takes all night to apply fixes

[Boggin]

Did Speccy give you a 5x5 alphanumeric product key ?

If whoever you bought this off or even the previous owner before that had upgraded the machine to Ultimate, then it should have a proper product key to activate it.

Normally it would be on a sticker somewhere on the casing of the machine but if this machine had been upgraded from an earlier or lower version of Win 7, then that key wouldn't activate Ultimate.

On an OEM laptop with its original build, Speccy will give the vendor's generic key which is different to the one on the sticker, but using Slui 3 you can change it to the sticker key which can make life easier if you have to do a repair install with a Win 7 SP1 ISO.

There's no need for reimbursement as the postage is negligible and I buy my DVDs in spools of 50s, so there's plenty left

[qaz]

yes it's a 5x5 alphanumeric product key . Slui 3 sounds useful too if i can remember it:)

[qaz]

no luck...same message saying not compatible, definitely used the new disc. As i said several posts ago i made startup repair with my disc but cant get back to the option now.maybe windows repair was offered as well..what do u think

[Boggin]

I definitely checked that the ei.cfg file was removed so can't understand why you are still getting the compatibility error.

I'm surprised that you aren't getting that error when you try the same with your original install disk unless it has SP1 included and it is of concern, that you don't get the Repair your Computer option when using that disk.

Can you tell me exactly what happens and the stages it goes through when you boot up with that disk ?

[qaz]

afraid i dont understand this: I'm surprised that you aren't getting that error when you try the same with your original install disk unless it has SP1 included and it is of concern, that you don't get the Repair your Computer option when using that disk.

i'll try to do it tomorrow and makes notes

thanks

[Boggin]

If your install disk didn't include SP1, when you boot up with it and select Repair your Computer and it checks the OS to repair, you would normally get a compatibility error - otherwise you should be able to navigate to the Recovery Environment as I've described.

I was having some problems with the disk drive on that laptop in burning the disks, but they checked out okay on that machine.

I'll burn you another couple on my other Win 7 laptop to see if they work any better for you.

[qaz]

hi

have just returned , much to do so i will be a few days before i attack the problem again. Thanks very much for new disc

[Boggin]

That's okay - just let me know if you have an problems or success.

[qaz]

hi

am sure u'll be as disappointed as me....i got the same incompatibility error using the new disc. I suspect its time to face the music and reinstall, what do u think

[Boggin]

I just don't understand that.

It looks like you don't have any option left but to reinstall.

The install disk that you have - are you sure it is for Ultimate and 64 bit and do you have a 5x5 alphanumeric product key to activate it with ?

[qaz]

yes its odd. Answer to all ur questions is yes. Im really disappointed as you given so much time [and discs],  its one time when repair does notwork i guess

[Boggin]

Don't forget to let us know how you get on with your reinstall.

[qaz]

i will, although it may be a while [as i limp along]. Is there any reason to keep the first 2 versions of the disc?

thanks again for ur help

[Boggin]

You could try doing your clean install with each of them to see if they ask which version you want to install and if Ultimate is one of the options and that will tell you if any are any good - otherwise just bin them.

[qaz]

i didnt think i could install from them as i dont have matching serial. I thought they were only good for repairs

[Boggin]

You could leave the activation as you get or used to, 30 days free trial but you could be prompted after three days.

That is when you may be able to use that Slui 3 command to change the product key, but to save complicating things it would probably be best to just use your own disk for the install.