Microsoft blocking Win7 keys purchased from the MS Store

My desktop surprised me with a "Windows Not Genuine" message, and a black desktop background, this morning.

To make a long story short, I'd purchased two Win7 Home Premium Upgrade keys in the summer of 2009, online from the Microsoft Store (in the USA).

Microsoft had blocked the keys, and show the purchases as having been returned. (I didn't know that it was possible to return downloads. Even if it is, I have not requested any return.)

Microsoft issued me two new keys, while they "investigate the problem".

(I'm not sure when this actually happened. I didn't use the machine from 8/28 through most of 9/2, because of a power outage due to Irene. To complicate matters further, I'd replaced my boot drive with a new SSD a couple of weeks previously, using Acronis True Image 2010 to clone the OS drive. Turned out to be a coincidence; MS had invalidated the original keys.)

Am I alone in this?

I've never heard of this.

I purchased an Ultimate upgrade key earlier this year and Microsoft e-mailed me the key, which I promptly printed two copies of and kept as proof of purchase.

It could be cloning the drive that triggered the blocking by Microsoft as they run validation checks even after you've activated.

You can find a few more in:
Windows Updates & Activation - Windows 7 Forums

seavixen32 said:

I've never heard of this.

I purchased an Ultimate upgrade key earlier this year and Microsoft e-mailed me the key, which I promptly printed two copies of and kept as proof of purchase.

It could be cloning the drive that triggered the blocking by Microsoft as they run validation checks even after you've activated.

I've needed to re-activate Windows many times before, sometimes for reasons as trivial as changing disk drivers. I have never managed to cause MS to block a retail key, though.

I can't quote MS exactly, but I was told that the key was blocked because the product was returned. What? Is that how MS would mark a product that they believe is being used in violation of the license agreement? Wouldn't they be be explicit about if they believed that I was engaged in piracy? (I am not. 2 machines, 2 licenses, both retail.)

bobkn said:

seavixen32 said:

I've never heard of this.

I purchased an Ultimate upgrade key earlier this year and Microsoft e-mailed me the key, which I promptly printed two copies of and kept as proof of purchase.

It could be cloning the drive that triggered the blocking by Microsoft as they run validation checks even after you've activated.

I've needed to re-activate Windows many times before, sometimes for reasons as trivial as changing disk drivers. I have never managed to cause MS to block a retail key, though.

I can't quote MS exactly, but I was told that the key was blocked because the product was returned. What? Is that how MS would mark a product that they believe is being used in violation of the license agreement? Wouldn't they be be explicit about if they believed that I was engaged in piracy? (I am not. 2 machines, 2 licenses, both retail.)

Don't forget that you're only buying a licence to use the software and I suppose if Microsoft's validation checks revealed the terms of the EULA were being broken then I suppose they would place a block on its use.

On the other hand, there could be a problem with their activation database, which could trigger a query.

seavixen32 said:

Don't forget that you're only buying a licence to use the software and I suppose if Microsoft's validation checks revealed the terms of the EULA were being broken then I suppose they would place a block on its use.

On the other hand, there could be a problem with their activation database, which could trigger a query.

I have the impression that there was some sort of error involving the MS Store. I doubt that I'll ever be told of the nature of the problem.

The new keys that MS gave me work, and the WGA message is gone. This is the first time that I've been inconvenienced by WGA. I hope that it's the last.

Sounds like somebody made an error in the MS store then.

Anyway, pleased to hear that things are good now.