Screwed up my copy of W7 now. Duh!!

Fightsback

rizla01 wrote: »

So, Does anyone have a solution to my existing problem at all?

Yes, legally uninstall W7 or change the product key of your friends PC.

Illegally, you will find Google very helpful.

neilmcl

rizla01 wrote: »

So, Does anyone have a solution to my existing problem at all?

Purchase another license.

unforeseen

Fightsback wrote: »

Let me correct something for you:

"never been the case with windows operating systems"

You can install Linux or certain other OS's as may times as you like for no cost with no licence DRM to worry about.

I didn't feel the need to qualify it to the pedants as this is a purely MS Windows thread and to be honest, most people can actually follow the gist of a thread without going off at tangents

Maybe I should have also stated MS Office as you may have got confused with Open Office or even Libre Office and raised the same point.

ETA

Have you looked at the licensing costs for RHEL?

Fightsback

unforeseen wrote: »

Have you looked at the licensing costs for RHEL?

CentOS is free.

unforeseen

Fightsback wrote: »

CentOS is free.

But not all Linux as you asserted.

Fightsback

unforeseen wrote: »

But not all Linux as you asserted.

If you really want me to be a pedant then I'll happily oblige:

At no point did I say all.

Linux is a kernel you are talking distributions with paid support.

Jivesinger

You used to be able to buy a 3-licence pack of Windows 7. Not sure if they came with 3 product keys or one, but I wonder if that's what is being referred to?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-Windows-Premium-Upgrade-Licence/dp/B002MT21N6

Robisere

I have a full retail copy of 7 Home premium and have used it to reinstall 7 Home Premium on other PC's that have their own COA (license). As said earlier, this is usually printed underneath a laptop, or comes with a desktop.

Full retail discs are to be used only on one PC at a time: I have transferred mine across 3 PC's that I have owned and removed every trace from the previous one. OEM copies are (meant to be) supplied with the PC and can only be used on one machine. It is not strictly legal to transfer them to another PC, but it can be done, most of the time it works (so I'm told!)

"Multi-User" copies are usually 'borrowed' from educational establishments. It is illegal to use one outside the establishment they were allocated to. However, (I am also told) they may work with another COA. The reason why your Windows is declared not genuine, is because you installed the same version with the same COA on more than one machine. Follow advice already given, to rectify this.

Please note that anyone carrying out the same procedure, must ensure that the reinstall version of Windows 7 must match the disc version (eg Home Premium, Pro, Ultimate.) I have in the past, used a magnifying glass to decipher a blurred COA, which usually means a laptop used on top of a blanket, cloth or similar, which leads to overheating.

henm2

Just forget all that windows hassle. Instead install Linux Mint 18 cinnamon edition for free. Safe and easy to use.
http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-install-linux-mint-on-your-windows-pc/

prowla

henm2 wrote: »

Just forget all that windows hassle. Instead install Linux Mint 18 cinnamon edition for free. Safe and easy to use.
http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-install-linux-mint-on-your-windows-pc/

Coincidentally, I'm in the process of installing that on a PC and it's failed a couple of times; I've just downloaded the image again and cut another disc.
About to re-try - wish me luck!