Wrong product key

[blockie]

I purchased and clean installed W7 Ultimate using the product key on the package. I bought the product from Softsets. I delayed activating it until I had evaluated it and installed all the software I generally use. The other day I decided to activate it and the activation failed. Tried to activate online and by telephone, failed. Then called MicroSoft, gave them the product key and was told that the software was not genuine.
Emailed the vendor and they apologized all over the place, gave me a new product key, told me I had to uninstall and reinstall using the product key they sent me. I really don't want to go through all that now that I have W7 personalized.
What I did was enter the new product key they sent me in Computer.... Properties and again was told that the key was wrong. Is it going to be wrong if I uninstall and reinstall?
I'll extend my activation period so I can get some decent answers. So, come on guys and gals, lets hear some wisdom.

 

[Bill2]

1) What exactly is the message you get when you try to activate using the new key?

2) You can install and activate manually.

Run cmd as admin, at the command prompt type:

slmgr -ipk <product key>

This will install the new key and swap out the older one.

To activate, type:

slmgr -ato

To check activation status, type;

slmgr -dli

 

[whs]

I fail to see what a reinstall can do for a phony product key.

 

[DocBrown]

Are the product keys they are providing for Ultimate & not another version ?

 

[MUff1N]

After reading the complaints on Softsets...Not Good

This doesn't look very good for you & it looks like you were ripped off with a Chinese Pirated copy...
More than one site has stated this....:sarc:

Good luck with getting it activated...
Should have bought it from a Reputable source like Newegg.

=============================================

RCohen's Review on softsets.com Posted on 04/08/2010 They are from China and they sell pirated copies of Windows 7
Unlike the other reviewer, I did receive my software but after checking it with Microsoft I discovered it was a pirated copy. I will not install it, but a refund seems unlikely (DO NOT USE PAYPAL since if you receive it they are no longer responsible).

Watch out!!! Softsets is a sponsored site on Amazon, but you don't find out they are from China until you receive your PayPal receipt. My advice is to steer clear.

========================================


Softsets.com is NOT legit, and is NOT selling genuine software. NONE.

I can definitely tell you that they are NOT legit. The website states they only sell 'genuine and authorized software'. BULL. Since they 'guarantee' that all software they sell is legit and genuine, etc.... I recently purchased Windows 7 Ultimate from them...

They DO somewhat function as they state. They sent the product. They did email a tracking number.

This company operates directly out of China. Ok. Doesn't necessarily mean its counterfeit.... You find out it is being shipped from CHINA - via the tracking number....

I live in Seattle. I called Microsoft, and spoke with their piracy section; who assured me that it was almost a virtual certainty - that the product would be counterfeit... since it was coming from China.

Still - I held out hope. Great price for the product. My wife and I determined that we would take the product to Microsoft for them to look over after it had arrived....

But no need to do that. The product arrived today. Packaging looked great. Microsoft COA looked great.... BUT

Microsoft 'how to tell' website states that the disk has a Hologram. The Hologram is NOT a label on genuine software. It is part of the disk...

Well, unfortunately - I don't have to have Microsoft personally check it out. Since the LABEL on my Windows 7 Ultimate disk is peeling off.... It was a great looking label too!

But per Microsoft - these disks have NO label. Genuine, non pirated software - has no label.

Now, I get to try and get my money back for the pirated software I just received. I'm GLAD the thing had a label. Reading about pirating - I thought to take it to Microsoft - since some of the pirates CAN replicate the actual holographic disk....

Bottom Line: If 'softsets.com' is selling Windows 7 Ultimate pirated; while stating that all software they are selling is legit- then guess what? ALL of the software they are selling is pirated....

And they ARE producing and selling out of China. They have a 'Arizona' contact point when inquiring as to who owns the website.... But this website is owned and operated out of China.

If you WANT to buy pirated, unauthorized software - this would be the website for you... however - if you don't want legal problems, and desire to own genuine, authorized software - sorry - this place doesn't sell that...

Regards,
David S.
Seattle, WA.

 

[whs]

Looks like the best you can do is cut your losses. Buy an OEM copy from NewEgg - that is an alternative at a reasonable price.

 

[MadMaxData]

Wow, what a bummer. I would be LIVID!

 

[CassieFWinTeam]

I agree with others here, make sure you always purchase Microsoft products from a reputable retailer or Microsoft Partner to ensure you get a genuine product. Here is more on genuine Windows if you'd like to read more about it - Genuine Microsoft Software.

Cassandra
Microsoft Windows Outreach

 

[blockie]

1) What exactly is the message you get when you try to activate using the new key?

2) You can install and activate manually.

Run cmd as admin, at the command prompt type:

slmgr -ipk <product key>

For item one in your message. The exact message was "The product Key that you have entered does not appear to be a valid Windows product key.
Please check your product key and try again."

For item two in your message. I got the error 0xC004F050 "invalid product key"

It appears to me that even if I uninstall and install with this product key it will still be invalid.

 

[whs]

It appears to me that even if I uninstall and install with this product key it will still be invalid.

Right !!

 

[Bill2]

That manual procedure would have swapped out the old key and activated the new one, if it was genuine. So its confirmed, phoney key. Man, these guys should be shot!

 

[CarlTR6]

I am sorry you are a victim of this ripoff. The advice above to cut your losses and buy a legitimate copy is spot on.

 

[blockie]

I purchased this with MasterCard. I have just registered a dispute. They always have reversed the charges. Hope they do so this time.

New question: If I buy the OEM version from Newegg will I be able to use the product key they provide with the software I already have installed and personalized? I still will download the OEM copy and keep it on hand if needed.

 

[whs]

I purchased this with MasterCard. I have just registered a dispute. They always have reversed the charges. Hope they do so this time.

New question: If I buy the OEM version from Newegg will I be able to use the product key they provide with the software I already have installed and personalized? I still will download the OEM copy and keep it on hand if needed.

I would suggest you get the disk from NewEgg (takes only 3 days). With a download you never have a proper installation disk. You can try the product key on your version, but you never know what else is wrong with it. A reinstall would be my choice - I know it is a pain, but rather be safe than sorry.

 

[CarlTR6]

WHS is right on target. You have no idea what they might have injected into to the code that can come back and bite you hard.

 

[blockie]

I have ordered a Full installation for W7 Ultimate from Newegg.I have also moved my data files into the User folder. I have done a full scan of all of the folder using Microsoft Security Essentials. Shold I do anything else to that folder before saving it to restore to the new W7? Are there any other folders I should do the same with? Especially folders that contain W7 personalization data. I recognize that some of the data may be in the registry and the old registry would not be used in the new installation.

 

[CarlTR6]

Blockie, I suggest that you move your files to another HD and reformat the current drive doing a clean install from scratch. You can then copy your personal data files back after the install.

 

[MadMaxData]

I recommend that you do a clean install of Windows 7 with the DVD you got from NewEgg. Get that bogus copy of Windows off your machine. I know it's a bit of work doing a clean install, but in the end you'll be glad you did. Trust me.

The operating system is the foundation for all your software applications. It needs to be genuine.

Carl beat me to it by 1 minute....LOL

 

[whs]

I would do another scan of the user files with SAS which is more thorough than MSE. Also make sure you copy those user files to an external drive. And don't forget the mail files - if any.

 

[DreadSpawn]

Blockie can you tell me if anything has been resolved between you and Softsets.com? And if it worked out ok how did you do it? I am having exact same problem. Before ordering I actually emailed them and asked specifically if it was a true full version which included activation code and both 32 and 64 bit disks and they replied that it definetly was. I got the disk and everything installed fine and even activated with no problem. Exactly 3 months to the day of install I got a popup saying windows was not Genuine and needed Activated. I contacted SS and they apologized gave me new activation code and said to format and reinstall with new code etc. NO WAY! I called Microsoft and was told that both codes were MSDN keys used by developers and illegal for to be selling.

I contacted softsets and asked for refund and they said they would ship me a legitimate Full Retail and if I had same problem they would refund without hesitation. Well I got disk contacted MS first thing and its another MSDN key. I emailed SS told them they were MSDN Keys and they just said theres no way it could happen again and acted like its my fault for not formatting and that it will work if I format and reinstall. Now they wont respond to my emails.