Wiped Hard Drive, Reinstalled with Windows 7 with Upgrade disk Product Key error

[majoraward]

My computer was acting up so I back up hard drive and wiped hard drive with DOS CLEAN ALL command. I then reinstalled windows 7 from my Windows 7 Upgrade disk and restored my files to hard drive. The computer worked fantastic and half the memory of the hard drive returned. A few days later I get a message on screen that I have 30 days left unless I can produce a Product Key of the original Windows install, won't accept Upgrade product key.

I tried the product key that is on the bottom of my laptop for Windows Vista that came with the HP computer. It does not work and I was given no backup disks for Windows Vista from HP.

I called Microsoft and they told me to contact HP for the Product Key. I see on this forum that someone else has written a similar plea, because it is a plea, and HP has told them to contact Microsoft. In other words Microsoft says to contact HP and HP says to contact Microsoft.

I have been using Microsoft operating systems since Windows 3.2 and have bought many products from them. This is my 3rd laptop from HP, my wife is on her 2nd HP laptop. You know what though? If I don't get this resolved pretty quick by one of your companies, and I'm not calling back Microsoft I am through with both of you.

I can see where Microsot doesn’t want to get ripped off but when it is at the expense of a loyal customer then it is not working. HP is also responsibly for this. An Upgrade version of Windows 7 (to upgrade from Vista or XP) should be smart enough (and I thought it was) to remember that I had the original version and its Product Key should be enough. Also I was never told that I needed to keep old Product Keys, and it doesn’t matter anyways because the Product Key is still available under my laptop from HP but it doesn’t work.

I’m not buying another HP without your help and in fact will be buying an Apple Mac for my wife’s and my computer next if this is not resolved. I’m thinking that HP is probably as heartless as Microsoft so that it will not be resolved and I am not shelling out anymore money for something I already own.

System Info:

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Version 6.1.7600 Build 7600 Other OS Description  Not Available OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation System Name MADRONA System Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard System Model HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook PC System Type X86-based PC Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     P7450  @ 2.13GHz, 2133 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s) BIOS Version/Date Hewlett-Packard F.24, 6/12/2009 SMBIOS Version 2.4 Windows Directory C:\Windows System Directory C:\Windows\system32 Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1 Locale United States Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.1.7600.16385" User Name madrona\majoraward Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 3.00 GB Total Physical Memory 3.00 GB Available Physical Memory 1.74 GB Total Virtual Memory 5.99 GB Available Virtual Memory 4.66 GB Page File Space 3.00 GB Page File C:\pagefile.sys 

[CherylG · Accepted solution]

I have used Method 3 here with success.Basically you just run the upgrade disk again from within Windows and do an inplace Upgrade install.

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows-7/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media-128512

[majoraward]

Method three worked for me too.

One strange thing has occurred since installing the upgrade again though, I am not able to use the the keyboard keys one through nine or zero, nor the shift characters of those keys either. I thought maybe I had selected something on my keyboard to do this but nothing seems to work to turn them on. Would you have any idea what is going on? Could it be something about the Method three solution?

Turning the num lock key on allows the numbers to work but the shift characters above the numbers still do not work. I'm just not having a very good week with my computer lol.

Huge kudos for allowing me to finally install the upgrade, I don't know why Microsoft gave me the run-a-round though, it is curious. 

[CherylG]

Have you installed Windows 7 drivers from your models support page? You can reach it using link at top of this page titled 'Support & Drivers'. If you need help finding it, just post back with full model number and P/N as listed on the Service Tag attached to bottom of laptop or under battery.

You can also use Auto-detect:

http://h20614.www2.hp.com/ediags/gmd/welcome.aspx?lc=en&cc=us

[majoraward]

I installed the keyboard driver and it seemed to work for awhile but quit again. The funny thing is that the Shift plus number keys do not work while typing this here but they do work in Word.

You did make me realize though that I had a few updates to install, one hundred and thirty three, so maybe everything will work after they are installed.

[majoraward]

Installed all of the 133 upgrades and the shift key and number keys still are not working for special characters except in Microsoft Word. I'm really confused now. I'll look over other drivers in the meantime.