Problems with Windows 7 Reinstall on T420

Hi all,
Have got into a situation with reinstalling Windows 7 on my Lenovo T420 - have read through many of the posts and tried a bunch of things but to no avail. Issue is:
Windows got bloated and had no option but to reinstall base Windows
Route I took (based on other installations I have - but of course they are OEM) was to get license key via Belarc Advisor and then download Win 7 install media - then completely reinstall Windows
Haven't bothered with the Lenovo software installs beyond what Windows found for drivers online - didn't want to load up on software I really don't use
Worked fine, but now no activation
Spoke to Microsoft support and they can't do anything as the license key is publically available
Have tried the following:
Reinstalling the Rescue and Recovery 4.5x software - but it bombs with Error Code 6 - other posts say that is due to antivirus - I use Eset, so turned it off and tried again - same error code
F11 had no effect at boot up - either holding it or hitting it repeatedly - I guess the Windows reinstall I did wrote over any boot loader
The recovery partition is still there - and the other small partition
I read a post saying to list the recovery partition as the active partition, so did that in Computer Management and now it says BOOTMGR not loaded/available - and I can't boot into Windows at all now.
So a bit messed up. I don't have any of the original install discs - and nope, I didn't have the foresight to create reinstall/recovery discs beforehand.
Anybody have suggestions on what I can do? Open to anything.
Thanks,
JW
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hello and welcome,
Use the CoA key on the sticker in the battery compartment.  Activation will probably fail but offer automated phone activation.
As long as you're using the version that matches your original license it should work.  Might possibly require another install if it doesn't offer phone activation.  Don't enter a key during the install.  Use it later.
Z.
The large print: please read the Community Participation Rules before posting. Include as much information as possible: model, machine type, operating system, and a descriptive subject line. Do not include personal information: serial number, telephone number, email address, etc.  The fine print: I do not work for, nor do I speak for Lenovo. Unsolicited private messages will be ignored. ... GeezBlog
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