Windows 7 activation key

[MikeWill]

Does somebody have a spare licence/activation key for Windows 7 Home Premium?

My key has been blocked while I tried to reactivate the OS after reinstalling it on the SSD drive. Microsoft did not have Windows 7 keys for sale anymore.

P.S.

Do not publish the key here. Send me PM please.

[Crossy]

If everything is genuine you should be able to call Microsoft and get them to activate for you.

Use the 'activate by phone' option.

[BB1950]

Dumb request... If a Windows 7 key has been 'activated', it can't be used to activate another machine without contacting Microsoft and OEM keys can't be transferred to another machine.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

From whence did you get the key? Was Windows 7 pre-installed before purchase or was the key given to you by someone?

[MikeWill]

The key was given to me by someone. I used it for quite a long time without any problem. I even get an invitation (small icon in the task bar) to install Windows 10. In preparation to the Win 10, I decided to put my OS on the new SSD drive, so that Win 10 will be installed on the SSD. Here the problem started...

I called to Microsoft and was told that my key is a MSDN key and it can not be activated. They simply don't care to hear my explanations. It's the "system" they said. They also told me that it's impossible to buy a Windows 7 key anymore, just Windows 8/8.1.

My attempts to argue with them wasn't productive so far.

[MikeWill]

My argument is that it's a fault of Microsoft's "system" that it didn't alerted me to the potential problem with the licence key. My OS was activated with that key and declared as genuine.

[RichCor]

<snip>

I even get an invitation (small icon in the task bar) to install Windows 10. In preparation to the Win 10, I decided to put my OS on the new SSD drive, so that Win 10 will be installed on the SSD. Here the problem started...

Setting up an SSD with Windows 7, then upgrading the setup to Windows 10 ...is probably a great way to wear down an SSD.

[MikeWill]

I called several times to the contact center. Once they told me that they are located in Malaysia. The other time they told me that they are in India. One supervisor called me and then sent me an email, but when I tried to reply to him, my email returned back - "delivery has failed...". When I tried to find him by his name - nobody knows him.

I would like to escalate my problem to the high level Microsft's management, but the stuff in the contact center and even their supervisors refuse to provide the contact details of their high level managers.

[RichCor]

MSDN Licensing

MSDN subscribers can utilize their individual MSDN license keys to activate MS Products for design, development, testing, and demonstration of your programs (the use allowed under the MSDN subscription license).

Using the software in any other way, such as for doing email, playing games, or editing a document is another use and is not covered by the MSDN subscription license. When this happens, the underlying operating system must also be licensed normally by purchasing a regular copy of Windows such as the one that came with a new OEM PC.

Given these licensing conditions, I can understand why they don't want to help you.

Also...

Perfectly legal ways you can still get Windows 7 cheap (or even free)

ZDNet | By Ed Bott for The Ed Bott Report | November 14, 2014

[The Author has] completely reworked this post with information that reflects the current PC market. [Last updated November 14, 2014]

Edited July 4, 2015 by RichCor

[metisdead]

A post suggesting the usage of illegal activities to obtain an activation key for Windows has been removed.

[NeverSure]

If you have an MSDN version it was never valid despite what your computer reported. MSDN always has to be upgraded to use it normally. These days I just buy a new laptop with a valid installation and that seems cheap enough.

I still have tons of XP Pro that was given to me by Microsoft for attending their classes and seminars. They gave them out like candy for a while to anyone who achieved MCSE/MCSA. That was great because I set up a lab of a lot of computers with a KVM switch at home to practice new stuff in Server. That was all yesterday though...

To be fair, to use Windows you should... OK.

[DogNo1]

Why not buy and install Windows 8.1? You were going to upgrade to Win 10 anyway.

[MikeWill]

Please send me PM, if your post has been removed.

[MikeWill]

 

Why not buy and install Windows 8.1? You were going to upgrade to Win 10 anyway.

I just reinstalled Win 7, which was enough headache and took me a couple of days.

Edited July 4, 2015 by MikeWill

[Jiu-Jitsu]

 

Why not buy and install Windows 8.1? You were going to upgrade to Win 10 anyway.

I just reinstalled Win 7, which was enough headache and took me a couple of days.

Why did it take so long? Should take a couple of hours at most.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

If you had followed my advice last December, you wouldn't be in this position. As is the norm on this forum, most everyone goes for the 'quick fix'.

[MikeWill]

If you had followed my advice last December, you wouldn't be in this position. As is the norm on this forum, most everyone goes for the 'quick fix'.

What I can say, you were right. You saw it coming.

As they say: "One always gets what he pays for.", or "За что боролись, на то и напоролись." (translates as "he ran into what he fought for.")...

May I get one more wise advice from you.

Edited July 4, 2015 by MikeWill

[RichCor]

Why not wait unit Windows 10 hits and find out how much it costs get a legit install key?

As Windows 7 OS will always run in "Trial" mode and you can find ways to "rearm" the trial legitimately to give you more time to "trial" the software.

If you absolutely need a Windows 7 Key, take a look at this article for finding reduce-pricing retail install DVD/Key:

How to Get a Cheap Windows 7 or 8 License Now to Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free

MakeUseOf.com | Written by Gavin Phillips | May 29, 2015

[Jiu-Jitsu]

If you had followed my advice last December, you wouldn't be in this position. As is the norm on this forum, most everyone goes for the 'quick fix'.

What I can say, you were right. You saw it coming.

As they say: "One always gets what he pays for.", or "За что боролись, на то и напоролись." (translates as "he ran into what he fought for.")...

May I get one more wise advice from you.

Instructions via PM. The right way lasts forever. Short cuts are just that.

Edited July 4, 2015 by Jiu-Jitsu

[TheMysteriousMrTesla]

Do you still have the old hard drive with a working Windows 7?

If so a simple direct clone to the SSD (plenty of free software available) should retain the activation status.

Of course, it won't make your MSDN activation any more legal

[elgordo38]

I called several times to the contact center. Once they told me that they are located in Malaysia. The other time they told me that they are in India. One supervisor called me and then sent me an email, but when I tried to reply to him, my email returned back - "delivery has failed...". When I tried to find him by his name - nobody knows him.

I would like to escalate my problem to the high level Microsft's management, but the stuff in the contact center and even their supervisors refuse to provide the contact details of their high level managers.

Like most outfits today after the sale is made they never want to hear from you again. They want you to go to self help forums etc. If these guys were smart they would have a special one on one verbal contact point for seniors. After all we are the ones that have money to spend and need help the most. Its like most of tech society today buy and then get lost. Lets face it we live in a new impersonal world controlled by one thing and one thing only GREED!!!

[MikeWill]

Do you still have the old hard drive with a working Windows 7?

Unfortunately, it was ruined in the process.

[MikeWill]

Thank you, RichCor.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

I called several times to the contact center. Once they told me that they are located in Malaysia. The other time they told me that they are in India. One supervisor called me and then sent me an email, but when I tried to reply to him, my email returned back - "delivery has failed...". When I tried to find him by his name - nobody knows him.

I would like to escalate my problem to the high level Microsft's management, but the stuff in the contact center and even their supervisors refuse to provide the contact details of their high level managers.

Like most outfits today after the sale is made they never want to hear from you again. They want you to go to self help forums etc. If these guys were smart they would have a special one on one verbal contact point for seniors. After all we are the ones that have money to spend and need help the most. Its like most of tech society today buy and then get lost. Lets face it we live in a new impersonal world controlled by one thing and one thing only GREED!!!

You have missed the point. It was not a licence for which there was any payment. It was a licence for testers that was given away to someone who is not a tester.

[MikeWill]

The point that I tried to stress is that Microsoft's staff is relying on the "system" that isn't perfect. There is no human intervention allowed. They can't do nothing about the outcome. The "system" was supposed to give a notice of the key restrictions in advance, so to avoid the problems, and it did not. That was my complain.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

The point that I tried to stress is that Microsoft's staff is relying on the "system" that isn't perfect. There is no human intervention allowed. They can't do nothing about the outcome. The "system" was supposed to give a notice of the key restrictions in advance, so to avoid the problems, and it did not. That was my complain.

Of course this is not the case. Only the person legitimately using the key would know the restrictions. Perhaps you should have asked the person from whom you obtained it.

[NeverSure]

Actually Mike, the packaging for the MSDN and any other version of Windows I have lists any restrictions.

Upon starting the installation you get a stop screen which tells you something like "Warning: This software is protected by copyright law and by international treaty". Eventually you get a stop screen where you have to agree to the EULA which spells it all out. Another stop screen asks for your key and mentions it all again.

Your concern is all of the work you've done. I believe you can do an upgrade install over what you have and validate it. That won't take long at all.

I sympathize with how much time it takes to do a manual install and install drivers, change settings and install your other programs and restore your backups. I disagree with any who say it doesn't take time as it would sure take time for me.

I can't help you try to validate something that was never sold to be validated. That doesn't feel good to me. I wish you well and hope your upgrade goes well.

Cheers

[MikeWill]

Thanks NeverSure.