Just Bought Win7 Pro Retail - How To Check It Is Genuine And Not In Use?

Hi all

I've just recently bought a Win7 Pro RETAIL; used from eBay. The seller has good feedback, and I chatted a fair amount with him through eBay messages. I have every reason to trust him, but in spite of that I would still like to check and be 100% sure that what I have is genuine and available for installation (not in use on another PC).

Does anyone have any tips as to how I can go about this? Can I go to MS direct to check (I seem to remember reading that I can't, but am not totally sure)? Any other ways...

Please note that for various reasons I won't bore you all with, I won't be able to actually use and install the OS for at least a couple of weeks....

Many thanks

Max

 

You will then have to wait and install it and then check the validity of the OS once installed here is a link to the process and troubleshooting options if any occur.

Also are you installing it on a HDD that has nothing important on it?

HumbleServant1611

 

Hi there

Yes, I have a spare HDD that I will format and use for the installation. It has no data on it that I need to keep.

A few updates since making the first post. I have tried the license key on the page where you need it in order to download the Windows 7 ISO. All good there and it said it was a valid license. I've also called MS and they checked the key and confirmed it is valid as well.

What they could not tell me (I don't think there is a way to find out) is whether the seller has definitely uninstalled it, de-activated, or at the very least stopped using it. He said it has been uninstalled, both in the eBay listing and when I asked him direct.

So what I'm left unsure about is what happens if I install and it is still in use elsewhere? Or what happens if all is well for a couple of months, but then someone uses the key somewhere else to try and install it, or turns on a computer that has not been used for a while which has Windows on it with this license key?

Lots of ifs and buts, and it could turn out I am just worrying unnecessarily.... It is in my nature to do so! But it would be nice to find out exactly where I stand.

Incidentally, here's a link to the copy I bought (you have to scroll down past the ads):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windows-7...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Many thanks for your help.

 

I know that in Windows 10 you can link your product key to a Microsoft Account but as for as Windows 7, I'm not sure they have that feature. I would say that if Microsoft said it was a genuine key and that it wasn't active on any other computer it should be good. I would think that if you installed it and activated it Microsoft would see it is activated on their server. I recommend that you install it, activate it and then call Microsoft and see if you can register it with your information or see if you can link it to a Microsoft Account like Windows 10.

Outside of that I'm not sure there is any other options but there are many other Techs here that can add there knowledge to your situation.

HumbleServant1611