Win 7 wont activate after fresh install

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vipboy28

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Jan 24, 2007
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Hi all,

So my comp hd died so I added a new one and changed the PSU. I bought the machine from a retail store and made system images and restore disc but it didnt work. I build my own PC's and have a legit copy of win 7 OEM. I installed it and entered the Other comps key and it says invalid. What am I doing wrong?
 
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Your version of Windows is an OEM copy, meaning its only supposed to be installed once. However, if you do as suggested above (ring MS), they are usually more than willing to do an over the phone activation if you explain why you are reinstalling.
 
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Is your copy of windows 7 that you installed the same version that what was originally on the computer? You have to make sure if you originally had win7 home 32bit that you use the same exact version to reinstall, other wise you will get an invalid key error when trying to activate.
 
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Making sure I'm understanding you correctly. You have your own OEM disk which you installed windows from but you are using the CD key on the side of the pre built computer?

That definitely won't work out of the box. Those prebuilt computer keys are their own special thing that only work with the OEMs own OEM install disc, not the generic OEM disc we can buy. You may be able to get it to work by calling in though. The phone is usually automated but if you have to talk to someone just say the hard drive died and you had to replace it and reinstall everything. Under no circumstance ever tell them you've used the disc on more than one computer even if it is with different CD keys.
 
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This is not 100% true, I use standard OEM disc's to install our dell computers at work and then type in the key off the sticker, i have no issues activating them.


Why cant you use the disc to install the os on multiple computers, as long as each computer has a little sticker with a key on it your fine. Hell you can download the ISO image from Microsoft, when you buy a copy of windows your not paying for the disc your paying for that little sticker with the key on it. Bill Gates could stand on a corner and hand out discs all day long and it doesnt matter unless you have that little sticker you cant activate it.
 
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You can use the disc as much as you want. What I said is if you have to call in to Microsoft for activation never tell them you have used the disc to install windows on multiple computers. They don't care if you have a CD key for each one, all they'll hear is 'Hey I'm installing the same copy of Windows on multiple computers' aka 'I'm stealing Windows'. Don't ever give them the chance to misunderstand you.
 
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Thats why its all in the wording.

If you ring and say 'The motherboard on my pre-built system has broken, so needed to get a replacement, but now windows wont activate', they will 99.999% of the time simply do it then and there on the phone with you.

However, if you ring and say 'Got this key off on an old pre-built system and wanted to use it for my new PC but it wont work', they will tell you to go out, buy a new key and have a nice day.
 
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thing is you cant use the key from a old install on a new install [oem] has nothing to to with the os on the disk or what ever -- you can use any windows disk but you now need a new key for it to use on a new computer

you can use your old copy of windows on the new computer but you now got to buy a fresh new key to activate it

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-windows-product-key#get-windows-product-key=windows-7


or call Microsoft and see if they will do it over the phone - the support guy maybe feeling generous today ??
 
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Let ask this because im starting to think a certain way and I want to clarify it if im wrong.

So, because my restore disc and Image disks are not working and even though I own a Retail PC with a Windows CD Key on it that I bought legally, I could get charged Windows 7 home premium software?

If so, no wonder people pirate windows. I usually build all my own pcs and buy OEM OS CDs. So I never really dealt with a retail machine that I had to do a fresh install in.
 
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no its not why.... only a retail copy of windows can be moved to a new computer with its key but you had to call Microsoft to deactivate the key from the old computer and activate it to the new computer

oem windows it tied to the first computer and not transferable [7 and below] one time use - some claim they were able to ,but???? I never tried that out with a oem
 
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Your windows key will NOT work. It is an OEM key that can only be installed ONCE.

In order for you to get Microsoft to move the key on to a new system, you have to ring them up and tell them the original PC has broken, so you were forced to replace it. Theyre usually happy to help if you do that.
 
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Dear god, you guys dont really understand the concept let me break it down.

1) I used the OEM CD NOT KEY to install on comp #2, then used Comp 2 CD key. (which didnt work, i get why it didnt work)
2) Since reading this wont work, I was going to DOWNLOAD a RETAIL COPY of windows 7 and Install that and use the CD KEY on computer 2 and was wondering if there would be an issue there.
3) I used to work at a few Major retail computer repair places as a salesman those guys used a Windows 7 CD that had ALL version both x86 and x64 all you needed to do was plug in the CD Key on the computer and it would activate no problem.

What is that called. Is that a Retail all editions CD or something?
 
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Actually by using my OEM Software I was able to use the CD Key off of computer 2 and it activated successfully :). I guess I Fat Fingered the CD Key the first time. I guess the answer here is

OEM Windows 7 can be used on any store bought machine that has a Valid CD Key. Seeing how I wiped Windows and installed an OEM copy.

 
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We didnt understand because you were using totally incorrect terminology to describe your problem. Let me help:

When you buy a copy of Windows, you do not buy the software, you buy the key.

There is NO such thing as an OEM version of Windows. However, there IS such thing as an OEM key.

These keys can only be used once. A 'retail' key can be used as many times as you want as long as Windows is only activated on one PC at a time.

There is no difference between a copy of Windows bought as OEM or Retail, only the license key is different.

So, when you were saying 'OEM version of Windows', everyone thought you were talking about the key, not the software :)
 
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I see, if you go on Newegg you will see Win 7 - OEM. When talking about PCs you bought in a store its referred as Retail as there is preloaded drivers and software that normally wouldnt be there. Furthermore, "I build my own PC's and have a legit copy of win 7 OEM. I installed it and entered the Other comps key and it says invalid" this sentence is pretty clear that i have 2 different computers and installed the windows software from 1 computer and entered the Retail cd key. But hey, thanks for the help.
 
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