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Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

Windows 7 on ThinkPads
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onespeedbiker
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Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#1 Post by onespeedbiker » Tue Sep 10, 2019 12:28 am

Okay, this is a strange issue. I have loaded Windows 7 64 bit on my R61i (originally an XP 32bit system), which has the Middleton Bios. I activated the install with no problem. Then a couple weeks later I get a message from MS, saying something similar to the, COA was not entered correctly. Anyway, I retyped in the COA and it was accepted again. Now I just received the same message a couple weeks later, and again, I typed in the COA and it was accepted. Any had this happen to them?

RealBlackStuff
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Re: Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Tue Sep 10, 2019 12:41 am

Are you sure you have Middleton's BIOS installed?
Because that has Slic2.1 built-in, which includes automatic Vista and W7 activation, provided you install from Lenovo Recovery disks. No need for a COA.
If you need to type in a COA number, you must have installed from a non-Lenovo source.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
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Re: Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#3 Post by jdhurst » Tue Sep 10, 2019 6:27 am

Where did the Windows 7 license come from?
Purchased license from a supplier?
Cloned an OEM Windows 7 system from another source?

The activation issue can happen if the licensing is not legitimate.

onespeedbiker
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Re: Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#4 Post by onespeedbiker » Tue Sep 10, 2019 10:02 am

I did wonder about the self activation, but I downloaded the Middleton bios from this link. http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Middleton%27s_BIOS. (I was unaware Lenovo makes the Middleton bios available on their website) The COA should be legitimate;it is OEM (never had trouble with OEM COA before) but have ordered retail software in case this occurs again. What I don't understand is the lag between accepting the COA and subsequent reversal. The activation occurs on line so one would assume is passes MS muster.

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Re: Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#5 Post by RealBlackStuff » Tue Sep 10, 2019 10:08 am

Thinkwiki does not belong to Lenovo.
Maybe that COA sticker was already used by a previous owner, or on another of your laptops?
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
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onespeedbiker
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Re: Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#6 Post by onespeedbiker » Tue Sep 10, 2019 10:39 am

I checked the SLIC version via AIDA and it showed 2.1, but I did not use a recovery disc and I don't know if the R61i ever came with an OEM install of Windows 7. As far as I know, the COA has never been used. If the need for activation pops up again, I will try another COA.

onespeedbiker
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Re: Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#7 Post by onespeedbiker » Tue Sep 10, 2019 10:44 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:
Tue Sep 10, 2019 10:08 am
Thinkwiki does not belong to Lenovo.
Maybe that COA sticker was already used by a previous owner, or on another of your laptops?
I bought the Windows 7 64bit software specifically for this install.

Edit; BTW, I see some of the later Recovery discs come with a separate Windows 7 installation disc. Would it be possible to install Windows 7 from one of these OS recovery discs and then install the R61i drivers? I have Windows 7 recovery discs for my X230, so it's possible one may be a Windows 7 OS disk.

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Re: Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#8 Post by theterminator93 » Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:18 pm

Yes, that can be done. I installed Windows 7 on my T601F using the T400 Windows 7 Ultimate discs, and just installed the drivers and apps I wanted for it after the fact.

Also, FWIW, No R61 came with Windows 7. The latest OS they shipped with from the factory was Vista - so if you got a Windows 7 recovery set that was sold as "for R61" it was some kind of aftermarket construction, and might not have the correct Lenovo OEM Windows 7 key and certificate in it to properly activate using the BIOS SLIC code. If it's a "consumer" product key, you'd be playing a revolving door game with whoever is also using that key. You activate, and kick someone else's activation off. They activate, and kick you off, etc...
T480 with T25 keyboard | T25 | W520 i7-2860QM·Quadro 2000m·IPS FHD | T601F T9900·NVS 140m·LED AFFS UXGA
T420 IPS FHD | X220 IPS FHD | T61p·T61·43·42p|X13 Yoga G3·220T·301·41T·24·23·22|G41|A31p·22m|i1200|TransNote
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onespeedbiker
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Re: Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#9 Post by onespeedbiker » Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:33 pm

theterminator93 wrote:
Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:18 pm
Yes, that can be done. I installed Windows 7 on my T601F using the T400 Windows 7 Ultimate discs, and just installed the drivers and apps I wanted for it after the fact.

Also, FWIW, No R61 came with Windows 7. The latest OS they shipped with from the factory was Vista - so if you got a Windows 7 recovery set that was sold as "for R61" it was some kind of aftermarket construction, and might not have the correct Lenovo OEM Windows 7 key and certificate in it to properly activate using the BIOS SLIC code. If it's a "consumer" product key, you'd be playing a revolving door game with whoever is also using that key. You activate, and kick someone else's activation off. They activate, and kick you off, etc...
The activation revolving door game; sounds about right. Anyway, I never said I had a Windows 7 recovery disc set for my R61i, AAMOF I said I didn't have them because they did not exist. Expect a Pmail on the T601F windows 7 install disc. Thanks

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Re: Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#10 Post by theterminator93 » Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:45 pm

Ah, must have misinterpreted your post in my haste to read through everything. PM has been returned. Best of luck. :)
T480 with T25 keyboard | T25 | W520 i7-2860QM·Quadro 2000m·IPS FHD | T601F T9900·NVS 140m·LED AFFS UXGA
T420 IPS FHD | X220 IPS FHD | T61p·T61·43·42p|X13 Yoga G3·220T·301·41T·24·23·22|G41|A31p·22m|i1200|TransNote
600|770Z|770|760XD|760EL|701C|755C

RealBlackStuff
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Re: Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#11 Post by RealBlackStuff » Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:41 am

FYI: ANY Thinkpad with Slic2.1 in BIOS can use Lenovo Vista or W7 (32- or 64-bit) Restore Discs from ANY other Thinkpad.
After install, you only need to replace a few drivers manually, where necessary, the rest plain works.

Similar situations apply to HP, Dell, Acer, etc., not just Lenovo.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

onespeedbiker
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Re: Window 7 Activation keeps reversing

#12 Post by onespeedbiker » Wed Sep 11, 2019 4:48 pm

Well I used the W7 install disk provided by theterminator93 and it worked great. No more activation issues!

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