Windows activation problem after reformat

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Alexefc

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Sep 20, 2015
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Hi, I have recently reformatted a quantum q200 laptop for a family member after retrieving her important data using parted magic after it would not boot as I didn't have the recovery cd or windows cd.

So I got a £5.99 windows 7 installation cd on ebay and intended to use the genuine activation code on the sticker on the bottom of the laptop to activate it.

During installation windows did not ask for an activation code, neither is there an option under my computer/properties to activate.

I installed all drivers anyway and connected to the internet to use windows update. Windows update just hangs and does nothing.

Do I have a counterfeit installation dvd? and if so what is the point of it being fake as its just installation files that could be obtained from the windows site anyway......

Do I need to rebuy windows even though I have a genuine key? My family member lives far away so when she picks it up I need to know it will work for her.
Any advice would be great
thanks in advance



 
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Suztera

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Mar 18, 2014
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No. Your licence is most likely activated. Check in System section of the Control Panel. From a clean new windows 7 install, it takes a lot of time to get window update to start downloading and installing updates.
You can either wait for window update to slowly do its thing or you can use WSUS Offline which I find is more reliable in downloading and installing windows updates and is mostly automated.
http://download.wsusoffline.net/
 
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0xBahaa

0xBahaa

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Sep 15, 2015
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No you won't have to rebuy windows.
Just make sure that the version of windows installed is the same one on ur sticker. (for example: Win7 home premium / Win7 professional / Win7 ultimate).
As long as they match, we can activate it right away.
1- Get a piece of paper and type down the serial number on the sticker.
2- open start menu on ur laptop > type cmd > right click > run as admin
3- type "slmgr.vbs –ipk 111111-222-33333" then press enter. (where the red part is the serial number u noted down earlier)
4- It should take some time then say that product key was changed. (related pic)
5- in the same cmd we opened, type "slmgr.vbs /ato" then press enter.
6- it should activate and all shall be fine.
** Of course all the things u type in the cmd are without the quotes " "
 
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Alexefc

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Sep 20, 2015
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Thanks wsusoffline worked great it installed all updates. Although still cant activate windows...

 
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Alexefc

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Sep 20, 2015
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Thanks for the reply

It says 'not recognised as internal or external command' ?

 
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Alexefc

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Sep 20, 2015
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Eventually got it to boot up again. After installing updates using wsus offline now windows update has kicked into gear and wants to download hundreds of updates. Do I install via windows update now ive got them wsus program? Or do I delete the updates and then install from windows update?Think this is why its failed to boot.

I tried the command again and it still says not recognised as an internal or external command.

This has to rank as the most frustrating install of windows ive ever done....

 
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Suztera

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Mar 18, 2014
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Either window update or WSUS is fine.
 
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0xBahaa

0xBahaa

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Sep 15, 2015
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Just make sure that your windows is activated now. Start button > right-clicking Computer > Properties. Under Windows activation, you can view your activation status.
It should say "Windows is activated".
If not, report back to us.
-
By the way, that command didn't work because u may have been typing an "i" instead of an "L" in SLMGR.VBS
 
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Alexefc

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Sep 20, 2015
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Hi again. Still nothing under properties saying windows activated.

I have the same problem again that made me format the hard disk in the first place. Cpu runs at 100% sometimes and jams the laptop up, so I end the process (svhost) and it gets back to speed again. But 50% of the time windows gets stuck in a loop and wont boot. When I do get it to boot after running repair a few times all my drivers have uninstalled themselves. It seems to fail to boot after installing updates on shutdown.


Anyone think I have a dodgy hard drive? This junk laptop is driving me insane, the only reason I cant take a hammer to it is its not mine!

thanks again for all the replies


 
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Alexefc

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Sep 20, 2015
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Just an update to this problem. The windows installation was a hacked version. I used take back command and then I could run avg which found hacktool.pby which would explain the above problems.

Ive now installed and activated genuine windows.
 
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