This copy of Windows is not genuine

[amtt1]

I have a Family Pack for Windows 7 Home Premium that was purchased from Office Depot about 6 months ago and only installed on one computer. About a week ago when I logged in I got a blue screen with "Windows 7; Build 7600; This copy of Windows is not genuine" in the lower right hand corner and Windows 7 will not start. I called Tech Support and they told my that the warranty had expired and it will cost me $59 for them to give me a fix. Why should I have to pay for a fix for something that is obviously a bug in Windows 7? Is there something I can do to correct this short of reinstalling Windows 7?

 

[speedgamer01]

Thats a stupid situation, I don't understand how can they say that.
Do you remember if you enabled auto updates or not? Do you have Service Pack 1 installed?

 

[Bill2]

Try the solutions in this thread.

http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...roblem-related-windows-not-genuine-error.html

 

[roban]

If this is a valid copy of Windows 7 you should be able to validate online assuming you have the product key.

 

[speedgamer01]

Yes, and this message also shows up when windows detects any mayor hardware change.
You have to try to activate it online.

 

[seavixen32]

Click the Start button and type slui.exe 4 in the Search field then press Enter.

When the automated activation wizard appears use the drop-down list and choose your region.

Call the free telephone number given and follow the automated prompts.

You'll be asked to use your telephone keypad to tap in a series of Installation ID numbers and then be asked how many computers you've installed the operating system on (one is the answer required).

You'll then receive confirmation that your Installation ID numbers were accepted and you'll then be given a further series of numbers that make up the Activation ID.

Write them down for safekeeping, and then enter them in the Activation ID boxes. Click Next and you'll see a message on your screen confirming activation was successful.

If there's a problem, stay on the telephone line to speak to a Microsoft rep and explain what's happened and with a bit of luck you'll be given a new Activation ID.

 

[amtt1]

The only way I can get the command prompt is by starting in the safe mode. When I run slui.exe 4 in safe mode a Windows activation box pops up saying, "restart windows in normal mode to activate windows". How can I do this when my computed won't start in the normal mode, it only gives me the "this copy of windows is not genuine" message page and no activation window pops up. I have the last activation code I was given when I activated this copy of Windows 7.

 

[Brink]

Hello Amtt, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Did you already try the options at the link below posted above?

If so, then while in Safe Mode, try doing the Validate Windows option at that link to see if it may help.

Worse case, you may need to reinstall and activate Windows 7 again if the above fails.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[amtt1]

If this is a valid copy of Windows 7 you should be able to validate online assuming you have the product key.

How can I validate online if I can't get the computer to boot up?
I have the validation code I received when I fist installed this copy of Windows 7.

 

[seavixen32]

If this is a valid copy of Windows 7 you should be able to validate online assuming you have the product key.

How can I validate online if I can't get the computer to boot up?
I have the validation code I received when I fist installed this copy of Windows 7.

Activation and validation are two different things.

Activation takes place after you have typed a product key that goes with your operating system. If the product key is not genuine or there is a problem with Microsoft's database, activation will fail.

Validation is ongoing after you've installed Windows and activated the operating system and checks that you are using genuine software rather than pirated software.

 

[amtt1]

Hello Amtt, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Did you already try the options at the link below posted above?

If so, then while in Safe Mode, try doing the Validate Windows option at that link to see if it may help.

Worse case, you may need to reinstall and activate Windows 7 again if the above fails.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

I've tried the options in that link. When run slmgr/silc I get a window that says /silc is an unrecognized option and then has a list of several options none of which say "Validate Windows".
When I run slmgr/upk it says to use slui.exe. When I run slui.exe a window pops up saying I need to restart in normal mode to activate Windows. I am unable to start my computer in normal because it stops on the page that says it is not a genuine copy. I'm in a catch 22 situation.
How can I do the validation when I cannot get my computer to start Windows 7 to go online to validate?

 

[t-4-2]

If this is a valid copy of Windows 7 you should be able to validate online assuming you have the product key.

How can I validate online if I can't get the computer to boot up?
I have the validation code I received when I fist installed this copy of Windows 7.

amtt1,
Looks like you are down to " worse case " scenaio as mentioned by Brink ..... reinstall Win 7.

 

[amtt1]

If this is a valid copy of Windows 7 you should be able to validate online assuming you have the product key.

How can I validate online if I can't get the computer to boot up?
I have the validation code I received when I fist installed this copy of Windows 7.

Activation and validation are two different things.

Activation takes place after you have typed a product key that goes with your operating system. If the product key is not genuine or there is a problem with Microsoft's database, activation will fail.

Validation is ongoing after you've installed Windows and activated the operating system and checks that you are using genuine software rather than pirated software.

This copy was activated about 6 months ago. I have the validation code that I was given then.

 

[amtt1]

Thats a stupid situation, I don't understand how can they say that.
Do you remember if you enabled auto updates or not? Do you have Service Pack 1 installed?

I have Service Pack 1 installed. auto updates was NOT turned on. The reason for this was I had Vista installed with auto updates turned on. After automatically it updated my computer refused to boot up, so I purchased the Windows 7 update. What a mistake. If MS doesn't take care of it's costumers then maybe I should switch to Apple's Mac.

 

[seavixen32]

Before you migrate to an Apple Mac, try uninstalling SP1 while you're in Safe Mode, and then see if Windows will activate.

If it does you can then re-install SP1 if you wish.

 

[amtt1]

Before you migrate to an Apple Mac, try uninstalling SP1 while you're in Safe Mode, and then see if Windows will activate.

If it does you can then re-install SP1 if you wish.

Please explain how I can uninstall SP1 if my computer will NOT start Windows 7.

 

[amtt1]

If this is a valid copy of Windows 7 you should be able to validate online assuming you have the product key.

How can I validate online if I can't get the computer to boot up?
I have the validation code I received when I fist installed this copy of Windows 7.

Activation and validation are two different things.

Activation takes place after you have typed a product key that goes with your operating system. If the product key is not genuine or there is a problem with Microsoft's database, activation will fail.

Validation is ongoing after you've installed Windows and activated the operating system and checks that you are using genuine software rather than pirated software.

Then tell my why my genuine copy does not work?

 

[Brink]

It sounds like something had corrupted your activation causing it to be marked as non genuine.

You'll most likely need to reinstall and activate Windows 7 again to fix this.

 

[seavixen32]

Your copy is not working because it has failed activation.

Either your activation attempt was corrupted or Microsoft's activation database rejected the activation attempt for some reason.

Either way it looks like you're faced with a clean install and another attempt at activation. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.