Product Key not valid - Windows 7 Starter reinstall

Right, I've a bit of a problem that's perplexing me. I was given an Acer One to 'fix' as it was running slow, it was full of Acer bloatware and was mind-numbingly slow. I ended up reinstalling Windows 7 Starter (SP1) which went well but couldn't install updates for the life of me. I tried all sorts of fixes but just couldn't get updates working so thought I'd try upgrading to 10 via the Media Creation tool, but that sat at 'Checking for updates' for an eternity too after downloading, it never actually started installing.

I lost patience in the end and have reinstalled 7, but now when I try to enter the product key of the laptop's sticker it's telling me the key is not valid. I'm not sure why that's the case here (it worked fine first time round), would 10 have anything to do with it?

I skipped the step of entering the product key at setup and have tried activating online but still get the message that the product key is not valid and I should check to see if I entered it correctly. Obviously I've checked and entered it time and again with no joy so I'm completely stumped. I've included the MGDiag report so hopefully this will shed some light on the subject.

Strangely I've noticed there is only 3 days left until automatic activation instead of the usual 30 if that has any bearing on the issue. Of course, any input would be greatly appreciated.

Install media: ISO from Digital River with ei.cfg removed.
Product key: Taken from sticker on machine, previously activated fine.

Code:

  Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
  -----------------------------------------
  Windows Validation Data-->
  
  Validation Code: 0
  Cached Online Validation Code: N/A, hr = 0xc004f012
  Windows Product Key: *****-*****-CMMYT-WHMY2-89M6G
  Windows Product Key Hash: Hb01nJn1bGwj7lOU9wXoRUMnZn4=
  Windows Product ID: 55041-946-6744545-85591
  Windows Product ID Type: 5
  Windows License Type: Retail
  Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.011
  ID: {4A57F302-C401-435B-BA52-DB1B7582A850}(1)
  Is Admin: Yes
  TestCab: 0x0
  LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  Product Name: Windows 7 Starter
  Architecture: 0x00000000
  Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850
  TTS Error: 
  Validation Diagnostic: 
  Resolution Status: N/A
  
  Vista WgaER Data-->
  ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  
  Windows XP Notifications Data-->
  Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  File Exists: No
  Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  
  OGA Notifications Data-->
  Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  
  OGA Data-->
  Office Status: 109 N/A
  OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
  Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
  Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3
  
  Browser Data-->
  Proxy settings: N/A
  User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)
  Default Browser: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
  Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
  Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
  Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
  Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
  Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
  Active scripting: Allowed
  Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed
  
  File Scan Data-->
  File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\watadminsvc.exe[Hr = 0x80070003]
  File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\npwatweb.dll[Hr = 0x80070003]
  File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\watux.exe[Hr = 0x80070003]
  File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\watweb.dll[Hr = 0x80070003]
  
  Other data-->
  Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{4A57F302-C401-435B-BA52-DB1B7582A850}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.011</OS><Architecture>x32</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-89M6G</PKey><PID>55041-946-6744545-85591</PID><PIDType>5</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-2939649488-80706754-3804124401</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Acer</Manufacturer><Model>AO531h</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Acer</Manufacturer><Version>v0.3206</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="4"/><Date>20090825000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>4A600C00018400E4</HWID><UserLCID>0809</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>GMT Standard Time(GMT+00:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>ACRSYS</OEMID><OEMTableID>ACRPRDCT</OEMTableID></OEM><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>  
  
  Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002
  
  Licensing Data-->
  Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514
  
  Name: Windows(R) 7, Starter edition
  Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, RETAIL channel
  Activation ID: 71c7c851-1863-4232-8ac2-cdd7f5e45dae
  Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
  Extended PID: 00342-00170-946-674454-00-1033-7600.0000-1942009
  Installation ID: 000846920513402156497045577155432213103052138494173730
  Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338
  Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339
  Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341
  Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340
  Partial Product Key: 89M6G
  License Status: Initial grace period
  Time remaining: 43140 minute(s) (29 day(s))
  Remaining Windows rearm count: 3
  Trusted time: 17/10/2015 14:42:05
  
  Windows Activation Technologies-->
  HrOffline: 0x00000000
  HrOnline: N/A
  HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000
  Event Time Stamp: N/A
  ActiveX: Not Registered - 0x80040154
  Admin Service: Not Registered - 0x80040154
  HealthStatus Bitmask Output:
  
  
  HWID Data-->
  HWID Hash Current: LgAAAAAAAgABAAIAAAABAAAAAgABAAEAnJ9OeLAs4hW8cA7MBN60cMDYmG1yGQ==
  
  OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
  N/A
  
  OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
  BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes
  Windows marker version: 0x20001
  OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes
  BIOS Information: 
    ACPI Table Name           OEMID Value     OEMTableID Value
    APIC                                    ACRSYS                 ACRPRDCT
    FACP                                   ACRSYS                 ACRPRDCT
    HPET                                    ACRSYS                 ACRPRDCT
    BOOT                                  ACRSYS                 ACRPRDCT
    MCFG                                 ACRSYS                 ACRPRDCT
    SSDT                                    PmRef                  CpuPm
    ASF!                                     ACRSYS                 ACRPRDCT
    SLIC                                      ACRSYS                 ACRPRDCT

Seriously, on Notebooks it's always best to check that the B at the end of the code is really a B and not an 8.

All sorted. I'd looked at that Key fifteen times or more, I guess I need my eyes testing.

Hi,
Interesting
Wouldn't this machine have an oem and not a retail install wonder if that would make a difference in the activation key used :/
If using a retail install wouldn't it have it's own key ?

Also I was unaware 7 starter version was on the free upgrade list to 10,
But yes a lot of people have ended up with oem_slp coming back to 7 not something I see there but that's why I question the retail verses a oem listing

It won't be retail now, it's activated and should be OEM. The install media was an ISO from Digital River with the ei.cfg removed to allow me to install Starter, the product key (which I've now entered correctly) is an OEM key. I'll run another MGDiag if you want.

Starter gives you W10 Home. I'd have left 10 on there if it hadn't hung on updates. And now I'm back to square one with 7 just sitting there checking for updates forever without actually doing anything.

Yea the delay in updating has been quite common unfortunately
I suppose its the update system updating it's self along with hundreds of updates :)

Most of the slp's were from using win-10 system restore back to 7 which it's always been said a clean install of 7 is necessary.
Not many people took notice of all of the terms and warnings though click-click-click next world we live in

Yeah I got mixed up there Derek, it's 3 days until Activation goes through automatically, you still have 30 days grace period. My mistake.

Some peoples update are taking from 5 hours to 24 hours.
I was lucky with my last Repair Install it only took a little over 5 hours to get the job of updating done.

The only answer to the slow download of updates problem that I know of is just waiting and let it run.
Sooner or later the Microsoft Server will get less busy and except your request for updates.

In my opinion it just the luck of the draw. Who gets to what Microsoft Server first. Remember their are somewhere around a billion trying to download W-10 free with all the updates. People do line up at the candy store when free candy is offered.

The installed Key is the Default Key - and can never be activated. = I see that you managed to get the COA Key to work, finally.

The 30-day grace period is because of this (presumably fresh) install with a 'retail' Key - the 3-day grace period only applies when a machine goes out-of-tolerance, having been activated previously.