windows 7 Windows Cannot Activate after multiple hardware failures

[News Bot]

A clean reinstall of Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) from a DVD we've had since 2010 cannot (re)activate. Several consecutive hardware failures, presumed as due to overheating (motherboard, processor, fans) within the past month left us with a system that

was new from the ground up (case included) but for the powersource, graphics card and harddrive, whereupon the supplier of our new parts reccommended a clean reinstall to recognize new hardware.

 

 

In the middle of my attempt to reinstall, the computer crashed, and the new, surprisingly talky motherboard reported that it had just protected itself from a sudden surge from our unstable powersource (no wonder so many components burnt out). So, back to

the repair shop we went. After the shop installed the new powersource, I booted up and saw the old install was still present, with dialogue balloon complaining that it had to be activated since it recognized new hardware. I ignored this, and got down to the

business of a reinstall. Then I noticed a new problem...you guessed it...boom went the graphics card.

 

 

Finally, after the shop installed a new graphics card, and we brought home an essentially new machine with an old harddrive, I downloaded a ton of updates, but recently began seeing dialogue balloons that windows could not activate, despite the fact that

I successfully used the code on the back of the installation DVD's case prior to this. Attempting to activate from the System subsection of the Control Panel yields "Type a different product key for activation. The product key you typed cannot be used to activate

Windows on this computer" Retyping does not help. Clicking "Buy a new product key online" brings me to this url:

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate/validationresult.aspx?displaylang=en&referrer=50888&p=&lcid=1033&req=00359-OEM-8703352-35871&OSV=6.1.7600.2.00010300.0.0.003.09.1033&LS=1&LegitCheckError=00000052&GenuineInfo=C004C008&Channel=16&ErrCode=4004F00C

which downloaded a little script or somesuch that tells me "Windows validation in process This may take a few minutes, do not navigate away from this page." then when that's done, the page cheerily informs me "Welcome to Windows! Because Windows installed

on your PC is genuine, enjoy the security, reliability and protection it provides." and advertises Microsoft Security Essentials. While I am aware it's genuine, this does not help me activate Windows or acquire a new product key.

 

 

I would rather try you folks first before attempting "the automated phone system" option, because, clearly, automation hasn't helped me thus far, and I'd rather not spend time in robot limbo. Checking Computer Properties reveals a Product ID that is quadrupartite

and numeric excepting the letters OEM in the second set of characters, rather than the 5-part letter-number mix on my certificate of authenticity sticker that I have been stubbornly typing into the authentication box when prompted. It occurs to me that my

attempts to install on a machine that has essentially become new piecemeal (with one surge-induced mid-install crash) may somehow read as if this copy of windows were installed on several different machines. Could this be the problem? I have twenty-six days

to go on my activation counter.

 

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