my new pc, please help?

oldson

Bronze Level Poster
i am in the process of setting up my new pcs toy.

i ordered the system without windows, as i already have win 64 home premium.

when i booted up my new pc, there is a message on the desktop from pcs, saying this is a 30day trial version of windows7 ,with 2 options.

op1) phone a number to request an activation code to continue using current operating system.
or
op2) format the hard drive and install your own operating system.

my problem is:

i already have win7 home prem with activation code.
should there not be a 3rd option to use my existing actvation code?

i have chanced it and windows says it is "activated" but i am worried this may not be the case.
please advise.
thanks in advance
 

vanthus

Member Resting in Peace
You need to do a clean install with your own OS disk,instructions are given in the welcome booklet.
 

Fear

Prolific Poster
If you have entered your existing code already (i think thats what you are saying you have done) then have a look in control panel/system and security/system and at the bottom of that window as long as it is not showing X amount od days and it says activated and has the genuine windows logo to the right then you should be ok.
 

oldson

Bronze Level Poster
You need to do a clean install with your own OS disk,instructions are given in the welcome booklet.

if this is the case ?

why do you get the option to phone pcs for an activation code to continue using the installed system?
 

Fear

Prolific Poster
You need to do a clean install with your own OS disk,instructions are given in the welcome booklet.

As long as you can enter the code and it does away with the days remaining and is activated a full reinstall is not needed.
 

oldson

Bronze Level Poster
where it says "windows activated" there is a "product ID". should this number be my activation code????
i ask this because it is different to my code.
 

Fear

Prolific Poster
where it says "windows activated" there is a "product ID". should this number be my activation code????
i ask this because it is different to my code.

No that is the product id basically once you enter your activation code and it is accepted you will have that product id code there as that is completely different.
 

oldson

Bronze Level Poster
ahh
so i might be "good to go" then?

although Vanthus' comment has me worried.

my own copy of windows was home prem 64.
i know the pcs trial was 64 bit!
can i assume this is ok too?

sorry if this is really basic guys, just want to get it right
 

vanthus

Member Resting in Peace
SorryFear but I disagree,the OS installed by PCS is OEM so the windows product ID key will be OEM.If you enter a retail product key this can cause problems with activation,it may be ok for 30 days but you could receive "windows is not genuine" warnings after that.
Always best to install the OS from your genuine OS disk then activate,that way you will have no problems.
PS. Product Keys and Product IDs are two completely different things,
despite the similarity of the terms.
The 20 character Product ID is created during the installation
process and is prominently displayed towards the bottom (in the
Activation section) on the opening panel window resulting from
right-clicking the Computer icon and selecting Properties from the
context menu. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical support from Microsoft
& dentify the version of windows you have.
The 25 character Product Key is used to prove ownership of a
legitimate license and is required to perform the installation, and is
either stored on the DVD packaging on a sticker that says "Do not lose
this number," or is on a Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) label affixed
to an OEM computer.
 

Fear

Prolific Poster
Yeah as long as you have a full retail version key and not an OEM version that is sold with the particular system and tied to that system then you can use your key on any install.
 

Fear

Prolific Poster
No need to appologise Vanthus we just both have different experiences by the sounds of it maybe i have just been lucky but i had no problem with just entering the licence key when i had an old system repaired and that repair guy used an OEM version and i put the code in from my retail version.
 

oldson

Bronze Level Poster
ok
not the answer i was hoping for but never mind.
i will go the route of a clean install, as i am simply not clever enough to sort out any problems further down the line.

so if i restart my system with my windows disc in the optical drive, will that give me the option to format the c drive before install?
 

keynes

Multiverse Poster
ok
not the answer i was hoping for but never mind.
i will go the route of a clean install, as i am simply not clever enough to sort out any problems further down the line.

so if i restart my system with my windows disc in the optical drive, will that give me the option to format the c drive before install?

You need to boot from the CD. You have instructions on your Welcome booklet.
 

vanthus

Member Resting in Peace
ok
not the answer i was hoping for but never mind.
i will go the route of a clean install, as i am simply not clever enough to sort out any problems further down the line.

so if i restart my system with my windows disc in the optical drive, will that give me the option to format the c drive before install?
Dont worry about formatting,just follow the instructions in the welcome booklet to do a clean install.this will set up your system how it should be.
 
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