best way to get my w7 registered. I am having an issue

[gentlejax]

here is the deal. I have w7 and its legit. got it from New Egg. I had it on my old machine which has been completely taken apart and hard drive wiped.

now. my nephew sold me a new machine so i had him install w7 that I had on it. it works now but wont let me register it.

so what do I need to do? call MS? if so how do I need to resolve it?

I am not about to buy another W7 just cause I am on new machine now.

[zetachi]

Call MS with Serial Number. Should not be an issue. BTW what version of W7 and is it OEM or Retail? OEM is usually tied into the system it was 1st installed on but may not be an issue.

[JackVancouverBC]

You have to ask him to use the phone activation method instead of the online method. Each time you install on a different motherboard for OEM copies, you must use the phone activation to explicitly state you're only using it on one computer to transfer the activation. After you activate with set hardware that isn't going to change, all subsequent activations can be made online.

If you change your hardware, it will require you to re-activate again. A video card change can trigger this.

[no2guncntrl]

I have had some of the oddest things trying to get 7
activated if I had to reinstall. Finally I got it figured
out...I think. When I tried to reinstall and use the
activation key, MS would state it was invalid or already
in use even though I've done a reformat and fresh
custom install. This was/is very irritating.

Anyway I tried this and it has worked 2 times already.
It sounds like a lot of work and time, and I guess it is
and as mickey mouse as one can get, but so far so good.

I installed a version of XP on the drive and activated it.
Then I did an install with 7 after a reformat and it has
on both occasions taken the activation key. I don't
know why, but it has worked..

I never used that phone activation option mentioned above,
but I will in the future. Sure sounds a lot easier than what
I've come up with.

[mlevy]

no2gunctrl, it sounds like you have the upgrade version. The way to get that installed is to install it and CANCEL the activation during the install. Once it's done installing, run the activation wizard and activate it. Did this on my dad's computer for a clean install, no problems.

[gentlejax]

its actually a OEM system builder version. I hadnt realized it. I havnt seen the notice for activation either. not sure if I need to mess with it or not.

[no2guncntrl]

no2gunctrl, it sounds like you have the upgrade version. The way to get that installed is to install it and CANCEL the activation during the install. Once it's done installing, run the activation wizard and activate it. Did this on my dad's computer for a clean install, no problems.

Thank you for the tip ! Yes I neglected to mention the W7 Pro is a MS update version in 32 & 64.

[JackVancouverBC]

its actually a OEM system builder version. I hadnt realized it. I havnt seen the notice for activation either. not sure if I need to mess with it or not.

You should use the phone method then. And remember to say that you are only using 1 computer for the # of machines this copy of Windows is installed on. (Cause that's how it should be)