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General discussion

Failed to activate Windows 7 Professional

Aug 9, 2010 3:48AM PDT

Hi guys,

I have a strange problem which is that I can not get it my Windows 7 Professional installation activated. I tried entering Product key again but its still gives the same error message after some time that 'DNS names does not exist'.

Any help will be appreciated;

Thanks;

--

SJunejo

Discussion is locked

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When this fails
Aug 9, 2010 4:00AM PDT

You should see a screen with a call in phone number to activate off line.
Bob

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There is no option.... :(
Aug 9, 2010 4:30AM PDT

Hi,

Now this is weird that I can only see two options on my activation screen, 'Activate windows now' and 'Ask me later'...there should be a another option called 'Show me other ways...' but I can not see it..also I just wanted to add here that two days back I plug my hard drive in friends PC to test its power supply...does this can effect the activation....because I remember seeing the option 'Alternative methods...' before that...

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Why yes it can.
Aug 9, 2010 5:27AM PDT

Activation can be triggered by moving parts around and of course, malware.

Your story appears incomplete but here's a link about how to call in for activation if your machine can't find a way to get online.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929

Bob

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My machine is online....
Aug 9, 2010 5:55AM PDT

Hi,

This is a fresh copy of it and also there is no malware as I have Microsoft Security Essentials up and running.... I can see the activation option but I can not see any option to activate it using phone line.....

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Which can mean
Aug 9, 2010 6:10AM PDT

Your DNS is hijacked or other issues.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929 notes a very specific method to activate via phone. This does not apply to most OEM versions but your posts don't offer if this is some HP or other version that does not require this.

Let me elaborate. One poorer member tried to use Windows 7 from their HP machine and could never see how to activate. The reason was that they were trying to install the HP OEM version on a non-HP machine.
Bob

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I do not have any DNS settings....
Aug 9, 2010 8:01AM PDT

I don't have any DNS settings...its a simple stand alone PC (Intel P4) installation. I have working Internet connection and I am able to download all MS updates and evrything...tried disabling the firewall but didn't work...tried repairing my network connection but it didn't...I have no idea whats going wrong I think I need to repair my installation...is it?....Evrything looks good.....What do you think...should I setup a DNS server and give it a try....? I am 100% sure that I have seen the option 'Use alternative method to activate...' but now its not comming....Sad

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One more time.
Aug 9, 2010 8:13AM PDT
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I might sound stupid....BUT its true...
Aug 29, 2010 7:13PM PDT

Hi Guys,

I know this thread is old and I started it and I have tried all the options to activate my B*****Y Windows 7 and failed...I even called on Microsoft UK Help Line for manually activate the windows and after entering the long number (54 Digit I think) and it says there is an 'Error activating Windows' and hanged up. I thought I tried everything I know or I found on GOOGLE but wait...I found something very interesting which is that I am able to ping Symantec, Yahoo, Google etc etc but not able to ping any 'Microsoft' website like 'www.microsoft.com', www.hotmail.com' as below;

C:\Users\sjunejo>ping www.microsoft.com

Pinging lb1.www.ms.akadns.net [65.55.12.249] with 32 bytes of data
Request timed out.:

Ping statistics for 65.55.12.249:
Packets: Sent = 1, Received = 0, Lost = 1 (100% loss),
Control-C
^C

Could this be the hindrance in activating my Windows machine Happy

Also just wanted to add here that I set up google free DNS '8.8.8.8' with '8.8.4.4' address in my adaptor (IPv4) settings but it didn't work as well.

Your comments and suggested solution will be appreciated,

Thanks

--

SJunejo

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Sounds like an infected machine.
Aug 30, 2010 3:43AM PDT

I've lost count of DNS hijacked machines. A fresh install should be fine unless someone is installing other stuff after the install.

You found the reason the activation failed but why the ping fails will remain a mystery. Why not re-install and then activate right away?
Bob

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I ran Malware Malbyte...:(
Aug 30, 2010 3:54AM PDT

Hi,

I ran Malware Malbyte and ran a complete scan and didn't find anything. I am leaving the matter for now as long as its not halting my machine coz I dont have time to re-install Windows and all my programs like Chrome, Skype and many more....But ya...its weired as I am unable to ping only Microsoft sites only....

Thanks for your help guys....

--

SJunejo

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Did you check the HOSTS file?
Aug 30, 2010 6:47AM PDT

Research the Windows HOSTS file as such can be the cause as well as your firewall settings.

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Following is my HOSTS file....
Aug 30, 2010 8:11AM PDT

# Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost

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Looks correct to me.
Aug 30, 2010 9:15AM PDT

Did you check your HIJACKTHIS log too?