How do I get a ligitamate license?

I bought a laptop on Ebay from a company. It came with W7 Pro and Office 2007 on it. I just found out on a forum today how to check the version and get information through the search, and it shows that iW7 will expire in June 2010. It was a volume license or something. My question is, what do I need to do to make it mine forever. Will Microsoft sell me a key code for it or something? Do I buy a new full version at retail? Do I buy an upgrade version at retail? What about Office 2007?
Thanks,
Bill

 

Ring MS in your home country and explain to them what has happened. You should be able to purchase a serial #.

 

Thanks. I just emailed Microsoft and told them about the situation. If I don't hear back from them soon, I will call Microsoft.

 

It shows it is genuine and activated and valid

Every way windows has to check and see if my windows is valid, it passes. Would this be true if this os is set to expire in June. Do these trial W7's show as validated and genuine?

 

Yes, they would show as validated and genuine. It sounds like it might have the RC version of Windows 7 on it. At least I know the RC version is set to expire in June. I haven't ever heard of a released version of Windows expiring.

Try this. Click the start button and then right click on computer and choose properties. What does it say under the line that says "Windows edition "?

If it is the RC version I don't think there's anything that you can do other than purchase a copy of Windows 7 and install it.

One more thing. If it is the RC version, sometime in March or April (dont' remember which) it will start to shut down at two hour intervals. So, if you continue to use it until June, you'll have to put up with that.

Having said all that, volume licensing may be different. I don't know. If it is something like that, then perhaps MS will help you out. We shall see I guess .

 

It says windows is activated.
Product key # 00371-868-0000007-85588 and then is has in blue, a "change product key" option

 

Look toward the top of that window. Under Windows edition. It will show you the version there.

 

It just says Windows 7 Professional and has the Windows Logo

 

Well, then it's probably not the RC version. If it were, it would be Ulitmate instead of Professional. I guess you'll just have to wait to see what MS says. They will probably have something for you.

 

I was kind of wondering if you might have something to say about this Arie. I thought the same but I wasn't aware that there were any RC versions of Professional out there. I thought they were all Ulitimate.

 

I am going to reinstall XP Pro, and Office XP, revert back to my old ways,and be done with it. Windows 7 is just not worth all the hassel. I should have known, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Buying a laptop on ebay is risky business.

Thanks,

Bill

 

It can be
Generally the things to check are:
Reputation (like Gold status) of member
Feedback (what other purchases have stated)
Reading the ad slowly and clearly
Confirming if the OS comes with a key and or media

By the way, obviously there is no key (sticker) affixed to the bottom of the laptop?
Because even if the OS is RC or Trial or whatever, if you have the key then getting a replacement disc is not hard
But if there is no key, then Windows installed will not be legitimate anyway (except trial RC etc.)

I prefer XP, but then you need to confirm that the computer support manufacturer provides the XP drivers (some don't)

 

I doubt very much that Microsoft will be that generous in giving you another full version copy of both Windows7 and Office 2007, rather inform you to purchase the full version of each title, at best you will be very fortunate if you hear from Microsoft - however miracles can sometime happen.