Windows 7 activation question

[blackrain]

Today, I was testing a key that I just bought/traded from another anandtech user. When I went to activate, the activation process required me to use a phone activation.

Is this a problem with the key? The person who sold the key to me claims that the key has never been used before. It is supposed to be a brand new key (I think on an HP machine that was loaded with a different O/S). I thought that phone activation was only required if the key had been used before.

BTW, its an OEM key for Windows 7 Professional.

I only installed this on a test system. I plan to build a new system in a month or 2, and I am wondering if this key is going to be a problem if I try to use it again in a month or 2 (with the phone activation being required on the first use).

 

[JackMDS]

It is not uncommon that people have to call for activation even in legitimate cases.

OEM key is attached to Mobo the more you play with it the more is the need to call. No way to know for sure in your case, it might a problem, or Not. You have to call and see what they are saying.


😎

 

[Bubbaleone]

From Wikipedia:

SLIC

Some BIOSes contain a "SLIC" (software licensing description table), a digital signature placed inside the BIOS by the manufacturer, for example Dell. This SLIC is inserted in the ACPI table and contains no active code. Computer manufacturers that distribute OEM versions of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft application software can use the SLIC to authenticate licensing to the OEM Windows Installation disk and/or system recovery disc containing Windows software. Systems having a SLIC can be preactivated with an OEM product key, and they verify an XML formatted OEM certificate against the SLIC in the BIOS as a means of self-activating. If a user performs a fresh install of Windows, they will need to have possession of both the OEM key and the digital certificate for their SLIC in order to bypass activation; in practice this is extremely unlikely and hence the only real way this can be achieved is if the user performs a restore using a pre-customised image provided by the OEM.

In other words; the SLIC in the BIOS has to match the digital certificate, and the OEM key has to match the version of Windows being installed i.e., an OEM:SLP (System Locked Preinstallation) key for Windows 7 Home Premium won't work for Windows 7 Ultimate. So even though you have an OEM:SLP key for Windows 7 professional; if your test installation was done with a Windows 7 Pro retail disk there wouldn't be any digital certificate.

Even if you install with an OEM Windows 7 Pro disk it would have to be an OEM disk from the manufacturer of the PC you're installing it on in order for the digital certificate to match the SLIC in that machine's BIOS, and only then would it self-activate. You'll be activating by phone when you build your new system.

 

[JackMDS]

Even if you install with an OEM Windows 7 Pro disk it would have to be an OEM disk from the manufacturer of the PC you're installing it on.

This is true with some manufactures installation when you use the OS DVD that came with the computer (or an installed OS backup in a hidden partition).

It is Not a general truth for all vendors and models, and for sure Not true with OEM OS that was bought from an independent vendor (like New Egg).

Never the less the solution is the same, call the Activation team. If they refuse to activate you have to take it with the seller.


😎

 

[blackrain]

I used the OEM equivalent to the key:
http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59186.iso

So I guess the answer is that no one really knows and that if I take my chances, hopefully the seller will back me up.

 

[savoirfaire]

I used the same ISO to do a Windows 7 boot camp install on my parents' iMac using an unused OEM key from my own hackintoshed rig which I run Mountain Lion on. It made me go through an automated phone system to activate instead of doing it online, but I didn't end up talking to a human being on the other end. Took maybe 4 or 5 minutes to punch in all those numbers.

 

[Ferzerp]

Every time I've had to use phone activation on a legit key, it's an automated process anyway. You call, you give it the code, it reads back an activation code to you.

 

[ViRGE]

Uh, surely I shouldn't be the first one to point out the problem? It's an OEM key off of another computer. These keys exist, but they're not actually meant to be used. That's what OEM recovery software is for; the key is really just a last-ditch fallback mechanism to allow reinstallation if an OEM recovery isn't possible.

Furthermore what you're doing is a violation of the Windows license agreement. That copy of Windows is OEM, and hence is only licensed to be used on the computer in question. You cannot transfer it, which is a further reason why it won't automatically activate; MS does that specifically to block this kind of abuse of OEM keys.

You need to get a refund from the seller. You've been had.

 

[kbp]

Well Im on Win8 now and have a retail bought Win7 CD and key if you still need a legit ops. PM me.