found out how to do it.
As well as registering the cert file you also need to give a specific key for each vendor and operating system version.
This article :
http://techdoors.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/activating-windows-7-oem-way/
Pointed me to this file:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bxj5NEo7I3z9djEzRVZyd1ljQ28
Which contains the OEM win 7 keys for each OS version and manufacturer.
Once I put the key in and activated, it was fine.
Quite a clever system when you thank about it but I was starting to panic a bit.
To sum up: :
- BEFORE wiping, copy the following file from your computer c:\windows\system32\xxx.xrm-ms (where xxx depends on your computer manufacturer) e.g. oem-cert.xrm-ms on my HP (if you don’t have a copy, you might be able to find them online somewhere…)
- reinstall the OS
- copy the xrm-ms file to your PC (e.g. C: drive)
- run slmgr.vbs -rilc C:\oem-cert.xrm-ms in an elevated command prompt (registers your vendor certificate, matches your bios)
- run slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxx-xxxxx where xxx… is the OEM key listed in the above google doc link (assigns a key to your PC)
- run slmgr.vbs -XPRÂ this activates your key
Hope this helps,
Andy
Edited Apr 4, 2014 at 11:24 AM