Product key Windows activation client

bod1467

@Mondez - all seemingly valid, but if the OP doesn't know how to replace a laptop HDD it's unlikely that she (assumption) knows or understands what you wrote.

macman

First thing to find out is if the old drive is really borked or not. If it is, OP has presumably lost all data (unless backed up), as we can be fairly sure that the 'repairer' didn't recover it and transfer data over.

StuC75

What make of laptop is it? some have separate little access panels to get to the hard drive \ ram modules without having to remove the whole of the casing? that's assuming they have put a warranty seal over each access point?..

These panels would usually have little icons depicting what is under there..

droopsnoot

Poppy9 wrote: »

Not sure why they replaced it and now I have a warranty sticker across the back of my laptop so I can't open it up. Even if I could I wouldn't know how to put in the old hard drive!

On that specific issue, you can get USB to SATA and/or IDE adapters so you can connect an old internal hard disk to your USB without having to open the machine. Big range on eBay, ranging from cheapo seldom-used ones up to those built into something like a docking station designed for frequent use. Also can get external drive cases which, if your old HDD is not faulty and you had the new one to, say, get more capacity while the machine was in bits, can be used to turn your old drive into an external storage drive.

Poppy9

Well I'm sorted I hope.

Bit of background. Laptop damaged by DD in Uni. Her halls insurance covered the accidental damage - she smashed screen. The only cost was the original £15 hall insurance and £10 excess on policy.

I rang repair today to ask why the HD replaced and they said that's what they always did with impact damaged machines as the HD would probably fail! They couldn't help with the product key told me to ring manufacturer.

Rang Packard Bell - foreign call centre. Very unhelpful best offer was £59 for set of recovery disks.

Rang Microsoft - got a darling American chappy. Explained situation and he gave me a FREE product code for W7 home premium. He said PB should have given it to me for free as they have agreement with manufacturers. I have the code which I will try when I get home from work. He gave me a call number to refer to if I have further problems.

My nephew has said he will look at my old HD to see if it's shot etc. If not it's going to go into my other laptop where the HD is dying - I will get product code off that tonight before it comes out.

DD did back up quite a bit of the HD but think she concentrated on her files!!

macman

Poppy9 wrote: »

Well I'm sorted I hope.

Bit of background. Laptop damaged by DD in Uni. Her halls insurance covered the accidental damage - she smashed screen. The only cost was the original £15 hall insurance and £10 excess on policy.

I rang repair today to ask why the HD replaced and they said that's what they always did with impact damaged machines as the HD would probably fail! They couldn't help with the product key told me to ring manufacturer.

Rang Packard Bell - foreign call centre. Very unhelpful best offer was £59 for set of recovery disks.

Rang Microsoft - got a darling American chappy. Explained situation and he gave me a FREE product code for W7 home premium. He said PB should have given it to me for free as they have agreement with manufacturers. I have the code which I will try when I get home from work. He gave me a call number to refer to if I have further problems.

My nephew has said he will look at my old HD to see if it's shot etc. If not it's going to go into my other laptop where the HD is dying - I will get product code off that tonight before it comes out.

DD did back up quite a bit of the HD but think she concentrated on her files!!

These people are cowboys then. If I take my car to the garage for a clutch change, do they then change the gearbox without asking me 'just in case'? Sorry, but you've been ripped off good and proper.
If they're reinstalling the OS then it's their job to activate the licence key.

Poppy9

macman wrote: »

These people are cowboys then. If I take my car to the garage for a clutch change, do they then change the gearbox without asking me 'just in case'? Sorry, but you've been ripped off good and proper.
If they're reinstalling the OS then it's their job to activate the licence key.

I have complained to the insurance company who were responsible for the choice of repairer. Fortunately it hasn't cost me anything.

Inserted the key they gave me and it's worked

macman

The they're overcharging and replacing unecessary components, knowing that insurers are footing the bill.
If the old drive is working, then get the data off it now in case it does fail at a later date-you won't get a second chance.

Poppy9

droopsnoot wrote: »

On that specific issue, you can get USB to SATA and/or IDE adapters so you can connect an old internal hard disk to your USB without having to open the machine. Big range on eBay, ranging from cheapo seldom-used ones up to those built into something like a docking station designed for frequent use. Also can get external drive cases which, if your old HDD is not faulty and you had the new one to, say, get more capacity while the machine was in bits, can be used to turn your old drive into an external storage drive.

Is this what I need

option 1

option 2

option 3

My HD is 320 GB WD3200BPVT

I watched a Youtube video to see how easy it was to use!!!

spud17

I have option 2 in my 'toolkit' for emergency use, from another seller, but looks identical.

It's worked fine for me.

Here's mine

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EXTERNAL-SATA-TO-USB-2-5-HARD-DRIVE-ENCLOSURE-CADDY-CASE-USB-2-0-UK-SELLER-/370765626214?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:3160