Window genuine question

[DarkSlay3r]

Currently my PC got window genuine,if I formatted my PC without make any backup.

Then the window genuine also will gone or it still keep in PC after formatted ?

Before I create this topic,I know this is a dumb question,but I tried search google but I didn't found an answer for this question

 

[Seeliewight]

Genuine means you have a valid license for Windows, and that it is activated by Microsoft.

If you format your hard disk, your entire OS disappears, so no question of genuineness or otherwise.

If you reinstall Windows, and enter the product key again, and activate it, then it will be genuine again. As long as your hardware is the same (you just format and reinstall), all licenses of Windows should be valid on your new install as well.

Hope this helps!

 

[DarkSlay3r]

Genuine means you have a valid license for Windows, and that it is activated by Microsoft.

If you format your hard disk, your entire OS disappears, so no question of genuineness or otherwise.

If you reinstall Windows, and enter the product key again, and activate it, then it will be genuine again. As long as your hardware is the same (you just format and reinstall), all licenses of Windows should be valid on your new install as well.

Hope this helps!

Before I format PC,should I go to My Computer >Properties then write down the activation key ?

 

[Seeliewight]

You should get your product key, but it is not in My Computer -> Properties. It should have come with your copy of Windows - either as a sticker on your desktop or laptop, or on the installation disk.

If you can't find it, or have forgotten it, you can use a program such as the below. Run it and write down the key - better still email it to yourself, so that you can find it later .

Product Key Finder - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Downloads

Hope this helps!

 

[seavixen32]

Do you have a product key for your operating system? If you do then you should write it down and keep it.

What you saw in Computer>Properties was the product ID, which identifies whether your software is the retail version or OEM. It is NOT the product key.

If you have forgotten your product key, download and run Belarc Advisor. This program carries out an audit of you system and will list all the product keys for any software you have installed.

Do not wipe your system without finding out your product key first.

 

[DarkSlay3r]

Hey,last question.

From these 2 tools,only got the product key of Microsoft office enterprise and Microsoft window 7 product key,I didn't see any genuine product key.

 

[Seeliewight]

These are the keys that you need, after the reinstall. The product key is the one you want.

After the reinstall, it will ask you for the product key, and then it will activate it over the internet. Then your installation of Windows becomes "genuine", and it will say so in "My Computer -> Properties".

If you have other applications (like Photoshop, or games) installed, you will need to install all of them again. And, of course, you will need the specific product key for each of them.

Hope this helps!

 

[DarkSlay3r]

The product key of Microsoft window 7 are same with genuine ?

 

[richc46]

If you bought the computer with Seven installed the key is also on the computer.
It has 25 digits. 5 groups of 5. There are letters and numbers.

 

[Seeliewight]

The product key of Microsoft window 7 are same with genuine ?

Yes. Please write down the two keys that the program found for you. When you reinstall, it will ask you for the Windows 7 key, then enter the Windows key there.

Later, when you install Office, it will ask you for the product key, then enter the second key.

Hope this helps!

 

[alphanumeric]

Activation and Windows Genuine Advantage are two different things. When you install Windows 7 it will ask for a product key. When you type that in windows verifies that it is a valid product code for the version of windows you are installing. If its not, the product code will be rejected. This all happens before windows activation takes place. If the product code is valid windows will continue with the install. Once that is complete and you boot up to your desktop for the first time windows will prompt you to activate. Your product code will be checked against the windows activation server to see if its been used on another PC, etc. Once it passes that test windows will be activated. Some versions of Windows 7 activate against the hardware. Preinstalled OEM versions that use SLP, System Locked Preinstall do this and are the most common ones used to pirate Windows 7. To combat that and other forms of piracy Microsoft instituted Windows Genuine Advantage. That does further checks and looks for hacked system files etc. Once you pass that you get the blue Genuine logo in system properties. You can pass activation but fail the WGA check.
Long story made short, if you are Genuine now, and install on the same hardware with the same product code, you should be genuine when done then too.

EDIT: The very last statement was made assuming the original install was done using an off the shelf OEM or Retail Windows 7 DVD. If its a pre-installed OEM version see my other post further on down in this thread.

 

[MacGyvr]

If you bought the computer with Seven installed the key is also on the computer.
It has 25 digits. 5 groups of 5. There are letters and numbers.

The key on the sticker won't allow you to reinstall because you don't have the media required to use it. It's there more as a courtesy from Microsoft.

 

[richc46]

If the computer came with the system preinstalled the key on the computer will work. Many companies include a DVD just for this situation.

 

[MacGyvr]

If the computer came with the system preinstalled the key on the computer will work. Many companies include a DVD just for this situation.

Where would the media come from? The key on the sticker is for pure Windows media from Microsoft and you don't get that with a new PC. A recovery disc, which you might get, requires no key.

I've been doing this since Windows 98 and have yet to see a key from a sticker on a PC be usable.

 

[richc46]

Im not going to argue the point. Have a good day.

 

[alphanumeric]

If you buy say a Dell and it comes with Windows 7 pre-installed the product key on the sticker doesn't match the one actually used to install windows. The reason for that is Microsoft allows Dell and other OEM manufacturers to use SLP, System Locked Pre-install. Dell gets its own master product code that is uses on every Dell model X PC. SLP is tied to a SLIC table in the BIOS. In the old days say with Windows XP you would actually get a Dell branded XP install disk. The install disk is modified for SLP. During the install it looks for the SLIC BIOS table to verify its a Dell model x PC. If it is you don't get prompted for a product code and activation is automatic. If it wasn't a Dell model x PC you would get prompted for a product code or the install would fail. Dell would do a complete install on one PC and then image it for use on every other PC of that model they manufacture. They would also include the Dell branded windows XP disk and driver disk etc so you could re-install windows if need be. The same thing is done with windows 7 only you don't get the modified install media. You have to make a system restore set. If you buy a brand name PC with windows 7 pre-installed it uses SLP and a SLIC BIOS table. SLP does not activate on line, activation is solely dependent on the presence of the SLIC table in the BIOS. If you use your own regular windows 7 DVD SLP does not come into play. Thats why you have to activate by phone even if you use the original "master" product code. The Microsoft activation server is set to reject it by default. Same deal with the product code on the sticker, it was never meant to be used. They are going to make you call and explain why you used it before they activate it. They don't want you using it on another PC to try and cheat the system.

EDIT: As far as I know, you can use the key on the sticker to install Windows, I've done it (on windows XP) several times, it just won't activate on line.

 

[richc46]

So it sounds like you are saying that it can be used, but by phone activation.

 

[derekimo]

If the computer came with the system preinstalled the key on the computer will work. Many companies include a DVD just for this situation.

Where would the media come from? The key on the sticker is for pure Windows media from Microsoft and you don't get that with a new PC. A recovery disc, which you might get, requires no key.

I've been doing this since Windows 98 and have yet to see a key from a sticker on a PC be usable.

The one on the side of mine works for my Vista disc.

 

[alphanumeric]

So it sounds like you are saying that it can be used, but by phone activation.

Yes, thats my understanding. I've done it on Windows XP a couple of times. I would agree to fix a PC for a friend and they would just drop off the tower with no disks. I'd use my XP CD to do the install and it would fail the activation. I just click activate by phone and then explain what I did to the Microsoft Representative on the other end of the phone. XP would give you a hash code you read to them, they check it and then read back another code you type in on that screen. Its not a product its a confirmation code or something. Once thats done XP would be activated. I don't know if you have to do that every time or if its different for windows 7. I haven't had to do it in a long time now.

 

[richc46]

TY to the last two posters for making the issue clear in my mind.