made you throw it out!