Universal Restore & Windows Activation issue

OEM media and VLK media are not the same.

Regarding to microsoft licence agreement, you cannot (legaly) use clone software (such as acronis) to deploy OS on different hardware with OEM licence.

So, you cannot use official microsoft tool to "convert" an OEM installation into a VL installation. (due to msoob and so on).

So you have two solutions:

1. reinstall windows with VL media (if you have a VL key)
2. use microsoft official tool to insert the OEM key which came with your new hardware.

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/PKUInstructions.aspx

Gilles MACCHIONI wrote:

OEM media and VLK media are not the same.

2. use microsoft official tool to insert the OEM key which came with your new hardware.

I said I updated the key. I used the method you describe.

I did some research and found that the new computer has an OEM SLP license. This means data in the BIOS together with a digitally signed certificate, is used to validate the product key. Because I'm using an image the digitally signed certificate is missing.

I found this thread which mentions how to handle the situation:
http://forum.acronis.com/forum/4728

I'm amazed there aren't more threads about this issue.

Hello all,

Thank you very much for your posts.

I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience, we have a Knowledge Base article that addresses this issue. You can also check my post regarding this, here.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you.

Anton wrote:

Hello all,

Thank you very much for your posts.

I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience, we have a Knowledge Base article that addresses this issue. You can also check my post regarding this, here.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you.

I have the necessary license. However, the version of Windows that I am restoring does not allow me to use the license.

Hello Peter!

Thank you for your comment.

I regret to inform you that we cannot help you with activating Windows in this case, since it is Microsoft who designed their system protection in such a way.

In this case you need to contact MS Support, they will definitely find a solution for you.

Thank you for understanding!

Hello All,

I posted a question in another thread and Anton asked me to copy it over here to centralize these questions. So first here is our exchange.

PutItInReverseAnd wrote:
"This has probably been asked before in the forum, but after searching, I cannot find a thread.
How Do I Update The Product Key In Windows 7 After A Restore To A New PC.
I am in the difficult situation that a brand new laptop has gone bad after only a few days.
The Toshiba Laptop keyboard had become intermittent.
Once the replacement laptop arrives I will have to do a restore with Acronis Backup & Recovery Workstation Standalone with Universal Restore 10.11639
The hardware should be identical although hopefully the keyboard will be a better build.
But I will need to change the Windows 7 Product Key to match the replacement computer's Key.
I assume the original key will end up being someone else's after the factory replaces the keyboard and resells the laptop as refurbished.
Can anyone point me to a link to a thread or article on how to update the Windows 7 Pro 64 bit Product Key.
Thanks in advance. "

Anton wrote:
"Hello PutItInReverseAnd,
Thank you very much for your post. I will definitely assist you with your question.
At the moment, in order to address Windows activation issues please contact Microsoft support.
You can also check this thread for additional information and I would appreciate if you can post there about Windows activation so that we can have the discussion in one place. Thank you very much for understanding.
Please let me know if you have additional questions.
Thank you.
__________________
Anton Deev"

I am not sure if this is the same circumstance as Peter Timaratz. I do not know Toshiba's assembly sequence for installing its laptop OS's. I hope at some point they take the time to enter the individual key and don't just use a VLK for all that they build. But who knows.

I found this after a prolonged Google Search and if anyone can give it a try, hopefully before my exchange laptop comes and I have to test the process out myself, could you please post your experience. Okay here it is with references.

http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindows7/thread/dd8f477…

1) Click the Start button

2) Type: slui.exe 3 and hit the Enter key

3) Type in the Product key from the sticker on your computer

4) Click the Next button.

5) You will be asked if want to Activate, click ok

6) It will attempt to Activate by the internet and will return an Invalid Key error (this is ok, continue to step 7)

7) Click the Start button

8) Type: slui.exe 4 and hit the Enter key

9) Select your location in the drop down menu and click the Next button

10) The next screen provides the number to call to Activate by Phone

If that doesn't work, try these steps that will recreate Windows 7's Licensing Store. When it recreates the file, Windows will need to repopulate it with Licensing Information so will ask you to enter the Product Key and to Activate (use the Activate by Phone method)

1) Open an Internet Browser

2) Type %windir%\system32 into the browser address bar.

3) Find the file CMD.exe

4) Right-Click on CMD.exe and select 'Run as Administrator'

5) Type: net stop sppsvc (it may ask you if you are sure, select yes)

6) Type: cd %windir%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

7) Type: rename tokens.dat tokens.bar

8) Type: slui

9) After a couple of seconds Windows Activation dialog will appear. You may be asked to re-activate and/or re-enter your product key.

Windows 7 (and Vista) allow the user to install without entering a Product Key. This is called a Keyless Install and when a Keyless Install is done, Windows uses it's own default Keyless Install key. The Keyless Install key acts as a Trial key, can not be activated and allows the user to use Windows for 30 days. If the user wishes to use Windows longer, they must enter a Valid Product Key.

Your Windows 7 is using the Keyless Install key for Windows 7 Professional (*****-*****-CM74G-RPHKF-PW487 <- keyless install key). To continue using your copy of Windows past the 30 day trial, you will need to enter a Valid Product Key.

Please click the 'Start' button, Right-click on 'Computer' and select 'Properties'. In the Window that comes up, click 'Change Product Key' and enter the Product Key that came with your copy of Windows.

If you get a message that says something like "This key can only be used in an Upgrade" this means your Windows 7 is an Upgrade and the Upgrade Process was not done correctly. In this case, please see the 'Install, Upgrade and Activate' section of the Windows 7 Answers Forum for assistance http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windows7

I hope to give this a shot with Win7 Home Premium on an HP replacement. Will post results when done (probably by Sunday or early next week.)