Product Key Mismatch

I just ran Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder on my brand new X201 and the product key it retrieved did NOT match the key listed on the COA sticker on the bottom of the laptop.

Keyfinder | Magical Jelly Bean

I've used this program in the past to verify product keys and never had a mismatch before. Maybe Lenovo slapped the wrong sticker on it?

I also ran "slmgr.vbs /dli" which will give you a partial product key. Still a mismatch to the sticker.

 

You used Keyfinder on a computer-manufacturer loaded version of Windows and it gave you a correct key before? I've read that usually it gives you the wrong key (something like it's the key they use at the factory but not the one you'll be able to use if you have to redo your OS...or something...I forget, I saw it on here somewhere)

 

No, it wasn't a manufacturer-loaded version. But still, shouldn't they match?
Perhaps the activation key is different from the product key?

So, the key on the sticker can be used for a re-install? Even though it's not the one the factory used? But for a re-install, I'd have to have a Lenovo OEM version of Win7 Home Premium, I suppose. That is, if I'm not using the install that it came with.

I'm not really all that concerned about it except that if I sell the X201 and someone notices the key mismatch, they might think I have a pirated copy of Windows installed.

 

From what I've read the one the keyfinder finds and the one you need to actually use are different. This came up in a thread on here by some guy who had relied on the keyfinder key and it didn't work.

 

A laptop manufacturer clones a 1001 hard drives so they will all have the same product key. Each laptop gets a unique product key sticker so you should use that one if you ever re-install Windows.

 

manufacturer loaded OS uses a volume license key. The serial number on the bottom of the laptop can be used with 32 bit or 64 bit OS, retail or OEM windows.

 

Okay, thanks. By "serial number", I'm assuming you mean the product key on the COA sticker.

 

Kinda related, can my brother, whose computer shipped with Vista 32-bit followed by the 7 32-bit free upgrade, use the key that came with the free upgrade to install 7 64-bit?

 

yes........

 

I went to one of the Windows 7 Launch Events (so I'd get a free copy of Windows 7 Ultimate) and they said that the keys are "edition specific" but that they would work on either 32-bit or 64-bit. The activation server looks at the edition but doesn't care whether it's 32 or 64.

 

I don't think it's actually a VLK. I use VLK keys with W7 Enterprise and 2008 R2, and the OEM one is different. I think it supposed to be a special key that can used en mass @ the factory. It's a similar key that was stolen from Lenovo laptops that prompted the whole "stolen" Ultimate edition back in July. Something to do with "OEM SLP" This way they don't have to manually re-enter the key by hand. The key on the OEM sticker I think is more for legality purposes than anything else.

 

For XP the sticker on the OEM machine serves no purpose other than saying it is a legal copy, but for vista and win 7, you could use the key for activating another copy of the OS.