Can't (re)activate Win 7 Pro on Dell laptop

A couple years ago I bought a used Dell Latitude D630 with Win 7 Pro 64-bit SP1. Its COA sticker shows originally Vista (yech) though.

Last week the motherboard failed. Bought another used D630 with no OS (and an XP Pro COA) and swapped in my hard drive and RAM. Bios updated to A19. But I can't re-activate Windows: it shows "Not Genuine" with the usual nags. I don't have the original disc that was used to install Win 7, but did purchase an inexpensive Dell Reinstallation disc for my OS.

I'm going to make a backup image of the HD before messing with the reinstall disc. Am I going to have to wipe my HD and use the reinstall disc in order to properly activate Windows? Or am I out of luck entirely and have to buy a new copy of Win 7 Pro?

Here's my MGAdiag:

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
-----------------------------------------
Windows Validation Data-->

Validation Code: 50
Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-CM74G-RPHKF-PW487
Windows Product Key Hash: 71BRYMECVaSXedfumfu8zryHJVY=
Windows Product ID: 00371-177-0000061-85230
Windows Product ID Type: 5
Windows License Type: Retail
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048
ID: {DB44624D-8AE6-4E2D-ACF0-6C47842298EF}(3)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Professional
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.151230-0600
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 (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Prompt
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Prompt
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed

File Scan Data-->

Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{DB44624D-8AE6-4E2D-ACF0-6C47842298EF}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-PW487</PKey><PID>00371-177-0000061-85230</PID><PIDType>5</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-262483417-1271629630-1627223643</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Model>Latitude D630 </Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>A19</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="4"/><Date>20130604000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>245D3C07018400FA</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Central Standard Time(GMT-06:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>DELL </OEMID><OEMTableID>M08 </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, Professional edition
Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, RETAIL channel
Activation ID: e838d943-63ed-4a0b-9fb1-47152908acc9
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 00371-00170-177-000006-00-1033-7601.0000-3132016
Installation ID: 000861789442443483291573233533135603098731107895841970
Processor Certificate URL: SpcService Web Service
Machine Certificate URL: RacService Web Service
Use License URL: UseLicenseService Web Service
Product Key Certificate URL: PkcService Web Service
Partial Product Key: PW487
License Status: Notification
Notification Reason: 0xC004F009 (grace time expired).
Remaining Windows rearm count: 3
Trusted time: 11/8/2016 11:35:04 AM

Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x00000000
HrOnline: 0xC004C532
HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000
Event Time Stamp: 11:6:2016 19:05
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:


HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: NgAAAAEABAABAAIAAAABAAAAAwABAAEAeqhsgJ2F/JBGgzwMiHrkIbzXkIWCA9NZcPzMySqF

OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A

OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes
Windows marker version: 0x0
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes
BIOS Information:
ACPI Table Name OEMID Value OEMTableID Value
APIC DELL M08
FACP DELL M08
HPET DELL M08
MCFG DELL M08
ASF! DELL M08
TCPA
SLIC DELL M08
SSDT PmRef CpuPm


----------------
Any help greatly appreciated.
thanks!
Charles

Look at this tutorial. Wait to speak to a real person and explain what you did.

Activate by Phone

I don't get an "Activate by Phone" option at all, whether running slui 4 from an administrator cmd prompt, or starting from "Activate Windows now" on the system tab of control panel.

When I try "other ways to activate" it takes me to the same screen where the product key is entered.

Other thoughts?
thanks.

Don't run it from the command prompt, Open the Start Menu, and type slui.exe 4 and press Enter

Thanks, but I tried that too. I do not seem to have an activate-by-phone option, period.
Is that because it's a Dell with licensing issues?

When you type slui.exe 4 and press enter, you are saying that you do not get a screen as shown in item 4 of the tutorial?

What do you get? Screen shot?

I doubt it is related to Dell.

That is precisely what I have been saying. Having some trouble with Photobucket, but a screen shot will not show anything but what I described. There is no phone option.

The tutorial does say at the top that it's only for the retail version of Win 7. Presumably I have an OEM version?

Hi DrCharles,
DO NOT WIPE YOUR OLD HDD
YET
please run this program
ShowKeyPlus - Windows 10 Forums
DO NOT POST
the info will show >>all<< the keys currently stored on your system.

Your Mgadiag is showing a generic base key, likely caused by the fact you used Dell RE-installation discs
From the showkey report try the keys found then
use the Change Product Key link in the System Properties page to change the Key, if that fails try inputting it/them via Internet Explorer.

If the above fails will try a different route,

Roy

I have not used the re-installation disc yet.

I just tried ShowKey Plus and it shows my Product ID and Installed Key, but nothing else except "OEM Key: Unknown OEM marker present in firmware".

Trying that Installed key gives an error message "default product key and cannot be used for activation".
Now what??

Edit: Also I should mention that I tried some Win7 keys I "found online" and got this error: 0xC004F063, The software licensing service reported that the computer BIOS is missing a required license.

Microsoft's answer to similar questions, of course, is to buy a new retail copy

Hi Doc,
OEM base keys are tied to the motherboard.
In your case Vista upgraded to Pro, the Mgadiag does NOT COMPLETELY confirm this, the Retail part is correct but the OGA part is not.
this is confirmed by the Showkey output message Unknown................firmware
this may have been caused by the BIOS update., you could try to revert it, NO guarentee make it your last resort

Phoning MS in your case would i believe would be unproductive UNLESS you can find the upgrade key, in the battery compartment?
(they do not validate base OEM keys)
But youve got nothing to lose so give them a shout, nothing ventured -- nothing gained.

Otherwise its time to buy a new licence.

Roy

I had the same problem with the A17 BIOS ("computer BIOS missing a required license") so probably no point in going backwards there... Looks like I shot myself in the foot buying a Dell, or at least a used laptop with an unknown (or OEM) install without an original Windows disc Don't know how they activated this copy of Pro on the previous hardware, though...

Are you positive I can't take another (blank) hard drive, or the one I have with the "not genuine" Pro, and use the Dell Reinstall disc to install a version that I can activate?

I looked in the closet and also have an original XP Home disc (in fact it's the last version of Windows I actually purchased new) which is no longer in use. Is there anything I can do with it (besides use it as a drink coaster)?

thanks
Charles

Apparently the Dell Latitude D630 was originally released in 2007 & came with Windows XP installed. Later versions may have had Windows Vista installed.

This probably does not help but it gives some background to work with.

I notice in your diagnostic report it shows the BIOS date as 2013, so this could be a problem with activation.

You are right - in my original post I noted that my "old" D630 had a COA showing Vista, but the "new" replacement was shipped with XP.

Activation problems were the same when I had the older BIOS (A17). The problem appears to be with the OEM key and licensing scheme. Unless I can do something with the Reinstall disc, I'm basically resigned to the "not genuine" nag.

DrCharles,

Your BIOS version has nothing to do with it. Both the A17 and A19 versions will have the same problem. The following details may help you understand how Dell-branded Reinstallation DVDs work.

A Dell-branded Reinstallation disc for XP/Vista/7 is essentially identical to a Microsoft-branded retail DVD. It does not install any crapware or custom Dell "tweaks", other than perhaps a web shortcut to Dell Help and Support. (There may be optional Applications discs and a Drivers and Utilities disc, but that's beside the point. I'm talking about just the OS Reinstallation disc here.) Being identical to a retail disc means that it also does not install any Dell drivers. Any necessary Dell drivers must be installed separately, regardless of whether you are using a retail disc or a Dell disc.

The only real difference between a Dell disc and a Microsoft retail disc is the Dell disc is altered to activate via a SLIC/SLP BIOS. The product key is embedded in the Dell Reinstallation disc, and if that disc is installed on a computer with a genuine Dell BIOS of the requisite SLP version, it will automatically be activated without contacting Microsoft and without prompting you to enter a key.

Dell's Reinstallation DVDs are universal and not tied to one machine or even one model line. The COA sticker is what gives you the legal right to install that OS, not the mere possession of the DVD or the OEM key embedded in the OS.

When installing from a Dell Reinstallation DVD, the installation routine looks for a SLIC/SLP BIOS in order to automatically activate. Installing Vista from a Dell DVD requires a SLIC 2.0 BIOS, while installing Win7 from a Dell DVD requires a SLIC 2.1 BIOS.

Your Dell Reinstallation DVD will not activate on your D630 because A19 is a SLIC 2.0 BIOS. Dell only shipped the D630 with XP or Vista, so the A19 BIOS contained a v2.0 SLIC table. Dell never shipped the D630 with Win7, so there was no reason for Dell to upgrade the BIOS to a 2.1 SLIC version.

FWIW, there are SLIC 2.1 BIOS updates available on the internet if you search hard enough for them--there was a whole cottage industry that developed around taking OEM BIOS updaters and hacking them to embed v2.1 tables instead of 2.0. But since that way of using a Dell Reinstallation DVD isn't strictly legal, I think any further help is beyond the scope of this forum.

As for product keys, note the key on the COA sticker is unrelated to the key installed by a Dell Reinstallation disc. The product keys embedded in the disc are not unique--in fact, practically every Dell shipped, within a given Windows version and edition, will have the same key or keys (a few editions used a couple different keys). That is the key you will discover if you use something like Magic Jelly Bean.

However, that is not the same as the key on the COA sticker on the chassis. Those stickers are always unique, and they are never the same as the OEM key embedded in the Reinstallation disc.

(FTR, ***-PW487 is not one of Dell's OEM keys. It's possibly a retail key, which would have worked with a retail DVD but will not work with a Dell DVD.)

If you want to recover and use the installed product key, I think you'll probably need to call Microsoft or reinstall with a retail DVD. If you want to install from the Dell Reinstallation DVD, you're on your own to find and install a SLIC 2.1 Dell BIOS first.

thank you DG, that was very educational. :info: Now I have a better idea of how the process works (or should work).

A quick Google search immediately came up with the suggested SLIC 2.1 BIOS A19 for D630 in a rar file! I'm a bit nervous about possibly bricking my system though. Definitely will wait until I have imaged my HD (to another HD) before attempting this. Still beats paying triple-digits for a new copy of Win 7 Pro though... especially since I had an apparently legal copy in the first place!

OTOH I could always just ignore the nag, and I don't need a desktop background. I disabled the update service some time ago when I discovered that M$ was forcing gigs of Win10 download onto my machine even though I had declined the "upgrade". That's not cool.

thanks
Charles

Been through a similar experience after an HDD crash. In my case COA was unreadable (OEM key on original install). I'd read about trying to get MS to provide a replacement key with evidence etc.

I spent 2 hours (no exaggeration) on chat with MS support going round in circles with them even accessing the system to discover what I'd already told them (OEM key no use). and lying to me about having looked at the photo I sent of the COA sticker.

They eventually said "nothing we can do, speak to Acer". Of course Acer said "nothing we can do, speak to MS".

Anyway - the point of the tale is that instead of using my completely legitimately purchased software I went down the legal (I think) but grey area of getting a refurbished system key online. It cost me about £6. Used a Win7 disk I already had and activated online fine that way.

Might be worth considering rather than trying to go the "right way" when MS offer no help that route.

Stuart

What is strange here
Standard Retail keys DO NOT require a slic table to be present, irrelevant off the manufacturer, whoever they are!.

Thats why i said the Mgadiag report was reporting inconsistancies.

The fly in the ointment is however the info i was working with,
I updated Vista to W7,
Now when this is achieved using the standard Windows update process a Retail indicator shows in the report and not an OEM type licence, and a specific OGA indicator.

MS will NOT VALIDATE a W7 clean install if it was >>ORIGINALLY Vista then upgraded<<
You have to start with Vista again and then use the upgrade option to get to W7 using the upgrade key that was purchased.

Roy