This computer is not running genuine Windows

Mat the trasher

So have this error popping up all the time, have genuine win 7 ultimate, tried re-entering the PID which was accepted, still popping up, restored to a date just after a clean install using a complete system image and back up, still popping up.

any ideas? dosen't seem to effect anything other than its a pain in the ass and makes me look like I have a bootleg copy.

Kepti

This might help you:
http://techpp.com/2010/01/15/make-windows-7-genuine-tips-to-stop-windows-is-not-genuine-message-0%C3%9780070005/

old_aussie

Sounds like your running a pirated version of Win 7.

Even "genuine" discs bought from well known vendors have been found to be fakes.

(insert name)

Try sure your own using key, you may be using an OEM VLK (usually preinstalled on a new PC). Enter the key on your COA which is unique to you.
Validation cockups are possible but this may be enough to get you through activation quickly without the hassle of contacting microsoft. From what I have read, MS are usually understanding enough if you just explain the situation (presuming its a genuine error - pun intended )

I'll PM you the name of a tool that will sort your activation I you don't want to have to reinstall explain your case to microsoft - (its not morally wrong if its their problem after all )

old_aussie

(insert name) wrote: »

Try sure your own using key, you may be using an OEM VLK (usually preinstalled on a new PC). Enter the key on your COA which is unique to you.
Validation cockups are possible but this may be enough to get you through activation quickly without the hassle of contacting microsoft. From what I have read, MS are usually understanding enough if you just explain the situation (presuming its a genuine error - pun intended )

I'll PM you the name of a tool that will sort your activation I you don't want to have to reinstall explain your case to microsoft - (its not morally wrong if its their problem after all )

Could that tool circumvent activation, commonly called "piracy" :rolleyes:

(insert name)

old_aussie wrote: »

Could that tool circumvent activation, commonly called "piracy" :rolleyes:

It is a piracy tool yeah. I believed the OP when they said they had genuine 7 Ultimate because legit installs do fail activation sometimes. That's why I sent it as a PM.

Anyway, if they were looking for a crack/loader, I doubt they would try boards which is well known for pretty strict moderation - this tool is pretty easy to find from a simple google search. I was just reccommending it becase it got me out of a hole in the past.

partyatmygaff

old_aussie wrote: »

Could that tool circumvent activation, commonly called "piracy" :rolleyes:

Piracy =/= Fixing activation issues


Genuine installs fail activation from time to time for unknown issues.

Fysh

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Piracy =/= Fixing activation issues


Genuine installs fail activation from time to time for unknown issues.

Yes, and the smart way of sorting them out is to do what the vendor suggests and contact MS to resolve the issue. If you've got a valid COA and licence, you won't have a problem.

Of course, if you've actually not got a COA or licence, then that becomes difficult, and despite a lot of wailing/gnashing of teeth/denial amongst folk on the internet, those are often the circumstances where these sorts of questions arise.

Mat the trasher

Thanks for the replies but am only interested in a legit fix for the moment but won't pay €72 for the privilage.

Tried to use the MS support site and entered my product ID, got the following error reply:

The product ID number you entered has expired. Please enter another product ID number or select a different support option below.

Don't know what this means, is there a shelf live after first activation? problem has only occured since a clean re-install.
Is there a number I can call or email I can use without the €72 dildo in the ass?

Mat the trasher

Mat the trasher wrote: »

Thanks for the replies but am only interested in a legit fix for the moment but won't pay €72 for the privilage.

Tried to use the MS support site and entered my product ID, got the following error reply:

The product ID number you entered has expired. Please enter another product ID number or select a different support option below.

Don't know what this means, is there a shelf live after first activation? problem has only occured since a clean re-install.
Is there a number I can call or email I can use without the €72 dildo in the ass?

Is your PC's date correct? I've seen cases where this can flag an install as non-genuine.

Fysh

Mat the trasher wrote: »

Thanks for the replies but am only interested in a legit fix for the moment but won't pay €72 for the privilage.

Tried to use the MS support site and entered my product ID, got the following error reply:

The product ID number you entered has expired. Please enter another product ID number or select a different support option below.

Don't know what this means, is there a shelf live after first activation? problem has only occured since a clean re-install.
Is there a number I can call or email I can use without the €72 dildo in the ass?

TBH I'm guessing your best bet is going to be phoning MS - you should be able to get the phone number from the Activation interface.

The Product ID expiration thing doesn't have any connection to your activation status or the validity of your licence - it's just to do with the free support you can get from Microsoft, which is provided for a short time after your licence is first activated. It seems like that free support has expired for your licence, hence the poorly-worded error message you're getting on that page.

Capt'n Midnight

Windows XP used to have a few false negatives on the activation and ringing micorosoft usually sorted it out. Date/time was bloody annoying - make sure date and time are set to an hour or so (it doesn't need to be exact , but it does need to be close, gone are they days when you could set your 30 day shareware trial to expire on 14th of June 2078 :pac: )


Stuff that could knock out activation are big hardware changes, best to add one piece of hardware at a time and reboot otherwise it might throw a wobbly because it might think it's changed to a different box

Nonmonotonic

Is it a SP1 problem? According to Microsoft you cant activate a SP1 version of Windows 7 with a non SP1 code.

Nonmonotonic

Nonmonotonic wrote: »

Is it a SP1 problem? According to Microsoft you cant activate a SP1 version of Windows 7 with a non SP1 code.

No, it's the other way round. I've activated RTM keys with SP1 clean installs. But you can't activate a key from SP1 with an RTM clean install.

Mr. Presentable

Is it the same PC as it was installed on originally? Hardware changes, motherboard for example, can cause alerts too.

Odaise Gaelach

Where did you buy your copy of Windows 7 Ultimate? Was it eBay by any chance?

EDIT: Try the Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool and copy any information from the Windows tab you think is relevant into this thread.

Mat the trasher

Ok problem solved.

Called MS activation centre explained problem, they tried many fixes via remote access to comp, but in the end the problem was that Windows would activate, as in no longe be a 30 trial version but would not authenticate to verify as genuine, using www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate/

Seems that some Windows files had been changed/corrupted. The fix was to run a repair using the Windows disk. After a worked and the genuine validater ran.

It took quite a while with the MS service tech about 2hrs, but he was very helpful. One thing, everyone I spoke with wanted to know if this was my first call to MS, seems the first call is free per product key but after that its charged, but I don't know if they can tell its not your first call.

coolpix23

I've seen another problem with re-activation.

If you bought a computer just before 7 was released with a license for 7 or if you bought just after the release of 7 this might happen to you.

80/90 days before the release, Microsoft released a Release To Manufacture version to some of the big OEM's, Lonovo leaked a copy which was cracked in 6 days. And the OEM ID turned out to be a master OEM ID so it worked for DELL and HP computers and more.

Microsoft updated a program in the BIOS that checks OEM ID, from version 2.0 to 2.1. You can get caught in a situation where your 2.0 won't work with the build number of your Win 7 or the 2.1 won't work.

I found a link to backup and restore the activation for Vista and he has a beta for 7. Basically it backs up the activation status, you do a clean install and restore the activation status. This means that you avoid having to re-activate. http://directedge.us/content/abr-activation-backup-and-restore

If you're thinking of being naughty the guy says

"You can only install the SAME VERSION of Vista you already bought. If you're laptop came with Home Premium, you can NOT install Ultimate."

What he means is even though the DVD is AIO (all in one) and has all versions on it you can't use this to pirate yourself an Ultimate version when what you had was Home Premium. The restored activation status will still be Home Premium so it'll throw a wobblie.

Moon54

I've seen this happen too if the date on your system tray clock/bios clock is not set right.
If anyone is seeing this for the first time make sure that the day, month & year is set right on the system clock.

This can occur by accident some times (kids at computer !!),
and also a bad BIOS battery can make the date fail.