Windows 7 Retail

[whs]

Whether a reactivation of an OEM license works or does not work is one thing - but in any case it is a violation of the EULA if you use it on another PC. But you can always try, LOL.

 

[kathy025]

There really isn't a deactivated Win7. The activation servers don't know you deleted it off the disk or even that you changed the Product Key which writes a new hardware signature for the new key to the servers.

What then, does this tutorial actually do if "there really isn't a deactivated Windows 7"?

This will show you how to uninstall the product key number of a local or remote Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 computer so it will no longer be activated by that product key and left in a unactivated (deactivated/unlicensed) state afterwards.

Sorry gregrocker, I may have been a bit lost.

@whs:
Haha, as last resort, yes. I have read things now like getting lucky with a robo call or a sympathetic M$ customer support rep.

 

[gregrocker]

Good question, Kathy. I wish I'd found that tutorial earlier (thanks!) as I'd not have ventured into the subject.

I think I picked up the idea that the hardware profile associated with that Product Key is never overwritten until the Key is activated on new hardware from one of the Activation experts I trust most, the former Bill2 or Noel. We can ask Noel for sure. Until then I would go with what Shawn says since he's rarely wrong. It may just be a different interpretation of deactivation.

Some years back Kari wrote about his experience with MS Phone activation allowing him several times to change to new hardware an OEM Product Key. I had it in my Bookmarks for several years but cleaned it out from lack of use. But I've seen other mentions of this throughout the five years here. Normally there needs to be a good excuse, I believe. But then again I remember mentions that no excuse was needed. Your mileage with them may vary.

 

[andrew129260]

There really isn't a deactivated Win7. The activation servers don't know you deleted it off the disk or even that you changed the Product Key which writes a new hardware signature for the new key to the servers.

Only when an attempt is made to reactivate with that same key do the servers do their comparison with the existing hardware signature. My understanding is that if there's already a hardware signature tied to that key, the next question is "How many PC's is this copy of Win7 installed upon?" to which you can only answer one to proceed. It then overwrites the old hardware signature with the new one and activates. Until this happens that key sits in the servers with the old hardware signature.

Great info thanks

 

[kathy025]

Good question, Kathy. I wish I'd found that tutorial earlier (thanks!) as I'd not have ventured into the subject.

I think I picked up the idea that the hardware profile associated with that Product Key is never overwritten until the Key is activated on new hardware from one of the Activation experts I trust most, the former Bill2 or Noel. We can ask Noel for sure. Until then I would go with what Shawn says since he's rarely wrong. It may just be a different interpretation of deactivation.

I think the airtight way to prove the deactivation is have a Retail license deactivated using the tutorial's methods and try to activate it again in another machine. Since it is Retail (and if the deactivation proves true), theoretically, the license should activate in that machine (because the one-activation-at-a-time rule was still honored).

Unfortunately, I'm not in the position to test this, but clearly something that makes me very curious about.

For now, I will take your advice and consider Shawn's tutorial.

 

[gregrocker]

In the past I've always deleted the old OS partition to uninstall but assumed that didn't make any difference to reactivation since how would MS servers know I'd done so? Only until an attempt is made to reactivate or Win7 connects to internet does either make contact with MS servers.

Wouldn't same be true for running slmgr -upk to uninstall Product Key? Maybe when the old key is uninstalled it deletes the old hardware profile on the old key, but I'd always learned a key continues to hold the last activation hardware profile until it is reactivated.

Maybe I wouldn't get prompted to answer "How many computers is this copy of Win7 installed upon" if I deactivated first? I will try that next time. But I still don't get how merely deactivating using an slmgr command could deactivate the key, until a new activation overwrites the old hardware profile which it does anyway.

Noel would likely know for sure as it's his specialty. My head is spinning and until I get caught up with backlog.

 

[kathy025]

In the past I've always deleted the old OS partition to uninstall but assumed that didn't make any difference to reactivation since how would MS servers know I'd done so? Only until an attempt is made to reactivate or Win7 connects to internet does either make contact with MS servers.

Wouldn't same be true for running slmgr -upk to uninstall Product Key? Maybe when the old key is uninstalled or new key activates it deletes the old hardware profile on the old key? I'd always learned a key continues to hold the last activation hardware profile until it is reactivated.

Indeed, you make good points. Makes me curious all the more about the intended purpose of the deactivation tutorial. Would there be such a thing then as a "deactivated Windows 7"? I guess this is important for Retail license holders.

So deactivating the old key should be a step before deleting the old OS to free it up for reuse?

I have arrived to the same question as well. Should you be able to test this next time, I'd be interested to hear your results.

Noel would likely know for sure as it's his specialty. My head is spinning and until I get caught up with backlog.

I'm quite shy to approach NoelDP again as I've already done so in a previous support thread. Hopefully he swings by.

 

[derekimo]

I'm quite shy to approach NoelDP again as I've already done so in a previous support thread. Hopefully he swings by.

I've already asked him to stop by.

 

[kathy025]

Thank you for all your help, derekimo. It's much appreciated.

 

[jadinolf]

Here ya go.

Microsoft Windows 7

Yep, big bucks.

My 4 XP retails were $99 each.

 

[NoelDP]

Deactivation is a myth!

All 'deactivation' does (slmgr /upk) is uninstall the key from *most* of the places in a given PC - it has absolutely NO effect on MS's activation servers or records. It can also in some circumstances bollix the licensing that remains and make the system unstable.

I haven't read the thread through yet - just thought I'd throw this in since it seems to be a hot (and very much misunderstood) topic.

 

[kathy025]

All 'deactivation' does (slmgr /upk) is uninstall the key from *most* of the places in a given PC - it has absolutely NO effect on MS's activation servers or records.

Hi NoelDP,

Thanks for dropping by. This info should be a fine note on the tutorial.

So, "deactivating" via slmgr /upk is no longer needed before a clean install?

 

[Fantail]

Just an fyi newegg has 7x64 home premium on sale at least for today.

 

[gregrocker]

Link?

You may find buried in the details that it's actually OEM. Some are ordering without realizing this.

 

[COMPUTIAC]

This is the link I got in their email : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Newegg.com
Code # EMCPWWF45 makes it $89.99

This shows the sale : Newegg.com - 48Hrs Only - $109.99 23" 1080p LED-LCD Monitor, $59.99 1TB USB 3.0 Ext. HDD and MORE
Scroll down a bit to see Win7.

 

[kathy025]

This is the link I got in their email : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Newegg.com
Code # EMCPWWF45 makes it $89.99

It is OEM.

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Newegg.com

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

This is the link I got in their email : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Newegg.com
Code # EMCPWWF45 makes it $89.99

It is OEM.

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Newegg.com

Again, OEM is all you are going to find unless a local retailer has one buried in a dark, dusty corner (and that is as likely as getting rich off the lottery). And the OEMs aren't going to be around much longer, either, so I wouldn't wait too long. The fact that there have been so many sales on OEMs lately tells me that the retailers are wanting to clear out their stock.

 

[ACMDogfight1997]

Well I know a person that owns a PC shop and says that I must buy a retail version otherwise it probably wouldn't be legal. I talked to Microsoft Support (from India) and says that it's legal to install any copy of Windows 7. I already bought a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate for $165 at the suggested site AddRAM posted and arrived. Thanks buddy!

 

[SIW2]

From the horses mouth:

Lance Painell, Microsoft:

“Fundamentally, if a consumer is building their own PC, and we know a lot of enthusiasts do, then the OEM product is obviously a good product to do that,” Painell assured me.

“If they build their own PCs and they understand the complexities of setting up a PC from bare tin then by all means they’re welcome to take the OEM product and install it on a PC. It is designed to be installed on a new-built PC.”

Level of support

If you buy a boxed copy of Windows 7, you’ll get 90 days of free support, via email and telephone, from the moment you activate it. You're also entitled to installation support, while chat support - we're told - will be available "in the future".

And what do you get if you buy the OEM version? “The simple answer to that question is none,” explains Microsoft’s Painell, “because what typically happens with OEM products is that the [PC maker] supports the installation of that product and the end-user. That’s one of the core differences between OEM and FPP [Fully Packaged Products].”

Instead, you must fall back on the Microsoft Knowledge Base, forums and friends.

 

[NoelDP]

Check out the lifecycle pages - MS always allow sale of OEM licenses for a period (2 years I think) after the release of a new OS, to ease transition, but Retail licenses stop as far as they are concerned on the release date of the new OS.