Automatically activate Windows 7

[stockhausen]

If you chose to Automatically activate Windows when I'm online when you set up your computer, automatic activation begins trying to activate your copy of Windows 7 three days after you log on for the first time. (LINK)

Last week I started to build a system based on Windows 7. I did nothing on it over the weekend. This morning I got WiFi working on it. When I had established a connection to the Internet, the damned system went and "activated" itself without bothering to ask.

Well I didn't knowingly choose Automatically to activate Windows 7 on a current system build which is partially complete

I suspect that it is one of those little Micro$oft gems that you only learn about after the event - I wonder what else thay have tried to "grab" of fmy system? God, I hate those interfering, arrogant sods at Micro$oft.

 

[stockhausen]

if you don't want it to activate automatically, then just don't enter the key during setup

Thanks for that, I didn't know that that was an option - this is my first system build under Windows 7

What's wrong with automatic activation? As long as you have a genuine copy you have nothing to worry about

Just occasionally, when you are building a new system, you want to install your genuine copy of Windows, check out some things and then do a fresh installation, perhaps after adding or changing components. I have usually done this in the past unless I am building multiple identical systems. I suspect that this automatic activation will at best make this "tuning" a wee bit "tricky"

You can easily turn this off either when installing or just after installatuion is complete. Why didn't you change this option if it botheras you that much?

Because I didn't know that they had gone from asking you politely if you wanted to go ahead and activate Window for the first 30 days before insisting that you did so - as they used to do with earlier versions of Windows

What was the problem with it automatically activating, it's what you want isn't it?

No, it wasn't.

 

[stockhausen]

Why?

Just occasionally, when you are building a new system, you want to install your genuine copy of Windows, check out some things and then do a fresh installation, perhaps after adding or changing components. I have usually done this in the past unless I am building multiple identical systems. I suspect that this automatic activation will at best make this "tuning" a wee bit "tricky".

As to sundry other posts of varying value

• I was not aware that you could install Windows 7 without a producy key
• I must have missed the box that says "activate automatically when I'm online" which Microsoft had so thoughtfully ticked on my behalf
• I'm afraid that I do not know the magic "console command to fully use and test my windows installation"
• I am using an OEM version of Windows 7

The point of this thread is that Microsoft appears needlessly to have changed their policy on activation in a manner that doesn't immediately appear to help them and that in at least one case has proved somewhat tiresome.

I still wonder what other information Microsoft has surreptitiously plucked off my half-built system

 

[stockhausen]

Am I missing something here? Windows being activated doesn't stop you reinstalling it so where's the problem with it happening automatically? What problems does it cause you?

I believe (but may well be wrong) that you can not activate Windows repeatedly, even on exactly the same hardware

I once had problems with this in the past when reinstalling XP on a system where the user had been affected by a virus (or in some other way corrupted their installation). I ended up having to get it activated over the 'phone.

 

[stockhausen]

Just reinstalled Windows 7 on a wiped HDD:

• You can install with no product key . . . Why on earth
• The option automatically to activate does appear on the screen where the (apparently optional) product key is requested - I missed it the first time around

You live and learn.


Incidentally apatia77, thanks for the very useful link on how to Extend the Windows 7 Trial from 30 to 120 Days - I'll give that a go

 

[stockhausen]

It's hardly underhand! You'd be staring at the screen for a good minute typing in the key. ...

Quite so, trying to read the sodding microtyped product key with confusing 8/Bs in it

^^^^ 1 ticky box could have saved this thread....

Indeed . . . you have to wonder why Microsoft chose to default it to selected rather than making it an empty but mandatory Yes/No field

 

[stockhausen]

EULA is a contract which you accept, so breaking it is breaking a contract - that could and usually does mean it's illegal depending on what and how you broke it. ...

Do you know whether this has ever actually been tested in any European court? Although in light of Microsoft's regular battles in European courts in the past, I suspect that nobody would have the financial clout to demonstrate that the EULA is in fact an unfair and unenforceable contract.

... You don't have to buy anything, there's plenty of free software for creating backups ...

Quite so . . . and I would certainly have used just such software immediately after choosing to activate Windows 7 with my final configuration.

... frankly if you are going to "reinstall" regularly you're either poorly installing it in the first place or simply garbage at look [sic] after your computer ...

Perhaps you didn't but ought to have read my original post?

... People ought to remember that OS tweaking and customizing is very much of a niche interest compared to the 100s of millions of Windows users in the world. ...

Actually, I suspect that the majority of the "100s of millions of Windows users in the world" don't install Windows 7 from scratch and as a result, really couldn't care less what Dell, HP, Acer, Toshiba et al do or don't do when they build systems en masse . . . but I expect that you already knew that didn't you?

... [Microsoft] choose what suits the overwhelming majority. ...

How very, very naive. Microsoft choose to do what suits them


Still, now that I know how to diaable automatic activation and that I can install Windows 7 and use it for three months without entering a product key, I'm a significantly happier bunny - thank you to all the helpful contributors