Windows 7 activation

[slightlyhuman]

I have a gateway laptop here with a COA sticker for win 7 home premium. I guess I left my win 7 dvd so I grabbed an .iso off of a torrent site. Everything installed fine but when I try to activate windows it says I have an invalid key. I've typed the key off the COA sticker in there 3 different times now.

What gives?

:beer;

 

[Puppies04]

You sure both the ISO and the key are for the same flavour of windows (home premium 32 OR 64 bit)

 

[Gillbot]

Possibly different key version than the ISO you used. Plus torrents can be filled with malware or other suspect files.

Try to find a gateway OEM disc that matches your COA's version.

 

[infoiltrator]

Most one box computers contain proprietary oem software. You will have to find a proprietary, ie Gateway version for it to be recognized.

You can try calling Microsoft for an exception install, I have no idea if this will work for you.

Basically your code key matches software "belonging" to Gateway, not microsoft.
My experience is with HP and dated, contact Microsoft and Gateway customer service.

 

[Puppies04]

Or call microsoft and explain your predicament, they might be nice if you prove you have a legitimate key and send you a disc.

 

[Gillbot]

Or call microsoft and explain your predicament, they might be nice if you prove you have a legitimate key and send you a disc.

Unlikely, but many ISO's are available via Digital River.

 

[HeXen]

there are...other alternatives*cough*

 

[corkyg]

You can get a good ISO file here:

http://www.proposedsolution.com/downloads/download-windows-7-vista-bootable-disc-cd-dvd-iso-image/

 

[slightlyhuman]

You sure both the ISO and the key are for the same flavour of windows (home premium 32 OR 64 bit)

Torrent description was 32-bit. The key is 32-bit.

 

[corkyg]

Never trust anything from Torrent.

 

[paul878]

Retail ISO will not accept OEM key.