Fig 1.0 No Internet Connection - Which option are you going to try?
| ACTIVATE WINDOWS 7 HOME PREMIUM |
When you first install Windows 7 you are given up to 30 Days to activate it. And windows 7 itself will also try and activate automatically on the third day, after installation, if you have not done so already. In this example I will show you how to activate Windows 7 straight away. Failure to activate Windows 7 within the 30-days means you will no longer be able to use Windows 7 - You will need to go through an alternative process in order to activate.
Do not under any circumstances change the TIME and DATE on your computer until you have activated Windows 7. Otherwise upon rebooting Windows 7 will complain that your version of Windows 7 is not Genuine, even though it is.
You will know if your copy of Windows 7 has expired or not been activated yet because after switching on your computer you will be presented with a Windows Activation window of some sort (above) stating that "No Internet Connection Could Be Found" or that "Your Activation Period Has Expired". Regardless of the options available to you all of them require an internet connection. The absence of an internet connection could of been one reason why your copy of Windows 7 was not automatically activated.
To manually activate your copy of Windows 7 before it expires first click on the START button (Fig 1.1 below) to reveal the Start Menu. Then look on the right-hand-side of the Start Menu, towards the middle, until you see the CONTROL PANEL menu-item (Fig 1.2). Click on it to open the Control Panel window (Fig 1.3).
If this is the first time the Control Panel has been opened, or unchanged, it will be in Category view. Category view is aimed at the beginner and allows
you to change certain hardware and software settings using Links, rather than Icons. If this is the case, look towards the top-left-hand corner of the
window and click on the SYSTEM AND SECURITY link (Fig 1.3 above) to continue.
To change the view to classic view, as found on Windows XP and Windows Vista, simply click on the CATEGORY drop-down menu (in the top-right corner) and
then select either LARGE ICONS or SMALL ICONS. There is nothing wrong with Category view, but overall the Icon views go straight to the
settings - Category view splits things up into categories and therefore tends to send you through sub-categories before showing you the settings. The
same could be said of the Icon views in that they give you TABs (sub-windows), but overall the Icon views have the advantage in my opinion.
After clicking on the SYSTEM AND SECURITY link (Fig 1.3 above) click on the SYSTEM link (Fig 1.4 above). It will take you to the System control panel (below) where you can then activate your copy of Windows 7. Click on the 3 DAYS UNTIL AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION. ACTIVATE WINDOWS NOW link to continue. Doing so will bring up the Windows Activation window (Fig 1.6 below).
When the Windows Activation window appears (above) make sure you are connected to the internet and then click on the ACTIVATE WINDOWS ONLINE NOW link to continue. The Windows Activation process will then register your Product Key, and activate your copy of Windows 7, as Genuine (below). Click on the CLOSE button (Fig 1.8 below) when the windows activation process has finished.
That's it! You have now activated/confirmed your copy of Windows 7 as being Genuine. No you can download Windows Updates for free and therefore have your copy of Windows 7 protected by Microsoft. Remember to install other, third party, security softwares straight away though (i.e. Norton Internet Security) if you have not done so before this activation process.
Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation. As stated here by the Microsoft Corporation.
