I'm ready to murder Microsoft - cannot activate with COA KEY

[Knightsman]

Not correct. Dell, Lenovo, etc all use locked SLP keys. Dell is just better about providing SLP media to end users. But on ANY of those systems if you take a standard generic Windows 7 OEM disk and try to use the key pulled from Produkey it will not work. The whole reason for the key on the sticker is so that you can install via standard Microsoft media in case you don't have an OEM provided copy. If the OP had used the proper key on the sticker from the git go he likely wouldn't have had any problems.

Actually it is correct. you can absolutely take a win 7 dell, lenovo or even an acer, take a OEM win 7 disc and use the key. Never had an issue with this. However this practice stopped dead when we learned it was illegal and then we moved to be certified refurbishers.

Your kind of saying the same thing when you say the OEM disk will not work, but you say the whole reason is in case you dont have a OEM provided copy...

 

[Knightsman]

Guess you didn't read the thread. I DID do a ground up install, i just had a key issue where by the original install key wasn't able to be used again, and i assumed it was the key on the bottom. It wasn't. Once i put the key in the COA sticker, problem solved.

Actually I did read it, you didn't say problem was solved until after I posted. Either way your hate for "micrsoft" is unwarranted.

 

[Knightsman]

I'll say it again : So read carefully. Your experience doesn't equal everyone's reality.
Most tech's in my area don't do Apple. I hear horror stories of Windows techs screwing up jobs, not having a clue, etc, etc. So, whilst i may be the minority, i am specialised, and what i do, i do well. This was a thread about Windows licencing, and microsoft getting in the way of itself, and yet again, someone has to come in and put their opinion forth of why i should change my business model? Thanks, but your unsolicited advice on how to run my business isn't really required.

I absolutely cant stand people like you. "So read carefully". So condescending. Things are not always interpreted the same on forums. Even if it is wrong, or read it wrong or whatever, doesn't give you the right to be rude about it.

 

[Markverhyden]

I've had mixed luck in using the SLP keys with other OEM disks. Mostly with Lenovo. Seems that with Dells and HPs I usually get them to activate over the internet. But with Lenovo's I've had to call a few times.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Actually it is correct. you can absolutely take a win 7 dell, lenovo or even an acer, take a OEM win 7 disc and use the key. Never had an issue with this. However this practice stopped dead when we learned it was illegal and then we moved to be certified refurbishers.

Your kind of saying the same thing when you say the OEM disk will not work, but you say the whole reason is in case you dont have a OEM provided copy...

I think we are misunderstanding each other as this statement appears to contradict what you said earlier.

Here is the facts(which I think you are actually agreeing with.)

You can take any Windows 7 disk like for example the generic white box OEM disks you can buy from Newegg or D&H use the key on the OEM sticker and it will install. IT ALWAYS WORKS.

You can also use a matching OEM disk for that brand of OEM and it will install without a prompt for a key. Dell disk on a dell machine. You claimed somekind of issue with Toshiba and I'll tell you right now that I've never had a problem.

 

[nlinecomputers]

However this practice stopped dead when we learned it was illegal and then we moved to be certified refurbishers.

No it isn't illegal. Not for repair or working with your own system. It is only illegal if you SELL the system. And if you provide everything that the OEM shipped with the system and return the system to it's as purchased state you can still sell it without getting a refurb license.

 

[Digital Sage]

I absolutely cant stand people like you. "So read carefully". So condescending. Things are not always interpreted the same on forums. Even if it is wrong, or read it wrong or whatever, doesn't give you the right to be rude about it.

Whatever mate. You can dish it out, but you can't take it. Weak. Also, i edited my post hours before you even came on here, preaching your opinion as fact (which you seem to do a lot of here).

Actually I did read it, you didn't say problem was solved until after I posted. Either way your hate for "micrsoft" is unwarranted.

Congratulations, you've made my 'ignore' list.

 

[Digital Sage]

No the key you found will not work with ANY media. It isn't an installation key it is a manufactures' key. If you had Toshiba media it would not have prompted you for key at all. Just like a Mac. Unlike a Mac Microsoft gives you a work around just in case you don't have the proper media. You can use a generic Windows 7 disk and then use the key on the COA sticker.


I'm gonna call you slightly on this. I think you have misremembered the steps. What you describe is not possible. If you actually pulled the key from the previous install and tried to punch it in, the installer would reject it. However you can skip at that point and not put any key in. Which is what I think you did and didn't realize it. (It is freakin easy to do.) After that you get 3 days of grace to properly activate. And Windows doesn't overtly tell you anything is wrong(and don't bother bitchin' about it because you are preaching to the choir. It is a valid point.) At that point you again tried to use your pulled key and got a failed activation. And you don't get a phone prompt at that point because you're using an invalid key. It isn't a legal install key so there is no point in calling the activation center to help a pirate. And windows isn't going to help you because it thinks you are using a pirate key. If you had called Microsoft Support(not the same number as activation) or Toshiba support someone would have told you where to get the proper key.

Your mistake was using a keyfinder in the first place. That will work on retail, upgraded, white box, home built, PCs but not from major OEM versions of Windows. You should always use the key printed on the OEM COA sticker. I don't know where you got the info that using it would work but for OEM is doesn't and it was bad advice. Sorry you had so much trouble but Microsoft has to put these barriers in place to prevent piracy of the product. Apple also prevents piracy by hard coding the software to work only on Apple hardware.

For what it is worth Microsoft has changed most of this for Windows 8 and 10. A unique key is now embedded into the BIOS of OEM machines and Windows will seek out that key during the install and never prompt you for a key on a proper working system. Just like a Mac.

Entirely possible. I'll take your word for it. So... question remains.. why is the system installed out of the factory with a key that will never work again? I brought this particular product on advice here on technibble (one of the many pieces of software i've had to purchase to handle windows machines), and figured it would be accurate. Again, lesson learned. I usually always use the COA key, but in this example, i wrongly assumed the keyfinder was giving me correct info. Thanks for the advice.

 

[nlinecomputers]

So... question remains.. why is the system installed out of the factory with a key that will never work again?

For ease of manufacturing and to avoid having activation. The key works just fine just NOT in the way you are using it. It is a special key, a kind of volume license key, called a SLP key that only works with special BIOS locked media. A Dell OEM windows disk is not the same as the disk OEM disk you can buy from Newegg. It has special code on it that checks for a matching code set in the bios. If both match the system is automatically activated, without need of internet or calling in, and you don't get prompted for an installation key. And that key is the same for EVERY DELL made. Each major OEM has their own key,a kind of a volume license key that only works on that brand OEM. It is really not intended to be used outside of the factory. Though most all of the major vendors will give you one if you request it and some like Dell and HP for the business level machines ship with them on a regular basis. Most other companies use image disks. Either is acceptable to Microsoft depending on the deal they arrange.

Frankly the key on the side of the machine is almost never used except in situations like you had happen. You don't have the special branded version Windows CD so you use a generic one and you use the key on the side.

 

[pcpete]

You can activate with the slp key so long as you install the proper certificate. That comes in handy when you are unable to read the coa. Another great use is when doing a windows 7 down grade on a computer that only has an 8 pro coa.

https://techdoors.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/activating-windows-7-oem-way/

 

[Bryce W]

I think this thread is done.