Will Microsoft provide me a new key if I buy a used hard drive?

[mibaup]

Hello,

I saw a used hard drive with Microsoft 7 retail installed but there is no key or something..
Is there a way to get a new key if the Windows is genuine?

Thanks

 

[logicearth]

Its called buying a new copy. They won't give you another key. I doubt the copy of Windows on the HDD is genuine anyways. More then likely a pirated copy.

 

[bigmck]

Hello,

I saw a used hard drive with Microsoft 7 retail installed but there is no key or something..
Is there a way to get a new key if the Windows is genuine?

Thanks

Getting a copy of Windows 7 is not hard. It is in many places on the internet. The thing you are paying for is the Product Key. That is what makes the Windows 7 legit.

 

[mibaup]

And if the copy of this Windows is genuine? and the key was lost?

 

[bigmck]

And if the copy of this Windows is genuine? and the key was lost?

Let's assume the product key has been typed into the copy of Windows in the Hard Drive. If the copy is an OEM copy then it would not be legal on your PC because it is tied to the PC it was originally installed on. If it is an Upgrade copy, then it would not be legal on your PC because you do not have a previous version of Windows. If it were a Retail Version of Windows and it had the Key typed in, then it would be legal on your PC. That is a lot to take to chance. I would skip that deal.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I also would skip the deal unless it was priced low enough to make getting the drive alone worth it.

 

[Britton30]

MS doesn't give anything away. As an alternative you could image your current w7 to the used drive or clone it.

 

[gregrocker]

To answer your question: You can change the Product Key at the link at Computer>Properties but you'd have to start Win7 first which is unlikely on new hardware without adjusting it using an adaptive restore boot CD like Paragon Adaptive Restore CD.

If you know for sure the install has an available good retail Product Key no longer being used by the previous owner then you can audit it using Belarc Advisor. If it doesn't have "OEM" in the Product ID string then it may be useable for doing a Clean Install Windows 7 or reinserting into the existing install which will most likely reject activation due to the changed hardware. Otherwise you'll have to buy a new Product Key to insert or Clean Install.

 

[mibaup]

Thank you all guys!
So I will ask him if the hard drive is genuine .. if not I'll skip..
Btw.. if somebody lies to me about the copy of Windows (he tells me it's genuine and it's not), Will Microsoft then be considerate and give me a key? ( It was kind of rhetorical question.. but maybe some of you heard of stories )

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

There's one born every minute.

 

[Britton30]

Thank you all guys!
So I will ask him if the hard drive is genuine .. if not I'll skip..
Btw.. if somebody lies to me about the copy of Windows (he tells me it's genuine and it's not), Will Microsoft then be considerate and give me a key? ( It was kind of rhetorical question.. but maybe some of you heard of stories )

See post #7.

 

[md2lgyk]

At the prices of hard drives these days, why would anybody buy a used one?

 

[Britton30]

At the prices of hard drives these days, why would anybody buy a used one?

:tip:To save money, maybe.

 

[bigmck]

Thank you all guys!
So I will ask him if the hard drive is genuine .. if not I'll skip..
Btw.. if somebody lies to me about the copy of Windows (he tells me it's genuine and it's not), Will Microsoft then be considerate and give me a key? ( It was kind of rhetorical question.. but maybe some of you heard of stories )

Be sure and ask about Windows also. You can feel confident that what ever the person tells you will be the truth. Why would he lie? Oh yeah, he wants your money.................

 

[gregrocker]

If you can start Win7 using the method I gave you earlier, install MGADiag.exe and post back its output then we can tell you if it's genuine Windows. I already told you how to audit the key to determine if it's retail.

MS has a program to make whole consumers who buy counterfeit Windows disks and keys but not a used HD which happens to have an install on it. Unless you've been told this is an install with a now-abandoned retail key or care to determine this for yourself with our help, it is not normally a retrievable install.

 

[mibaup]

At the prices of hard drives these days, why would anybody buy a used one?

Because it has Windows installed on it.. so if it is genuine Windows it's worth it, if it's not genuine I won't buy it.

Thank you all guys!
So I will ask him if the hard drive is genuine .. if not I'll skip..
Btw.. if somebody lies to me about the copy of Windows (he tells me it's genuine and it's not), Will Microsoft then be considerate and give me a key? ( It was kind of rhetorical question.. but maybe some of you heard of stories )

Be sure and ask about Windows also. You can feel confident that what ever the person tells you will be the truth. Why would he lie? Oh yeah, he wants your money.................

Sorry I meant I will ask if Windows is genuine not the hard drive

If you can start Win7 using the method I gave you earlier, install MGADiag.exe and post back its output then we can tell you if it's genuine Windows. * * I already told you how to audit the key to determine if it's retail.




MS has a program to make whole consumers who buy counterfeit Windows disks and keys but not a used HD which happens to have an install on it. *Unless you've been told this is an install with a now-abandoned retail key or care to determine this for yourself with our help, it is not *normally a *retrievable install.

Thanks


**So I have another question, if my motherboard suddenly dies? I need to buy new Windows?

 

[bigmck]

At the prices of hard drives these days, why would anybody buy a used one?

Because it has Windows installed on it.. so if it is genuine Windows it worth it, if it's not genuine I won't buy it.

In order for you to legally use the Windows installation, it would have to be a Retail Install. Hardly anyone uses the Retail install because most would have gotten the OEM install on a new PC or upgraded from a previous version. The chances it is Retail are very slim.