Windows seven activation

[tru_blu254]

I'm working on a laptop for a friend of mine. The hard drive crashed. I have installed a new HD. It had Windows 7 installed but the sticker for the product key has been rubbed off. I hooked up the old HD to my computer and used a program to find the product key and borrowed a copy of windows 7 from someone else. It will not activate. I keep getting the error code 0xc004e003. I was on the phone with Microsoft for about an hour trying to get this problem resolved. No help. They gave me a case number and told me to contact the manufacturer of the laptop. Not sure what to do next.

 

[Paul NZ]

That error means the key is in use. So you cant use it to activate Windows

 

[Wolfshadw]

The first thing that should have been accomplished as soon as the laptop was powered up for the first time should have been the creation or download of the recovery disk. This is typically a free operation as the software is included on a protected partition of the hard disk. If this was not accomplished, then your best bet would be to contact the laptop manufacturer and request a recovery disk for the device (typically at a cost).

-Wolf sends

 

[tru_blu254]

That error means the key is in use. So you cant use it to activate Windows
[/quotems


Yes it's in use by that laptop. I'm just trying to get it back up and running. I should be able to use the same product key

 

[tru_blu254]

The first thing that should have been accomplished as soon as the laptop was powered up for the first time should have been the creation or download of the recovery disk. This is typically a free operation as the software is included on a protected partition of the hard disk. If this was not accomplished, then your best bet would be to contact the laptop manufacturer and request a recovery disk for the device (typically at a cost).

-Wolf sends

Yes I agree, he should have made the discs. I have the same laptop model. Do you think the discs I made would work?

 

[Wolfshadw]

If you have the exact same model laptop, the exact same version of Windows 7, and his accurate product key, then yes. I would think it would work. OEMs can be finicky, however.

-Wolf sends

 

[tru_blu254]

If you have the exact same model laptop, the exact same version of Windows 7, and his accurate product key, then yes. I would think it would work. OEMs can be finicky, however.

-Wolf sends

I can try that then. Thanks! These are Toshiba laptops and as far as I can tell they are the same

 

[Wolfshadw]

No harm in trying and I wish you the best of luck. If it doesn't work, however, then you're likely going to need to contact Toshiba.

-Wolf sends

 

[USAFRet]

As MS advised you...contact the laptop manufacturer.
They will be glad to send/sell you the proper OS install disk, which will work with the original licensing key.

 

[tru_blu254]

No harm in trying and I wish you the best of luck. If it doesn't work, however, then you're likely going to need to contact Toshiba.

-Wolf sends

Thanks