Is my OEM version of Windows 7 genuine?

gterr

Hi there,

I have recently bought a second hand Dell laptop that was advertised as having Win 7 installed. It has, but there is no Win 7 CoA on the base - just a Vista one.

Win 7 is running OK, and updates are downloading, and I have not (yet, anyway) received any messages to the effect that my version of Windows is not genuine. However, if I right click on Computer and click Properties, I do not see the blue "ask for Genuine Microsoft software" badge, and there's no product key listed.

I have not been able to use the online activation tool. It fails with a "try later" message. But maybe this is normal with OEM software, since this should activate automatically, and offline?

If I run Belarc Adviser I can see the Windows 7 key there.

Will this software continue to work OK, or is it likely that I'll start to get warning messages? If I do have problems in the future will I be able to buy an OEM product key and change the current key to the new one, or will I have to do a full reinstall?

Many thanks for your time.

Pikeyp

you could try this ...

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/troubleshooting-windows-7-activation-states

NiftyDigits

If there is no COA, then it isn't genuine. The pertinent question is how they have activated Windows 7.

Which model numberof laptop(Service Tag will do) and which version of Windows 7?

System

NiftyDigits wrote: »

The pertinent question is how they have activated Windows 7.

If it is a modern BIOS with SLIC 2.1 then no activation is needed if a Dell Windows 7 disc is used for installation which is what seems to have been done here.

Doesn't change the fact that it should have a CoA for the version installed.

NiftyDigits

!!!!!! wrote: »

If it is a modern BIOS with SLIC 2.1 then no activation is needed if a Dell Windows 7 disc is used for installation which is what seems to have been done here.

Doesn't change the fact that it should have a CoA for the version installed.

Modern BIOS? Nothing to do with modernity.
Does DELL supply a BIOS for this model with a SLIC 2.1 table?
In the event, having taken a look at the OP's machine, the BIOS has a SLIC 2.0 table. So it seems that the activation is with a Product Key, but why no COA? Looking into it.

Has the OP been supplied with a DELL Windows 7 Recovery Disc?
How will they reinstall and activate Windows & if they need to reinstall?
Of course we know the answer to these questions, but the OP clearly does not.

gterr

Hi there,

Dell Latitude D530, Service Tag 2MTTJ3J
Win7 Pro 64bit

(I have sent the screenshot you requested by PM)

Many thanks.

gterr

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Has the OP been supplied with a DELL Windows 7 Recovery Disc?
How will they reinstall and activate Windows & if they need to reinstall?
Of course we know the answer to these questions, but the OP clearly does not.

No recovery CD supplied by vendor (as you suspected).

earthstorm

NiftyDigits wrote: »

You should not be using the forum to recommend the using torrents to download pirated software.

i was not recommending using a torrent i was stating it as a possible reason to your comment

Originally Posted by NiftyDigits
The pertinent question is how they have activated Windows 7.

HappyMJ

gterr wrote: »

Hi there,

Dell Latitude D530, Service Tag 2MTTJ3J
Win7 Pro 64bit

(I have sent the screenshot you requested by PM)

Many thanks.

Shipping date of 12/03/2008 so highly unlikely to have an OEM version of Windows 7 considering it lauched in 2009.

http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/uk/en/ukdhs1/Servicetag/2MTTJ3J

earthstorm

gterr wrote: »

No recovery CD supplied by vendor (as you suspected).

That means nothing as with a Dell machine you are not sent a recovery CD unless you request 1 when you place your order or they list this in the default order specs.

NiftyDigits

From what I can see it has a Vista signature in the BIOS, but has been used with a DELL Windows 7 Pro disc and key.

Technically it should not activate.

What does it say at the bottom of the page when you navigate to Control Panel > System?