I've finally upgraded my desktop to i7, so obviously nearly all new parts, so I reformatted the HDD for a new install, ran my Windows 7 Pro x64 disc, entered the key, but now it's claiming 'This copy of Windows is not genuine'. Am I not allowed to reformat and use the same key? If I want to be legal does this mean I have to buy a new key?
Upgrade to i7 > Reformat > Copy if Windows is not genuine
- Thread starter Hessian
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Soldato
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- 30 Dec 2004
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Was the key legal in the first palce and is it Retail? If it was then it's likely you might be entering it wrong, the numbers can be meesed up sometimes with that font. If not then call MS about it and speak to a rep
- Pea0n
- Pea0n
What was the licence - Retail or OEM?
If you've got a retail licence, you have a perfectly legal installation. This is going on the assumption that it is the only installation (i.e. not installed on multiple machines concurrently).
If you've got an OEM licence, you will need a new key. OEM is tied to the motherboard that you install and activate on.
Hope this helps.
Edit: Bah - beaten like a steak
If you've got a retail licence, you have a perfectly legal installation. This is going on the assumption that it is the only installation (i.e. not installed on multiple machines concurrently).
If you've got an OEM licence, you will need a new key. OEM is tied to the motherboard that you install and activate on.
Hope this helps.
Edit: Bah - beaten like a steak
It's a copy from MSDNAA, so I didn't have to pay for it in the first place, but I only get 1 key from there
if it's from msdnaa there should be a support email address on your msdn site, simply email them and explain that you reinstalled windows and it's no longer accepting the key, they should be able to give you a new key. (at least thats how it works at my uni, had to do it with windows server 2008)