Window OEM Licence - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 11:15:47 pm
content: My sons school laptop has started giving him messages that windows 8 is not activated. Annoying to the point he cant use it effectively.It is an Acer, still in warranty with an OEM licence. The error code it gives is 0x8007007b.So we tried to Activate it using legal techniques googled off the web, such as factory reset, key finding tools such as belarc, and also contacted Microsoft who referred us to Acer after 2 hours of phone calls.With Acer so far no joy but still looking into it, they want proof of purchase even though they gave us $75 dollars cash back previously.Any way the options are:send it to an Acer service Rep. Which could be a pain as they probably want us to pay postage.find some other way to Activate it. I am not morally fussed by Microsoft licensing. The way I see it is I have too licences unused I should be able to use at least one of them. I am probably legally wrong here, but who can seriously be bothered reading Microsoft EULAs and licences.find a way to minimize the Activation Messages.Put a different hard drive in the Acer, this one has an OEM Windows 7 installed (was from a DELL). Is this worth a try or will it have activation trouble too?Buy another licence Windows 8 student, I think it is $70.ps. I think I will try not to get OEM licences in future. What a waste of time they are. Is this realistic for laptops?Anyone got suggestions for the quickest cheapest road home.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 11:32:02 pm
content: I don't have any computers running windows 8 and don't follow all the problems with it, but I suggest running the free version of malwarebytes first and see what it finds.https://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/

author: TheEnd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 11:35:47 pm
content: True, it might be some malware looking for money.There's two license keys with every new PC or laptop, a volume license key which would have been for hundreds of Acers all at the same time, and the restore / back up key which is on the sticker on the bottom.I'm fairly sure you don't get long after it is installed before it has to be "activated", so that should have been done months ago, it's unlikely to spring up out of the blue.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 11:53:21 pm
content: If you have exhausted all legal options, which it appears you have, then look up an interesting community known asMy Digital Life ForumsIn particular, find out how to modify your BIOS SLIC table and then install the Windows * Ultimate edition of your choice.I'm a legitimate TechNet subscriber, but even so I have to resort to BIOS mods and stuff now and then just to cope with Windows protection.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 12:05:57 am
content: If he's a student, see if the school participates in Microsoft Dreamspark. With that I got a free Windows 8.1 pro license key and I used the "anytime upgrade" utility on my Toshiba laptop to "upgrade" to 8.1 pro just by entering the activation key.The other option is open an administrator command prompt and typeslmgr /rearmThat will extend your activation for a few months while you work on getting it resolved.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 12:08:47 am
content: OEM Windows versions will only activate with the specific OEM license key provided by the hardware manufacturer (Acer in this case). They will not activate with other retail Windows keys that you may own.There should be a Windows hologram sticker on the case with the correct license key. Windows should activate with that key. If you call the Microsoft activation phone number, they should be able to look up the key immediately and tell you if it is a genuine key, or if that key has already been used to activate another machine.If you have an OEM copy of Windows then normally as soon as you set up the machine and connect to the internet it will prompt you to register and activate Windows. This would happen as soon as you switch the machine on and go through the setup screens. Can you say how this process was somehow bypassed in your case? It may give some clue to what is happening.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 12:10:37 am
content: Quote from: HackedFridgeMagnet on November 27, 2014, 11:15:47 pmWow, I'm confused. This is completely over thinking things. Have you really lost the case sticker with the Windows key? (usually attached to the bottom of the laptop)

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 12:39:13 am
content: You either need to install from manufacturer specific DVD and then it won't need activation at all. However you likely will have a tough luck getting it. Here is half legal way, download from torrent site OEM version image file of the same windows edition plain/pro, whatever you have licence key sticker for, burn the DVD/make bootable flash and install using your key. Then activate online. Although you obtain image in dubious way, your installation will be completely legal. If laptop do not have licence sticker, then you did not have OEM windows licence in the first place (pirated install?).

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 01:08:22 am
content: If you have a valid license Microsoft will let you download the iso. No need for a torrent version.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 01:11:25 am
content: Quote from: miguelvp on November 28, 2014, 01:08:22 amThis might be tricky with an OEM version. If you have an OEM license key you need the vendor-specific ISO and not a retail version.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 01:20:11 am
content: Quote from: IanB on November 28, 2014, 01:11:25 amDirect links to OEM versions of Windows are provided by Microsoft through Akamai's services, and are legitimately available. Just check the My Digital Life Forum links and you will soon find them. One thing nobody wants when installing an OS is a trolled hacked keylogged version from some kind of bittorrent link. Always get the original from a legitimate source!Also, it doesn't appear to matter what vendor provided certificate is used when using SLIC. There are plenty to choose from.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 03:01:40 am
content: QuoteWindows 8 doesn't have those any more. :-( Instead, the key is supposed to be buried in the BIOS settings somewhere.I had a very similar problem with a Toshiba. Eventually solved by being very insistent with their customer support until they gave me a new key. There was some question whether the laptop had had the key munged by Best Buy (the particular model normally ships with W8, but mine arrived with W8.1), although we never did figure out exactly what had gone wrong. :-(You can see the log here:http://forums.toshiba.com/t5/System-Recovery-and-Recovery/Recovery-problems-on-E45t/m-p/612033IMO, Acer should not need proof-of-purchase. It's a system that was supposed to ship with windows, so it should still have windows. The licenses are NOT movable anymore :-(

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 03:37:30 am
content: Cant do it legally? time to just make it work then. I hate companies that just throw customers under the bus.I wanted install mathematica that I had purchased ~2 years ago, and I had updated my main computer since then. Tried to activate with the key that I purchased, and got an error because that key had been used before, on a machine that had been formatted and parted out. Their help thing said I'd have to wait for someone to get back to me via email. Long story short, no one ever emailed me, and I found a keygen online within 5 minutesGuess who's software I'd be not so inclined buy in a professional setting, ever now.

author: justanothercanuck
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 04:56:40 am
content: I thought Windows 8 did away with the OEM/Retail divide?

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 05:46:50 am
content: Open a CMD windows as adminCode:slmgr -ipk {product key}slmgr -ato

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 07:40:32 am
content: Thanks for all the input.My son will get onto it soon. I will give him the list of ideas.We will try to keep it as legit as possible, just to keep it as easy as possible, but I want him to do the sorting out, he is 13 and he may as well sort it out if he can.I have the Acer contact address too I will email them as a next step toward their particular resolution.QuoteQuoteYes a windows 8 sticker but no key. I wish those days were back.QuoteSame error 0x8007007b "The filename, directory name or volume lable syntax is incorrect (SWbemObjectEx)"As to why it wasn't activated, my son said "it used to be, at least it never told me it wasn't".I seem to remember taking as many shortcuts as possible with it's activation, so maybe it was never activated and Microsoft was just beefing up it's reminders.QuoteCompletely sucessfully. Now it's doing windows update....It says it still needs activation.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 08:11:08 am
content: I'm not familiar with Windows 8, so apparently things have changed since Windows 7.On my Windows 7 machine, when I go to Control Panel > System and Security > System (the computer properties screen), it lists the following details at the foot of the screen:Windows activation-------Windows is activatedProduct ID: XXXXX-OEM-XXXXXXX-XXXXXWhat does it show there for Windows 8?Presumably for activation to be failing, either the product key is missing or is invalid somehow?

author: justanothercanuck
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 10:21:50 am
content: I did some googling, I think what you want is the Windows 8 System Builders Edition DVD. It looks like it probes the key from the BIOS when it installs. (Similar to what OEM used to do on previous versions)

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 12:34:03 pm
content: QuoteQuoted from westfw's thread, Magical Jelly Bean is where I got my so called key from. I also tried produkey, but haven't tried get_win8key.QuoteThe thing is that I have a licence, it is some sort of OEM Acer group licence.I have a product key which I can retrieve, whether it is from the registry or the UEFI I dont know, but according to the above post this key may be false.I talked to a guy at Acer he said it may have to come in to get fixed.This site has some ideas.http://www.nextofwindows.com/how-to-retrieve-windows-8-oem-product-key-from-bios/

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 02:45:16 pm
content: Quote from: HackedFridgeMagnet on November 27, 2014, 11:15:47 pmI wouldn't bother with any of this.Is it still under warranty or not far past the warranty?If so. Back up all of your files. If you can't get into Windows, boot from a live Linux USB/DVD and save them to removable media.Send it back, asking them to either fix it, give you a new one or refund you. They should also pay the cost of the postage, both ways. It's their problem. Don't mess around with Microsoft or trying to fix it yourself. The vendor should fix it for you.

author: rr100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 03:05:24 pm
content: Quote from: HackedFridgeMagnet on November 27, 2014, 11:15:47 pmUsually not, very rarely you have the choice to buy the very same laptop with and without windows. Unless you buy a Mac or something similar (OLPC, etc).

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 03:25:58 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on November 28, 2014, 12:08:47 amA few years ago the disk on this Samsung netbook died (when out of warranty). I bought an identically sized disk, inserted it, and loaded WinXP from a completely legitimate CD, and used the WinXP product code on the bottom of this laptop. Installation was successful, but...First boot dumped me in an unfamiliar Microsoft dosbox-like window which said, effectively, "shan't; not going to boot".Samsung said it is a Microsoft problem; talk to Microsoft (quite reasonably since it was a MS message).Microsoft said it is a Samsung problem; talk to Samsung.Samsung would only sell me a third disk with XP preinstalled, cost disk+WinXP licence.Microsoft didn't give a flying <expletive deleted> that I had already bought WinXP for this machine.Consequently this machine now runs Xubuntu only, and I have no intention whatsoever of upgrading my main computer from XP to Win8 ( I might have done to Win7, but MS shot themselves in the foot with that one too!).Microsoft is now in the same position that IBM was in in the early 80s: back then nobody cared about IBM because micros and workstations were clearly going to eat IBM's market.

author: Carrington
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 03:41:27 pm
content: Try to search on google this: RWEverything bios key windows.

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 04:34:18 pm
content: I got a similar problem with my Asus.I replaced the hard disk and activation was of course gone but since I paid for the original OEM license I simply refused to buy a new license.I finally was able to recover the Key in the BIOS with a tool and activating this way.I confirm that the Key was really available in the Bios, I don't no if all suppliers are using this but it is not easy to find.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 04:57:06 pm
content: Quote from: Carrington on November 28, 2014, 03:41:27 pmI'm not sure what you're replying to, but it looks like that is only relevant if you don't know your Win8 magic key. I did know the magic WinXP key, and MS refused to accept it. (Yup, MS is horribly accurate pun in my case!)

author: Sigmoid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 05:33:50 pm
content: Just install Linux. Windows 8.* is an affront to mankind.

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 05:37:05 pm
content: Quote from: Sigmoid on November 28, 2014, 05:33:50 pmI agree but you can use W8 like W7 if you really want it.

author: Carrington
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 05:39:01 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on November 28, 2014, 04:57:06 pmMy previous post is just an attempt to guide in the right direction. There are lots of websites which explains in detail the steps.I can't see anything wrong (or illegal) with getting the key by this way, ie using the 'RWEverything' tool.Time ago, I had a similar problem, and finally, I was forced to activate windows using the phone.

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 05:41:15 pm
content: Haha, the goold old BIOS OEM key crap strikes again!I had a similar issue with Office, I lost the key, used magic key finder, re-installed office, put in the key and it said "invalid product key"...It was the same bloody disc I used in the first place! WTF?!In the end I got so pee'd off with it I downloaded MS Office professional (you can't get "standard" versions from "special" locations).Same happened with Windows 7 and 8.1 on laptops I own(ed), I upgraded the HDD, reinstalled the OS for it to come back and say it wasn't activated and all the rest of the rubbish, typed in the product key and it still failed!One Windows Toolkit later I had a fully working version with a Dell BIOS patch (I had Dell machines).So, I do have license keys for most of the stuff I have installed, just not necessarily the ones that came with the product in the first place!I wasted far too long talking to MS and titting around with Office to realise I was on my own, so when Windows buggered up I didn't even bother contacting them I just sorted it myself.

author: ampdoctor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 09:19:03 pm
content: And mfg's can't seem to figure out why people pirate software? A few episodes like that and half the world starts to say "screw you!"

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 09:29:06 pm
content: Get your key:http://www.urtech.ca/2013/06/solved-missing-windows-8-coa-certificate-of-authenticity-cd-key/Fix the activation key:http://www.urtech.ca/2012/08/solved-windows-cant-be-activated-right-now-windows-8/But I didn't try it because I don't have a windows 8 machine so try it at your own risk.

author: ampdoctor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 09:52:21 pm
content: Hit the post button a little too quick on my last post, but anyway...If this is a school issued laptop which seems to be pretty common these days, why don't you back up any important data then contact the school and pitch a fit? If it was issued shouldn't it be the schools responsibility to ensure their systems are legitimate?

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 10:34:18 pm
content: The laptop in question has gone for a sleepover wont be back for a day and a half. Is still working unactivated. Not sure if the blue reminder screen is still popping up though, that slmgr command may have worked.As for Linux, I would like to get it on there, but he needs Windows to play his computer games. Might get a dual boot going though.I refused to get him MS Office and installed Libre Office instead but he has somehow got some version of MS Office going himself. I dont think it is a hacked version although I did uninstall BitTorrent a few months ago. He likes the Power Point application in it a lot more than Libre Office.As for Windows 8, its so annoying, new ways to not find your programs, yeah I prefer 7 as well, I never use my touch screen anyway.It is still under warranty, though I bought it off EBay, but I am not sure where the nearest Acer Rep is, we are from the South Island, I dont want to pay $50 dollars for postage when I could buy a new licence for $70 with a real Key.The thing is I know it is legit, because I got $75 cash back direct from Acer when I bought it. It took me 1.5 hours to do this. Lol. So many hoops and checks and then they gave me a debit card with $75 dollars on it.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2014, 01:12:30 am
content: Where can you get a new license for $70?I'll have to admit that by the time I had paid $50 for "restore media" (my fault, there, though), and was looking at sending in the laptop for repair (they WOULDN'T pay postage, even under warranty, IIRC), just buying a new copy of windows was looking awfully attractive...

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2014, 05:25:02 am
content: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msaus/en_AU/pdp/Windows-8.1-Pro-Student/productID.288492700?tid=sOxNe7EM4_dc&cid=5367&pcrid=51595718957&pkw=win%208%20student&pmt=b&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=pointitsem_Microsoft+AU_google_Windows+8&WT.term=win%208%20student&WT.campaign=Windows+8&WT.content=OxNe7EM4&WT.source=google&WT.medium=cpcSorry this is a student edition. Probably doesn't apply to you.QuoteNot sure how you get this verified with them. Might take as long as reclaiming your existing licence.

author: rr100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2014, 06:59:14 am
content: Just FYI - OEM "de-bundling", selling/using either licenses from existing computers or directly separated OEM licenses has been legal in Germany for many years (and there is also a EU directive about this but probably most EU countries did not get the message).Therefore there are plenty of legit OEM licenses. Combine this with the fact that you can download windows 8 legitimately from Microsoft and you just need the serial ... and you can basically shop from anywhere unless you are something like a corporation and need to adhere to some strict supply chains.If we look on ebay and restrict ourselves only to shops there's for example one selling licenses for 29,50 [that's EUR, of course]. That is including a normal bill, including VAT (which you can claim back if you're from EU). And is multilanguage. Never heard of this particular seller but I can bet it is legit. And of course it isn't only one, there's another one selling for 29,90 (more than 10 available) and so on.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 08:54:23 am
content: Another option is back it up and go into the recovery console (hit F8 several times at boot and select recovery) and reload the OS using the recovery partition. It should reload in a pre-activated state.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 10:20:20 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on December 01, 2014, 08:54:23 amProvided, of course, the disk still works. If not, then what?(With WinXP, simply reload from CD)

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 10:25:19 am
content: What disk? Times have changed.My son was very patient as he contacted Acer, Microsoft and Acer but in the end they fobbed him off.We sent proof of purchase, and they auto emailed me to say our Warranty status was updated.After this Acer told my son that it wasn't a legitimate licence because it was bought off EBay. They added if we had actually bought it off Acer they could fix it for us.So I had my go, turned my "pretend to be angry" dial up to 11 and swore and carried on at Acer.Then to Microsoft just yelled and got angry.Microsoft said the Product Key was no longer valid as Acer had overused it.Then he said 'have a wonderful day', so I yelled some more.Back to Acer, finally they said they are sending around a courier on Wednesday to pick up the laptop.I think that by yelling in this case I moved them faster to their fallback position.I am hoping they will actually fix it.I am not happy about Acer lying to my son, or Microsoft making this so hard.I think the best option in future is Linux or at least a non OEM licence.

author: rr100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 10:35:31 am
content: Acer overused their OEM license, that's a first.

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 12:15:02 pm
content: Quote from: ampdoctor on November 28, 2014, 09:19:03 pm+1 Dont want your software pirated? make it more convenient to not pirate it... Ive used Steam for video games for years, and generally spend a bunch when steam sales come around etc, and have a huge steam library of games. When I want a game, add to cart, purchase, install, done. Steam is even well behaved about offline mode too. But then EA gets uppity about not wanting to share their profits on a $60 game with $0.10 of distribution cost (digital delivery) Pulls their games from steam, makes you use their 'Origin' software instead (which has to be online iirc, or at least did at one point), it freaks out even if you lose connection while youre playing. Yeah... no, installing from an iso and replacing a .exe so I dont have to deal with your shit is easier.Ubisoft nearly pulled the same stunt with 'uplay'. But I guess someone informed some suit in management that '10,000,005 uplay users, and 10,000,000 steam users' actually meant only 5 people use uplay by itself, and everyone else lets it pop up on its own from steam when you play an ubisoft game

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 02:04:17 pm
content: Quote from: HackedFridgeMagnet on December 01, 2014, 10:25:19 amWho did you buy it from? Acer, a retailer or independent seller?You need to take this up with the person who sold it to you as that is who you have made the contract with. The same is true, if you buy a car from a garage and have a problem, you don't go to the manufacturer but the garage who sold it to you.Contact the seller, get them to fix it or refund you.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 04:12:03 pm
content: Quote from: Hero999 on December 01, 2014, 02:04:17 pmNot if it is out of warranty, of course.As it was in my case, where Microsoft and Samsung pointed fingers at each other, saying "not our problem".

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 04:38:02 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on December 01, 2014, 04:12:03 pmThat depends on the consumer law in your location.Here in the UK it doesn't matter whether it's in warranty or not. If a product doesn't last a reasonable length of time and it isn't your fault or due to normal wear and tear, the seller still has to do something about it irrespective of whether its in the warranty period or not.QuoteIt makes no difference. It's the person who sold it to you who carries the responsibility, not the manufacturer or software company.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 05:26:30 pm
content: http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/licensing_faq.aspxRefurbished/used PCsQ. What is the difference between a refurbished PC and a used PC?QuoteQ. Can I sell secondhand computer systems with the original Microsoft software, or will a new license be required before selling?QuoteUnder: Genuine Microsoft SoftwareQ. How can I get a replacement COA?QuoteEdit: noticed the OP is in Australia, so use the first e-mail.On the list it shows the US as in other so use the last e-mail.Don't mention refurbished, just tell them it's used.Refurbished means they changed hardware so the refurbisher should get a new OEM license.Used means someone sold you a used system with no hardware changes.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 05:51:33 pm
content: Quote from: Hero999 on December 01, 2014, 04:38:02 pmWell, it had been around the world in a backpack (arguably twice!), so it would have been difficult to claim fair wear and tear for the hard disk. I have a very good idea what Amazon would have said, quite reasonably in this case.For the avoidance of doubt,I didn't mind replacing the disk. I did and still do object to Microsoft refusing to allow me to re-install somethingI had already purchased. MS's "certificate of authenticity" on the laptop containing the magic installation key is merely a bad joke at my expense: clearly the authenticity meant nothing!Oh well. Microsoft's loss - this machine is still running Xubuntu very well, and I have no intention of upgrading my WinXP on other machines unless and until there's absolutely no option.MS lost my daughter as well. MS in 2010 = IBM in 1980: visibly and rapidly becoming irrelevant.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 06:08:15 pm
content: another stick to chew on:The licence dies with the motherboard/cpuMicrosoft sells OEM licences for people that want to build their own computers. once installed the licence is tied to the motherboard / cpu. there are a few other 'tilt' bits like the Graphics card and drive serial number. in general you can change the drive or the graphics card without problems. start changing too many components and the os will ask to re-activate. this will work once on-line and a second time over the phone.what puzzles me in this story :the machine was bought with windows pre-installed. if the bios holds the key then an install of the EXACT SKU will work without a hitch. installation of a different SKU will need a new key.something doesn't fit in the story...

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 06:09:51 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on December 01, 2014, 05:51:33 pmA question for clarification:With Windows 7 and an OEM install, I have been able to use disk imaging software to clone the original disk onto a new replacement disk and the system continues to be authenticated. I can also make an image backup of the disk onto external media and then restore this backup onto a new disk and the system continues to be authenticated with the new disk in place.So are we saying Microsoft has changed things in Windows 8 so that these things no longer work? If so, it seems like a major screw up and a reason to avoid buying any system with Windows 8 on it. How could you possibly live with a system that doesn't allow you to make a recovery image of your disk?

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 11:07:18 pm
content: QuoteI assume this is directed at me, though not completely sure. I kind of resent you calling this a story, but I guess I am flaming Microsoft and Acer so I suppose it is only fair to give any reasonable information that people may be interested in.Yes windows was pre installed.The name of the company selling this on EBay is calledhttp://www.ebay.com.au/usr/oz.buythough my invoice came from a company called ECom computers who apparently have an office in Pitt Street Sydney. I have an Australian Tax invoice which Acer is happy with and have paid GST too. So it isn't grey market.Dont know what you mean by an SKU is in this case. I have an SNID from ACER on the bottom. If you are talking about Microsoft Product Key, well apparently it is in the UEFI as it is no longer called BIOS on this machine. Either I cant access it, or the one I can access doesn't work.One thing I did change in the Hardware, I did add and extra 4 gigabytes of ram. But from my understanding it doesn't effect the hardware ID. I haven't touched hardware apart from this.As for something not fitting in this story, I agree, that's why I'm trying to get this fixed and expose this stupid situation where I bought something but can't use it.The funny thing is that the machine worked (probably unactivated) up until two weeks ago but just recently it started bringing up these activation reminder screens every half an hour. Is this a change of Microsoft policy?I will admit my son and I are stuck with Windows as it currently is the best gaming platform. I second the notion that Valve and Steam do this Licensing and Activation extremely well and I have never yet had a problem with them.QuoteI cant answer this but I am interested in your answer. As I mentioned earlier I do have a hard drive with Windows 7 on it from my previous Dell laptop. I thought I could've possibly used this in the Acer?

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 11:29:03 pm
content: Quote from: HackedFridgeMagnet on December 01, 2014, 11:07:18 pmRight, now we're getting somewhere, so it's an Australian company, not a private individual and it's still within the warranty period which is very good.Have you tried contacting them? It's the seller who should fix it for you and then they can (hopefully) recoup their costs form MS or Acer.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 11:32:06 pm
content: Quote from: HackedFridgeMagnet on December 01, 2014, 11:07:18 pmIn the scenario I described I put the new disk back in the same machine, not a different machine. The Windows activation looks at the rest of the hardware and checks that it still matches the original activation record. If you tried to put the disk in a different machine it would ask for re-activation.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2014, 02:55:11 am
content: I would love to see an explanation of how a laptop originally sold with windows would somehow legitimately lose that license. I keep seeing that replacing the hard drive can do this, but I'm not sure I see why. Does the old drive take the license with it (if it contained an already-authenticated version of windows?) Presumably the same license key could be re-used by some other system (I mean, the most likely reason for my particular problem involves the reseller doing some sort of bulk SW upgrade with a license string that shouldn't have been used in that way.) But that says a bunch of bad things about microsoft's ability to keep legitimate resellers (toshiba, best buy) behaving properly :-(On the plus side, a W8 "un-verifiefd" system gives you access to your data, and actually does quite a bit, so it's not like they're shutting you out completely from backup images/etc.That you have to have your laptop "serviced" to correct a license issue is laughable. :-(

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2014, 03:14:13 am
content: If I buy a bunch of systems and place them on lease and after the lease is over the company that leased them don't want to purchase them I have a lot of systems in various states and I don't have the original keys.I can then sell those systems to a refurbisher, in which case they are the ones that will have to purchase OEM licenses so they can sell them for cheap.If you get a refurbisher that is not doing things by the book, I guess you can end up with a system where the license count expired, or the hardware has changed enough (for example a replaced IC), as in they are trying to reuse previous licenses or some other methods. I think the burden falls on the refurbisher not Acer nor Microsoft.It's not like you can go to a store and write down the license of a system in display and use it, most likely it will fail because it was already allocated to that system and somewhat preregistered or inactive.Think about an iTunes gift card at the store that you never ring. It's brand new but since it wasn't purchased yet it's not valid until properly validated at the register via whatever software needs to run to activate it. So you could get a brand new iTunes card that was never scratched but it will be useless.There are probably a lot of things happening behind the scenes when your purchase a valid system that grey systems might not activate, or something like that.

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2014, 07:45:33 am
content: QuoteAcer is sending a courier to pick it up tomorrow. So I don't need to bother with ECom. But I am sure they are a legit business. Anyone in Sydney who walks down that part of Pitt street probably knows this shop. From memory it says 88 Pitt Street.https://www.google.com.au/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x6b12ae41b81115f5:0xc722f5d8129ce64d!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://plus.google.com/114910389480303307516/photos?hl%3Den%26socfid%3Dweb:lu:kp:placepageimage%26socpid%3D1!5sECom+computers+-+Google+Search&sa=X&ei=k3R9VIH8POPvmAXB7IC4CQ&ved=0CLABEKIqMAsedit: Bricks and MortarMaybe it was refurbished, but it looked new when I bought it, AFAIRemember I bought it as new. Although it was the lowest price I could find, but close in price to the other sellers.Acer has sent me lots of emails about that I have to read now about how to pack it and label it and not to put any other stuff in the package.I wonder if Acer will fix the broken headphone jack that is stuck. I was going to pull the whole thing apart a month ago to fix it, lucky I didn't. I couldn't get it out using common web techniques.QuoteWhen I talked to Microsoft they said that the Key was no longer valid as Acer had overused it. (Or words to that effect.) I am not sure that it was ever activated, maybe we tried and failed but didn't really care as the computer was working anyway. The light blue pop up screen every 30 minutes is new though, and this is the problem.QuoteI am sure there is a lot of things going on behind the scenes but Acer is part of this deal because they gave me $75 cash back for buying it. The money was from Acer, not from anyone else, so I assume they know what is being sold.QuoteThe Dell machine is dead to the world, it got surged through the USB port. CPU runs very hot and immediately shuts down. All that I have salvaged is RAM and Hard Drive.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2014, 09:27:07 am
content: Honestly, just modify your BIOS with a SLIC 2.1 table, and get hold of any certificate that you can install using slimgr. Seriously, a couple of hours on My Digital Life forums will save you lots of aggravation.Personally, I much prefer Linux, and for most people Libre Office, Chrome / Firefox, GIMP, etc. is all that is needed. For gamers, Steam supports Linux now as well.Sadly, for us electronics or engineering dudes, pretty much all the software and drivers are Windows based.Ok, we have KiCAD and sigrok which I will fully support with open source code additions myself when I get to make some! But really, Windows is it when it comes to drivers and stuff like that.

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2014, 04:17:13 am
content: I did have a look at 'My Digital Life' and tried to download the tool to modify the BIOS. But my Antivirus went apoplectic (if that's a word).Well the good new is that Acer have returned my son's laptop. 5 Days return to Sydney, short of catching the plane yourself you cant do it quicker, good work Star Trak couriers.The Laptop is now activated.It saysQuoteThanks for coming to the party Acer. Yay.They didn't fix the broken jack socket though, that's quite ok, I didn't really expect them to, I was just hoping.Instead they did give me a nonsense coverall letter back regarding the repair.QuoteThey need to add 'test headphone socket' to the QA manual then they'll be sorted.It reaffirms the lack of assurance I get from Quality Assurance.Anyway to further embellish the 'story' here is the letter.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2014, 07:57:55 pm
content: I think the "hardware test" is just making sure it booted, and had a display, and possibly the keyboard had at least a few working keys and a working trackpad. That and the POST test passed was likely all they did.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2014, 06:22:22 pm
content: Regarding the license checking. Back with XP I remember reading it monitored something like 5 different pieces of hardware and if 3 I think changed within a certain timespan it would put the computer into "Windows is not genuine" mode and start annoying you and if you went a certain amount of time without fixing it, it would prevent you from getting to the desktop until you contacted Microsoft support to reactivate the OS or you entered a new license key.

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2014, 09:32:53 pm
content: QuoteI guess this is true, and it makes sense, but they shouldn't embellish it to the point where it's no longer true.From AcerQuote