Out of date Windows 7 Product Key.

10_66

At the beginning of January I ordered an new PC, but did not want it to be delivered until end February. I went to set it up today, and was taken to a "Set Up Windows" page where it asked for the Product Key. On entering the key, it was declined saying it was invalid. I clicked on the "what is activation?" button, and it said that activation must be carried out within 30 days of installation, which is obviously why it won't accept the Product Key. I would have expected that the company I bought from would have known the 30 day limit, so am annoyed they built it prematurely. I can't go any further with setting up my new PC without this. I've dropped them an email, but they won't get it until tomorrow. Does anyone know if there's a way around this, please? I'm not a techie in any way, so lay mans terminology, please .

jayme1

you only have to enter the product key within 30 days to prevent it going into unactivated mode, once it is in unactivated mode then you can enter the product key to bring it out of it at any time.

so on that it sounds like there is a problem perhaps the product key, either being for a different version of windows, do you have the licence sticker? is it for the correct version of windows?

10_66

jayme1 wrote: »

you only have to enter the product key within 30 days to prevent it going into unactivated mode, once it is in unactivated mode then you can enter the product key to bring it out of it at any time.

so on that it sounds like there is a problem perhaps the product key, either being for a different version of windows, do you have the licence sticker? is it for the correct version of windows?

I entered (and double, double checked that I'd entered correctly) the Product Code that's on the side of the case which is supposed to be for Windows 7 (Windows 7 is what was on the label, and the disc that also came with it says Windows 7, also the prompt on screen said Windows 7).

System

Use the telephone activation option.

10_66

!!!!!! wrote: »

Use the telephone activation option.

Where do I find the telephone activation number, please, and if entering it on the PC doesn't work, would the same not happen on an automated 'phone number?

jayme1

I ment the specific version of windows 7, ie home premium/professional, if you hold the windows key and press 'pause break' it will tell you which version it is.

you will probably have to call the windows activation phone number and get microsoft to give you a key to activate it (it is a robot call you rarely speak to anyone), if they give you a problem then you will need to contact the people who built the computer.

I wonder why they didn't just activate windows when they built it? it's not like you have to activate windows when you actually start using it.

jayme1

10_66 wrote: »

Where do I find the telephone activation number, please, and if entering it on the PC doesn't work, would the same not happen on an automated 'phone number?

google ...........................

10_66

jayme1 wrote: »

I ment the specific version of windows 7, ie home premium/professional, if you hold the windows key and press 'pause break' it will tell you which version it is.

you will probably have to call the windows activation phone number and get microsoft to give you a key to activate it (it is a robot call you rarely speak to anyone), if they give you a problem then you will need to contact the people who built the computer.

I wonder why they didn't just activate windows when they built it? it's not like you have to activate windows when you actually start using it.

It's supposed to be Windows 7 Home Premium, according to the spec I bought and the disc that came with it. Where do I find the windows activation 'phone number, please?

Can I still press the Windows key and pause break even when I can't get into the computer?

As I said, I'm definitely not a techie, but even I wondered why I would be having to do this when I thought all of this would have been carried out when the computer was built.

jayme1

10_66 wrote: »

It's supposed to be Windows 7 Home Premium, according to the spec I bought and the disc that came with it. Where do I find the windows activation 'phone number, please?

Can I still press the Windows key and pause break even when I can't get into the computer?

As I said, I'm definitely not a techie, but even I wondered why I would be having to do this when I thought all of this would have been carried out when the computer was built.

why can't you get onto the computer, it should still boot fine even when not activated, as you will need to start it up to input the activation key microsoft gives you.

microsoft activation is 0800 018 8354

10_66

jayme1 wrote: »

why can't you get onto the computer, it should still boot fine even when not activated, as you will need to start it up to input the activation key microsoft gives you.

microsoft activation is 0800 018 8354

Thanks for the number, I couldn't find it online.

The PC turns on, but I'm stuck on the Windows set up page. I'm sorry it sounds lame, but I don't know how to get past this page as it won't let me go any further without the number .

jayme1

10_66 wrote: »

Thanks for the number, I couldn't find it online.

The PC turns on, but I'm stuck on the Windows set up page. I'm sorry it sounds lame, but I don't know how to get past this page as it won't let me go any further without the number .

is there not an 'Ask me later option'?

if it is this screen then you can just click next without entering it.