Windows 7 Not genuine

Magic_x_uk

Magic_x_uk

Magic_x_uk

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Quick questions, MODS if not allowed, sorry and please delete.

A friend about 4 or so months back brought a PC from a local shop in town with OS/ Win 7 on it.

All good and he has been fine with it till this week and now has a message saying this is not genuine.

I have been round to his to see if I can help. No sticker on the PC, no manuals/cd etc came with PC purchase.

Shop now in my local town is now a florest! so they wont be able to help!

He has rang Microsoft and spoken to 2 people on the phone there who cant/wont help him.

Is he stuffed? he didnt know about product key stickers etc when he brought it, I have only known him about 2 months so.

Is his best and 'only' option to buy another version of win 7 and back up everything and reinstall the new OS?

Also the pc came with Office 2007. Which is activated and working fine. So touch wood that is ok. But again no sticker, manual, cd........


Any help would be great. I have told him to use it over the weekend and hopefully by monday I will have a answer for him but think he will have to buy a new WIN 7 OS.

Thanks guys.
 
There are utilities which can pull the current registered key, however if this is not genuine you may not get far. regardless of what they do to pursue the shop owner (who has clearly been installing illegal copies on machines). he may either get very lucky and a sympathetic microsoft will give him a new key, or he's on his own and will have to buy one
 
He has spoken with Microsoft this morning. 2 different people on 2 different numbers and no joy.

Nothing they can do so has told me.
 
He'll have to buy a Windows 7 license. I suspect he could get just a license from a specialist supplier but the best option would be an OEM copy which is what he should have been supplied with in the first place. Unless he has a previous copy of Windows he'll need a full version not an upgrade.

Once he has the license key he should be able enter that and reactivate the installation he has already.

If he hasn't got an Office key he should really do the same there.

Andi.
 
Any PC that comes into my workshop that requires Windows activation without a valid key or those that can't provide the proof of authenticity don't get installed. I normally explain this to customers and ask them to purchase a new licence. it gets mixed reaction.

It's a new licence for you it would appear.
 
Hit start, right click 'computer' and select properties. At the bottom there's an option to change the product key, he should be able to buy a legit copy of windows and put the key in there, no reinstall needed.
 
Yes PiKe that is what I am thinking. So I dont understand the difference in retail or OEM version of WIN 7 here on Ocuk shop.

Which one should i get him to buy.

In theory. Would he not have to reinstall win7 just put the new product code in or would a full re install be needed.

How does he buy a new license then if that is needed instead of buying the £100 odd OS, or is that what you mean?
 
OEM licenses are supposed to be sold with hardware.

You'd have to look for a license only software supplier and I suspect it won't be discounted so may actually cost more.

"iviv" has explained how to enter just the new key, the reactivate Windows it should then pass the Genuine Windows test.

Andi.
 
Cheers guys. Ill get him to buy Win 7 Home edition Retail from here then.

So I wont even have to install it? just put in the product key that it comes with.
 
Personally I would reinstall when you purchase W7. If the shop installed a cracked version of Windows god knows what files have been molested. I would reinstall with the media you receive so you know the installation is 100% kosher.

Does your mate not have any kind of receipt for the computer? There must be a way of tracking down the original shop owner. If I remember correctly Microsoft offered victims of fraud like your mate discounted software if they fobbed in the shop/person who installed the cracked copy.
 
Use Genuine advantage to buy a legit key from MS, or you may have to wipe and start again (recommended for the same reason as the Meatball suggests). Same thing happened to my grandfather with a local computer shop. :(
 
I had exactly the same issue this week, i think it was caused by a virus as all of a sudden i started to get 'windows is not genuine' messages and at the same time i found a nasty virus on my system..

I ended up fixing this by by using the 'validate windows online' thing on the mswebsite and this fixed the issue. It appears that a virus made my windows appear not genuine....
 
Last edited:
Meatball said:
Personally I would reinstall when you purchase W7. If the shop installed a cracked version of Windows god knows what files have been molested. I would reinstall with the media you receive so you know the installation is 100% kosher.
Click to expand...

If he does decided to reformat due to above reason, first run this program in Windows. Magical Jelly Bean keyfinder so you can write down serial number of Office and current installation of Windows (just for records). And do a web search using product keys to confirm if dodgy(will find them listed on torrent sites and alike).

There used to be a trial version of Office 2007 Home & Student edition, but a quick look on Microsoft site I only found Professional. See if you can find trial version of what he has, then use serial number found using Magical Jelly Bean. There's no saying it will work as current installation might have used a crack to activate Office.
 
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