Fixing a botched XP Pro update to Windows 7 Ultimate SP1

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Computer info: Alienware Sentia 223 laptop
My brother received this laptop from his cousin and I am using it in the meantime

The computer cannot be activated with the generic product key recorded by Belarc since Microsoft returns the following message: The product key you have entered appears to be a default product key and cannot be used for activation. We do not know the actual product key for the installed Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 and we keep getting reminders that this copy of windows is not genuine. Regardless of the reasons for those issues, I want to fix this situation so that he has a legal copy of Windows 7 Ultimate

From what I understand, I can go to
http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/comment-page-1/ and and do the ISO procedure for Windows Ultimate SP1 32-bit. I believe I’ll receive a product key from Digital River but will Microsoft accept it for activation?
— If not, does this mean I can cannot fix the botched upgrade under the circumstances?

I know I can purchase an OEM Windows 7 Ultimate disc from some vendors but the same question comes into play: will Microsoft accept its product id for activation?

Since this computer was an XP Pro OS will the product id on the computers COA be needed?
— Personally I don’t see why but I’d just as soon ask now just in case it does matter

Is it possible I might have to reinstall Windows XP?
— The original XP discs are not available but I do have a legal fresh XP Pro disc
— Then use the Digital River Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 ISO
—— But then the same question comes to my mind: will Microsoft accept Digital River’s product id for activation?

OK one more question
When the computer was in it’s original XP Pro condition, should it have been upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate?
And then let Windows Updates do the SP1 update?

I know I’m speculating right now but I guess what I’m asking is the intent of the subject: what’s the best way I can fix this botched XP Pro update to Windows 7 Ultimate?

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

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I believe I’ll receive a product key from Digital River but will Microsoft accept it for activation?

No…all you get is the ISO.

Since this computer was an XP Pro OS will the product id on the computers COA be needed?
— Personally I don’t see why but I’d just as soon ask now just in case it does matter

Yes…to reinstall XP Pro, you’ll need the product key from the COA sticker on the bottom. If it’s still readable.

For the rest of your questions; seeing that this laptop is as old as it is….I wouldn’t bother upgrading the OS, just reinstall the original OS. If you still want to upgrade it to windows 7, you’ll need to run the windows 7 upgrade advisor. Windows 7 upgrade advisor.

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— If not, does this mean I can cannot fix the botched upgrade under the circumstances?

I know I can purchase an OEM Windows 7 Ultimate disc from some vendors but the same question comes into play: will Microsoft accept its product id for activation?

I think the only [legal] method at this point is to purchase a copy from a reliable reseller (Amazon, Newegg, etc.), though there may still be some download versions available from them here and there but you might as well have the pressed disc in hand as well. Microsoft has moved on to Win 8 as far as retail sales go. They will still activate of course, just can’t purchase product keys from them (anytime upgrade) anymore methinks.

As bassfisher says, Digital River is sort of for the opposite problem you have at the moment, providing a method for installing or repairing W7 on a system with a legitimate key.

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If the OP is trying to use the key on the computer, it is for the OS that was shipped with the machine. If it is XP Pro, it will NOT work with Windows 7.

Bassfisher6522 is correct. The Digital River download does NOT give you a Product Key.

You can probably buy a legitimate key from MS if you get the “not genuine” message. Don’t know what the cost would be.

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Excellent points. If it were my computer, I wouldn’t bother.
Anyway, I prefer to get a legitimate disc on hand and have found some on-line at tiger direct
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32BIT Operating System Software – OEM DVD, English $89.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5213931&CatId=4622
— Amazon & newegg are just as good sources as I wouldn’t trust just any company
— Even though the version on this computer is Windows 7 Ultimate I don’t see justifying the price for this computer
— And as I already said I wouldn’t even bother at all if it was my decision
— Thanks for your inputs; now I can provide an informed decision to my brother

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

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I’m curious about Digital River’s ISO’s. If they don’t provide a product key then that means their ISO is free but then a product key will need to be purchased from Microsoft in order to validate their software
— If that’s true, I think I would always prefer the hard disc as I had mentioned
— I have friends who want to update their XP’s to Windows 7 and some of them have mentioned ISO’s
— I don’t know whether or not any of them will be from Digital River, but they better be careful on which company the ISO is coming from plus be aware that they will still have to pay Microsoft for a legitimate product key

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

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I’m curious about Digital River’s ISO’s. If they don’t provide a product key then that means their ISO is free but then a product key will need to be purchased from Microsoft in order to validate their software
— If that’s true, I think I would always prefer the hard disc as I had mentioned
— I have friends who want to update their XP’s to Windows 7 and some of them have mentioned ISO’s
— I don’t know whether or not any of them will be from Digital River, but they better be careful on which company the ISO is coming from plus be aware that they will still have to pay Microsoft for a legitimate product key

The downloadable ISO’s are not for purchase, you need to have a legitimate key to use one. They serve as replacements for lost DVDs or situations where you have no DVD, but have a valid Windows key for the Windows version of the downloaded ISO. If you don’t have a valid key, you need to buy one, which will make the ISO download pointless.

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I suspect upgrading to Win 7 via a downloaded ISO has about run it’s course, it’s more for repair and replacing a lost disc and probably sooner rather than later they’ll disappear altogether. The Microsoft virtual shelves are empty as far as Win 7 retail keys go, preinstalled is supposed to end next October but vendors will still have copies until their stockpile runs out…due to Win 8 fail I suspect those stockpiles are huge at the moment.

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I’m curious about Digital River’s ISO’s. If they don’t provide a product key then that means their ISO is free but then a product key will need to be purchased from Microsoft in order to validate their software
— If that’s true, I think I would always prefer the hard disc as I had mentioned
— I have friends who want to update their XP’s to Windows 7 and some of them have mentioned ISO’s
— I don’t know whether or not any of them will be from Digital River, but they better be careful on which company the ISO is coming from plus be aware that they will still have to pay Microsoft for a legitimate product key

The Digital River iso files were originally supplied as part of the Student/Educator discount program. Once eligibility was determined, an Email was provided withe a valid product key and a pointer to these iso files. Once the iso files were downloaded, you use a dvd burning application to burn the iso to a DVD to do the actual install. I assume this is the “hard disk” you are referring to.

Jerry

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The good news is we are not going to mess around with this computer anymore
— Will use it a little longer as I will be looking looking for a Windows 8.1 laptop to replace it

However in the meantime I found this not that I have to be concerned about it anymore but it may be of interest to someone
Windows 7 ISO
UPDATE: As of January 30th, 2014 Microsoft seems to have shut down all known links to the Windows 7 ISOs. The links below no longer work and this thread is now
closedhttp://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

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