This copy of Windows is not genuine.

Rincewynde

New member
Having discovered that my copy of Windows 7 (Ultimate) is not genuine, I am in the process of purchasing the software from Amazon.

My question is a simple one:

When I have the new software do I need to reinstall Windows onto a clean disc, or is it sufficient to enter the key from the new package onto the already installed but non-genuine version?
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 32 bit
Generally you can do that and it will work. Depends on where you got the pirated source from as I have seen cases where these copies are obtained from legitimate MSDN (or some other Microsoft) media and there's nothing inherently wrong with them until someone comes along and either gives you a bad product key or cracks it. If you simply were given a bad product key, putting in the new product key should be sufficient; if however the Windows installation came from dubious sources or was modified in odd ways, I would suggest you reinstall as you never know what bad software could have been included in it.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i3 530 2.93 Ghz Clarkdale
Motherboard
ASRock P55 PRO/USB3 LGA 1156
Memory
4 GB OCZ DDR3 1600 (PC12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti with 1 GB of RAM
Sound Card
Realtek HD ALC892
Monitor(s) Displays
20'' eMachines E202HDbmd Glare Panel Widescreen
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Black Edition (7200 RPM) SATA
Hitachi Deskstar 500 GB (7200 RPM) SATA
Samsung SpinPoint 400 GB (7200 RPM) SATA
PSU
Rosewill Xtreme Series RX750-D-B ATX12V v2.2 & EPS12V (750W)
Case
Cooler Master Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Mid-Tower
Cooling
Standard Case Fans and Stock CPU Heatsink
Keyboard
Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Elite
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Elite
Internet Speed
7.1 Mbps Verizon DSL
If it is truly not genuine, you do not known what it contains. There may be malware, virus and more.
Do a clean install.

If the key and the DVD came from the same place, clean install.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS 420
OS
Windows 10, Home Clean Install
CPU
Intel Core2 processsor Q8200(2.33Ghz 1333FSB) Quad Core Tech
Motherboard
Dell
Memory
6 gb
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon 256MB HD3650
Sound Card
Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell SP2009W 20"
Hard Drives
640 GB Serial ATA Hard drive
Cooling
Fan
Keyboard
Dell USB Keyboard
Mouse
Dell Premium Optical USB
Internet Speed
DSL 2.85
If it is truly not genuine, you do not known what it contains. There may be malware, virus and more.
Do a clean install.

If the key and the DVD came from the same place, clean install.
+1

Clean install, FTW!
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Mellon Labs (custom build)
OS
Win 7 Pro x64/Win 10 Pro x64 dual boot
CPU
AMD FX 8350 Vishera @ 4200
Motherboard
ASUS M5A97 R2.0
Memory
16 GB Mushkin Blackline DDR3-2400 @ 1866 (9-10-10-10-31)
Graphics Card(s)
XFX Radeon R9 280 Double D Black Edition
Sound Card
Realtek HD Audio on MB. Sounds great.
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer 24", Acer 22"
Screen Resolution
3840 x 1080
Hard Drives
1 x Mushkin Chronos 120 GB SSD (Win 10)
1 x Samsung 850 EVO 250 GB SSD (Win 7)
1 x WD 1TB SATA Blue
1 x WD 1TB SATA Green
PSU
Corsair TX-750
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912+
Cooling
Coolermaster Seidon 240M Liquid AIO. 6 case fans
Keyboard
Logitech G710+
Mouse
Logitech G500s
Internet Speed
Much better since I got fiber, but still way overpriced.
Antivirus
MSE, Malware Bytes for scanning
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
Corsair VOID USB headphones.

A Mellon Labs X-1 - LCD Smartie driven system status display.

Brought to you by the letter E
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