Help! Invalid Product Key!

I am using my HP Dv6 laptop. I formatted, and installed vista 64, home premium, using the cd-key I got from using windows backup/activation, NOT the OEM key (the one on the back of the laptop).

I got a virus I believe, and now its saying several months later my key is invalid. I tried using the OEM key (the one on the back of the laptop) but of course that didn't work. I can't access the other Cd-Key , and when I run Cd backup, it is returning the OEM key, not the actual vista key.

What can I do?

 

Call Microsoft, Ive heard there's a way to get a new disk/key for like 10$ if you can prove you own it. The guy I heard it from said you should have your current disk on hand when you call. Not sure what the # is though, so you'd have to dig for that.

There all also programs designed to "recover" your key. If you already reformatted it may or may not be too late for those. I have a generic copy of windows and own no key for it, so it just recovers the mass-used OEM key, such as the one on the back of your computer.

In the end either your mfr. (HP) or Microsoft should be able to do SOMETHING cheaper/easier than buying a whole new copy of windows.

 

Why would either do anything when it sounds for all the world like he violated the end user license agreement?

Granted, I am reading between the lines, but it sounds like his laptop came with a preinstalled version of windows, which was pre-activated.

He then used a DVD he got from somewhere to reinstall windows home premium 64-bit (why I will never know) and then used some sort of activation hack to make it run.

Now, several months later when an update likely caught him, he's getting an error message that basically says "You cannot do what you did."

Your options now are, a) restore your system using the system restore DVD you created when you first got your laptop (you did create that, right?), b) get yourself a generic OEM disk and use the key on the bottom of the laptop

 

What was the type of source media that you used to "format and install vista 64 home premium"?

Was it a retail version or some sort of HP provided recovery media?

Many HP DV6-x models come with Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit pre-installed. But since HP is a Royalty OEM, they use SLP (System-locked preinstallation) configurations of windows. Any product key saved from the SLP configuration OS will not work will retail/upgrade editons of the OS - unless they are properly configured to work with SLP.

So, in all likelihood, your DV6 is licensed to run Vista Home-Premium 64, but only the HP OEM royalty SLP configuration. So, you'll want to find HP recovery media from discs or a hidden partition (which you may or may not have erased). Alternatively, if the recovery media is not available, you can research how to install a SLP product key. In my opinion, this is not any sort of copyright violation, since it will only work on the HP OEM royalty hardware that is correspondingly licensed.

If you used retail media to re-install Vista HP 64 bit to work with either the COA key or the HP OEM royalty key, neither will work. Your easiest and cheapest solution is to try and obtain the recovery media. If you attempt to use the COA key with any version of the OS at all, it will always require phone activation.

 

If he formatted the laptop with a new key then the OEM key shouldn't be showing up at all. If it's the backup re-install then the OEM will be imbedded. I had download a critical update and then the 'not genuine' message popped up. Could be a conflict between the OEM and original key. I would recommend a system restore first prior to the latest updates.

 

He vaguely stated he installed backed up his "activation" and then reinstalled. I am surprised it worked at all. It makes me think that he hasn't been completely forthcoming....

 

The Activation Backup and Restore tool is explained for example here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228

Newest version of the ABR tool works with Win7 too.

Same thing can also be done manually from the commandline and it will only work on computers that had OEM-activated Win7 preinstalled.

 

Yes, but you cannot apply a pre-activated backup to a non-oem installation, which is what he did.

 

Yes it is possible, that ABR tool does just that. It turns non-oem blank installation into preinstalled oem installation.

OEM install needs three parts: certificate, license code and bios key. ABR restores two first parts, bios part stays always as same.

 

ABR works in the way you've described, I've done it myself when I didn't want to use the restore disc with all the bloatware it installs.

 

Something funny is going on here. The HP restore partition or recovery media has its own pre-determined non-unique key. If you need to reformat to a clean install then you can use the COA key on the bottom of your machine if you install the proper version of Windows. I don't understand why re-activating is such a big deal. Reinstall your system from a fresh official Windows iso that matches your version (32 or 64 bit), enter your COA key, and activate. I recently reformatted one of my systems, used the COA key, had to call Microsoft, and was activated in a matter of minutes. Trying to work around or backup the activation from a previous install is not worth the trouble.

 

You can only re-activate with Microsoft a limited number of times. No sense burning one of them when an "in-house" solution works just as well.

 

You should not accuse someone of wrongdoing when you're not absolutely sure yet what is going on.

ABR has been around for a long time and many users use it to backup their OEM activation for use on a clean installation (amongst other LEGITIMATE uses).

 

Just curious if you have bothered to read the OP closely or the rest of the thread?

It's pretty clear what has been going on

That's not entirerly accurate. You can only activate a limited number of times via the Internet. And even then, the Windows Activation Server resets the pool after a amount of time, so that you can activate again even after an online activation was at one point no longer possible.

Also, you can activate an unlimited number of times simply by calling MS and telling the person what occured. Every once in a blue moon, people have been rejected when they answer the questions wrong


Microsoft Representative: Stop! Who approaches the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, 'ere the other side he see. What is your name?

Caller: John Doe.

Microsoft Representative: What is your quest?

Caller: To reactivate Windows.

Microsoft Representative: What is the capital of Assyria?

Caller: Uhm, I don't know that....AUUUGHHHHH!

 

Isn't it clear from this paragraph in the original post what the OP did?

At which point during the post was an activation hack/crack mentioned?

 

Thanks to those amusing I'm using an invalid version of windows, or did something I wasn't supposed to. That is entirely incorrect, although I guess this situation in general seems weird.

I have BOTH the OEM license, AND the license to install a new version of windows. I installed the EXACT SAME version of windows my Laptop came with.

This is a VIRUS, not a breach of agreements on my part. I've worked with PCs and laptops for quite a while, and have never run into this issue.

If I enter the OEM key, it says invalid key. Of course, because I used a program to find my "actual" windows key. This is NOT illegal, and I PAID for this license. Read the thread "Formatting and installing Vista CLEAN" in the HP forums. Thats what i did, exactly.

However, when I try to re-use the key that I installed windows with, which is LEGIT - Windows hangs up and generates some error that looks like this "Errorx3873493".

I also cannot format windows, either using format C: in command prompt, OR using a windows vista CD to BOOT. It says Permissions not allowed or something.

If what I did was wrong,then why is the thread still up explaining how to do this?

Also, if I paid for a thousand dollar laptop, WHY on EARTH should I NOT be allowed to do a fresh, clean install of the same operating system I bought. I PAID for my copy of windows, I intend to use it.

What I am asking here, is the solution to a virus I got. I'm going to call Microsoft and see if there is a solution.

By the way, I already talked to HP Customer Service. They said I was in no breach of agreement. They just said that in this case, I need to order a backup/restore CD - which will allow me to use my OEM cd key.

I don't even think this will work, because I have a valid key right here from my own machine that ISNT OEM - and the windows thing is hanging up on me. Something else is wrong.

 

Maybe if you came down off of your high horse (you too, Rodknee) and tried to see things differently we wouldn't be having this conversation. Let me guess, you have backed up your activation in the past. Guilty conscious? If so, that is your business not mine. I do not even think you should be guilty about it.

I am interested purely from a technical point of view.

First, I never said "crack."

And you're assuming that by "hack" I mean something illict.

A backup of an activation is a "hack," meaning the re-configuring or re-programming of a system to function in ways not facilitated by the owner, administrator, or designer.

Microsoft never intended for people to "backup" activations and then restore them. The fact it works some of the time does not mean it is not a "hack". The fact that he backed up one installation's activation and applied it to another installation (made with difference media) does not make it not a hack.

Our OP backed up his activation that came preinstalled. He then REINSTALLED Windows with a different DVD rather than using a OEM restore function built into the laptop or reinstallation dvd created using the utility.

He then applied his previous activation to the new installation.

If you don't know why this works sometimes and not others it is a result of your own failure to understand Windows activation. You will see many threads on the Internet from people who have attempted to back up their activations and reapply them--most succeed. Some fail.

Why is that? Rather than blindly assuming someone did something wrong, as is common, there is actually a reason for it. You, speaking as someone who knows how to push a SAVE button, but doesn't understand the underlying technolgy, I see where you're coming from.

Windows activation is not based ONLY on hardware. Sure, you have the common situation where major or minor hardware changes will cause Windows to reject such an activation (or even require RE-activationafter upgrades). Along with those are other factors; time and day of installation, installation media, bios strings, etc. -- and who knows what else, but it is a closely guarded secret.

For all I know the alignment of the planets figures into, but I do know that HARDWARE and hardware alone are not the only factors. Throw in a couple of minor changes and suddenly the activation fails.

Following what they learned about Windows XP and Windows Vista, Microsoft engineers have continued to modify Windows Activation technology.

Following the beta of Windows With Windows 7, they added triggers for 70 new activation hacks that have arisen since last year. If a system has been activated illegally using such a method (or if Windows Activation technology misinterprets what you may deem a legitimate activation backup, but which Microsoft sees as POTENTIALLY an illegal activation), the Windows Activation subroutines disable the "offending code" (their words, not mine), trigger the built-in activation code in Windows 7, and then constantly monitor the system, looking for new bypass attempts.

That is exactly what happened to our OP.

He performed an unconvential installation and unconventional activation (see, no "hack" word this time because I don't want to make you feel bad)and it came back to bite him in the butt.



I make no moral judgments beyond the most obvious; I try to explain things as clearly and as simply as I can.



I think I'm retiring from this forum....I'm too busy to waste time with this crap.

 

Supermarket,

I am not saying you did anything "morally" wrong. Others have put words in my mouth.

I am saying you are getting caught up in the battle being waged between Microsoft and Pirates.

If I thought you were a crook, I would come out and say it.

You technically used HPs activation code, not yours. I believe you are entitled to Windows 7 on your computer. That is what your CoA on the sticker says. In a nicer world, I would argue that you should be able to backup your activation, but I am not making the rules.

Windows Activation Technology precludes that.

There is nothing to prevent you from using your key and a generic OEM DVD to install Windows. I urge you to do so rather than wasting time trying to figure out why it didn't work. If you wish read my previous, more detailed explanation.

 

All you're doing is overcomplicating the issue, ABR is proven and works for countless users (including myself on 4 different Thinkpads), and going into a verbose argument of how it's illegal (when, once again, it's been proven to work countless times for countless users) doesn't really help your case.

If it were even borderline illegal, it would already be taken down on the many places it's posted on, not just on these forums but elsewhere as well.

 

Windows 7 would be neat, but I just want to stick with the OS my laptop came pre-installed with.

I don't care HOW you view me, or what I do with my paid for software, but wether it was you, or someone else - SOMEONE on the first page implied I was doing wrong. That is offensive, and not the case. I admit I should have specified my situation more accurately, but that's it.


Also, this is virus related. What I did on this laptop I've done for quite a while on several laptops, and NEVER had aproblem.

As I mentioned above, I have BOTH keys for activation, and the activation manager is HANGING up (not saying my key is invalid like it does for the OEM) key.

I just need to be able to format my laptop, and I'd be good to do. But now these options are disabled.

Oh, and if you are stating my laptop came pre-installed with Windows 7, if you read above I clearly state it does/did not. I mentioned Windows Vista Home Premium x64.

I got my laptop well before windows 7 was out. NOW they come pre-installed with windows 7, but the HP Pavilion series used Windows Vista before that.

Yes, thank you. He is just here to troll, I believe. Instead of actually giving advice which helps.



Anyways, if I could just format my laptop, everything would be fine

 

Well, even though I am troll, you can format your laptop using the DVD. Start the laptop with the DVD and the laptop bios set to boot to the optical drive first.

Then, the Windows PE loads, click INSTALL WINDOWS

Then click on the advanced options button on the screen where it shows your drives.

This will allow you to delete the partition, then windows will create a new partition and format it for you.

I'd help you more, but I am troll.

 

I know this. I've been doing that for over 10 years. If it was the easy, I wouldnt be here

Truth is, windows is denying me ANY ability to format. It says permission denied, EVEN WHEN I use a boot CD

The error I am getting with the correct cd-key is this "Software Licensing Service reported the BIOS is missing required license"

And thank for you at least trying to help, I do appreciate it. This situation I've never encountered before, especially with NOT being allowed to format, period.

 

Perhaps I missed it but were you able to attempt a format through connecting the drive to another computer rather than do it in the laptop itself?

 

OK, now that is pretty cool problem.

The most obvious cause of this would be a harddrive password (We can rule out bitlocker since this is home premium). In BIOS, on some models, you can apply a cmos password to prevent access to the bios settings, but you can also apply a harddrive password. I would think that would be obvious, though. and you would have considered that already.

So, let's back up.

Where did you get the DVD you are using right now? Came with this laptop, or another? Bought retail? It is OEM, UPGRADE or RETAIL?

The error you get--the one you mentioned--this is within windows? Or when you start up from the DVD and enter the PE (pre-installation environement).

At what point does the error occur. Before the INSTALL NOW screen? After that when you click the ADVANCED screen?

 

If you're having format issues, I suggest downloading a Linux LiveCD, running gparted, erasing all your partitions, and then trying with the Windows installation. It'll let you do a lot of things Windows and its stupid "permissions" won't. I've had to do that to erase stupid files that Windows wouldn't let me remove no matter how many times I changed the permissions on them.

 

Ah, has the OP called the msft activation/support line to get things straightened out?

As much as a PITA WAT can occasionally be, phone calls to msft usually fix things up in a pinch.

 

I'm quite comfortable talking to the folks at Windows Activation. My parents deactivate their computer each time they run windows update. I use the key that came on the bottom of the laptop, too.