[terry1966]

 

cloned the SSD from the drive,

cloned from what drive? at a guess that is where your getting your problems from.

 

i suggest putting the ssd in the laptop and then doing a clean install with a windows 7 installation disk.

 

if you don't have a windows 7 install disk then you can create your own, just download the windows 7 iso from here (you will need to verify your windows 7 key first before it will let you download it.):- https://www.microsof...wnload/windows7

 

and then either burn it to disk or use rufus to create a bootable usb stick.

 

rufus :- https://rufus.akeo.ie/

 

of course you can always test the drive works by installing a free linux distro like mint to it also :- https://www.linuxmint.com/

 

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I give up.

I tried creating the Windows 7 iso disk onto on a new usb 16gb drive, and the Windows product key - that I just purchased last week !!  - is invalid.

I am not going to sink anymore $$ into this.

 

But, thanks again terry1966 for all your help

Edited by Buccaneer, 03 April 2016 - 07:34 AM.

[Buccaneer]

I give up.

I tried creating the Windows 7 iso disk onto on a new usb 16gb drive, and the Windows product key - that I just purchased last week !!  - is invalid.

I am not going to sink anymore $$ into this.

 

But, thanks again terry1966 for all your help

Edited by Buccaneer, 03 April 2016 - 07:34 AM.