Hey so what's the cheapest way to get windows 8?

[desura]

Because the license type is coded into the key itself. There's OEM, VLK, and retail, not to mention full version vs. upgrade. Just because there's a key on that laptop doesn't mean it's a full version retail key, which is the only thing you can take to another machine.

Online Windows PID Checker

That looks super useful...but I feel a little uneasy inputting something as valuable as a valid windows key into some online form, esp to a site with a .nl domain.

 

[ViRGE]

Fair enough. D-Fault's checker has been around for years and has never led to problems, but that's your call. In this case there's also a downloadable utility that does the same thing: http://janek2012.eu/ultimate-pid-checker/

They're all implementing the same known algorithms.

 

[13Gigatons]

Okay, so.

I got the laptop. Extracted cd key with magic bean something.

Downloaded Win7 ult (amazed they put win7 ult on a laptop that I bought for less than $150, but whatever)

Installed on desktop.

typed key.

activation error. I can't even go on the internet or use ethernet on this machine.

How in the world do they know these things? I'm guessing like the windows install knew from the key itself that it was like the wrong type or something.

The key you try to use is a SLP type. It needs to be embedded and cannot be enter and activated in the normal way.

 

[desura]

one more issue.

Laptop. Installed an ssd. Decided to do a clean reinstall of win7.

did that.

...and, activation says that it can't be activated.

apparently I have an enterprise version.

I still have the original hard drive image. I'm considering just cloning it onto the SSD.

 

[ViRGE]

one more issue.

Laptop. Installed an ssd. Decided to do a clean reinstall of win7.

did that.

...and, activation says that it can't be activated.

apparently I have an enterprise version.

I still have the original hard drive image. I'm considering just cloning it onto the SSD.

If it's the Enterprise version, then it's site licensed. So the license didn't come with the laptop. You've got an OS-less laptop; you'll have to buy a copy of Win7.

 

[desura]

Eh, I just went hit the "buy a new key" on the options. Ran the little validation tool. I'm genuine it seems.

But I still get the "this version of windows can't be activated" from slui.exe

 

[ViRGE]

Eh, I just went hit the "buy a new key" on the options. Ran the little validation tool. I'm genuine it seems.

But I still get the "this version of windows can't be activated" from slui.exe

That's because it's trying to hit the KMS server that the corp would have used, and of course that laptop can't now that it's outside the corporation.

Ultimately if you have a laptop that came with Enterprise, there's no way it's genuine. Enterprise is only sold on a volume license basis, so Enterprise can't go with the laptops that are sold. You're going to have to wipe the laptop and install a new, single-license copy of an appropriate version of Windows.