Product key for Windows 7 not accepted

Windows product keys are 25 alphanumeric characters grouped into 5 groups of 5. 

If Windows 7 was pre-installed on your computer by the manufacturer, the product key will be on the COA sticker affixed to the computer.  This is usually on the bottom of laptops (sometimes inside the battery compartment) or on the top, side, or back of a desktop/tower.  It looks like this:

DO NOT POST YOUR WINDOWS PRODUCT KEY HERE.

The following 24 characters are used: 
2346789BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY

The following 12 characters are not used:

015AEILNOSUZ

Is it a Retail, OEM System Builders or OEM preinstalled (Dell, HP, etc.) license and is it still activated?

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The Product Key consists of 25 digits, divided into 5 groups of 5 digits and the layout looks like this:

xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

The 24 used are:
2346789BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY

The 12 unused are:
015AEILNOSUZ

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

If installed and activated and a Retail or OEM system Builders license and you have lost the product key that came with the purchase use these free programs:

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

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If you bought it from Microsoft:

Find your downloads and product keys

Most software you buy directly from Microsoft Store as a digital download, like Office, Windows, and Xbox games, can be downloaded, installed, or reinstalled in order history. Find the software and then select Product key/Install.

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If OEM preinstalled (Dell, HP, etc.) license:

The COA sticker, which has the Product Key on it, is either on the underside of the Laptop or in the Battery Compartment.

With a Desktop it is either on the side, rear or top of the Computer Case.

Product Key finder programs do NOT find a useable product key on OEM preinstalled operating systems (Dell, HP, etc.)

Key Finder Programs used on preinstalled Operating Systems only find the Manufacturer's Product Key which was used on multiple machines during manufacture and what they find is not suitable to use for a reinstall or activation problems.

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If you continue to still have problems:

Contact Microsoft:

Activate Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 - Windows Help - Microsoft Support

When you begin activation, Windows will try to use your Internet connection to activate online. If you have problems activating online, you can activate using the phone.

___________________________________________________

If you have to use Phone Activation, read this detailed information about using that method:

"How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone"

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

_________________________________________________

If you have problems using that method contact Microsoft Support:

To contact Microsoft Support:

Contact support        

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/contact-support

Also: https://partner.support.services.microsoft.com/en-au/contact/menu/software/windows/setup/

Cheers.

Is it a Retail, OEM System Builders or OEM preinstalled (Dell, HP, etc.) license and is it still activated?

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

The Product Key consists of 25 digits, divided into 5 groups of 5 digits and the layout looks like this:

xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

The 24 used are:
2346789BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY

The 12 unused are:
015AEILNOSUZ

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

If installed and activated and a Retail or OEM system Builders license and you have lost the product key that came with the purchase use these free programs:

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

If you bought it from Microsoft:

Find your downloads and product keys

Most software you buy directly from Microsoft Store as a digital download, like Office, Windows, and Xbox games, can be downloaded, installed, or reinstalled in order history. Find the software and then select Product key/Install.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

If OEM preinstalled (Dell, HP, etc.) license:

The COA sticker, which has the Product Key on it, is either on the underside of the Laptop or in the Battery Compartment.

With a Desktop it is either on the side, rear or top of the Computer Case.

Product Key finder programs do NOT find a useable product key on OEM preinstalled operating systems (Dell, HP, etc.)

Key Finder Programs used on preinstalled Operating Systems only find the Manufacturer's Product Key which was used on multiple machines during manufacture and what they find is not suitable to use for a reinstall or activation problems.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

If you continue to still have problems:

Contact Microsoft:

Activate Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 - Windows Help - Microsoft Support

When you begin activation, Windows will try to use your Internet connection to activate online. If you have problems activating online, you can activate using the phone.

___________________________________________________

If you have to use Phone Activation, read this detailed information about using that method:

"How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone"

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

_________________________________________________

If you have problems using that method contact Microsoft Support:

To contact Microsoft Support:

Contact support        

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/contact-support

Also: https://partner.support.services.microsoft.com/en-au/contact/menu/software/windows/setup/

Cheers.

Thanks for the reply.  This is for Windows 7 Pro OEM Software.  I am in the process of installing Win7 and I am at the point where it wants the Product Key; the letters and numbers in blocks of 5 characters.  I have not gotten to the point of activation.  After entering the product key, I get the error "The product key does not current Windows SKU."  At this point, I am stuck.

Everything involving contacting Microsoft seems to imply that I am trying to activate Windows but I have not gotten to that point, yet.

The links seem to deal with activation as well which is not helpful at this point.  Maybe they will be later on if I can get there.

After entering the product key, I get the error "The product key does not current Windows SKU."  At this point, I am stuck.

You left out "match"

That error means the product key is not for Windows 7 Pro, but a different edition.

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/lync/en-US/d8001b46-b5d4-4915-a074-e5288a5846c5/win-7-product-key-does-not-match-win-7-sku?forum=w7itproinstall

"e.g. The product key on the COA won't successfully activate a Professional edition, if the pkey is for Home Premium (as an example)."

After entering the product key, I get the error "The product key does not current Windows SKU."  At this point, I am stuck.

You left out "match"

That error means the product key is not for Windows 7 Pro, but a different edition.

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/lync/en-US/d8001b46-b5d4-4915-a074-e5288a5846c5/win-7-product-key-does-not-match-win-7-sku?forum=w7itproinstall

"e.g. The product key on the COA won't successfully activate a Professional edition, if the pkey is for Home Premium (as an example)."

OK, thanks.  Guess I'm screwed.

I wouldn't give up so easily.

Microsoft has Activation Specialists that can help you (actual human beings).

It used to be that when you called the toll free number the advice was not to respond to any of the prompts and eventually you would be connected to a human being but that is not the way it seems to work these days (I just called and checked again).

Click the Start Button/Orb and enter the following:

slui.exe  4

Press the Enter key, then choose your nearest location, then click Next:

Call the toll free number:

The first question will be do you consent to recording the call or do you not so make your choice to continue.

Eventually you well get a prompt that says:

For security purposes please enter the following number on your phone's touch tone pad:

You must enter the requested digits.  If you do nothing, you will be disconnected.

Then you can sit and wait through the prompts (do not respond to any prompts) and eventually be transferred to a human being.

Explain your situation and they should help you.

If they don't help or can't help just hang up and call back again and the chances are good that you will talk to a different person and eventually you should find some nice person that will help you.

You never read his question and all replies.

They don't have it installed.

Thanks for the reply.  This is for Windows 7 Pro OEM Software.  I am in the process of installing Win7 and I am at the point where it wants the Product Key; the letters and numbers in blocks of 5 characters.  I have not gotten to the point of activation.  After entering the product key, I get the error "The product key does not current Windows SKU."  At this point, I am stuck.

Everything involving contacting Microsoft seems to imply that I am trying to activate Windows but I have not gotten to that point, yet.

How do they click the Start Orb when it is not installed?

Their problem is they are trying to install the wrong edition for that product key.