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Product Key activation

Answered Product Key activation

  • Friday, November 04, 2011 7:58 PM
     
     
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    I have had my computer for about 3.5 years, never had any problems.  Today when I started up my computer it says "the product key for windows is invalid" it prompts me to enter my product key "to activate windows" but my computer is old and has alot of use so it's impossible to read the product key on the back.

    Also I'm afraid that by entering it my data will be wiped.  I can choose activate later and still load windows but it prompts me to activate windows constantly.  What do I do?

     

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  • Saturday, November 05, 2011 4:37 AM
     
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    Hi,

    for single-machine and end-user issues, we recommend MS Answers Forums.
    This article should help:
    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/faded-windows-7-product-key-sticker/a68abe58-5c63-e011-8dfc-68b599b31bf5?page=1

    In the past, I have had some success retrieving product keys with Belarc Advisor, but I haven't used it for some time.

    Entering the product key will not wipe your data. Running an unactivated, or de-activated product is not destructive, but will eventually switch to "Limited Functionality" mode.

    Don
     
  • Saturday, November 05, 2011 10:29 AM
     
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    "TuckerBurnett" wrote in message news:533dde30-2d7e-40ca-a5b4-c687a3d1d463...

    I have had my computer for about 3.5 years, never had any problems.  Today when I started up my computer it says "the product key for windows is invalid" it prompts me to enter my product key "to activate windows" but my computer is old and has alot of use so it's impossible to read the product key on the back.

    Also I'm afraid that by entering it my data will be wiped.  I can choose activate later and still load windows but it prompts me to activate windows constantly.  What do I do?

    To properly analyse and solve problems with Activation and Validation, we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool (download and save to desktop - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 )
    Once saved, run the tool.
    Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
    To copy the report to your response, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.
      - **in your own thread**, please
     
    Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine, but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
    http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?pg=coa
    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
     
  • Saturday, November 05, 2011 10:34 AM
     
     
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    "Don - tesgroup" wrote in message news:5d7aa857-6af4-4584-82b8-8babe08e0f2c...

    Hi,

    for single-machine and end-user issues, we recommend MS Answers Forums.
    This article should help:

    In the past, I have had some success retrieving product keys with Belarc Advisor, but I haven't used it for some time.

    Entering the product key will not wipe your data. Running an unactivated, or de-activated product is not destructive, but will eventually switch to "Limited Functionality" mode.

    Don
     
     
    Actually, Don,  the WGA forums are the best place for the OP in cases of Activation and Validation problems – chances are that in the Answers forums the OP will be advised simply to use telephone activation (thanks to a certain MVP) – which is frequently exactly the wrong thing to do.
     
     
    (not that it makes much difference, since I monitor all three places for such posts when I can – but WGA forums get precedence, then this forum and the other ITPro/Partner forums, then Answers)
     
     
    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
     
  • Monday, November 07, 2011 8:42 AM
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    Hi,

     

    The validation issue can be caused by several factors, such as incorrect local system settings or an incorrect Product Key.

     

    First, please let me know if you have visited the MGA Diagnostic webpage located at the address below and click on the “Start Diagnostics” button and follow the instructions:

     

    http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/diag/

     

    On the above website, we can test some system settings and confirm that there are no Internet Explorer (IE) settings or other factors blocking the validation process. If it was successful all results should display “Passed”, if any of them failed please follow the directions to attempt repair. Please let us know which test failed and the results of the troubleshooting performed as suggested by the web site.

     

    If you have accessed the site but the validation issue persists, I suggest we try the following steps to test this issue:

     

    Step 1: Test the issue in Clean Boot.

     

    After that, please restart the computer and validate the system again to check if the issue still persists.

     

    Step 2: Run the MGA Diagnostic Tool to troubleshoot this issue
    ===============================================
    1. Please open Internet Explorer and visit the following link to download the MGA Diagnostic Tool:

     

    http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

     

    2. Save the "MGADiag.exe" file to the "Desktop", and then double click on the file to run the tool.
    3. Click the “Continue” button.
    4. Under the “Windows” tab, click the "Resolve" button if it is highlighted.
    5. Restart the computer and visit the following website to validate Windows again.

     

    http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx?displaylang=en

     

    Additionally, it is recommended to contact our Windows Genuine Advantage support for the email support via the following link, which is free of charge and more securer for some personally information during the validation:

     

    https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=9860&st=1&wfxredirect=1&sd=gn

     

    Regards,

     

    Sabrina

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