Can't activate Windows 7 home premium after hard drive replacement

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   You need to change the Product Key to the one on the COA sticker on the machine's case (or inside the battery compartment),  using the Change Product Key link at the bottom of the System properties page.

   

  You may need to activate by phone.   

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  Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
  No - I do not work for Microsoft, or any of its contractors.

  • Proposed as answer by Noel D PatonModerator Monday, August 19, 2013 8:55 PM
  • Marked as answer by Noel D PatonModerator Wednesday, August 28, 2013 11:09 AM

  Saturday, August 17, 2013 9:12 AM

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  Thanks, Noel. This is what I tried. I thought I had the correct key, but apparently not.

  I checked the bottom sticker (and looked in the battery case, where there wasn't one). The sticker is faded to the point of being unreadable. I contacted Dell (maker of laptop) and they said they didn't have anything they could send me, which would help recover this (like original Windows DVDs). They said to contact MSFT support, which isn't terribly helpful.

  Any idea how I might proceed? I have a legitimate version, but can't prove it and would like to avoid the additional $100 for a new key.

  Thanks,

  JMR

  Tuesday, August 20, 2013 10:52 AM
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  Your problem is that for some reason, the system is unable to properly read the SLIC table in the BIOS, which is required to be able to self-activate the OEM_SLP Key with which the computer came installed.

   

  The normal solution is to change the Key to the one on your COA sticker - but you say that you are unable to read the Key there.

   

  In such circumstances, the only things you can do are

   

  1) recreate the Licensing Store - in case it's a minor software problem causing the misread

  2) try updating the BIOS to the latest available Win7-compliant one, from the manufacturer's website

  3) Contact the manufacturer direct, and see if they can provide assistance to correct the SLIC table

  4) a reformat and reinstall using the manufacturer's recovery media

  5) purchase a new license for Windows (or a new computer)   

  There *may* be an alternative solution though, if you are patient and persistent.

  Attempt Telephone Activation, and speak to an operator - they will tell you that your current Key is blocked (they should then ask for confirmation of your Product Key). Explain to them your problem, that you need to change the Key to the one on your sticker, but that the sticker is unreadable (could they please supply a replacement Key?). Hopefully they will ask for documentary proof of the sticker, in the form of an email with a picture of the affected sticker - and you can proceed from there.

  Sometimes it takes two or three calls before you get an operator who actually knows and uses this procedure - but I know that it can and does happen.

  
  

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  Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
  No - I do not work for Microsoft, or any of its contractors.

  
  

  • Edited by Noel D PatonModerator Tuesday, August 20, 2013 11:13 AM adjust vista/win7

  Tuesday, August 20, 2013 11:11 AM

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  I don;t know why, but normally the validation numbers/letters included in brands like HP DOESN'T work at all, reinstalling is performed using recovery disk (not provided) that you MUST create with one option (and it let creating just one set) just in case you had any problem.

  Then in HP computers it wasn't possible for me to get the validation key work, I supposse Dell is just the same (not sure).

  For OEM products Microsoft do not provide neither solution nor technical support, they are right telling you that Dell has the responsability, Dell is wrong telling you to call MS.

  If you have a valid retail or OEM copy of W7 (the ones with OEM writen on it without the word HP, DELL, etc) you could try this as your last resource.

  First install W7 retail or OEM (not branded) version, write the activation key and complete the instalation, at the very moment the key is requested you will know if it OK or not.  Finish the instalation.

  Try activatin via internet, it it fails find phone activation, write down the new code and call the toll free number, an answering machine will reply, and will ask in how many computers was this version installed, press 1, and you will get a new activation code.

  Please take into account that this procedure is not for piracying, and you can only use this method a few times, otherwise your key will be blackmailed.

  It happened with my last installation, I installed the same windows twice in my computer as multiboot (just in case one fails I have another) at different disk. I activate both via internet without inconvenient.  It was OK, later I installed the motherboard drivers and windows asked again for activation, big surprise no activation allowed due to many instalations, I select telephone activation, write down al info hoping to talk with a human, for my surprise I got in touch with a machine, I proceeded as I told you, I got a new code and problem solved.   After a long time I had to reinstall windows and I did via internet with the same key.  It seems that you have a limited number of installations in a time frame.

  Try this, If you put in a second PC you should not have problems in any of them, but once it is working try changing the key for the one in your laptot.

  I understand this is not an illegal procedure, you have 2 licences, you have 2 windows, it is formal, you lost one you are replacing it with the same software.

  Tuesday, August 20, 2013 4:55 PM
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  If you attempt to install the same Key onto two different machines, one will eventually be declared a counterfeit, and you run the risk of the Key being blocked permanently.

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  Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
  No - I do not work for Microsoft, or any of its contractors.

  Wednesday, August 21, 2013 9:26 AM

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  Thanks for this info.

  Not sure how to "recreate the licensing store". Are there any guides online? Couldn't find anything, but I'm probably not looking for the right thing.

  I considered the phone activation, but I can't find a number to call. I found some documentation online about how to find a number, but where it is supposed to show the option to do telephone activation, that doesn't appear on my screen. I'm in the US (Ohio)...any idea of a number to call?

  Appreciate the help.

  JMR

  Wednesday, August 21, 2013 2:01 PM
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  Recreate the Licensing Store

  Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories

  Right-Click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator - accept the UAC prompt

  Run the following commands in the Command Prompt window, using the Enter key at the end of each

   

  net stop sppsvc

  (wait until the service has stopped before entering the following lines)

   

  CD %windir%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

  REN tokens.dat tokens.bar

  net start sppsvc

  slui.exe

   

  After a couple of seconds the Windows Activation dialog will appear.

  You may be asked to re-activate and/or re-enter your product key, or Activation may occur automatically.

  If you are asked for your Key, use the one on the COA sticker on the machine's case

   

  Reboot and Post back with a new MGADiag report.

   

  (Note: the Line 'CD %win......\SoftwareProtectionPlatform' is all on one line - it may be broken in the Forum listing

   

  telephone activation (operator calls)

  Click on the Start button

  in the Search box, type

  SLUI   4

  and hit the Enter key

  follow the instructions, but when asked which service you require by the telephone ansafone, do NOT reply - this should force an operator to respond, who can deal with you 

  If you don't get the option of Telephone activation, use the list from here... https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/existing-customers/activation-centers.aspx

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  Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
  No - I do not work for Microsoft, or any of its contractors.

  Wednesday, August 21, 2013 2:09 PM

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  Thanks. I'll try recreating this later today when I have my personal computer.

  I tried this SLUI 4 thing, but on the screen where it gives you the options of how you want to proceed, there isn't an option for telephone assistance. I've looked online and have seen all the screenshots showing what it should look like, but it's not there for me. There are options to buy a key, contact support (which just goes to MSFT's main support site) and reactivate code. There is no option for telephone activation, which everyone else seems to have. Ever encounter this?

  Wednesday, August 21, 2013 3:56 PM
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  The problem here is that the OEM_SLP Key in use actually locks out the telephone option because it cannot be activated either by phone or over the internet, so it reduces the load on the system.

  Use the number from the link at the end.

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  Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
  No - I do not work for Microsoft, or any of its contractors.

  Wednesday, August 21, 2013 4:06 PM

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  Thanks...sorry...didn't notice the link to all the numbers in your last message.

  Wednesday, August 21, 2013 4:23 PM
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  Hi jonmrich

  I think you are in the wrong way. Dell MUST supply a recovery kit, if you had forgotten creating it or just didn't know how to do Dell MUST be the answer, not MS.

  Call Dell, be prepared eith lot of patience and time, explain the problem, no solution, ask for the service support manager, if you can't get him ask for a mail to complain.  It can take an hour or a little more to get a phone solution, before calling be sure to have plenty of time and again lot of patience when they ask and tell the same over and over again.  Insist talking with someone who has decision power, tell them that understanding your situation is not enough, tell them you don't need undestanding, that what you need is a solution.

  Don't insist with MS, the reply you received was correct, as long it is a OEM they are not bringing you a solution, perhaps you don't agree but is just the same as hardware, if your HDD breaks under warranty (Samsung, Seagate. Western Digital, Toshiba, and so on) you do not get a replacement from the HDD mfgr, you get it from Dell, the same for software.

  Dell will NOT sell you a W7, but CAN sell you the recovery disk.  Important thing you ARE NOT asking for a W7, you are asking for a Recovery DVD, this are two completely different things.

  If they are like HP they can either charge around 30 dollars for the MEDIA (Not the license) or perhaps they will give it for free (with HP coth possibilities coexist).  Ask if it is the same as HP, I mean with the recovery disk it is NOT necessary to introduce the key written in the COA, reason is if you bough an specific model W7 was included, and your recovery will not work neither in another brand nor perhaps in another model (last not completely true).

  You bought from Dell, you bought a W7, you lost your disk, ask for MEDIA replacement as RECOVERY Disk.

  Show how much dissapointed you are with Dell's lack of response, be even angry, but be polite too.  Being polite you can tell them your dissatisfaction and your concern about buying again another Dell, normally a visible unsatisfied customer get answers, but remember be polite. 

  Wednesday, August 21, 2013 10:58 PM