Solved Win 7 Prof not genuine and cannot enter genuine OEM product key

[theog]

Look at the web page for Dell Precision M6300, was only sold with Win XP or Vista.


Dell Precision M6300 Mobile Workstation Details | Dell

64-bit Intel Core™2 Duo and Intel Core™2 Duo Extreme Edition Processors and up to 8GB1 of dual-channel memory with 36-bit addressing, is the latest in performance laptop architecture.
Genuine Windows® XP Professional or
Genuine Windows Vista® Business , which features 64-bit support, delivers premium performance for demanding digital media

The Recovery Partition would most likely be Vista Bus.

 

[Darryl Licht]

whs-

1.) How do I know if I have a recovery partition? I did not set one up.

2.) MS told me with an OEM key that I cannot use ANY Win 7 installation disk to do a clean install but instead I need a specific installation disk that goes with the OEM product key. Do they know what they are talking about?

1.) In your list of programs, is there anything Dell branded? If yes, there will be a recovery option there usually.

2.) The beauty of Win7 is that any install DVD can be used, its the key thats the key. If this was Win7 from Dell, then you sould be able to purchase an OEM install media from Dell, or find a friend that has the proper Dell install media, and try your "valid key".

I wouldnt waste any more time, or effort, personalizing this PC as you will most likely have to perform a total reinstall either way you look at it! Also, I would let the ebay "retailer" be aware that you have contacted Microsoft on this several times, and that they are investigating the matter.

Also, if this lappy originally came with XP or Vista, if it was near end life with Vista, it may have come with an upgrade option to win7. I'd also visit http://www.support.dell.com, plug in the Service Tag # on the Dell sticker on the bottom of the lappy and see if Win7 is listed as a possible OS for driver selection.

 

[seavixen32]

If you look in Disk Management you can see there whether your recovery partition is still intact - it'll be in the region of 12-15GB in size.

What Microsoft are saying is that if your OEM Windows is the Home Premium version then you'll need either the Home Premium DVD or select Home Premium if you have a multi-version DVD, and then carry out a clean install using your Dell OEM product key.

 

[Darryl Licht]

If MS says it's a legit key then follow this link...

If the MS support peope have told you this is a legit key... then I'd say you are legit. Is the ebay seller willing to send you the media?

Either way, this article provides links to download the official iso file for each version in both 32 & 64 bit varieties. You will probably want to download and burn on a different machine, if you have limited functionality on your ebay lappy.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/windows-7-iso-x86-and-x64-official-direct-download-links-ultimate-professional-and-home-premium/

 

[ToddB]

First off I want to thank all of you for your assistance and guidance in this manner. It is really appreciated as you all have been most helpful.

To give you an update on this: The ebay folks have agreed to split the cost of purchasing a product key directly from MS which will run $150 as this is what comes up when I try to validate my Win 7 Professional.

SO my thinking is for $75 on my end I can get around having to do a clean install by purchasing this product key from MS. HOWEVER if I am getting the windows activation error "Windows must be restored - An unauthorized change was made to windows. You must reinstall or restore windows system files to activate." Would this be true? Would purchasing a MS product key along with "Microsoft Support" get me the support from them (Microsoft Support) to correct these system files so I do not have to do a clean install? I really want to get around having to wipe my system clean, reinstall and then rebuild.

I am also thinking that at least I will get a Win 7 professional product key that I can move to another machine should I decide to move to another machine should I decide to upgrade my laptop for a good price down the road.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[derekimo]

First off I want to thank all of you for your assistance and guidance in this manner. It is really appreciated as you all have been most helpful.

To give you an update on this: The ebay folks have agreed to split the cost of purchasing a product key directly from MS which will run $150 as this is what comes up when I try to validate my Win 7 Professional.

SO my thinking is for $75 on my end I can get around having to do a clean install by purchasing this product key from MS. HOWEVER if I am getting the windows activation error "Windows must be restored - An unauthorized change was made to windows. You must reinstall or restore windows system files to activate." Would this be true? Would purchasing a MS product key along with "Microsoft Support" get me the support from them (Microsoft Support) to correct these system files so I do not have to do a clean install? I really want to get around having to wipe my system clean, reinstall and then rebuild.

I am also thinking that at least I will get a Win 7 professional product key that I can move to another machine should I decide to move to another machine should I decide to upgrade my laptop for a good price down the road.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

So it sounds like they aren't too comfortable with the latest key they gave you either. If you have been told by Microsoft that the key is good

(I'm curious about that, others have asked if that can be done.) before spending any money try the repair and that key.

Since SFC couldn't fix those files you will probably need to do a repair or clean install.

Even with Microsoft support they are going to suggest a clean install or at least a repair install.

You can try the http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html first to see if it fixes those files, it will keep all your programs and files intact.

You want the 7th link down here Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

If they are willing to split the cost and you are OK with that, at least you know your key will be valid. (If the other one isn't.)

There may be another option that a validation expert would know, if it were me, I would just bite the bullet and do the clean install but that is your call, try the repair first, it may work.

 

[ToddB]

derekimo-

Thanks for the direction and input. It is appreciated. Thanks for the link as well and I am going to first try to repair install to see if that works.

Yes MS did tell me the latest OEM product key sent me from the ebay folks was valid but I have a question about that: It seems like alot of folks are having "not genuine" problems with OEM product keys in regards to Windows 7. Am I right here? If this is so is there an advantage to having a retail product key so one does not have to go thru this hassle in the future? I still suspect MS overshot here in their crackdown on pirated software.

I don't want to jack around with this again and I guess I will spend $75 to get a retail product key from MS so I dont have to worry about this in the future.

 

[derekimo]

derekimo-

Thanks for the direction and input. It is appreciated. Thanks for the link as well and I am going to first try to repair install to see if that works.

Yes MS did tell me the latest OEM product key sent me from the ebay folks was valid but I have a question about that: It seems like alot of folks are having "not genuine" problems with OEM product keys in regards to Windows 7. Am I right here? If this is so is there an advantage to having a retail product key so one does not have to go thru this hassle in the future? I still suspect MS overshot here in their crackdown on pirated software.

I don't want to jack around with this again and I guess I will spend $75 to get a retail product key from MS so I dont have to worry about this in the future.

You're welcome. I don't think the problems are OEM keys, there are a lot of variables

to consider since there are always new ways people are trying to "Beat the system"

You are correct that a retail key can be moved to another system if you feel the need in the future, that, and peace of mind as well as having all this behind you can easily be worth the cost, not to mention the lesson learned.

 

[NoelDP]

Ran the command a couple of times and received the following message upon completion "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".
SO still not able to enter the latest OEM key this ebay seller sent me and MS again has said they will not support OEM keys and they refer me back to the seller of the machine. I dont know where this seller is coming up with all of these valid OEM keys. It's a frickin catch 22. Would running SFC SCANNOW at boot (I have a repair/restore disk I got off the net) make a difference here?

If all the seller sent was a Key, it's a counterfeit - NO-ONE (including MS) can legally sell Keys on their own without the accompanying disks

 

[seavixen32]

Quite honestly, I'd bite the bullet and pay the $75 for a retail product key while E-bay's offer is on the table.

It could be argued that they should come up with the full $150 but I guess after two years you're lucky to get any sort of a refund off them.

I wonder if the seller is still on E-bay because the annoying bit is that he appears to get away scot free.

What NoelDP says is 100% correct.

After all, you wouldn't buy a set of car keys unless you knew what car you were getting with them.

 

[ToddB]

NoelDP and seavixen32-

Just so I have this straight - my ebay seller cannot send me an OEM product key and then say if it "works" they will send me the matching COA sticker for it even though when I contact MS they say it is a valid OEM key? They (the ebay seller) has never offered to send any backup media. So basically they (my ebay seller) is jacking with me by doing this type of thing?

And Yes seavixen32 I am still working them on what they (my ebay seller) is calling a "refund" to compensate me for this mess.

 

[seavixen32]

The seller must provide you with a genuine Windows DVD and a genuine product key.

As well as a refund you need to report him to E-bay and Microsoft, because what he is doing is wrong.

If he won't refund you then E-bay should.

 

[ToddB]

Seavixen32 thanks for the input and yes I am not done with the ebay seller.

Derekimo, Noeldp and seavixen32 -

This is how I think I am going to proceed: I am downloading the Win 7 professional link provided me by Derekimo in the above post and will work on doing a repair install.

If I can get that to work I am going to buy a product key from MS and in the purchase they (MS) indicate they will send media (I am assuming via mail). I just don't want to sit around and wait for that to arrive via mail to get this machine back on it's feet.

SO I was hoping to use the downloaded win 7 professional DVD to do first try a repair install and as a last resort a clean install with the product key I purchased from MS.

I hope you are not getting the impression that I want you to hold my hand on this deal but I really value your input on this. Thanks!

 

[seavixen32]

What you're suggesting seems reasonable to me, but if it were me I'd be inclined to wait for the Microsoft DVD and product key then wipe your drive and make a fresh start.

That way, you know everything is legal and above board with support from Microsoft should you need it.

Whichever route you take, please keep us posted.

 

[ToddB]

Yes you have a very good point here as I do know MS remotely accessed my comuter during one of my calls to them and I watched as they ran some kind of DOS command on my computer which indicated I had an "ILLIGAL COPY" (I swear illegal" was spelled that way) on my computer. SO who know what I currently have on here.

And yes I will keep you posted! Many thanks for all the great help I have received here!

 

[seavixen32]

You're very welcome, we look forward to hearing of a successful outcome.

 

[NoelDP]

One way to know for sure what kind of scam they are running....

To properly analyse and solve problems with Activation and Validation, we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool (download and save to desktop - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 )
Once saved, run the tool.
Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
To copy the report to your response, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.
- **in your own thread**, please
Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine, but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
How to Tell - Home

 

[Darryl Licht]

As I said in my earlier post... If MS said your key is a velid and legit one, then just download the appropriate iso from Digital River and use your key!

Once you download iso, burn a DVD then perform a repair first; if no success, then perform a clean install. As this is a new system, no harm to your user data. Also, would be a really good idea to pre download all drivers from Dell using your Service Tag# on the bottom of this Dell. Win7 or Vista drivers will do!

 

[ToddB]

Darryl-

Tou were right. Thought about your post and decided I was making this WAY too complicated so did as you said and it activated this morning with the last key the ebay folks sent me via email. So THANK YOU for simplifying this for me. Tried the repair install andit did not work so had to do a clean install.

The ebay folks got so tired of me that they actually credited my account for $150 this past week to go retail so I have to decide what to do with that. Thinking since I have to rebuild my machine and the time I spent on this I would say we are EVEN STEVEN.

MANY, MANY Thanks again to all for you help on here and for this GREAT forum!

 

[seavixen32]

You're very welcome ToddB.

It took some time, but you've got your money back and a working system, so all in all, you've got a result.

Your kind words about WSF are appreciated too.