Suspected Counterfiet Windows update

Grimgoth · 9 May 2006 at 14:28

Anyone been hit by the new windows "you are probably running a counterfiet copy of windows" thing yet?

A lappy I bought second hand has come under the problem of "its a large distribution key" that has since been compromised.

Well, the key might be compromised and loads of people using, it, but that doesn't retract from the fact that there is an original windows sticker at the bottom right? so can i go and bug microsoft and get them to send me a new key?

all this hassle for almost no payback.....

ns400r · 9 May 2006 at 15:00

Have you confirmed that the key on the sticker matches the key that was used to install your copy of Windows ?

stoofa · 9 May 2006 at 15:27

You're got no "rights" per say when buying the laptop second hand.
Microsoft leave enough in their T&C's that allow them at any time to revoke a license if they feel that the original license has been broken.

This is no different really to buying a mobile phone and finding it has been blacklisted by all the major operators.
Just because you haven't done anything bad doesn't mean they will just unlock it for you.
Legally you could go back to the original seller - they certainly shouldn't be selling a compromised key.
At some point the key must have been posted around....

Burnsy2023 · 9 May 2006 at 16:21

ns400r said:
Have you confirmed that the key on the sticker matches the key that was used to install your copy of Windows ?

Check this, and your on rocky ground here MS don't have a direct obligation to give you a new key.

Burnsy

Caged · 9 May 2006 at 16:39

Yeah, it's possible that the seller lost the original recovery media and chucked a volume license warezed copy on there. Good luck purchasing the original recovery discs.

Grimgoth · 11 May 2006 at 11:27

burnsy2023 said:
Check this, and your on rocky ground here MS don't have a direct obligation to give you a new key.

Burnsy

hmm well, i didn't do a reinstall, and used the OS as from the seller, who obviously didn't include the disks. so how do you check what the serial number that the windows is installed under is?

mattbrown91 · 11 May 2006 at 20:08

Grimgoth said:
hmm well, i didn't do a reinstall, and used the OS as from the seller, who obviously didn't include the disks. so how do you check what the serial number that the windows is installed under is?

Google 'Magic Jelly Bean', it's the top hit.

Grimgoth · 15 May 2006 at 15:56

righties.
bleeping microsoft

anyhows, turns out using magic bean that it was installed under a different key,
was debating reinstalling windows all over again, but then realised that the key update tool would just do the same trick, managed to wrangle out the address of where to get it from customer service, changed key, tried to reactivate, had to go through the phone up activation route, took a nice 30 mins to get through (wow their lines are busy saturday 10.30pm) all reactivated and kosher.

so i guess, if anyone needs/wants a key update tool.....

(why don't they just make it public, i don't know- don't say security, cos it really isn't. its web accessible, just not linked to any pages or anything, which really, is no security at all, no password required to down load, etc)