W520 Clean Install - Issues with Key

Hey everyone,

I recently did a fresh installation of Win7 professional on my W520 but I'm having difficulty with Windows accepting my product key.

I used a downloaded copy of Win7 Professional and installed it on my computer, I did it this way to avoid installing Lenovo's utility software. When I try to use the key provided on the computer, Windows is telling me this is invalid.

Can I only use Lenovo's recovery disc to do a clean installation?

 

Did Windows 7 Professional come with your W520 and that is what is on the COA under the battery?

 

Win7 Professional is the version that shipped with the computer. Under the battery it does say Windows 7 Pro OA.

 

Good. It should work but that assumes the media you are using is good.

Keep in mind you do not need to enter a product key and activate when you install. You have 30 days to do that.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the inability to connect to the activation servers and activate could be a transient condition. Try again tomorrow.

If it still doesn't work, call the telephone number the activation process displays. They'll help you get things fixed up.

 

Thanks.

I've done clean installations numerous times before on many computers, so I really don't see why Windows would be telling me my code is invalid. I was just wondering if it had something to do with using a downloaded copy of Windows vs using the Recovery Disks.

Honestly, there is a faster way to solve this problem that doesn't involve waiting on the phone for half an hour.

 

Since the W520 comes with Windows 7 key as standard (unless you happen to have a DOS version which is very rare) you can use OPATool instead which activates Windows using the OEM method. OEM manufacturers activate their copies of Windows on their machines using the combination of OEM certificate, valid key for the specific version and SLIC approved BIOS which OPATool can help. This also bypasses the need to phone Microsoft to activate which OEMs don't have the time for with their mass produced machines!

While my clean install guide is for the T420, the principles are the same for the W520 for this particular section. Go to page 52 for more info on the OPATool.

 

Thanks Hearst, worked like a charm.

Cheers!

 

There is a difference in keys for OEM, Retail and Volume installs. The install you have is most likely retail or volume so the OEM key doesn't work with it.

Glad the other activation method worked for ya.

 

Weird. I know I have used the key with Retail media in the past. I assume it was Retail media. It's the Windows 7 .ISO download from the MSDN subscription I have. Might have a run a little test later this week.

 

I'm not 100% on Windows 7 but previous software versions of the OS, Office and others had three different distributions with three different sets of keys that worked. My assumption is that this hasn't changed - however all of my software and keys are from my MSDN Ultimate sub now.