Black screen windows not genuine help please!

Hi addy88, welcome to the forums :)

Where did you purchase your copy of Windows 7? The behaviour/message you're seeing appears if there has been tampering/changing of the Activation files used to identify Windows. This is commonplace if downloaded from various Torrent sources.

Please read This article describing an update from Windows Update which resolves tampered activation files.

There is an update available to the activation and validation components in Windows Activation Technologies for Windows 7.

Windows Activation Technologies helps you confirm that the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer is genuine. Additionally, Windows Activation Technologies helps protect against the risks of counterfeit software. Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7 consists of activation and validation components that contain anti-piracy features.

Activation is an anti-piracy technology that verifies the product key for the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer. The product key is a 25-character code that is located on the Certificate of Authenticity label or on the proof of license label. These labels are included with each genuine copy of Windows. A genuine product key can only be used on the number of computers that are specified in a software license.

Validation is an online process that enables you to verify that the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer is activated correctly and is genuine.

OS

addy88 said:

I got the copy free from MSDN and its been working fine for just under a year

I had a look at the the link you provided and have downloaded the files but i'm unable to run them in safe mode

What should i try now? and if you need me to provide me more information I will try my best to provide

Thanks

Am I right to presume that you are a paid MSDN subscriber? That's the good news :)

The update has been available for a while now and would have installed normally if you have Automatic Updates configured correctly the last time you successfully logged in.

When you first installed Windows 7 did you have to enter a product code or was it pre-activated? The reason I ask is that those that are presumably pre-activated have had their original activation technologies altered to bypass genuine activation requirements. It's because of this that the

I would personally get into contact with Microsoft if it indeed a genuine copy as it appears it could be defective in some way.

   Note

To see if the update in indeed installed click Start -> Control Panel -> Programs -> View Installed Updates

OS

Dang. I was just about to ask that. Mine was off by a year for some reason, and it confused the crap out of me for a good week why Windows wouldn't activate.

Ok then, I think we now need to rule out possible virus infection.

I will need you to boot normally and as soon as you see the taskbar, right-click it and select 'Task Manager'

   Note

You need to do this quickly as if you do have a virus it won't be long before it neutralizes Task Manaer

zigzag3143 said:

This may sound strange but is the system clock accurate?

Good thought Ken :)