My Windows 7 copy looks fake. Typo on back cover. Came from China.

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  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    My Windows 7 copy looks fake. Typo on back cover. Came from China.


    So I decided to buy Windows 7 from eBay. I didn't trust the people selling product keys only, so I purchased a brand new retail package. When I shop on eBay, I always look for sellers that are really close to me so shipping is fast. So I found a seller, said to be located in Maryland (which is two states away from me), with a great price and great feedback for his W7 sells. I was pissed because when the guy sent me the tracking number, I found out that the item was coming from Beijing, China, not Maryland! But I figured, well at least he shipped it.

    THEN, I get an email from eBay saying the listing for the item I just purchased because the copyright holder reported that the item may be a counterfeit. At first I was pissed at eBay because now I had to record of the transaction in my eBay account and could not contact the seller directly from within the item invoice, since eBay deleted. Plus, he had several other sells of this same item, all with positive feedback of the W7 package, and eBay did not remove the listings for them. So I was like, why me? Luckily, I had his email from paypal and contacted him. He assured me that he is the legal owner of the item and that he sent proof to eBay saying so. Still never got my records back.

    Anyway, this prompted me to search counterfeit Windows 7 retail packages. I found some interesting info, but my package doesn't fit any of the counterfeit profiles Microsoft says to look out for. The top hologram is built onto the cds, not stickers. Both my CD's have holograms on the small inner ring on the data side of the disks. The COA has the correct print inter-wooven into it and says Made in Puerto Rico. The Product Key passed PID check and activation. The three digit key everyone talks about is 068 (not 065, 066, or 067). And overall, the package looks extremely genuine...unless you actually look for counterfeit features, which I have found that leads me to believe this was not made by Microsoft.

    Firstly, the MAJOR thing I found that prompted this whole suspicion. On the back cover, in the second foot not under the features bullet list, there is a TYPO. Referring to XP Mode, it is says "2. Requires download of Windows XP Mode (which tuns on Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate)..." Notice it says "tuns on Windows 7..." instead of "runs on Windows 7..."! Being that the T key is right next to the R on a QWERTY keyboard, this leads me to believe this is human error. Aren't these things manufactured in a factory or something, by robots and machines...and Quality Controlled??? Also, all the text under the bullet list is not that sharp, like it was printed on an inkjet. Also, all that text under the bullet list is yellow. I believe on a genuine copy, that text is white, no? Here is the picture link:




    Here's the front cover. Nothing really to note here, that I can see:




    Another major flaw I found was on the top of the 32-Bit disc. Notice that in relation to the Microsoft/Genuine hologram at the top right and the large Windows 7 hologram at the bottom, the text on the center of the disc is is upside down and some of the black coating is chipped off:



    The 64-Bit disc is just about perfect, other than some slight chipping of the black coating:




    The COA looks really authentic other than the barcode being shaped different than the one on the Windows 7 counterfeit page, even though the SKU number is the same. Another interesting note, if I take my barcode scanner app on my iphone and scan the barcode on the MS website, it comes up as "Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Full (From $137 online / $269.99 local)." When I scan the barcode on my physical COA, I get "Windows 7 Ult English DVD (From $85 online)." I don't know what the different could be, because the SKU numbers in the barcodes match.




    Another thing I noticed was some ink smeared on a page of the information booklet.




    Lastly, the text and pictures in the info booklet are not that clear and look like poor inkjet printing:




    So, what do you guys think? I'm scared to report this to MS in fear of them making my key blacklisted. But I am also afraid that my key might get blacklisted in the future, even though it doesn't have characteristics of an MSDN product key! Other than that stuff I noticed, it installed fine!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,127
    Win7U 64 RTM
       #2

    Have you tried contacting ebay?:

    eBay Buyer Protection

    James
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #3

    Did you pay with PayPal?

    I have won 3 cases with eBay Buyer Protection & PayPal in the past.
    It takes time, but it works when fraud / counterfeit is involved.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Yes, I used paypal. However, I haven't made a claim since I haven't proved yet that this is in fact fake, especially since the product key passed activation and the genuine check. I ran the MS How To Tell app with Silverlight, but it only shows XP and Vista.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #5

    Did the package actually come from outside the USA ? Has the seller been suspended or expelled from eBay ?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2,039
    Several, including Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #6

    QUOTE

    Counterfeit software

    Show all
    How can I report counterfeit software?


    Software counterfeiting harms unsuspecting people, legitimate businesses, and our economy. If you feel that you might have inadvertently received counterfeit software, or if you have information about a person, business, or online site that might be selling counterfeit software, you can file an online report. The report you submit will be treated by Microsoft as confidential. Microsoft devotes substantial time and energy to fighting software counterfeiting, and you can be assured that we will take appropriate action in response to your report.
    To file a counterfeit report, visit the Microsoft* How to Tell website.
    UNQUOTE

    From; Genuine Windows: frequently asked questions - Microsoft Windows

    If they bust a counterfeiter they will probably give you a legal copy as a thank you!


    Regards....Mike Connor
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,036
    Winbdows 7 ultimate x64 | Ubuntu 12.04 x64 LTS
       #7

    I think your best bet would be to contact with Microsoft and confirm with them.
    See, if microsoft confirms that the product is genuine then there's nothing to worry about.
    But what if that's fake? Sooner or later, MS will blacklist it. (MS is very active in this).
    You can take actions if it's fake. May be, get a refund too...
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Mike Connor said:
    QUOTE

    Counterfeit software

    Show all
    How can I report counterfeit software?


    Software counterfeiting harms unsuspecting people, legitimate businesses, and our economy. If you feel that you might have inadvertently received counterfeit software, or if you have information about a person, business, or online site that might be selling counterfeit software, you can file an online report. The report you submit will be treated by Microsoft as confidential. Microsoft devotes substantial time and energy to fighting software counterfeiting, and you can be assured that we will take appropriate action in response to your report.
    To file a counterfeit report, visit the Microsoft* How to Tell website.
    UNQUOTE

    From; Genuine Windows: frequently asked questions - Microsoft Windows

    If they bust a counterfeiter they will probably give you a legal copy as a thank you!


    Regards....Mike Connor
    I just spent an hour filling this out, only to get an error two times in a row!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,127
    Win7U 64 RTM
       #9

    MPC Head said:
    I just spent an hour filling this out, only to get an error two times in a row!
    You don't mention the error, but having cookies disabled when filling out forms can cause issues.

    James
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
       #10

    Hi MPC Head, sorry to hear about your dilemma and hope you get it sorted.

    One thing that I'm adamant about is getting my software from reputable places, especially my OS. The way I see it, I have to put my sensitive data on that OS, my thoughts and ideas on that Office suite, my creativity on that imaging program.

    Point, this is data that I value very much and looking for cheap deals in dark alleys is akin to gambling in Vegas. Let's not forget.... the house always wins.

    Don’t gamble your data with spotty software vendors. You never know what they did to, or with the software, or where it’s coming from. Sometimes cheap comes with a high price.

    Legitimate software from legitimate vendors equals piece of mind, and secure data.

    My two cents.
      My Computer


 
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