Before reading up more then I should have. And now that I know how to back up my key/cert that came with my new Compaq/HP. I did use the COA sticker to do a clean install and activation. I imagine it is now locked to this pc and I blew a possible free activation using the COA sticker key on a different machine correct?
i think with the COA you get an unlimited number of activations granted no substantial change in hardware has been done however, the COA number can be used on up to 5 different machines before it start telling you that it can't be activated online and you'll have to call Microsoft you should get an imaging program and then do a clean install, put on whatever you want and then make a system image. saves you from activating and installing everything again
I did the exact same thing on a laptop (forgot to save certificate/key). I got to the point where it told me I had to call Microsoft. I'm not sure if that works or not because I didn't try it I ended up using OPATool to install one of the certificate/key included in it. seems to be legitimate. haven't heard anything back
you will get normally 3 activations from a coa key. after this you call ms one time and then it normally will activate another 3 times etc... i have activated coa keys more than 20+ times on some machines. BUT MOST IMPORTANT when you call you tell them something like the motherboard died and you had to reinstall. they will ask how many systems its in use on you MUST tell them ONLY ONE. otherwise its very easy to re activate them. dont worry about it. or use the token restore from paymyrent on the forums
Yeah the COA sticker key would not activate online. I had to call MS automated service to get it activated. That is why I thought I might had blown a free activation on another pc.
COA Keys from the sticker the OEMAct label don't activate online. This have been disabled by MS soon after XP has come out. However, they activate if you use the corresponding software license certificate matching your SLIC.
No, they don't. You are confusing them with the SLP keys which auto-activate if you have SLIC in your bios and the correct certificate installed. COA keys will always need you to call MS to activate no matter what bios and certificates you have installed as far as I understand.
Some machines come with preinstalled OEM SLP but only have recovery partition to recovery media they will most likely have OEM COA key on machine, For myselfe i have dell inspiron 530 it came with recovery partition and also OEM SLP Install dvd i don't have OEM COA key on my machine but i do have OEMAct key so i cant activate online and yes MS did stop OEM ACT on XP machines a while back think it was after SP1.
there in fact are some that 100% do activate online. i have a machine built by clevo by a system builder and it 100% does activate fine online but only so many times. it is not a oemact key either. please do not state things that are false. maybe not all coa do activate online but there are some that do.
I succeed to activate windows vista on non-OEM machine using windows vista COA sticker but failled to activate windows 7 on non-OEM machine using the windows 7 COA sticker.
I did not really see a clear answer on this. Am I able to use the key on my netbook? I am not using the sticker anymore on my main pc that it came with. Since I know how to reinstall using my cert. and key. I went back to using that method. But like I said. Since the pc is completely different and it is a netbook. Would MS not allow activation since it was used once before on the desktop? Also. The key is for 64 bit home premium. Would it work for 32 bit home premium?
Key will work for 32 bit home premium, you will most likely have to call to activate. If asked say you changed the motherboard. Technically it's still against the licence agreement. Does the netbook not have SLIC 2.1?
Thanks. The netbook has no slic 2.1 It came with XP and it does have bios mod for it though. But. I am to chicken to flash it. I am so pissed at myself for using the key on my pc and not using it on the netbook. I remember having to call and using the automated service and it activated fine on the desktop. I was hoping to avoid speaking to someone at MS if possible.....
Well, I just installed 7 on a pc i found in the garbage (that i gave 2 gb of ram ) i used a key that has never been used, and it said activation online was unsuccessful, so i got on the automated line, key'd in all the numbers, and someone says in a stern voice "you are only using this product key to activate windows on one computer, correct?" or something like that. ofcourse i said yes. but just try it. if you dont want to talk to a live person, just hang up if the robot says activation was unsuccessful. microsoft isnt going to stalk you (as far as i know of)
In the interest of testing a theory.....I walked into one of our big retailers with plenty of PCs on display, found an OEM-Act COA on an Acer tower, copied it down, went home & installed in on my home built tower, went online and it failed activation. then did the phone activation and it went through without me having to declare "My system did a load of updates, when it rebooted, it froze up. I had no choice other than re-install the operating system, yes, it's only on the 1 PC." I have used that line at least 30 times over the past few years [XP & Vista all versions] it's good to know it also works with SE7EN !!