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

I have a Windows 7 computer which I use for certain games which don't work on Windows 10 or Windows 11 plus for photo-editing music editing and storage of pictures and music files. It has no connection to the Internet and I have no intention to connect it to the Internet since I also have a Windows 10-computer for my online activities.

Due to some malfuctions, I had to take it to a firm which repairs computers. Most likely I will have to re-install Windows 7 when it's repaired.

And there is the problem. I want an original Windows 7 on my computer in oprder to run a game which won't work with Microsoft Edge. But if I install the original OS and "pull the plug" before it starts to update newer versions of Windows 7, including Microsoft Edge, then it will be difficult to activate the computer.

Internet Explorer will take me to a link for activating which don't function anymore, I had a lot of problems with that two years ago when I had to re-install everything after a disc crash.

So I used a telephone option. But that was also a bit complicated and took very long time and I'm not sure if this option is still available.

So how do I do if those options fail?

Not activating the computer will cause a lot of problems with certain functions which will not function and I don't want it that way since I've actually paid once to have a computer where everything which is supposed to function will function.

My version of Windows 7 is 100% legal so therefore it would be somewhat ridiculous if I have to search the net for cracks and such. but I'm open for all options if necessary.

So how do I solve this in the best possible way?

torchwood said:

Hi

Edge/IE has nothing to do with validation

when you view your system details page there is an option to input the product code
ALL updates can be processed in the "grace period" before a system is activated
(its actually SLUI.exe direct to MS servers)

Based on your specs
You should have either a Retail or System Builder product key
This should auto activate after your "repair"

Depending upon your original build

Done yourself then you would have purchased a Retail Pro key,
-- online from MS -check your old emails
-- with your OS disk key will be on the covering

Shop build
System Builder check the shops invoice, generally quoted on it
OEM sticker attached to the side of your comp

I take it you never created a system image using Macrium/Acronis etc

I'm aware of the fact that Edge/IE has nothing to do with validation itself.
The problem is that I need the original version of Windows 7 without Edge and other updates to play a certain game on my computer.

The problem is that when I install the original Windows 7 OS and "pull the plug" for updates, then when I want to activate the system, Internet Explorer leads me to a link which no longer exists. All of that is explained in my previous post.

As for Retail pro keys and old emails, it was a long time ago since I bought the OS so what may have been has disappeared in the well of time. As a matter of fact, I don't have the same mail adress as I had back then. What I have is an installation CD and the product key for the OS.

As for my computer, it has been built and re-built under a couple of years and the firm which did it is gone since 2015.

I have a system image on a rescue disc created by the Windows 7 system, I just hope that it will work if I need it. But what if the recent problem with the computer has been "imported" on that disc in some way.

Or that the option with activating via telephone still works.

But I would need more options. Is there no way to contact Microsoft about this?

- - - Updated - - -

SIW2 said:

back up the current activation first

Backup the activation

I'm not familiar with what you show me in that link. Can you explain further?

As it is now, my computer is in a shop waiting to be repaired and there's a risk that they wipe out what's there so I have to start from scratch when I get it back and then the problems with activating will start.

SIW2 said:

There are screenshots. I can't explain it any more simply.

Is this something I can find in Windows 7 or some program? I just don't recognize any of it.

Anyway, it can be very useful for me in the future if I get my computer in order, then maybe I can avoid future installation problems.

By the way, is there anyone who knows if it's possible to replace Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer if Microsoft Edge is updated on my computer?

Ah more info

Right
The only OFFLINE activation that can occur is an OEM version, ie Dell HP etc

you mentioned your ISO, if its prior to 2011, then its pre SP1 and certainly will not have Edge ... but IE8
if you then use it as your installation media then thats as far as you can get
....kb976932 aka SP1 is a break point.. includes IE11

Once you get to that stage TURN OFF AUTO-INSTALL windows updates
select download updates but let me choose (choose how to update)

Updates DO NOT impact activation
Pre SP1 still gives you the oppertunity to Activate your comp, as i mentioned before in System specs
it can also be done using RUN command then inputing SLUI.EXE
or
RUN then inputting SLMGR /IPK (THEN YOUR PRODUCT CODE)

I wonder if installing a different browser, like Firefox, and setting it as default, would get around this problem? Or does IE always kick in during activation? Installing Firefox is always the first thing I do when installing Windows 7. I use it download and update MS. Sec. Essentials so I have at least some functionality and protection. Then I use Simplix for updating (sometimes I first use Legacy Updates to get some of the foundations in place).

If IE always kicks in when you try to activate, perhaps disabling in msconfig might work?

torchwood said:

Ah more info

Right
The only OFFLINE activation that can occur is an OEM version, ie Dell HP etc

you mentioned your ISO, if its prior to 2011, then its pre SP1 and certainly will not have Edge ... but IE8
if you then use it as your installation media then thats as far as you can get
....kb976932 aka SP1 is a break point.. includes IE11

Once you get to that stage TURN OFF AUTO-INSTALL windows updates
select download updates but let me choose (choose how to update)

Updates DO NOT impact activation
Pre SP1 still gives you the oppertunity to Activate your comp, as i mentioned before in System specs
it can also be done using RUN command then inputing SLUI.EXE
or
RUN then inputting SLMGR /IPK (THEN YOUR PRODUCT CODE)

Thanks for information!

Maybe I did some mistake last time I did a re-install but I remember that I turned off auto-install, just to preserve the original OS.
The problem was that when I clicked on the automatic Activate link, the only thing which happened was that that link didn't was a dead link, most likely useful when the dinosaurs ruled the Earth (or more likely when the original Windows 7 was released).

There were no other options, no other link to activate OS.

Therefore I had to use the telephone method, which took a long time with a lot of digits and probably cost a lot of money too since I think I had to call a number in the US to use it. I never dared to look at the phone bill, so maybe it was free, I don't know!

However, that was more than two years ago and I'm not even sure if this phone activation possibility exists anymore at Microsoft.

I will also try to avoid IE 11 since it obviously don't work with my beloved NHL 2004 game which is the main reason for me to endure all the problems with installing the early version of Windows 7. What I remember, IE8 or even earlier versions of IE is what I need.

What I also remember is that I need an early version of Java from back in those days. I do think I have that file downloaded on the computer.

When it comes to using RUN and the codes you are providing, does it help me to solve the problem for good or is it only prolonging the 30 days activation period? What I know, that period is also restricted to max 120 days or so.

Anyway, I hope to get some news about what was wrong with the computer in the coming days and even get it repaired as well during the week.

If I'm lucky, then it's a minor problem and I don't have to re-install the OS.

If I'm not lucky, which often is the fact when it comes to problems like that, then I must start to solve those problems. I will follow your instructions above in your post and see what happens.

Just for your information, the problems I have had with the computer the recent week is that it "froze" four times during the week.

The first time it was during the upstart sequence, when the Microsoft flag shows up.
The second tome three days later when I was about to start Photoshop. I have an old version of that program which suits me fine.
The third time was last Monday when I was starting NHL 2004.
The second time was when I was in the middle of a game.

All those times I tried to used the Task Manager but it didn't work, then I restarted the computer instead and it ran for hours after that, just as it is supposed to do.

Anyway, thanks for help and advice and I'll keep you updated about the progress of all this.

- - - Updated - - -

SIW2 said:

Yes it is a portable program.

There is a big gold arrow pointing at Dism++ in the first post at the link. Dism++ is also linked at the bottom of all my posts.

Thanks, I will take a look at this. It might be useful in the future.

- - - Updated - - -

michael diemer said:

I wonder if installing a different browser, like Firefox, and setting it as default, would get around this problem? Or does IE always kick in during activation? Installing Firefox is always the first thing I do when installing Windows 7. I use it download and update MS. Sec. Essentials so I have at least some functionality and protection. Then I use Simplix for updating (sometimes I first use Legacy Updates to get some of the foundations in place).

If IE always kicks in when you try to activate, perhaps disabling in msconfig might work?

The problem is that IE seems essential when it comes to run NHL 2004. I don't think that installing another browser will solve that problem.

And this computer isn't supposed to be online. I have a Windows 10 computer for that for security reasons with updates and such.

However, I must state that I do find Windows 7 the best of all the Microsoft OS. They should have developed it instead of coming up with Windows 8 and 10. I don't really like them.