win7 question & cd key request

[Pandemic]

So, with XP I owned legal copies of home and pro (maybe two each or so) and just used those disks and licenses to put on other machines. Because it was a valid serial, there were no problems.

So I was going to do the same thing with win7.

i installed it on a machine a few months ago and just wanted to put it on another. Now I'm getting "serial is invalid. Retype your serial number"

It's exactly right. Just wondering what the issue may be.

[tear2wo]

the serial is only good for 1 computer. unless you have the 3 user version of windows 7 home premium .

what u can try , and ive heard works .. call microsoft and tell them that u had to reformat your hard drive and your trying to reinstall windows and the activation key doesnt work. theyll go ahead and issue you a new product key and you can go ahead and use that 1 on the second machine

[blu35p4rr0w]

I've got a method to sidestep microsoft. I did it on both my desktop and laptop because I dont have the disc anymore but I have two serials and didn't want to wait on tech support to get them working. I downloaded the win7 ISO from the internet. I wont post any links, as this is a very gray area that could be illegal. just use google if you need a replacement disc for free.

now as far as the method to sidestep microsoft, its pretty simple. here goes:

After performing the clean install, ensure that there are no Windows Updates pending that would require a system reboot. (You'll see an orange shield icon next to Shutdown in the Start Menu if this is the case). Leaving your internet disconnected is a good way to keep this from happening.

Then open the start menu and type regedit in the search bar. open regedit.exe

now navigate to:
HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/

Change MediaBootInstall from "1" to "0".

Open the Start Menu again and type cmd to display a shortcut to the Command Line utility. Right-click this shortcut and choose "Run as administrator." Handle the UAC prompt.

In the command line window, type: slmgr /rearm

Then tap ENTER, close the command line window and reboot. When Windows 7 reboots, run the Activate Windows utility, type in your product key and activate windows. (You will need the internet connected for the activation if you left it disconnected earlier.)

edit: if you need better instructions let me know and I can clarify certain steps. or even take screenshots of each step for you and post them here.

[GeoffM]

I've got a method to sidestep microsoft. I did it on both my desktop and laptop because I dont have the disc anymore but I have two serials and didn't want to wait on tech support to get them working. I downloaded the win7 ISO from the internet. I wont post any links, as this is a very gray area that could be illegal. just use google if you need a replacement disc for free.

now as far as the method to sidestep microsoft, its pretty simple. here goes:

After performing the clean install, ensure that there are no Windows Updates pending that would require a system reboot. (You'll see an orange shield icon next to Shutdown in the Start Menu if this is the case). Leaving your internet disconnected is a good way to keep this from happening.

Then open the start menu and type regedit in the search bar. open regedit.exe

now navigate to:
HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/

Change MediaBootInstall from "1" to "0".

Open the Start Menu again and type cmd to display a shortcut to the Command Line utility. Right-click this shortcut and choose "Run as administrator." Handle the UAC prompt.

In the command line window, type: slmgr /rearm

Then tap ENTER, close the command line window and reboot. When Windows 7 reboots, run the Activate Windows utility, type in your product key and activate windows. (You will need the internet connected for the activation if you left it disconnected earlier.)

edit: if you need better instructions let me know and I can clarify certain steps. or even take screenshots of each step for you and post them here.

I can't see something like this being a permanent fix.

[Leung]

You could use Daz Loader for win7.

I when i installed a bootleg 7 to my laptop, it worked great re-activating it but then the USB drive i had the program on exploded when i dropped it, otherwise i'd give it to you.

[Pandemic]

If anyone has any cd keys that they aren't going to use, could you please PM me? I have Professional, not sure if it matters.

[foamypirate]

If anyone has any cd keys that they aren't going to use, could you please PM me? I have Professional, not sure if it matters.

Bah, that sucks. I have a VLA key for Win7 64 Enterprise.

[HondaB18]

If anyone has any cd keys that they aren't going to use, could you please PM me? I have Professional, not sure if it matters.

i have it but i paid for it, not downloaded illegally

call up Microsoft, if everything is legit they should have no issues resolving it

or unless this is in fact a thread requesting for other's cd key. then that'll just get your customer (cb7tuner.com) in trouble

[Pandemic]

If someone were to give out a key because they're not using it, how would that get anyone in trouble? I'm not asking for pirated keys. I'm asking anyone if they aren't using win7 but bought it, to send the key if they want.

[Leung]

If someone were to give out a key because they're not using it, how would that get anyone in trouble? I'm not asking for pirated keys. I'm asking anyone if they aren't using win7 but bought it, to send the key if they want.

If you wanted to do it the legit way and you know two others that were looking to upgrade their OS to 7, you could all chip in 40 bucks each for 120 and buy the family pack upgrade that comes with 3 keys. That's what i was going to do with my friend, my laptop and one other computer i have sitting around the house.

[CB7Nub]

You know the key is more important than anything else?
Buy it or get it from somewhere...

There is a lot of cracks etc, but honestly you will have more of a headache finding out unless you know what your doing. Plus it's illegal.

[Xsjado]

I dont recall when i last had a legal windows. if i did i probably swiped it with an alternate copy.

[Pandemic]

That's a great idea!

It's $120 for a 3 pack of professional? I bought Professional for $100 for one...

[Pandemic]

Looking to do it legally. A friend of mine works for a school and the school did not want to upgrade to 7. They bought the machines and just formatted them back to XP. They gave him (and others) the keys just because. I'm looking for keys like that, really. If I wanted to do it the illegal way I would have done it by now. That's why I'm confused as to how this could get me, the site, or anyone else in trouble.

[deevergote]

I may be upgrading to Windows 7 when I attempt to fix my currently borked computer... so this thread may come in handy.

Matt, find a third person, and you've got $40 from me I'll own a legal copy of Windows for the first time ever! (well, the XP that I'm running now is a copy of a disc that my friend legally owns... so that's close...)