how much is online activation (windows 7)

silkyuk9

just reinstalled a version of windows 7 as the previous version was lost, this is not my pc prblem just sorted it out for someone. Anyway, ive put in windows 7 which was on it but do not know the activation serial number and neither does the owner. So he has 3 days to activate it.

So im thinking now to call a UK based Microsoft company to activate this version over the phone or buy a serial number so we can then activate this online.

Anyone know how much a serial key would cost, and who do we call to do this?

John_Gray

Isn't the Windows product key on a holographic sticker on the side/back of the PC system unit case?

nickcc

About the same price as a new windows 7 package £90. Beware buying keys off auction websites as they often fail to activate.

Notmyrealname

John_Gray wrote: »

Isn't the Windows product key on a holographic sticker on the side/back of the PC system unit case?

If it is a laptop, you might find it if you take the battery off.

Pikeyp

Shouldn't it be 30 days to activate , or am I thinking of something else?

DWatts

Pikeyp wrote: »

Shouldn't it be 30 days to activate , or am I thinking of something else?

It usually is - not sure why it's 3 days. Possibly because it's a vendor installed copy?

Anyway, as others have said, if it's a manufactured computer (I.e. it's a HP, Dell etc.) it will have the sticker on somewhere with the serial number.

Horlock

certainly should have a code somewhere. Just be sure you are using the correct version. I just installed windows 7 ultimate upgrade as a fresh install and had a nightmare of a time - MS technical support were extremely unhelpful - their suggestion was: uninstall windows 7, then install windows xp, then reinstall windows 7 and see if that fixes your problem!!! I can't believe that that anyone could consider that nonscense - anyway if anyone does have that problem do pm as I now know a solution.

sickofusernames

Worth contacting Microsoft activation (just raise a ticket from the uk microsoft website and they'll respond and call you back etc) as they were really helpful.

My Toshiba Satellite motherboard had a nice glass of wine one evening and since aquiring a working mobo and getting my laptop back up and running I couldn't activate Vista for love nor money.

Microsoft called back and for some reason still couldn't activate my Product Key as it was a different motherboard and didn't have the same Product ID associated with the original key, in the end they just activated it with a dummy key. If they do that then make sure you make a note of the newer product key (use JellyBean Keyfinder) for future use.

TakeThis

You already have a licence. No need to purchase a product Activation key.

IanSkinner

just phone up microsoft and ask them - they're surprisingly helpful when your software fails to activate.

silkyuk9

problem resolved ty.