Just bought Win7 Pro RETAIL - how to check it is genuine and not in use?

[tom_martin22]

Hi all

I've just recently bought a Win7 Pro RETAIL; used from eBay. The seller has good feedback, and I chatted a fair amount with him through eBay messages. I have every reason to trust him, but in spite of that I would still like to check and be 100% sure that what I have is genuine and available for installation (not in use on another PC).

Does anyone have any tips as to how I can go about this? Can I go to MS direct to check (I seem to remember reading that I can't, but am not totally sure)? Any other ways...

Please note that for various reasons I won't bore you all with, I won't be able to actually use and install the OS for at least a couple of weeks....

Many thanks

Max

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Most are Technet keys that will eventually come up not valid.

USED means not valid.

 

[The Paladin]

a used windows license will always come up as invalid. the only way it is unused is is seal is closed on case and the label is inside, the only other way to check is to get the license number and call Microsoft and they will tell you

 

[tom_martin22]

Thanks for the replies. I'll look for a UK phone number and speak to MS then. Last time I called them (regarding something else) they were hopeless! Fingers crossed for better luck this time...

As I understand it, a fully boxed retail version can be uninstalled on one PC and then re-installed on another. In fact, can it not even be installed on multiple machines, so long as only one machine is in use at a time???

And just to clarify, the license number/key is on the usual sticker on the inside of the case...

Thanks for the help.

 

[ehmkec]

From the source:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15087/windows-genuine

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/about/get-in-touch/

 

[tom_martin22]

OK, so I have tried putting in the license key here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7

And I have also called MS and spoken to them about it/given them the license key. Both avenues confirm that it is a valid and genuine license. So that's good news.

The chap at MS was unable to tell me whether it is currently installed on another PC, as suspected.

Here's a link to the actual product I bought:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windows-7-Pro-English-Retail-Box-32-bit-and-64-bit-DVDs-/173086819796?hash=item284cc745d4%3Ag%3AAnkAAOSwFMdaVMrK&nma=true&si=LmqTRkNjExQibIGnpMZa1GMe%252BfA%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Happy to upload any photos as well if that would help any?

Once it is (hopefully) confirmed that it is genuine, the next step will be making sure it is "available"/not in use or installed on another computer. And it would seem that is only possible by installing it... Correct?

What I don't get is this... If I install it and all is well and as it should be. But let's say the seller's PC which it was on still has it on but is not in use. If he were to then use the PC in, say, 6 months time, what would happen? That aspect of it really confuses me.

Thanks so much for the help.

 

[The Paladin]

the answer to your question is, when Microsoft deems a license has been abused (not 2-3 installs but 20-30 +) they black flag it, and when your pc starts it will say " not a valid license"

 

[USAFRet]

What I don't get is this... If I install it and all is well and as it should be. But let's say the seller's PC which it was on still has it on but is not in use. If he were to then use the PC in, say, 6 months time, what would happen? That aspect of it really confuses me.

When you first install it, it doesn't necessarily check everything.
Later, the activation servers will catch up, and see that particular license is installed on multiple, geographically separated systems.
Poof....one or more will become 'not-genuine'.

And it probably wouldn'e on the sellers PC, but rather the other 25 people he sold that same license key to.

 

[tom_martin22]

So by the sounds of it the only option I have is to install it, wait and cross fingers while waiting... It's a shame there's no way of finding out for sure.

What would you consider a safe time? After how long can I uncross my fingers and relax in the knowledge that all is well, genuine, activated, etc.?

Thanks for the replies and help

 

[USAFRet]

So by the sounds of it the only option I have is to install it, wait and cross fingers while waiting... It's a shame there's no way of finding out for sure.

What would you consider a safe time? After how long can I uncross my fingers and relax in the knowledge that all is well, genuine, activated, etc.?

Thanks for the replies and help

Unless you bought it from a known valid retailer, there is no "safe time".
And some dude on fleabay ain't known or valid.

 

[Corwin65]

Can he still use an unactivated Win10 in case he loses his activation?

 

[USAFRet]

Can he still use an unactivated Win10 in case he loses his activation?

So far, yes.
My long term unactivated Win 10 test is still running the same, 13 months later.

 

[ehmkec]

So far, yes.
My long term unactivated Win 10 test is still running the same, 13 months later.

I read somewhere that inactivated Windows start to NAG you after awhile. And some visual features are unavailable. Is that true?

 

[USAFRet]

So far, yes.
My long term unactivated Win 10 test is still running the same, 13 months later.

I read somewhere that inactivated Windows start to NAG you after awhile. And some visual features are unavailable. Is that true?

Previous to Win 10, absolutely. 30 days troublefree, and then increasing levels of nag. Nag to the point of shutting down once an hour.

They changed with Win 10. The (small) limitations start from day 1.
Watermark at the bottom right of the screen. Appears 'sometimes', overlaid on top of everything else.
No personalization of the desktop or taskbar.

Apart from that, Win 10 works just fine.