Windows not genuine..

[Peter.Steele]

I guess you just missed the part where I was not referring to HOME editions. I never touch the stuff. Home keys may be valid but the pro-keys from major manufactures exterior labels are NOT valid keys. At least not on the non-consumer product lines.

So in fact I am totally correct, as I was never referring to home products. You misread my comment on small manufacturers, they use normal OEM keys (white box versions) which the sticker IS a key. HP, Dell, on the PRO versions do not. The key is embedded on the disk and is the same for every computer. For the home version? No frikken clue because I don't deal with CONSUMER PRODUCTS. With good reason too.

So BZZZZT, guess you are wrong. I supported roughly 6000 windows 7 computers. We of course no longer use the normal key model as we use a KMS Server for easier product key management and don't even use the dell installs as every computer gets imaged on arrival to be "standard" to our desktop configuration.\

microsoft made the licensing models for windows 7 overly complex, really.

Okay, so you must have missed the part where I used a Win 7 Enterprise restore disk for HP with a Dell workstation? That "professional" enough for you?


Aside from that, if you're going to lay all this info out there - correct or not, and I'm only saying here that my own personal experience varies quite significantly from yours - and it's only applicable to certain very specific enterprise-level conditions, make that clear. Since, y'know, the discussion at hand was about home systems, not enterprise stuff.

[blazeaglory]

Oh SNAP!

I guess since I have the lowly peasant home version, Ill just go stand in the corner

[Chontkleer]

I just had to reinstall for my brother's girl's rig...

Why do you have the Hitler tea kettle as your photo? Is that a little joke? You think that's funny?

[blazeaglory]

Hes a Nazi....

Also, maybe the OP is confusing the product ID with the product key??

[meaty-btz]

Okay, so you must have missed the part where I used a Win 7 Enterprise restore disk for HP with a Dell workstation? That "professional" enough for you?


Aside from that, if you're going to lay all this info out there - correct or not, and I'm only saying here that my own personal experience varies quite significantly from yours - and it's only applicable to certain very specific enterprise-level conditions, make that clear. Since, y'know, the discussion at hand was about home systems, not enterprise stuff.

I've tried that and it won't authenticate (without putting in the correct manufacturer key).

Enterprise key set is different than others.

Now.. there is one catch. They did move to a unified disk later on before windows 8 arrived for testing. Suddenly one disk covered all the key sets. However on release that was not the case and was not the case for well over a year until MS got it's head out of it's collective arse where different disks and keysets were not interchangeable.

Give me some time and I can dredge up one of those "label keys" that won't work with ANY DISK. Because they are not valid keys. They are dummies.

As for home systems, as I said, many people use pro at home.

I tend to get stuck in different time periods mentally, that is my failing. Yes, there was a unification that was done later on because MS's crazy scheme was causing major issues on enterprise levels. And yes, we complained to them and our MS rep.

[shortyforty]

Thanks for all of the useful responses Calgunners... I knew I could get some knowledgeable feedback here. I apologize for being MIA in the thread...just been super busy lately. I'll give some of these resolutions a try this weekend. I truly appreciate all of your suggestions.