Hi, I have a dual OS computer with Win 7 on one hard drive and XP pro on the other. When I'm using Win7 I get sometimes get CTD and sometimes it just reboots for no apparent reason. This happens nearly every time I use the computer. This does not happen when I boot with the XP drive.
Are you a member of MSDN/TechNet?
If not, the chances are that your installation is counterfeit, since the indications are that your Key is a subscriber-only one.
http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindows7/thread/a2444f34-0aff-4f29-a8ac-67e28b0c0285 refers.
Not sure I understand, the activation key worked and I'm getting updates regularly and it is at least three years old.
Whether a particular Key works or not is irrelevant to its legality.
If you are not legally entitled to use a Key, then whether is activates or not is of no matter, and is more a question of time and chance.
From where did you purchase this Key or copy of Windows?
I got it from ebay, boxed with both discs, unopened. It's been fine up to now, I got updates yesterday.
eBay is the world's biggest source of counterfeit software - estimates are that over 70% of 'new' software offered for sale there is fake.
You need to attempt to claim a refund from the vendor, and report them to eBay, PayPal (assuming you used PayPal to pay for the goods) and to Microsoft
Thanks for the help. Once I've sorted that how do I tell if it's real before I buy on line?
Here's my standard post for blocked MSDN Keys (which yours will become, sooner or later)
The Key in use is an MSDN Key from a not-for-resale MSDN account.
Unless you are an MSDN subscriber, you are not entitled to use the Key – and whoever sold it to you was not entitled to do so.
You need to claim an immediate refund from the vendor - do NOT accept the offer of a new key (all they are trying to do is to get past the 45-day claims window or avoid you sending the evidence of their crimes to the authorities)
Please read the following posts.... .................................
http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindows7/thread/a2444f34-0aff-4f29-a8ac-67e28b0c0285
and
http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindows7/thread/309bb621-92d5-43d6-98c1-2bb51b35607f
The pirates have got VERY good at this over the past few years, as the price of equipment for manufacturing the packages drops, and as factories open in less well-policed countries.
see also this post....
http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindows7/thread/46a58748-5a64-41ff-b7f4-f6d3b47beca9
Also - have a look at this video....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzqNNiOM0cs
You may be able to get a complimentary copy of the OS from Microsoft - fill in the Counterfeit report here...
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/howtotell/default.aspx
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