The HP Laptop Out-Of-The-Box Guide 2.0 for Windows 7

[Ahmed57]

HP doesn't supply enough updates for their products , never do the mistake I did and go for other laptop brands

[kimiraone]

I'm having this same issue. After I restore the backed-up activation file I get that same dialog asking for a key.

(This may be a dumb newb question, but...) Where do I find an OEM key? All I know about is the sticker on the bottom of my brand-spankin-new dm3 laptop.

Other than that the process worked great! Thanks for all your time/effort to put this together.

I am also having this issue. I thought the key at the bottom of the laptop was the OEM key?

If I rang up for activation.....is there anything sketchy about what I have done that would be a concern for the person on the other end of the line? Or is it all kosher?

Thanks in advance, and thanks for the guidance to help my DV7 run at full capacity!

[bundyho1]

I am also having this issue. I thought the key at the bottom of the laptop was the OEM key?

If I rang up for activation.....is there anything sketchy about what I have done that would be a concern for the person on the other end of the line? Or is it all kosher?

Thanks in advance, and thanks for the guidance to help my DV7 run at full capacity!

Im wondering the same thing before i try to do this.I want to put an ssd drive in there.Thanks

[v3loc1ty2.0]

HP doesn't supply enough updates for their products , never do the mistake I did and go for other laptop brands

you can always get updates yourself for all of the important components - actually pretty much all of them

[v3loc1ty2.0]

I am also having this issue. I thought the key at the bottom of the laptop was the OEM key?

If I rang up for activation.....is there anything sketchy about what I have done that would be a concern for the person on the other end of the line? Or is it all kosher?

Im wondering the same thing before i try to do this.I want to put an ssd drive in there.Thanks

The key on the bottom of the laptop is your key from the OEM, but when the OEMs preinstall win 7 (or vista), they use a single key with a special certificate, which you can use to activate without contacting microsoft (online or by phone) by checking a table in your BIOS

On the other hand, you can use the key on the bottom, and there is nothing sketchy about it - you are allowed to reinstall windows, so microsoft will have no problem

[bundyho1]

I also found this keygrabber ,use it before installing windows 7 again and get the key



http://pcsupport.about.com/gi/o.htm?...com/keyfinder/

[v3loc1ty2.0]

I also found this keygrabber ,use it before installing windows 7 again and get the key



http://pcsupport.about.com/gi/o.htm?...com/keyfinder/

If you are on an OEM install, you will also have to backup the certificate

[bundyho1]

If you are on an OEM install, you will also have to backup the certificate

So how do you do that?
So if you use the product key and info on the bottom of the laptop to install a new ssd drive thats all you need?

What about this file
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/showthread.php?t=6925

[v3loc1ty2.0]

this should work as suggested in the OP: Clean Vista install WITH NO ACTIVATION

[v3loc1ty2.0]

original guide update: changed the sharebee link to gazup since sharebee had problems with bad ads