new hdd product key not working

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N

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Aug 25, 2013
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i bought a used custom computer and replaced every single part in it over time as i had the money. the last thing i replaced was the hdd and with the new hdd i bought i also bought windows 7 home premium.

i go home take out the old hdd ()which already had windows 7 pro on it when i bought it and he did not give me the product key or the disc) and installed the new hdd and installed windows 7 pro but when i went to activate my product key it did not work it said invalid key. so i downloaded some software to scan my pc for a product key and they product key that came up was not the one on the sticker that came with my windows 7 i just bought.

idk what to do i called microsoft and they said to call the place i got it from so i called them and they said to back up my files and do a fresh install,

i literally just finished downloading quite a bit of games so i REALLY would not like to have to lose everything because i have no idea how to back up, any help would be great thanks
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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A bit confused here on what you actually have or bought.

You got a new HDD, and Windows 7 Home Premium, right?

You then removed the old HDD, and installed the new HDD.
Then you installed Windows 7 Pro, but with the Home Premium key?

Then you scanned the drive for the key, and it returned a product key? So Windows was already installed on this HDD when you bought it?
What precisely did you buy? And from where?

This sounds awful shady...
 
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N

newest nerd

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Aug 25, 2013
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ill be a little more clear sorry, i bought a used custom computer and it already had windows 7 pro, didnt come with a disc or product key whatsoever, didnt need it, then when i upgraded my harddrive since i didnt have the product key or disc to the operating system on my old harddrive i decided to just buy windows 7 home premium with my new hdd, i installed windows 7 home then entered in the oem key and it said invalid, so i downloaded a software that scans your computer for any product code that is on it and it showed a product code but it wasnt the oem code that came with my home premium

 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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If it was a blank HDD, and the Windows install failed due to an invalid key, then there would not be a key on there to retrieve.
This new HDD is currently the only drive installed in the system?
 
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N

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yes its the only harddrive, its also why i am confused because i called and canada computers (the place that sold me the windows 7) said if i replaced my harddrive and installed the windows 7 ill have to reinstall windows 7 a second time and then the key will work, but i have alot of games on my pc (i built it for gaming) and i really dont want to redownload 600gigs worth of games and software, i know i can back up my files but have never done it before and not exactly sure where to do that online since i dont have an external hdd
 
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