Windows 7 Pro w/SP1 x64 won't activate after new installation due to disc drive died.

LemP...

Thanks for the reply. The system has been operating just fine for years. It has always been connected to the Internet and was properly activated. I got product updates until Windows 7 stopped being supported. When I recently went away for two weeks, I powered down the computer. The disc drive refused to spin up on return. I have installed a new drive. I have a couple backup images on external USB storage, created with "Create a system image" from Control Panel>System and Security>Backup and restore. I never got to the point of an error code... when I booted with the Repair Disc created at backup time, it couldn't see the backup images at all. I've seen multiple forum entries on the failure of the repair disc to see external USB storage. I am not worried about the data, as my backup strategy is to have multiple copies of critical data spread across several computers on my home network, then create backup images every once in a while for each computer. This particular computer is a dinosaur (Pentium Dual-Core E5400), so I can't upgrade to a newer Windows version.

My work involved storage system testing where I created customer-like configurations using large servers broken up into virtual systems using VMWare. I would install several OS such as RedHat Linux and Windows. My employer bought me the MSDN subscription. I have been retired for years!

This Windows 7 Pro installation was indeed created with installation discs downloaded from my MSDN subscription. I have never sold or shared the product keys. I have actually re-installed a few times in the past when hardware issues such as the disc drive failure have occurred. I believe I got 5 activations for each key, and believe I have now exceeded that. The product ID does have 221.

Assuming that the system has actually been running with no problems until recently, you ought to be able to avoid activation issues by restoring using one of the backup images. What software did you use to create these images and what is (are) the error message(s) you get when you try to restore an image?

If restoring a disk image really is impossible and you need to reinstall Windows 7 (which will, of course, not include any of the data stored on the now-dead hard drive), it's possible that the key to your problem is this: "This installation disc was from when I owned a Microsoft development kit during employment."

That is, whatever product key you have probably isn't a retail product key. It also probably isn't a "system builder" product key, and it certainly isn't a product key for an OEM installation. I don't know what type of product key would be included with "a Microsoft development kit," but the most likely answer is that you have a product key that was intended for MSDN subscribers (Microsoft Developer Network).

Unfortunately, it's my understanding that MSDN product keys are only valid as long as the MSDN subscription is valid. See, e.g., this: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/947869/access-to-product-keys-from-expired-msdn-subscript

If you do have an MSDN product key and if your old Windows 7 computer had been properly activated while the MSDN subscription was active, all would have been fine as long as the activation status of the system was never queried by some Microsoft server. That's very likely to be the case if your use of the system was for "backups and data" and it was never connected to the Internet.

Completely aside from the question of subscription expiration, because MSDN subscribers often received multiple product keys for various products, many of these keys were improperly resold (the subscription terms and conditions provided that the keys were "not for resale"). As a result, many MSDN Windows product keys have been blocked by Microsoft. Your key may or may not be in this category. Again, if your key had been blocked, a system not connected to the Internet would not be detected and would not be de-activated.

Boot up your Windows 7 system and take a look at the System Properties: either press the "Windows Logo" key and the "Pause/Break" key simultaneously or click Start, right-click Computer, and select Properties.

At the bottom of the System Properties page, in the "Activation" section, you'll see the 20-digit "Product ID." It will be of the form: xxxxx-xxx-xxxxxxx-xxxxx. Look at the group of 3 characters. If it is one of the following groups, or close, you most likely have an MSDN key.

• 065, 066, 067, 068, 069, and possibly in the 700-705 range, for Windows 7 Ultimate
• 220, 221, 222 for Windows 7 Professional
• 230, 231, 232 for Windows 7 Home Premium

I have an old desktop computer that has had Windows 7 Pro x64 installed on it for years. I know Windows 7 is no longer supported. I use this computer for backups and data. The hardware is incompatible with newer Windows versions. The discdrive died. I've installed a new discdrive. I have not been able to install any of the image backups I have. I installed Windows 7 Pro w/SP1 x64, but it won't activate. Probably due to too many uses. This installation disc was from when I owned a Microsoft development kit during employment. I am now retired. Any chance I can get my use count reset for this installation?

We don't work for Microsoft and Microsoft doesn't operate that way of resetting disk count useage.

Either the disk is the correct one or it isn't.

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You can borrow the exact same edition of Windows 7 Retail DVD and use your Product Key on the COA sticker to reinstall the operating system.

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Or

List of Activation error codes and what to do about them:

Error message when you try to activate Windows 7 or Windows Vista: "An error has occurred"

Contact Microsoft:

Activate Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 - Windows Help - Microsoft Support

When you begin activation, Windows will try to use your Internet connection to activate online. If you have problems activating online, you can activate using the phone.

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If you have to use Phone Activation, read this detailed information about using that method:

"How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone"

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

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If OEM preinstalled (Dell, HP, etc.) license:

The COA sticker, which has the Product Key on it, is either on the underside of the Laptop or in the Battery Compartment.

With a Desktop it is either on the side, rear or top of the Computer Case.

If you have problems using that method contact Microsoft Support:

To contact Microsoft Support:

Contact support        

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/contact-support