How can I activate my Windows 7 on a non-connected computer?

torchwood said:

Hmmmm

not a keeper but been doing the activation validation problems checks here for years, and the site owner has never over-ruled me

I have NO problem at all with a machine being OFFline activated
FYI -- OEM machines, dell/hp/etc using thier original setup SELF activate, ie OFFLINE

According to the OP's specs and comments the machine is a custom build, so im not making assumptions
(likely an MSI motherboard)

as and when he gets it back we can check further, i will get him to run this tool,
https://www.sevenforums.com/attachme...ns-mgadiag.exe

Yes, the machine was custom build many years ago.

The motherboard and the graphics card are somewhat newer, about 10 years old and the main drive is two years old. It replaced the older one after a crash.

The reasons why the machine is offline are to avoid security problems due to the old OS and also because I don't need to have it connected to the net. OK, it's a little trickier when I import music and such from the net. I have to transport it over via external hard drives but no problems with that.

What is that tool in the link and what does it do?

Hi

that tool is MS's standard activation troubleshooter, i analyse them to diagnose the problems

none of the replacement parts will invalidate a retail product key
even a unvalidated system will receive security updates

torchwood said:

Hi

that tool is MS's standard activation troubleshooter, i analyse them to diagnose the problems

none of the replacement parts will invalidate a retail product key
even a unvalidated system will receive security updates

Such an device would be great to have, something I actually need for future use.

maybe I should give a copy to the people at the shop who are supposed to repair my computer and discover eventual problems. They seem to have some difficulties to find what's wrong. Unfortunately, I don't know how to build or repair a computer and they are the only ones in town.......

As for my computer, I need the basic OS which is a reason why I'll keep it away from updates, security or not.

As for the validation, I've heard that there can be certain problems with computers who are not activated and validated, such as certain functions shut off.

I don't want such problems, especially since I've actually bought a legal Windows 7 OS.

If I could find a way to validate the computer on-line with the basic OS, I would do it.

torchwood said:

FYI -- OEM machines, dell/hp/etc using thier original setup SELF activate, ie OFFLINE

You may not know this, but it has been like that since the XP days, when this insult to injury was introduced by Microsoft.

nt351 said:

You may not know this, but it has been like that since the XP days, when this insult to injury was introduced by Microsoft.

I didn't have those problems in the XP days, so no, I didn't notice.
I didn't even have those problems with Windows 7 before, not until the latest time I tried to activate the original OS and ran into a wall of trouble.
The point is: How do I solve these problems?
Not to mention that I still haven't been told exactly what is wrong with my computer, still waiting for the computer firm to find that out.
I'll see them tomorrow and I hope to come up with something more constructive here too.

@nt351

OEM comps have allways had 2 product keys, even from XP.... got an old Medion Okaya that started that way

it was part of MS's EULA agreement with them
1) was encoded on the motherboard during factory manufacture -- specific key for each OEM/windows version
( i have a complete list of them + some non standard offline keys for companies like Siemens)
2) was a unique code on the COA attached to the comp


Im an old git of 68 whose been around the block looking at these problems for years

torchwood said:

@nt351

OEM comps have allways had 2 product keys, even from XP.... got an old Medion Okaya that started that way

it was part of MS's EULA agreement with them
1) was encoded on the motherboard during factory manufacture -- specific key for each OEM/windows version
( i have a complete list of them + some non standard offline keys for companies like Siemens)
2) was a unique code on the COA attached to the comp


Im an old git of 68 whose been around the block looking at these problems for years

And I'm grateful for all help I can get in this case.

My biggest problem right now is that it's been taking so long for those who are supposed to fix my computer to come up with an answer.
Unfortunately they are the only ones in town, otherwise i'd gone for another option.

- - - Updated - - -

OK, here's the current situation.

After 3-4 days of testing, the staff at the shop who are trying to repair my computer haven't managed to find out what is wrong with it.

They have detected the problem with the computer "freezing" but they don't know if it is a hardware problem or a software problem.

The suspect that it can be the capacitors of the motherboard but they are not sure.

So I've decided that they can build a new one for me. But it will cost me a lot of money.

Not to mention that it might take some more weeks due to summer vacations and such.

And when I get the new computer, I'm still stuck with the validation problem.

The shop will use an "image" to install Windows 7 and that will most likely be the latest version with Microsoft Edge while I need Internet Explorer on it.

So as soon as I get the new computer, I must re-install Windows 7 with the original OS and then we'll have the validation problem.

It's a never-ending nightmare all of this.

At this point I would just buy a reconditioned Windows 7 machine. I just picked one up from Newegg for 131.00. 8 GB ram and W7 Pro, which I was able to authorize and update. But you would just keep it as is, I take it, so you could play that computer game. I would not take it online much, however, without it being updated. but that is what you want, apparently.

Then just pay the repair shop for work done, and figure out what to do with other computer later. Personally, I would put Linux on it.

michael diemer said:

At this point I would just buy a reconditioned Windows 7 machine. I just picked one up from Newegg for 131.00. 8 GB ram and W7 Pro, which I was able to authorize and update. But you would just keep it as is, I take it, so you could play that computer game. I would not take it online much, however, without it being updated. but that is what you want, apparently.

Then just pay the repair shop for work done, and figure out what to do with other computer later. Personally, I would put Linux on it.

I would rather give Linux a chance too.

But the game I play most and which is the main problem with all this doesn't work on Linux.

I've been asking questions about this for a long time, especially on the site on which they have created a version of the game which can run with Windows 7 (however with a very complicated installation and only their stuff can be used). There was a guy who had started to work with a Linux version of the game but nothing more has happened in years now.

As for reconditioned Windows 7 machines, I haven't found one yet in my country and since I'm not good at building computers, tt would be difficult to modify it the way I want.

The ISO that your repairer >>>MAY<<< use is likely an early SP1

IT will not have Edge included, more likely IE11

please ask them

if you have a >>>PRE SP1<<< (jan2011) disc get them to use it
and TELL them not to go on line

and come back here for more instructions