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Can I reuse Windows 7 Professional key?

Hey,
Been using Windows 7 for a couple of months now and I must say, im absolutely loving it.
The other day whilst visiting some dodgy site offering a video converter, I picked up a virus.
Now I have tried AVG and an anti-spyware program, and both can detect the virus but not effectively deal with it.
I am left with a frustrating user experience which includes Windows crashes, many notifications and general slow performance, on what is a fast laptop. I am fed up of trying to patch things up and think that the best method would be to format the HDD and reinstall Windows.
Now, my question is, when I reinstall Windows, will my product key be reusable?
I picked up my copy of Windows 7 on the £30 student offer and am worried about the license use.
Like what do I do, can I deactivate Windows somehow, then upon reinstall just use the same key?

Anyone have any advice on the system would work?
Thanks.
Answer
Answer

Hi

The Windows 7 Product Key (License) is perpetual, it never expires. You can reuse the key as many times as you wish, as long as the operating system is only installed on one computer at a time.

The Student version of Windows 7 is the Retail, Upgrade version. You will need to perform the installation the same way you did when you originally installed it.

The product key that you used to activate the first installation is kept on the Activation Servers at Microsoft. After you reinstall, you may need to perform a manual activation, which means that you may need to use the telephone option when you activate. Here are the instructions for a manual activation.

1. From the desktop, press the Windows Logo Key+R. This will bring up the Run dialog box.

2. In the Open: box, type   slui 4  and press OK. This will start the manual activation wizard.

3. Select your Country in the drop down menu and click Next.

4. The wizard will display a Toll Free phone number. Leave the wizard open on the computer and call that phone number.

You will be given some recorded options. Select the option to talk to a live representative.

The representative will manually activate that system for you.

Let us know if you have any more problems

Ronnie Vernon MVP
MVP 1999 - Present
Windows Insider MVP

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Last updated December 2, 2023 Views 82,007 Applies to: