0xc004f063 Error Says not genuine windows

[riccardo]

WTF is wrong with you? Why accuse me of lying?

It's not my laptop, and I am certain they never reinstalled windows as they are not computer literate and they don't have a DVD otherwise they would have given it to me.

Let's be clear. It's genuine. If something seems wrong, then perhaps I'm doing something incorrectly, but that is why I come here for help.

 

[Bill2]

If they have never changed from the factory install, the extracted key will NOT match the sticker key. Thats the fact.

You have yet to INPUT any key. If you have a genuine STICKER key, INPUT it.

 

[riccardo]

Ok, then this must be where the problem lies. I have attached a photo of the sticker I am having to deal with. You can see part of the key extracted. And you can see some remnants of the printed key.

Now I can see it all zoomed in on my computer, I think it is not the same. I can see what looks like an "X7" in there but it's really hard to tell.

So, I guess that means there is just one option. Buy Win 7 retail, right?

 

[Bill2]

I have no desire to help you any more but since you're talking in english and not in abuses, maybe one last time...NO STICKER CAN HAVE THAT KEY BECAUSE ITS AN SLP KEY. PERIOD.

 

[gregrocker]

I'm confused about why there is handwriting on the sticker. Was the key growing illegible? If so it's likely the handwritten transcription is faulty and you have incorrect characters - which are responsible for most of these OEM reinstall Activation fails.

I would contact manufacturer's tech support to retrieve the actual key which can and has been done before.

If you can retrieve the key by auditing the HD with Belarc on a previous install, sometimes MS phone activation will parse the actual key for you and activate it. I have done this maybe a dozen times but not recently.

And no, I don't believe someone who seeks our help here to legitimately activate Win7 is trying to pull off anything illegal. A pirate would simply crack it. As I have pointed out before, someone working on another owner's machine is not always privy to this.

 

[riccardo]

I wrote that on because the printed key was illegible. It accepts the key as a valid one (if I make a typo it wont), but it is the activation part that is problematic. I didn't realise the extracted key would not be the same. I was just trying to ensure the computer owner had a record of the key should they ever need it again.

I've tried various win 7 disks now, but once I use this key, the phone activation option vanishes. The most recent error message is telling me that the activation period for this key has expired. This would make sense I suppose as this key must be what the manufacturer used to initially set up lots of computers.

As for getting the key from the manufacturer; the label with the serial number is also worn and illegible so I don't think they will help me. Looks like either buy a new copy, or try taking it back to PC world and see if they will help.

Thank u

 

[cluberti]

@riccardo,

This key, if when input phone activation vanishes and you get a notification that the key is expired, what you have is a blacklisted product key. The installation and product key on this laptop are either *very* unlucky to have been leaked, or this particular installation is not legitimate. There are no other explanations for that behavior, as that is the way the software is designed to behave when you enter a key that has "expired" (aka, no longer available for use due to piracy).

Note that the former is not possible, leaving only the latter option, and here's why:

First, the key on those stickers aren't done in ink that would have gotten smudged in that way, as the writing is embedded inside layers of the sticker (amongst other things).

Second, no OEM (royalty or retail) is allowed to put a static activation key on an OEM sticker, because all of those are randomly generated and unique, just like retail keys. Static SLIC keys are only allowed inside the image - the fact one is on the outside of a key is suspicious (OK, it's more than that).

Lastly, that sticker doesn't even look like an OEM CoA. To wit, Acer should have had specific writing on that sticker, in specific locations, given it's an Acer laptop and an OEM CoA by the coloring and location of the Microsoft logo. From your picture, I see no indication (smudged or otherwise) that the word "Acer" and "OEM" are anywhere on that sticker, either above or below the bar code (which is where it would be if it's not below the "Microsoft" logo to the right). Also, you're missing a second bar code near the top (I don't see any indication one was there, either). Those are standard on all OEM CoA stickers other than Win7 Professional (which is instead a sticker of bluish color with a lot of the UI elements moved around, although all of the text is the same), and what I see here looks quite good, but still fake.

Given what you've got there, it doesn't pass the "smell" test. That user is probably very unlucky, but it appears that Windows 7 license is not genuine.

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks Carl. I'd agree with owner being unlucky based on your and Bill2's expertise, but not that the OP is a "liar."

It was only a few years back that I was asking here how to reinstall on a friend's new machine I suspected was previously cracked. Sean advised me to wipe the HD and the owner bought a new key. So it could have been me making this post and I was hardly lying.

 

[riccardo]

I can understand your points. This is the most worn out COA sticker I have seen, but not the first illegible one. I have a hard time believing it is a fake though. The computer was purchased from PC World in the UK and was brand new. I suppose its not impossible though. Anyway, I think the conclusion for how to proceed has only one expensive option. Thanks for all your advice.

 

[gregrocker]

I would exhaust trying to recover the actual key from the manufacturer's tech support, and even from MS Customer Service which will likely redirect you to maker but might also have some useful information about other options.

 

[cluberti]

I can understand your points. This is the most worn out COA sticker I have seen, but not the first illegible one. I have a hard time believing it is a fake though. The computer was purchased from PC World in the UK and was brand new. I suppose its not impossible though. Anyway, I think the conclusion for how to proceed has only one expensive option. Thanks for all your advice.

I do wish I had a better response, but that CoA key just doesn't look legit. Even if it was, you'd have to contact the OEM for a replacement, which would be non-free; however, it isn't likely to be as expensive as a full OS upgrade (if the OEM offers it - this is not guaranteed, especially with Acer). I would run that to ground first before going out and buying a new Windows license, personally.