New
#21
And this,
Showkey check product key:
Windows Product Key Information
Original Key: *****-*****-*****-FGM44-2C9T3
Original Edition: Windows 7 Ultimate OEM:SLP
Ok, I'm calling it a day. Thanks all, talk soon.
MGADiag Tool report attached - genuine or not? And then what?
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New #22
You'll likely have to ask superfly? Windows 7 OEM marker present in firmware just means a SLIC table was detected. The fake HP one will show the same as an official Acer one. I don't know which takes president if there is a SLIC table and an embedded key? It looks like there is no Windows 8 embedded key? I was hoping it would list a Windows 8 or 8.1 OEM key which would bail you out. I was hoping it would be more definitive and not just confuse things even more. life's like that some times.
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New #24
Yup, I would be interested in superfly's take on the Showkey/MGADiag reports as well as Noel's to find out if updating with the latest official BIOS and installing from factory install media should be successful or not.
A bit worried about the health of the BIOS in general in case they flashed any other junk onto it at the same time, but you said updating it would be like wiping it and clean flashing, right? If so, it's a question as to whether the OEM identifier on the BIOS required for OEM-SLP activation, was overwritten when the counterfeiters flashed it, and if updating will restore that or not.
All very interesting from a technical perspective and I am learning loads
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New #25
Have a look at the OEM's support page for that make and model. If it ever shipped from the factory with Windows 7, odds are good that the latest BIOS available has a Windows 7 SLIC table in it. There is no guarantee though. You won't know for sure until after you flash it and have a look. Totally up to you whether you want to flash it or not. All I can say is if it was mine, I would flash it just to get an official unmodified BIOS back on it. It's no big deal for the OEM's to add support for a newer OS to their BIOS at a latter date. Just flashing the BIOS won't get you that new version of Windows for free. You still need the custom OEM branded media to install it and activate it with OEM-SLP activation.
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New #26
Ok, that's good enough for me, I'll go ahead and order the disks, flash the bios and update this thread with the results. A hundred bucks for a recovery disk, nice work if you can get it. They must be able to order that thing and have it burned, packaged and posted at the push of a button. Money for old rope. Factoring in the hourly rate of the call centre operator in India, who is on the telephone for all of 5 minutes. I have heard of some OEM's supplying these for next to nothing, but they could all follow suit. Ah well, lesson learned, better late than never, and the hard way than not at all. Thanks again for all the great advice!
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