Win7 Upgrade Install Help

[Grassxc]

So here's my problem I built a new machine and was trying to install a clean version of the win7 student upgrade on it. Code was rejected. So I followed all the steps on this forums also didn't work. I then installed it again the origional harddrive with the drive in the new machine with the registered copy of win7 on it and didn't work either. I'm at a loss here. Is the upgrade version a one time install only?

Also I called Microsoft support and the customer service guy hung up on me. Not really relevant but still pissed me off.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I then installed it again the origional harddrive with the drive in the new machine with the registered copy of win7 on it and didn't work either. I'm at a loss here. Is the upgrade version a one time install only?

Can you rewrite the first quoted sentence so I can understand what you mean?

The upgrade version is not a one time install only.

But it isn't clear from your post that you ever had a successful installation with this disc on any hard drive on any PC.

 

[Grassxc]

It has worked. It worked on my old computer. I took the harddrive out of the old computer with the working copy of windows 7 and put it in the new computer. I then reinstalled a fresh copy on the drive from the old computer and it is not working now.

The error I get is " The product key you typed cannot be used to activate windows on this computer"

 

[ignatzatsonic]

To make sure I understand:

This was a clean install on the old computer. It worked fine and activated on that PC.

You build a new PC and want to use the HD from the old PC on the new PC, so you transfer the old drive over and attempt a clean install again.

I assume that is where you are.

The current situation is that you DID successfully do a clean install on the new PC, but you CAN"T activate?? It works fine on the new PC, but won't activate?

 

[Grassxc]

Yes Exactly. Sorry if I was unclear

 

[richc46]

I am sorry that MS hung up on you. Please be assured that here you will not only receive respect and the right answers.

Start with this, lets be sure the problem is not with your computer.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx

 

[Grassxc]

Not sure why you linked me to the vista upgrade. I cant use that one since I'm running on 64bit win7. I did download the window 7 adviser and my computer passed that.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You may be out of luck.

For the sake of argument, let's assume the components in the new PC are perfectly able to run Win 7 and that this is strictly a licensing issue.

If your install disk is a garden variety retail disk, you can install it a jillion times---on the same PC.

Of course, hardware fails periodically and must be replaced. Does each replaced piece mean it is a new PC every time? No.

I have periodically replaced motherboards, hard drives, DVD drives, RAM, monitors, etc and never had an activation issue. But I have done this over time, as parts failed or were retired. I never had more than one PC at any one time.

I think MS has some sort of algorithm built into the installation that can evaluate just how much of a "new" PC is "new"---and it will let you get away with it in most cases.

But you have replaced nearly every thing at one time as I understand it. That may run afoul of the algorithm.

Can you go back to your original setup and just replace one or two new things--say the motherboard and processor? That might be OK. Then wait a month or 6 and see if you can replace some others?

I think the time involved has some effect on the algorithm. After a certain length of time, the algorithm may be very forgiving. Since Windows 7 has only been out a few months, there can't be much time between your original install and this one.

 

[Grassxc]

=( only thing new now is the processor and the motherboard and ram. HDD/vid card are from the old machine.

I'm a college kid can't really afford $200 right now. Had to save up for the new comp for months. I thought the $30 win7 was windows showing they actually understood. Now just looks like another way to screw their consumers over.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If I am generally right about the algorithm, processor/RAM/mobo may be enough to deny activation.

After all, those 3 components are the heart of a PC.

Unfortunately, often those 3 items will only work as a unit. You can't put any old processor on any old motherboard with any old RAM and expect it to work--may not even assemble correctly or even boot if it would assemble.

I will defer to anyone with another idea, but I can't think of a way other than buying a new license or reverting to mostly old hardware.

 

[Grassxc]

I think I'll call them back and tell them my other comp died. and built a new machine but kept the old hdd with win 7. technically I'm still using my upgrade on one machine so there shouldn't be a problem giving me a working code. but then again they can do whatever they want really.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

This might give you some insight:

How Windows 7 hardware upgrades affect licensing

 

[Grassxc]

Thanks for that link it was a useful insight. It just seems insane that Microsoft doesn't allow much room for hardware failure....

 

[gregrocker]

You are still entitled to change a retail (not OEM) Windows 7 to any machine of your choice. If it detected new hardware, it should provide you with a series of numbers to exchange in a robocall that deactivates the old hardware installation and activates the new one.

If you swap the HD into a new machine and it starts up, you need to immediately go to the Computer>Properties activation link and change out the key. The other way to refresh the hardware signature while resetting activation is to run a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R then insert the key again.

Only if you bought an OEM copy of Win7 can you not migrate it to any hardware of your choice whenever you please. Try a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R to refresh the hardware signature and reset the activation, then insert the key again and make the robocall to MS to trade numbers. If it rejects your key, call them and ask why.

 

[Grassxc]

SUCCESS! had to do the insanely annoying robocall as penance to activate it though.

 

[Grassxc]

Thanks everyone you guys were really helpful