Windows 7: Windows build 7600 not genuine

Hi,
Bought a second hand PC with windows 7 installed, spent a week setting up all my programs and settings and then suddenly get the 'Not genuine message' bottom right of screen. I loathe the thought of having to go through the whole set up again of all my programs. I have 2 hard drives, can I swop them around d to c, and then install a GENUINE copy of Windows 7 on C and will my programs on D still work? Does that make sense?

Hello Fiapi, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Did you activate your Windows 7?

If you did, then try doing the Validate Windows option online to see if it may help.

The issue you're describing is very much what happens when there is a Pre-Activated version of Windows 7 installed on a machine which has been updated using KB971033 or possible even the new SP1 release.

With a Pre-Activated version of Windows 7 there have been changes to the activation files to prevent Windows from requiring activation and the above KB restores those files to how they should be. There are pirate versions available which have had this technology tampered with. I'd suggest following Brink's excellent advice in making sure that your copy of Windows 7 is genuine.

Tried the activation and validation and both failed and most likely, as i reside in Seychelles the copy is not genuine, I have purchased a copy of Professional from a retailer here so my original question about swapping drives could it work? Sorry should add I have tried most of the fixes suggested on here which makes me believe for sure my copy is pirated.
NOTE: We have enough piracy in the Indian Ocean!!!!!

Fiapi,

Sorry, but no. Since you have Ultimate installed originally and will be installing the Pro edition, you will need to do a clean reinstall of Windows 7 along with all of your drivers and programs.

Since it turns out that you had a pirated copy of Windows 7 Ultimate, it would be a good idea to format and start over anyways since there's no telling what else (ex: malware or viruses) may have been included with it.

Be sure to backup anything that you do not want to lose first though.

Thanks Brink I kinda new that would be the answer but hoped there was a way around it. When will there be an operating system that can carry all your stuff over without having to start afresh???

You're welcome Fiapi.

You could do it in Windows 7 if the new edition being installed was the same or higher instead. However, with the pirated copy, it would always be best to go clean from that.

And by the way, I think this is the most informative forum I have ever used. Well done.

Thank you Fiapi. It's very nice to know that you feel that way.