Windows not activating

[WhitetailAni]

Don't worry, it will be over soon
More Phenom troubles!

Spoiler

Specs:
Phenom II X4 955
Asus M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3
4x2GB DDR3-1600
GTX 750

1TB WD Caviar Green HDD

I have a Windows 7 Professional key now (and no, it is not from one of those "FREE WINDOWS 7 KEY NOW!!!!" websites. I know better.) but Windows won't activate - I can't use the phone method for some reason and when I do it online I get the error code 0x8007232B, or DNS name does not exist.
I tried slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX followed by slmgr /ato, no luck.

I tried doing slui 4 in PowerShell, still no luck - I can only select Afghanistan and I don't live there.

Anyone know what to do?

[Donut417]

12 minutes ago, ragnarok0273 said:

I can't use the phone method for some reason

Maybe because Microsoft killed support for it a while back. Officially only Windows 8.1 and 10 are supported by Microsoft. 

[WhitetailAni]

3 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

Maybe because Microsoft killed support for it a while back. Officially only Windows 8.1 and 10 are supported by Microsoft. 

Well, 10 doesn't support this machine and I refuse to use Windows 8/8.1.
Even though I used 8.1 for a full year.

Should I just call them?

[kirashi]

18 minutes ago, ragnarok0273 said:

Don't worry, it will be over soon
More Phenom troubles!

I have a Windows 7 Professional key now (and no, it is not from one of those "FREE WINDOWS 7 KEY NOW!!!!" websites. I know better.) but Windows won't activate - I can't use the phone method for some reason and when I do it online I get the error code 0x8007232B, or DNS name does not exist.
I tried slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX followed by slmgr /ato, no luck.

I tried doing slui 4 in PowerShell, still no luck - I can only select Afghanistan and I don't live there.

Anyone know what to do?

 

 

Where exactly did you get your key from? Asking because error "0x8007232B DNS name does not exist" usually only applies to KMS client activations. RETAIL versions of Windows don't normally use Key Management Server (KMS) activations because that's an activation method reserved for medium-to-large businesses / enterprise.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/activation-error-codes#0x8007232b-dns-name-does-not-exist

[WhitetailAni]

2 minutes ago, kirashi said:

Where exactly did you get your key from? Asking because error "0x8007232B DNS name does not exist" usually only applies to KMS client activations. RETAIL versions of Windows don't normally use Key Management Server (KMS) activations because that's an activation method reserved for medium-to-large businesses / enterprise.

Written in a book that my dad had.

[Donut417]

2 minutes ago, ragnarok0273 said:

Should I just call them?

Microsoft will offer NO support on unsupported OS's PERIOD. 

[kirashi]

Just now, ragnarok0273 said:

Written in a book that my dad had.

Welp, there it is.  The key you have is most likely not a retail Windows 7 Pro RETAIL key, and instead is probably a KMS / MAK activated key that requires a KMS server or has had its' maximum number of activations already used up. While I cannot get into the details too much here because we don't know if your key is legitimate or not, you might find a way to verify what Product ID / SKU / type of key it is by using some third party tools...
https://superuser.com/questions/516581/determine-which-software-product-a-microsoft-product-key-activates

[WhitetailAni]

1 minute ago, kirashi said:

Welp, there it is.  The key you have is most likely not a retail Windows 7 Pro RETAIL key, and instead is probably a KMS / MAK activated key that requires a KMS server or has had its' maximum number of activations already used up. While I cannot get into the details too much here because we don't know if your key is legitimate or not, you might find a way to verify what Product ID / SKU / type of key it is by using some third party tools...
https://superuser.com/questions/516581/determine-which-software-product-a-microsoft-product-key-activates

Crap.
Guess I'm buying one off eBay.

The KMS thing makes sense though - my dad worked in IT and often ended up with leftover things from work.

[Donut417]

5 minutes ago, ragnarok0273 said:

10 doesn't support this machine

https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop/thank-you?version=20.04.1&architecture=amd64

 

Might I suggest Linux then? 

[WhitetailAni]

Just now, Donut417 said:

https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop/thank-you?version=20.04.1&architecture=amd64

 

Might I suggest Linux then? 

I plan to sell this later, and I don't think average Joe will fully get Linux, which means I end up explaining it to them.
I'd rather just get 7 working if I can.

[WhitetailAni]

9 minutes ago, kirashi said:

Welp, there it is.  The key you have is most likely not a retail Windows 7 Pro RETAIL key, and instead is probably a KMS / MAK activated key that requires a KMS server or has had its' maximum number of activations already used up. While I cannot get into the details too much here because we don't know if your key is legitimate or not, you might find a way to verify what Product ID / SKU / type of key it is by using some third party tools...
https://superuser.com/questions/516581/determine-which-software-product-a-microsoft-product-key-activates

 

9 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

Microsoft will offer NO support on unsupported OS's PERIOD. 

According to this tool, this key is a Windows 7 / Server 2008 R2 key.

[kirashi]

29 minutes ago, ragnarok0273 said:

 

According to this tool, this key is a Windows 7 / Server 2008 R2 key.

There ya go - that key isn't a Windows 7 Pro Retail / OEM key after all, so normal end-users aren't going to be able to activate it. You'll need to purchase a new key from a retailer that still has copies of Windows 7 Home or Pro (Retail or OEM) available, or purchase a Windows 10 Home / Pro key instead since Windows 7 isn't supported anymore.

[WhitetailAni]

Just now, kirashi said:

There ya go - that key isn't a Windows 7 Pro Retail / OEM key after all, so normal end-users aren't going to be able to activate it. You'll need to purchase a new key from a retailer that still has copies of Windows 7 Home or Pro (Retail or OEM) available, or purchase a Windows 10 Home / Pro key instead since Windows 7 isn't supported anymore.

Do Windows 10 keys work on 7?

[kirashi]

Just now, ragnarok0273 said:

Do Windows 10 keys work on 7?

No? They're Windows 10 keys... If I recall correctly, Microsoft might still allow activating Windows 10 using a Windows 7 retail key, though I have also heard they've stopped allowing free upgrades so your mileage may vary.

[WhitetailAni]

1 minute ago, kirashi said:

No? They're Windows 10 keys... If I recall correctly, Microsoft might still allow activating Windows 10 using a Windows 7 retail key, though I have also heard they've stopped allowing free upgrades so your mileage may vary.

Well, I can't put 10 on here.

Windows 7 is no longer supported.

Windows 8/8.1 I refuse to use no matter what.

So I guess I'm going to have to find a retail Pro key somewhere to buy.

[Donut417]

Just now, ragnarok0273 said:

Do Windows 10 keys work on 7?

No. But as we have tried to explain. Windows 7 is DEAD. No more support. No more updates. Hell I dont even think Microsoft offers the updates thru Windows update any more. I think all updates have to be downloaded from a 3rd party. Windows 7 should not be used outside specific circumstances. Any one using Windows 7 out on the Internet needs to take up most care. There are exploits that Microsoft never got around to patching. 

 

39 minutes ago, ragnarok0273 said:

I plan to sell this later, and I don't think average Joe will fully get Linux,

I dont think the average Joe is going to buy a Windows 7 machine knowing there is no support for it. 

[WhitetailAni]

1 minute ago, Donut417 said:

I dont think the average Joe is going to buy a Windows 7 machine knowing there is no support for it. 

Windows 7 is dead.

10 doesn't work.

Linux... well no because average Joe will be confused.

This leaves 8, which sucked, and 8.1, which sucked less but still sucked.

If I have to, I will put 8.1 on it.