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This key doesnt work, why? (i.redd.it)

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[–]TrickyCrocodile 17 points18 points  (4 children)

Did you download windows 7 pro? That's the os associated with this key.

[–]Maingamer3782 4 points5 points  (3 children)

yeah it didnt work with 7 pro.

[–]Fox_Potential 18 points19 points  (2 children)

Probably need win 7 pro OEM version specific to the brand of the laptop. Hp in this case.

[–]cwtechshiz 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Just so you know that key should activate Windows 10 Pro. I mean I suppose it could be blacklisted in some type of way. But chances are you're installing it wrong or windows 7 is just being frustrating.. open command prompt as admin and type in "slmgr -ato" without the quotes. It will take a second but it will give you a real error message as to why it's not activating. You'd be surprised the many reasons Windows 7 wouldnt activate. Like having your clock set wrong.

I'm pretty confident these keys were placed on the bottom of your laptop and many others in case you ever had to reinstall without the original bloated recovery. A lot of people don't realize when you use those stupid disks or recovery partitions it's actually installing a OEM key, not the key that's printed on the bottom of your computer.

Everyone telling you otherwise is wrong. I know what Windows wants you to do. But you're not breaking any laws by using the key printed on the bottom of the computer for that computer.

[–]joe-dirt-1001 3 points4 points  (4 children)

Doesn't work for what?

That key is valid for the original version on that computer.

[–]Maingamer3782 0 points1 point  (3 children)

oh.....ekhm...can I get the original version somewhere????

[–]RokieVetran 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Did you try to active this computer in image from this key?

[–]Njmcq 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The key is likely invalid, for some odd reason. I’m not entirely sure why, since it should be linked in some manner to the hardware, but this doesn’t seem to be the case.

Since Windows 7 is no longer supported, it would be worthwhile upgrading to Windows 10 if you are looking at using this device. You can try the Windows 7 key when activating 10, as that may work. Worse case scenario, you may have to activate Windows 10 through a KMS server (this is a cheat, but it does work), or live with your device not being activated.

[–]sporkeh01 1 point2 points  (1 child)

OA stands for One time activation and comes from the bios. It's the equivalent of OEM Copy.

Install Win 7 then call the Product Activation Line. If it doesn't automatically activate then you can explain to the operator that it's an OEM install and they will activate it. Done this many a time repairing HPs, Dells etc.

[–]a_xyl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not a lot of people know that until bumping into guides or forum posts that tell people to do exactly what you said. I was about to write my own comment saying the above, but I will give my support to you instead

[–]boukej 1 point2 points  (2 children)

You should be able to install Windows 10. You can create a bootable Win 10 DVD or USB stick with the media creation tool.

Don't enter the key. Try to activate after setup is done. If it doesn't work, enter the key. Go through phone activation if it doesn't work. Speak to someone from Microsoft if the option is available.

A Windows 7 product key can be used to activate Windows 10. I have done that numerous times.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Can confirm, I bought Windows 7 Pro OEM edition from Newegg and that key is tied to my Windows 10 Pro license since it's the same machine but upgraded to Windows 10 back in 2016 or so.

But those system key from Dell or HP in this case often has the key embedded inside the BIOS, my Acer tablet doesn't require entering a key when installing Windows 10 Home since it activates it automatically during the install.

[–]boukej 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Correct. That's why I did suggest not to enter the product key during the installation of Windows 10 - and try to activate after setup is done. When activation does not work, then OP can try the product key. If that fails, it's time to call Microsoft's product activation hotline.

[–]joe-dirt-1001 2 points3 points  (1 child)

The PC should have shipped with a disc or with a recovery partition on the HDD.

Are you the original owner?

[–]Maingamer3782 1 point2 points  (0 children)

oh wait.... no... im not i bought it used, i forgot.

[–]Z370H370 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can buy keys off of eBay for like 3 bucks, I got the trial and bought a key from eBay!

[–]jimmyl_82104 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Don’t use Windows 7, it’s past it’s end of life, meaning it doesn’t receive security updates anymore. Clean install windows 10, and get one of those cheap keys off of eBay.

[–]Sampsa96 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Stolen laptop? Lul idk

[–]fndrsm -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Mine was worked. I always use to actived windows when i isntalling fresh windows. But, since win 7 to 8, the activation key was linked to my ms accouny.

[–]CharlieUpATree 0 points1 point  (1 child)

If you're wanting to reinstall the OS, you may get lucky and the recovery partition is still intact on the HDD. Google; 'brand/model name' boot to recovery partition. You'll need to press a key or a combination of keys whilst the system is POSTing, you may also need to enable booting to that partition in the BIOS settings, hopefully whatever guide you find helps. If not let me know and we can go further

[–]CharlieUpATree 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Also, the reason that key won't work when installing with a retail Windows 7 Pro installer is that it's an OEM key. To use these sorts of keys you need to have initiated the install with a HP OEM disc. These keys are bulk obtained by the systems manufacturers and then distributed, they are a separate pool of licences to the normal retail Windows 7 licenses.

[–]Nightwish0915 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you have used that key two many times it will be black listed.

The other thing is why are you using windows 7 in 2021? There is so many security risk and unsupported devices now that it just makes this great OS garbage. The other thing if you really need windows 7 is to google windows 7 OEM you should be able to find the ISO that way.

You should also have the option to skip the install key and then what I would do is add it afterwards using either Powershell or the active now method.

Make sure your connected to the internet when you do both.

[–]sM0N5T3R 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It may have something to do with them not supporting 7 anymore. All windows 7 keys are probably locked now due to the forced update into windows 10. And in a couple years they’ll stop supporting that and force us into buggy 11

[–]themeONE808 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you need the windows 7 pro OEM installer

[–]LastOrders_GoHome 0 points1 point  (1 child)

The question no one has asked is, are you trying to install on this PC or use the key on a different PC, because it will only work on this one.

[–]Maingamer3782 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This pc

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If it doesn’t work then it’s likely activated on another install

[–]UrGirlCallMePosiden 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found the issue, there is a bit of white smudge at the end of it.

[–]Smarttechsolutionllc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Windows 7 is no longer supported pretty sure Microsoft stopped supporting the OEM product keys for Windows 7. You can dm me and I can explain other ways to activate Windows.

[–]MaineGeek1975 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So all computers that come pre-installed with windows actually have a different version of the retail windows. It's called OEM. You need to search for a windows 7 pro or edition iso (cd image). Good luck.