Windows 7 - windows 7 *your copy of windows is invalid*

so i have had this pc, and this copy of windows for about 2 years now. ever since i was mailed my windows 7 upgrade disk.

2 months ago i ran into a nasty virus that forced me to reinstall windows just to put everything back to system default. i do not believe it is caused by the same virus, because this error is nothing like the type of attack the other virus used.

roughly 17 hours ago i went to work and left my pc on and running while i was gone*i do this a lot*. when i got home my background image was gone, and i was left with a message on the bottom right of my screen that told me my copy of windows was invalid.

i use malwarebytes, and microsoft security essentials. microsoft security essentials wont let me update because of the validation error.

i am also unsure as to how i can find my product key since my copy of windows 7 came from and upgrade disk*i do still have that disk somewhere, so if i have to blast the machine again i can although thats the last thing ill do*.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Same thing happened with me. I called eMachines and they sent me a copy of Windows 7. So call your computer manufacturer and see what they will do. Hope I could help!

Doesn't the key come with the upgrade media - on the packaging , I expect.

Thanks and i may do that if i cant find a faster solution.

SIW2 I am not the kind of person to overlook something that simple. So to answer your question. The only remaining pieces of that delivery i have from roughly a year and a half ago is the disc, and the disk holder. Neither of those have a key on it.

there may however be an authentication key already scripted into the disk, and if that is the case i cant get access to it.

Check the Retailer's email for product key.

the email has long since been deleted.

Use Tuneup Utilities to find your key. It will be in system information.

i downloaded
Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v2.0.8 Review
and right as soon as i booted the program up it had my key.

i am currently waiting to speak to a microsoft agent. thank you for all the help. i should be okay now.

Don`t forget to click the scales for the people who`ve helped you.

I thought that Windows 7 Upgrade DVD will only install a legit version on the OS for which the upgrade is meant. I remember reading a workaround for it in one of the Newsletters that I get. But memory may not be serving me right and I may be mistaken.

Perhaps if you first install the OS for which the OS was meant and then upgrade to Windows 7 you might succeed.