Windows 7 not Genuine, but it is.

[erik_26]

A co-worker bought a demo computer from the store. He is cheap and never learns that every time he tries to save a dollar it costs him much much more.

Anyways, It had Auto Logon enable in the Reg. He wanted to set up his own account. So I set him up as the Admin and deleted the other store accounts.

Then I had to go into the Reg to disable the default account to Auto Logon too.


When I rebooted the machine and he logged onto his profile it got a message that said his version of windows is not genuine.

I went into the system to re-input the code and it is all greyed out.

I tried ****.vbs -ipk in the run command.

I am stumped. I don't know how to fix it.

When you first logon it give you the opportunity to ignore or get genuine. I clicked get genuine and it gives me and Acer error.

Maybe a bad certificate? It is windows 7 build 7600. I don't know where to get an acer certificate.

Any help?

[maschronic]

i would contact the store and have them figure it out.

[Merc1138]

If it's a demo computer, the first thing to do would be to format it. If it wasn't connected to the internet(and windows was never activated) after a few days it assumes that it's a pirated version. Re-installing windows using the same key can fix this.

Also, some people steal windows keys from demo systems(there's apps you can just put on flash drives to do it) so they can use the key for their non-legit copy elsewhere.

[Fmt662]

1. try to reformat from the laptops recovery partition. Most OEM's put on on the hard drive to reinstall windows. Should reinstall with the OEM codes built into the motherboard.

-or-

2. google for win 7 activation, and there are plenty of free (yes, illegal) ways to activate windows permanently without any trouble.

[DaveInOroValley]

If the store sold the demo it should come with oem software bundle. Run the restore and go from there.

[Munk]

1. try to reformat from the laptops recovery partition. Most OEM's put on on the hard drive to reinstall windows. Should reinstall with the OEM codes built into the motherboard.

-or-

2. google for win 7 activation, and there are plenty of free (yes, illegal) ways to activate windows permanently without any trouble.

Yep.

Isn't it sad that the only people who are hurt by DRM are legitimate users? Same thing with anti-gun laws. They only hurt law abiding people, while criminals by definition break the law.

[jarhead995]

DONT WORRY.

Download Windows Loader or RemoveWAT. They both make copies of Windows genuine. Message me if you want a virus free copy. I have experience. Legit reasons like this though...

[vmwerks]

All you need to do is ge the key off the computer case and call Microsoft, explain the situation. You'll be fine if the version installed was an OEM version for that computer. If it wasn't then the store that sold it is in violation not you or your friend.

If you verison is valid don't fart around with backdoor stuff.. go through the software publisher.

[gravedigger]

My guess is that someone bought the computer, took it home, swapped out the drive for another drive with a bad copy of W-7, and returned it to the store. As a "demo" the crime would not be detected until someone tried to register the bogus copy.

[erik_26]

It didn't come with any software. At least that what he says. He doesn't know much about computers.

I have a copy of Windows 7 I can install. I just don't know if I put the key from the bottom of the laptop in if there will be the same issue because of the build version?


If it was mine, yes I would wipe the drive (or just install an SSD) and start clean. But like I said, he said, there isn't any software that came with it. Plus, trying to hunt down drivers is a pain. And, there are 'creature comfort' applications on there that he likes.

I told him to just take it back to the store. I was just trying to help him out.


I don't view breaking through the back door as illegal as it is a legitimate copy of Windows 7 that came preinstalled on the computer. So I will see if he wants to go that route.

The issue that frustrates me is, there is no way to just enter the damn code from the bottom of the machine. That area is grayed out in Windows 7 control panel. You would think that Microsoft would try to make entering a code as easy as possable.

Plus, why was everything fine until I deleted the old profiles? What a joke. I don't know why Microsoft is so determined to stop piracy at any expense. Even if it costs them customers.

Could you imagine some grandma having this problem? Hearing about all the crack downs on the news, she would probably think that she committed a crime some how and that the FBI would be storming into her home at any second.

[ke6guj]

what brand computer is it? DELL, HP, etc. if it is one of the big boys, you can just beg, borrow, steal a matching OEM win7 disc an reinstall it. The serial number that will be used is inclued in the software on the disc. its probably not accepting the key since it was installed using a bios-locked key that has to match the certifcate and the BIOS string.

you should be able to DL a copy of Windows 7 directly from Microsoft and install it using the OEM key that is on the sticker. nevermind, see that you already have a windows 7 disc, it if is a retail disc, you should be able to use the serial number on the sticker.

I'd suggest doing that, blowing it out and starting over, even if you did get this copy to re-activate. As a demo unit, you have no idea what crap got intstalled to it, how many trojans and virii got installed from people trying to sneak a peek at 2 girls, 1 cup, or something. It isn't that hard to track down drivers for any production PC.

[ChaparralCommando]

All the computers in my university lab this morning displayed some message claiming the copy of Windows 7 was not genuine and needed to be verified. We could just work by selecting check later. Not sure what that is all about.