Cannot re-use retail Win7 Key

[flaminggerbil]

I'm trying to re-activate my retail copy of Win7 Home Premium but having some problems, due to my previous one dieing I've got a new motherboard which it doesnt seem to like as it's giving me an 'unable to activate product' message.

Tried phoning up the activation line and that's telling me that my key is not valid for use on more then one computer, but I was under the impression that non-OEM keys could be re-activated as long as they were not being used on multiple machines at the same time.

Is this true and if so where do I need to go to sort this out? If not has M$ just royally screwed me over?



Dont particularly want to have to buy a new £80 copy just because of a previous hardware issue...

 

[ulysses35]

I have never had that problem before. I had to replace my mobo after the first Gigabyte died, and replaced it with an Asus P6 - activated no problem

 

[flaminggerbil]

Well that gives me a shred of hope, but I'm still unable to contact M$ as the free support requires a product ID, which -wait for it- requires you to activate the product first.
facepalm.jpg

Tried making a post on the MS forums but doubt that'll come to much.



Forgot to mention, my urgency at this is because it's on the last day before activation is required, I'd left it this long to make sure everything new was faultless to avoid repeated activations and this exact situation...

 

[The_Prophecy]

Call the activation line back and go through the process again. When asked how many times you have installed that copy of Windows on a machine, say "one".

 

[flaminggerbil]

Call the activation line back and go through the process again. When asked how many times you have installed that copy of Windows on a machine, say "one".

Tried that the first time, just told me that my copy was only viable for one computer.

 

[isamuelson]

As long as it's not OEM, you're good to go. I once had an OEM copy and was able to reactivate it on a new motherboard. Most of this is automated now. You don't even have to speak with a live person. You just type in your key you got with Windows, it will then validate it, give you a new activation number to type in to reactive your key.

 

[flaminggerbil]

Ok it's sorted, tried the number again and it went straight through to support this time who gave me an ID no questions asked, thanks for the replies though.