Sign in
Microsoft.com
 
Microsoft
 
 
 

none
Will my (genuine) product key work with any OEM Win7 disk? RRS feed

 > 

  • Question

  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    Hi everyone :) 

    I bought my laptop (Dell Studio 15) earlier this year with genuine Windows 7 Professional preinstalled. Dell does not supply an OEM operating system disk - I have a CD with the drivers on it, and two recovery DVDs that I was prompted to create on first run. These are just a drive image saved onto DVDs.

    I now want to set this laptop up to boot multiple operating systems. One of them, when installed, will overwrite the bootloader making it impossible to boot into Windows. This issue is fixed by booting from the Windows 7 installation DVD and selecting the 'repair startup' option which reinstalls the Windows bootloader. I can't do this, because I don't have a Windows 7 installation DVD - all I want to do is repair the bootloader, not restore my computer to out-of-box state, so the recovery disks I have with a drive image are no use to me because they don't have all of the repair options of a Windows 7 Pro installation DVD.

    My copy of Windows 7 Pro is genuine - the authenticity sticker with the product key on it was sent to me with the computer. So my question is this. If I get a Windows 7 Pro OEM installation DVD (the easiest way for me to do this without having to pay for a second license - which I really don't want to do since I'm only going to run one copy of the OS on one machine - would just be to torrent the ISO and burn it to a DVD) will the disk work with my product key, or is each disk tied to a particular key?
    Also, if I want to install Windows 7 into a virtual machine for testing purposes, and I use the same product key, would I somehow be jeopardising my license? As in, would Microsoft view this as me using a single Windows license on two computers (and possibly prevent the VM from installing/updating or say it wasn't genuine) even though one is a virtual machine that I'd delete after a few days anyway?

    Sorry this is so long, I wanted to explain fully. Thanks for your time and any help you can give me :)
    Tuesday, January 4, 2011 12:11 PM
    |

Answers

  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    "CrazyWayToFly" wrote in message news:827681a7-a011-4f0e-b75b-cf2c2f56a345...
    Hi everyone :) 

    I bought my laptop (Dell Studio 15) earlier this year with genuine Windows 7 Professional preinstalled. Dell does not supply an OEM operating system disk - I have a CD with the drivers on it, and two recovery DVDs that I was prompted to create on first run. These are just a drive image saved onto DVDs.

    I now want to set this laptop up to boot multiple operating systems. One of them, when installed, will overwrite the bootloader making it impossible to boot into Windows. This issue is fixed by booting from the Windows 7 installation DVD and selecting the 'repair startup' option which reinstalls the Windows bootloader. I can't do this, because I don't have a Windows 7 installation DVD - all I want to do is repair the bootloader, not restore my computer to out-of-box state, so the recovery disks I have with a drive image are no use to me because they don't have all of the repair options of a Windows 7 Pro installation DVD.

    My copy of Windows 7 Pro is genuine - the authenticity sticker with the product key on it was sent to me with the computer. So my question is this. If I get a Windows 7 Pro OEM installation DVD (the easiest way for me to do this without having to pay for a second license - which I really don't want to do since I'm only going to run one copy of the OS on one machine - would just be to torrent the ISO and burn it to a DVD) will the disk work with my product key, or is each disk tied to a particular key?
    Also, if I want to install Windows 7 into a virtual machine for testing purposes, and I use the same product key, would I somehow be jeopardising my license? As in, would Microsoft view this as me using a single Windows license on two computers (and possibly prevent the VM from installing/updating or say it wasn't genuine) even though one is a virtual machine that I'd delete after a few days anyway?

    Sorry this is so long, I wanted to explain fully. Thanks for your time and any help you can give me :)

    Your Dell came with a recovery system which you can use to reinstall the OS and applications that came with the PC.
    If for some reason that system is no longer available, then you can purchase a set of recovery disks for your system from Dell - see their website for details.
    You can use a Retail or OEM System Builder disk to reinstall your OS - but it will not reinstall the applications, or the drivers that Dell may have used.
    You cannot use the Key from your installation in a Virtual Machine - it is locked to the physical machine and may make it impossible to re-activate that machine. You would need to purchase a new Full license for use in the Virtual machine.
    If you plan to dual-boot in the way you intend, then you can use an MS-hologrammed disk from any edition of Windows 7 to repair the bootloader. BUT! this may not work, depending on how the second OS screws with the system, and how Dell set up the disk in the first place.
    NTFS disks are normally restricted to no more than 4 primary partitions - one will have been used for the recovery partition, and at least one for the OS partition. Dell may have also used the other two partitions for the boot partition, and a data partition (check your Disk Management app in Computer Management)
    If that's the case, your second OS will not install anyhow, even if you shrink one of the partitions to allow it.
     
    I would recommend installing your second OS in a new HD (after unplugging the existing HD) - you may find that your BIOS has an option to boot from different HD's, in which case no problem.
    If not, then you should use a boot manager to control the booting options, and I would recommend something other than the normal GRUB or MS ones - I use BootItNG at present for this in one of my machines.
     
    HTH - if you have any further queries, I recommend that you post to the Answers forums, rather than here.
     

    --

    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
    • Marked as answer by Darin Smith MS Thursday, January 6, 2011 9:05 PM
    Tuesday, January 4, 2011 1:02 PM
    |
    Moderator

All replies

  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote

    Here is the requested diagnostic report, although I don't know that it's relevant in my case.

    Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):

    -----------------------------------------

    Windows Validation Data-->

     

    Validation Code: 0

    Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0

    Windows Product Key: *****-*****-M3DJT-4J3WC-733WD

    Windows Product Key Hash: xo+ajVSpae7/4VoZjS7m6JL0f3A=

    Windows Product ID: 00371-OEM-8992671-00524

    Windows Product ID Type: 2

    Windows License Type: OEM SLP

    Windows OS version: 6.1.7600.2.00010100.0.0.048

    ID: {A2B1491F-0B5D-4BFC-A54B-57E5C60F4C57}(1)

    Is Admin: Yes

    TestCab: 0x0

    LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

    Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

    Product Name: Windows 7 Professional

    Architecture: 0x00000009

    Build lab: 7600.win7_gdr.100618-1621

    TTS Error: 

    Validation Diagnostic: 

    Resolution Status: N/A

     

    Vista WgaER Data-->

    ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002

    Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

     

    Windows XP Notifications Data-->

    Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

    File Exists: No

    Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

    WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

    WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

     

    OGA Notifications Data-->

    Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

    Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

    OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

    OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

     

    OGA Data-->

    Office Status: 109 N/A

    OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002

    Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

    Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3

     

    Browser Data-->

    Proxy settings: N/A

    User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)

    Default Browser: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe

    Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt

    Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled

    Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed

    Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled

    Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled

    Active scripting: Allowed

    Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed

     

    File Scan Data-->

     

    Other data-->

    Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{A2B1491F-0B5D-4BFC-A54B-57E5C60F4C57}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7600.2.00010100.0.0.048</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-733WD</PKey><PID>00371-OEM-8992671-00524</PID><PIDType>2</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-1683003832-881783788-42239136</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Model>Studio 1558</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>A07</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="6"/><Date>20100624000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>16B83607018400FC</HWID><UserLCID>0C09</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>E. Australia Standard Time(GMT+10:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>DELL  </OEMID><OEMTableID>QA09   </OEMTableID></OEM><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>  

     

    Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002

     

    Licensing Data-->

    Software licensing service version: 6.1.7600.16385

     

    Name: Windows(R) 7, Professional edition

    Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, OEM_SLP channel

    Activation ID: 50e329f7-a5fa-46b2-85fd-f224e5da7764

    Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f

    Extended PID: 00371-00178-926-700524-02-1033-7600.0000-2522010

    Installation ID: 017783396225108852008825389102332074968632802190693455

    Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338

    Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339

    Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341

    Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340

    Partial Product Key: 733WD

    License Status: Licensed

    Remaining Windows rearm count: 3

    Trusted time: 4/01/2011 10:05:52 PM

     

    Windows Activation Technologies-->

    HrOffline: 0x00000000

    HrOnline: 0x00000000

    HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000

    Event Time Stamp: 12:23:2010 21:47

    ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395

    Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395

    HealthStatus Bitmask Output:

     

     

    HWID Data-->

    HWID Hash Current: PAAAAAIABQABAAEAAQACAAAAAwABAAEAonZaf8YnV91U9fz6GEKaUXBNIHTSMo3vYj22/8T+6Bh+WFxd

     

    OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->

    N/A

     

    OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->

    BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes

    Windows marker version: 0x20001

    OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes

    BIOS Information: 

      ACPI Table Name OEMID Value OEMTableID Value

      APIC PTLTD APIC  

      FACP INTEL CRESTLNE

      HPET INTEL CRESTLNE

      BOOT PTLTD $SBFTBL$

      MCFG INTEL CRESTLNE

      SPCR PTLTD $UCRTBL$

      SLIC DELL   QA09   

      OSFR DELL   DELL    

      ASF!  CETP    CETP

      SSDT PmRef CpuPm

     

     

    Tuesday, January 4, 2011 12:15 PM
    |
  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    "CrazyWayToFly" wrote in message news:827681a7-a011-4f0e-b75b-cf2c2f56a345...
    Hi everyone :) 

    I bought my laptop (Dell Studio 15) earlier this year with genuine Windows 7 Professional preinstalled. Dell does not supply an OEM operating system disk - I have a CD with the drivers on it, and two recovery DVDs that I was prompted to create on first run. These are just a drive image saved onto DVDs.

    I now want to set this laptop up to boot multiple operating systems. One of them, when installed, will overwrite the bootloader making it impossible to boot into Windows. This issue is fixed by booting from the Windows 7 installation DVD and selecting the 'repair startup' option which reinstalls the Windows bootloader. I can't do this, because I don't have a Windows 7 installation DVD - all I want to do is repair the bootloader, not restore my computer to out-of-box state, so the recovery disks I have with a drive image are no use to me because they don't have all of the repair options of a Windows 7 Pro installation DVD.

    My copy of Windows 7 Pro is genuine - the authenticity sticker with the product key on it was sent to me with the computer. So my question is this. If I get a Windows 7 Pro OEM installation DVD (the easiest way for me to do this without having to pay for a second license - which I really don't want to do since I'm only going to run one copy of the OS on one machine - would just be to torrent the ISO and burn it to a DVD) will the disk work with my product key, or is each disk tied to a particular key?
    Also, if I want to install Windows 7 into a virtual machine for testing purposes, and I use the same product key, would I somehow be jeopardising my license? As in, would Microsoft view this as me using a single Windows license on two computers (and possibly prevent the VM from installing/updating or say it wasn't genuine) even though one is a virtual machine that I'd delete after a few days anyway?

    Sorry this is so long, I wanted to explain fully. Thanks for your time and any help you can give me :)

    Your Dell came with a recovery system which you can use to reinstall the OS and applications that came with the PC.
    If for some reason that system is no longer available, then you can purchase a set of recovery disks for your system from Dell - see their website for details.
    You can use a Retail or OEM System Builder disk to reinstall your OS - but it will not reinstall the applications, or the drivers that Dell may have used.
    You cannot use the Key from your installation in a Virtual Machine - it is locked to the physical machine and may make it impossible to re-activate that machine. You would need to purchase a new Full license for use in the Virtual machine.
    If you plan to dual-boot in the way you intend, then you can use an MS-hologrammed disk from any edition of Windows 7 to repair the bootloader. BUT! this may not work, depending on how the second OS screws with the system, and how Dell set up the disk in the first place.
    NTFS disks are normally restricted to no more than 4 primary partitions - one will have been used for the recovery partition, and at least one for the OS partition. Dell may have also used the other two partitions for the boot partition, and a data partition (check your Disk Management app in Computer Management)
    If that's the case, your second OS will not install anyhow, even if you shrink one of the partitions to allow it.
     
    I would recommend installing your second OS in a new HD (after unplugging the existing HD) - you may find that your BIOS has an option to boot from different HD's, in which case no problem.
    If not, then you should use a boot manager to control the booting options, and I would recommend something other than the normal GRUB or MS ones - I use BootItNG at present for this in one of my machines.
     
    HTH - if you have any further queries, I recommend that you post to the Answers forums, rather than here.
     

    --

    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
    • Marked as answer by Darin Smith MS Thursday, January 6, 2011 9:05 PM
    Tuesday, January 4, 2011 1:02 PM
    |
    Moderator
  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote

    Thanks a lot for that, I might have to look into separate hard drives then :/ This one has three partitions already and I was planning to create one for shared files.

    My mother has a Windows 7 disk that came with her computer, which is running Home Premium - I might just use that :)

    Thursday, January 6, 2011 1:16 AM
    |
  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    "CrazyWayToFly" wrote in message news:a9204876-5a70-4001-bfa2-b3780708259f...

    Thanks a lot for that, I might have to look into separate hard drives then :/ This one has three partitions already and I was planning to create one for shared files.

    My mother has a Windows 7 disk that came with her computer, which is running Home Premium - I might just use that :)


    That should work - if you live :)
    Again - you will not be able to use that installation in your machine, as it's locked to your mother's motherboard, so you'd have to reinstall using a full retail disk
    --

    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
    Thursday, January 6, 2011 7:23 AM
    |
    Moderator