Windows 7 Pro 64bits from MSDNAA with MAK key ?!

[Okks]

Hello,

I got my licence key with a .ISO from the MSDNAA program a few years ago when I was a student.
It's not an enterprise version, it's Windows 7 Pro SP1 64bits.

Problem : after working perfectly for a few times, my key is expired due to many formating and fresh installs (Note: ON THE SAME PC with no hardware change, wtf ?). (error error 0xc004c020) I read that I may have a "mak" key ?!

Why ? Everywhere on forums, Microsoft support say those key are for IT professionals... I am NOT a professional and got the key through the "MSDNAA" university partnership as a student.

Microsoft Support tells me to contact my IT professional to get more activations. Well... I'm not an IT professional, and I do not have an IT professional working for me. I was a student when I got the key from their official MSDNAA program's website.

So, now I'm basically stuck with a "bricked" Windows 7 Pro key ?

Any help appreciated

 

[AddRAM]

Looks like you`ll be buying windows

 

[Okks]

I may be able to activate it by phone according to Microsoft Support answers.

Do genuine expired MAK keys have unlimited phone activations ?

 

[AddRAM]

If it can be activated by phone you will see prompts on the screen when you 1st try activation.

I`ve never heard of a key expiring.

You should be able to use the same key on the same motherboard 100`s of times.

Unless it`s Retail then you can use it on any PC as long as it`s only on 1 PC at a time.

 

[Okks]

Well, what's the point of MAK keys then ? Why do they only allow a limited number of activations through the "regular" activation system ? (that you see in system panel or done automatically 3 days after freshly installing Windows 7) BUT would allow unlimited phone activations ? Really confusing.

Another confusing part is : my genuine key from MSDNAA has reached the activation limit (5 activations) after being activated from the exact same PC (same hardware, same location, no change done, no cheating of any sort). I did not activate it on 5 different computers !

 

[AddRAM]

Read this, it apparently has a limit.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff793435.aspx

 

[torchwood]

MAK keys have a max number of activations, defined by the college in your case.
Once you exceed that limit you have to contact them to increase that number.
They will more than likely say NO as you've left college.
They have to buy the licences in the first place, you got it at a discount or free.


Roy

5 because it was a 5 year course??

 

[Okks]

Wow, that's really sick that they sell "disposable" Windows 7 keys, doesn't make me want to upgrade to Windows 10 or buy a Windows 10 key... Not to mention that I had to reinstall Windows 7 3 times in less than a week due to a glitchy windows update running slowing / not working...

Aaaah Microsoft

 

[AddRAM]

Reinstalling windows over and over again will do nothing to help with windows update. Why would you think it would ?

You just start windows update and wait, I let a new install sit over nite and the updates were ready to install in the morning.

After the initial round, windows update works just fine

Mike linked me an article which says if you download 2 updates directly from MS and install the 2 updates offline, it fixes the update client and updates will come normally, I saw no reason to do that.

The procedure is explained in the article.

Sticking with Windows 7? The forecast calls for pain | ZDNet