Kitz Forum
Computer Software => Windows 7 => Topic started by: broadstairs on November 17, 2018, 09:51:13 AM
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For some reason best known to itself my W7 system (only one I have) said it may not be genuine today. It has been running now for a couple of years since installed and validated but I don't allow it to update. Any ideas please?
Stuart
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I don't allow it to update.
Perhaps that's the problem.
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OK but that would annoy me, I see no reason to update a PC which is working perfectly running two or three apps 24x7.
Stuart
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I am now getting angry with all this. I have two genuine COAs for W7 Home Premium neither of which validate and when I try to go online to do it the page does not exist! There seems to be no way to get a UK phone number to contact and get this resolved. Very frustrating especially as the system was originally validated fine when I first installed it.
Stuart
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Seems like I am unable to buy a new key for Windows 7 from Microsoft - I refuse to use Windows 10 which seems to be the only way forward.
Stuart
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Hi broadstairs
This may help a little and should at least let you have a Microsoft telephone number
Many thank
John
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/unable-to-activate-windows-7-product-key-invalid/a92868fd-9881-4b9a-901a-3998bafb570d
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When I looked at that link it said issue slui 4 which I did and then from the screen I got to it said go online, when I did that I get a 404 error.
Stuart
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may i suggest you simply update windows 7?
windows 7 can still be activated using valid keys (assuming windows 7 i fully up to date).
so either your keys are dodgy or you need to update.
running an out-of-date windows 7 is foolhardy at best.
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OK but that would annoy me, I see no reason to update a PC which is working perfectly running two or three apps 24x7.
Do you connect the PC to the internet and then visit any websites? Do you ever receive any emails? If so there is EVERY reason to keep it updated!
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Have you tried this method?
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/15083/windows-activate-windows-7-or-8-1 (https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/15083/windows-activate-windows-7-or-8-1)
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I've tried everything mentioned here but actually talking to a person which I guess is the next thing. Sadly I suspect some how my key has been cloned as it has worked OK for the past couple of years. As for not updating it has never been an issue as it is never used for accessing the net or web browsing, it runs 3 applications one of which ftp's to my web site and one which downloads data from specific sites for weather data, but it's pure data.
I did look to see if I could purchase a new key for W7 from Microsoft but they only want to sell a W 10 key which I will never use as W7 is perfect for my needs.
Stuart
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There are plenty of places selling them, and claiming that they are genuine legal product keys.
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There is a problem right now causing windows 10 to deactivate, but I have not heard of it affecting windows 7, seems very strange, and I will take your word for it that it is a legit license.
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I've tried everything mentioned here but actually talking to a person which I guess is the next thing. Sadly I suspect some how my key has been cloned as it has worked OK for the past couple of years. As for not updating it has never been an issue as it is never used for accessing the net or web browsing, it runs 3 applications one of which ftp's to my web site and one which downloads data from specific sites for weather data, but it's pure data.
I did look to see if I could purchase a new key for W7 from Microsoft but they only want to sell a W 10 key which I will never use as W7 is perfect for my needs.
Stuart
But it is accessing the internet, and not having it up to date is foolhardy.
Also it needs internet access to activate
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I've tried everything mentioned here but actually talking to a person which I guess is the next thing.....
Didn't the telephone activation work? I'm not sure if it's one of those type of calls where if you don't press anything you get to talk to a person.
Kevin
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When I upgraded my PC and migrated the install across, I had to reactivate over the phone but was fully automated. I had to key in a long code and then it activated.
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When I upgraded my PC and migrated the install across, I had to reactivate over the phone but was fully automated. I had to key in a long code and then it activated.
Eventually I managed that option but it failed to recognise the numbers I keyed.
Stuart
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your key is blacklisted then
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Yes but why after all this time? I've been using it for probably a couple of years before now.
Stuart
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you'd need to ask microsoft that.
either it was a fake key to begin with and they've finally blocked it, or someone else has got a hold of it and used it.
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here you go, key may not be fully legit, but is cheap.
https://www.kinguin.net/category/13816/windows-7-professional-oem-key-sp1/
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that's an OEM key, so 100% not legit if not bought with supporting hardware.
also, they advise to use telephone activation, which would be a red flag. if the key was legit then there should be no reason to use the normal activation process.
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here you go, key may not be fully legit, but is cheap.
https://www.kinguin.net/category/13816/windows-7-professional-oem-key-sp1/
Nice idea but I only have home premium.
Stuart
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Not legal, but by legit I meant it would activate and not be blocked, I still use my technet keys which are only supposed to be used for testing ;) Microsoft dont block oem keys for these reasons, if a key is blocked its usually because of duplicated use, not generated by themselves or been registered in the wrong country.
I agree tho that the fact they advise telephone activation is a red flag. Maybe its where he got his first key from? hmmm.
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Nice idea but I only have home premium.
Stuart
Well they would have home premium keys as well and a pro key would still work it would upgrade you to pro.
Where did you get the first key from?
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Have you used the MGAdiag program to confirm the key?
could you post the first ten lines
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=203456
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that's an OEM key, so 100% not legit if not bought with supporting hardware.
also, they advise to use telephone activation, which would be a red flag. if the key was legit then there should be no reason to use the normal activation process.
It's not that straight forward though.
eBay have shifted policy on these and allow OEM keys without hardware. Sellers selling OEM keys usually have a silly note saying the broken hardware that matches the OEM key can be sent upon request.
I highly doubt the sellers who pop up with 1000 OEM keys have 1000 mobo's next to them.
That page has a legal note
Legal Note:
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) versions offer the buyer the huge advantage of purchasing the same software at a significantly lower price. In Germany, the purchase, distribution and use of OEM versions is completely legal. In other words, trading of OEM versions even without hardware is legally permitted.
The Federal Court ruling allowed the sale of OEM versions and DSP versions without associated hardware.
As a result of this ruling, you may install and use this version on any computer. This is documented in the judgment of the Federal Court of Justice of 06.07.2000 - I ZR 244/97, and states: In the judgment of 6 July 2000 ruled the Federal High Court (BGH) that the exhaustion principle can not be undermined by license provisions of the manufacturers (Az I ZR 244/97 - OEM Decision - Judgment in GRUR 2001, 153).
At that time Microsoft complained against the resale of so-called OEM software, which was contractually tied to new hardware at the time of sale, but had been brought into isolation by the intermediate dealer. The lawsuit was dismissed. The BGH stated in its judgment that the retransmission is free due to the exhaustion of the copyright distribution right.
The specified brand is copyrighted and is used here only for product description.
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eBay have shifted policy on these and allow OEM keys without hardware. Sellers selling OEM keys usually have a silly note saying the broken hardware that matches the OEM key can be sent upon request.
I highly doubt the sellers who pop up with 1000 OEM keys have 1000 mobo's next to them.
ebay can say what they want though, but it's not their rules to make up or change.
it's microsoft that make the rules.
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Do you connect the PC to the internet and then visit any websites? Do you ever receive any emails? If so there is EVERY reason to keep it updated!
This is absolutely correct. I work for a company in the cyber security industry and this statement is - spot on.
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OEM keys also rely upon a hardware string in the BIOS - this generally only applies to big box builder computers, such as if you buy a laptop from Dell, HP or whoever.
If you have a custom built PC then you'd need your own key. I don't think OEM's will activate on non OEM kit. Though, it's been many years since I've even needed a key, I just use Windows 10 and I keep shoving my old Windows 8 keys I bought at it (Got them for £15 each!) and it keeps working.
Though, ultimately, I want to get away from Windows, one day............ no more keys to ever have to worry about then! :)
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I always used to use OEM versions on my own built hardware.
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If you have a custom built PC then you'd need your own key. I don't think OEM's will activate on non OEM kit.
Best tell that to the millions with working Windows OEM keys on their custom built PC's.
AFAIK they only started linking keys to hardware with Windows 10.
The OP should have no issue on Windows 7.
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OEM keys dont need to be tied to specific hardware to activate for the first time, there is two types of OEM licenses, the key variants will activate on any PC.
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AFAIK they only started linking keys to hardware with Windows 10.
W7 keys can be linked to specific manufactures though, I tried to download a copy of W7 from MS once and was told the key was linked to Dell/HP or whoever it was. Whether they activate on non Dell/HP etc hardware I don't know.
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I remember when I upgraded my W7 to W10 it give me a different W10 key for the machine.
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In the past couple of months, I have Built and upgraded 2 PC's, Both are windows 10 pro and were activated with Windows 7 pro OEM keys... I bought for £10.
I think MS is just trying to get rid of all Windows 7/8/8.1 pc's out there, so are still ok with trading Old Win 7 keys for new.
My own Win 8.1 retail key was upgraded to Win 10 pro and they gave me a new retail version :)
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In the past couple of months, I have Built and upgraded 2 PC's, Both are windows 10 pro and were activated with Windows 7 pro OEM keys... I bought for £10.
I think MS is just trying to get rid of all Windows 7/8/8.1 pc's out there, so are still ok with trading Old Win 7 keys for new.
My own Win 8.1 retail key was upgraded to Win 10 pro and they gave me a new retail version :)
That's useful for me, thanks. My son is building his own PC and was about to purchase a Win 10 licence. However I've got an unused Win 7 retail that I can give him to activate 10? This is news to me as I thought the WIn7 ->10 was all done now.
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All this is very interesting for some however I will never update from W7 for what this pc is used for it buys me absolutely nothing. My next move will be to Linux when I can solve moving one last program over.
Stuart
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All this is very interesting for some however I will never update from W7 for what this pc is used for it buys me absolutely nothing.
regardless, you should still keep it up to date in terms of windows updates and security updates.
you have this system connected to the internet.
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This is news to me as I thought the WIn7 ->10 was all done now.
You can use Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 to activate the same version of Windows 10, have been able to for a long time.