Windows 7 Product Key not working.

[The_Camilian]

My neighbour just had to reinstall windows 7 on his PC and i used my old windows disk, he put in the Key on the bottow of his PC but it didnt work?

 

[clarkjd]

My neighbour just had to reinstall windows 7 on his PC and i used my old windows disk, he put in the Key on the bottow of his PC but it didnt work?

Had he previously taken advantage of the free Windows 10 upgrade? If so the Win 7 key would have been converted to a Win10 key and therefore wouldn't work for a Win7 install any longer.

 

[Barty1884]

Also, are you sure you matched the keys and version? A home key + pro disk won't activate (and vice versa). x86 to x64 shouldn't be an issue though (generally).

You're sure they're entering the key correctly? Sometimes you have to use the automated phone line to activate.

 

[The_Camilian]

My neighbour just had to reinstall windows 7 on his PC and i used my old windows disk, he put in the Key on the bottow of his PC but it didnt work?

Had he previously taken advantage of the free Windows 10 upgrade? If so the Win 7 key would have been converted to a Win10 key and therefore wouldn't work for a Win7 install any longer.

Ye he did, so he either needs to get Windows 10 or buy a new key?

 

[Barty1884]

It doesn't prompt him to use the call a 1800 number to activate over the phone? That's a little odd.

What exactly does the message say?

 

[clarkjd]

My neighbour just had to reinstall windows 7 on his PC and i used my old windows disk, he put in the Key on the bottow of his PC but it didnt work?

Had he previously taken advantage of the free Windows 10 upgrade? If so the Win 7 key would have been converted to a Win10 key and therefore wouldn't work for a Win7 install any longer.

Ye he did, so he either needs to get Windows 10 or buy a new key?

Yes.
I would suggest that he download the Win10 install files, and use the Media Creation tool to create a bootable USP key to do a clean install of Win 10.

 

[Barty1884]

Yes.
I would suggest that he download the Win10 install files, and use the Media Creation tool to create a bootable USP key to do a clean install of Win 10.

My bad, I missed the part where the OP confirmed it had been upgraded to Windows 10.

OP, after the 30 days elapsed following the upgrade to Windows 10, the Windows 7 key ceased to be (for all intents & purposes). If your neighbour wants Windows 7, he's going to have to buy a new license.

 

[The_Camilian]

It doesn't prompt him to use the call a 1800 number to activate over the phone? That's a little odd.

What exactly does the message say?

He has been promted with that but i didnt know what would happen so i jumped on here and asked first. what will he need if he does it buy phone?

 

[Barty1884]

If they upgraded to Windows 10, chances are the license is "gone" (as it should be).

If he calls the 1-800 number it's automated. It asks you to put in some numbers that appear on the screen, and spits out some numbers you enter back in the corresponding fields.

It's worth a try. Best case = W7 back (if that's what they want, for whatever reason), worst case = no further forward/behind and they need to reinstlal Windows 10, or buy a W7 license.

 

[The_Camilian]

If they upgraded to Windows 10, chances are the license is "gone" (as it should be).

If he calls the 1-800 number it's automated. It asks you to put in some numbers that appear on the screen, and spits out some numbers you enter back in the corresponding fields.

It's worth a try. Best case = W7 back (if that's what they want, for whatever reason), worst case = no further forward/behind and they need to reinstlal Windows 10, or buy a W7 license.

Ok i will tell him tomorrow to try and call them if not i can let him use my Windows disk.

 

[USAFRet]

If they upgraded to Windows 10, chances are the license is "gone" (as it should be).

If he calls the 1-800 number it's automated. It asks you to put in some numbers that appear on the screen, and spits out some numbers you enter back in the corresponding fields.

It's worth a try. Best case = W7 back (if that's what they want, for whatever reason), worst case = no further forward/behind and they need to reinstlal Windows 10, or buy a W7 license.

Ok i will tell him tomorrow to try and call them if not i can let him use my Windows disk.

Your Windows disk has nothing to do with it. It is the Win 7 license he is lacking.
And you can't share your license.

I suggest he just reinstall Windows 10.

 

[The_Camilian]

My neighbour just had to reinstall windows 7 on his PC and i used my old windows disk, he put in the Key on the bottow of his PC but it didnt work?

Had he previously taken advantage of the free Windows 10 upgrade? If so the Win 7 key would have been converted to a Win10 key and therefore wouldn't work for a Win7 install any longer.

Ye he did, so he either needs to get Windows 10 or buy a new key?

Yes.
I would suggest that he download the Win10 install files, and use the Media Creation tool to create a bootable USP key to do a clean install of Win 10.

Correction he never tried the windows 10 upgrade so its always been windows 7 :/

 

[Barty1884]

Then call the automated number as prompted and follow the instructions.

 

[USAFRet]

Correction he never tried the windows 10 upgrade so its always been windows 7 :/

So it was never ever upgraded to Win 10?
And the license key fails during a reinstall?
Call Microsoft. They are the only ones who can fix this.

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

Windows 7 and Windows 7 with service pack 1 cant use the same keys

Windows 7 OEM and Windows 7 retail cant use the same keys

Microsoft only makes retail windows ISO disk images available for download (not OEM versions)

also version:- Home Premium/ Home Basic/Pro / Ultimate DVD must match key

you need to match Win 7 dvd to correct key

regards
Mike Barnes