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Reinstalled Windows 7 on Thinkpad Edge, activation key won't work
Hello, I am having trouble activating Windows on my laptop after a fresh OS reinstall and would appreciate any help you can give.
Specs:
Lenovo Thinkpad Edge 13
Processor: Intel U7300 1.3GHz
System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
RAM: 3 GB
Memory: 138 GB
Backstory:
I bought this laptop from a programmer friend in 2010. He had installed an OEM copy of Windows 7 pro (and there is nothing on the bottom listing the Windows product key). Recently I decided to install a fresh copy of Windows because it was slow and had too much crap on it. I ran Belarc Advisor to obtain the 25-digit Windows product key and other application product keys. I put a Windows install disk on a flash drive and reinstalled Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.
Problem:
However, when I try to activate Windows using the key that was registered to the device for the last 3 years, it says "The product key you have entered does not appear to be a valid Windows 7 key." I found a live support site for Microsoft problems, but after I explained the issue they tried to sell me another copy of Windows for $399.99 (WTF!). I tried Lenovo's online live support and they said to talk to Microsoft, not them.
Can anyone tell me if there is a way to activate Windows using the key I have, or do I have to obtain a new key? If I have to obtain a new key, do I have to reinstall Windows? With an OEM disk? Would I need to buy a Thinkpad OEM disk? What is the cheapest way to resolve this?
Follow up question: I'd like to sell this computer and buy something else. What do you think it's worth, assuming good/excellent condition?I believe at the time that I bought it in late 2010 it was worth around $800-900, and he sold it to me for $450.
Last edited by MattW; 29 Jul 2013 at 13:50.