"This computer is not running genuine Windows"

[lusciouss]

Came back home to see this message and I honestly have no idea why. My computer's made by HP and was bought from a store roughly 6 years ago so I have absolutely no reason to pirate Windows 7. I recently changed my HDD by cloning the two drives roughly a month ago with no problems until this showed up.

I cloned the two drives simply because I'm unable to find the Windows 7 CD and I don't.. want to buy Windows again.

 

[ronintexas]

Do you have the sticker on the side of the machine that has your Windows 7 product key? That would make it a genuine copy of Windows.

You can download ISOs to create a new installation of Windows 7 if needed.

 

[dstarr3]

Windows uses your hardware to identify and register your computer, so when you change hardware, there's a chance (depending on the hardware) that Windows 7 will then recognize it as a different machine and your registration will be incompatible. Hard drives may be one of those pieces of hardware that triggers that response. I don't know the number, but there's a Microsoft support number you can call and they can give you new activation in exchange for making your previous activation null.

 

[lusciouss]

Do you have the sticker on the side of the machine that has your Windows 7 product key? That would make it a genuine copy of Windows.

You can download ISOs to create a new installation of Windows 7 if needed.

Cool, I still do! How do I put this key to use? The only "solution" it gives me is buying a whole new product key.

 

[ronintexas]

Right click on "My Computer", then chose properties - near the bottom is Windows activation. There should be a spot for active Windows or change the product key. Here is a tutorial from Microsoft: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929

If that doesn't fix it - here is a 2nd site: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

 

[caqde]

Do you have the sticker on the side of the machine that has your Windows 7 product key? That would make it a genuine copy of Windows.

You can download ISOs to create a new installation of Windows 7 if needed.

Cool, I still do! How do I put this key to use? The only "solution" it gives me is buying a whole new product key.

You should be able to enter a "new" key during that time as it will ask repeatedly for a key. The key on the side of your case is not the same as the one that was preused on your machine. They don't use the key they give you instead they use this one use key to preinstall the OS on all of their machines. So if you use that key when asked it should shut it up about not being genuine .

 

[lusciouss]

Right click on "My Computer", then chose properties - near the bottom is Windows activation. There should be a spot for active Windows or change the product key. Here is a tutorial from Microsoft: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929

If that doesn't fix it - here is a 2nd site: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

I spent the last 10 minutes trying to find the "Change Product Key" link (that's apparently what I'm supposed to click) in the Windows Activation section, but I see absolutely nothing. Idk if I'm blind or not so I thought I'd post a picture:

Am I looking at the right thing?

 

[lusciouss]

Do you have the sticker on the side of the machine that has your Windows 7 product key? That would make it a genuine copy of Windows.

You can download ISOs to create a new installation of Windows 7 if needed.

Cool, I still do! How do I put this key to use? The only "solution" it gives me is buying a whole new product key.

You should be able to enter a "new" key during that time as it will ask repeatedly for a key. The key on the side of your case is not the same as the one that was preused on your machine. They don't use the key they give you instead they use this one use key to preinstall the OS on all of their machines. So if you use that key when asked it should shut it up about not being genuine .

Dammnit.. I closed the window for that already.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Go straight to the source:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2008385
https://www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate/

 

[ronintexas]

It is showing that Windows is activated.....this is the fix according to Microsoft:

1. Click on the Start Button and type: CMD (into the 'Search programs and files' field in the Start Menu)
2. The Start Menu will show 'CMD.exe',
3. Right-click the CMD.exe file and select Run As Administrator.
4. In the CMD window, type: slmgr.vbs -ipk <type your product key here>
5. To activate windows after changing the key, type: slmgr.vbs -ato

 

[lusciouss]

It is showing that Windows is activated.....this is the fix according to Microsoft:

1. Click on the Start Button and type: CMD (into the 'Search programs and files' field in the Start Menu)
2. The Start Menu will show 'CMD.exe',
3. Right-click the CMD.exe file and select Run As Administrator.
4. In the CMD window, type: slmgr.vbs -ipk <type your product key here>
5. To activate windows after changing the key, type: slmgr.vbs -ato

Thanks, it activated successfully (gave me two success messages). Hopefully it'll stay like that otherwise I'll be getting a migraine!

 

[Alpha7]

I reset my UEFI once and I kept getting that message. It drove me nuts. I finally figured out that it reset the clock in the firmware and it caused the whole OS to go crazy. Make sure your firmware's clock is set to the right date.

 

[Wolfshadw]

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Wolfshadw
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