Activated but now Non-Geuine - Non-Validated

[zapp22]

Friends I have not seen this condition before now so I need some guidance.
I do some refurbishing for pocket change in between consulting jobs - keeps me fresh on things like THIS! Had an Optiplex GX620 updated by somebody to Windows 7 Ultimate with Office 2010, all legit, Activated, Validated, Updated. Ran that rig pretty hard with testing programs etc for several days, and it had a hardware bug -something like a cold solder break or such - sudden non-boot condition that would come and go. Anyway, held back the drives and memory, sent the motherboard back for a swap but got a different board, of course. Today hooked everything up, and it appeared all would be swell, and then I added a DVD-RW, tested it awhile, and then while making some screen preference changes, I get the Bad Sign in the lower right: "NOT GENUINE" - so Win7 did one of its random sweeps, checked a hash somewhere, and came up with a bad compare, I guess.

Is this resolvable via some simple means?
Is there a malware floating about that can trigger this? [there seem to be a growing body of Win7 hacks coming online].
Should I reinstall?

The MS website on this as you know is not at all helpful.

thx
Z

p.s. and its STILL showing itself Activated ... AOK

 

[richc46]

A rule of thumb is that a New MB=a new computer. According to the record keeping at MS, you have the OS installed on two computers. The next time it happens, I would call MS, explain and they will get you validiated permanently.
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/existing-customers/activation-centers.aspx

 

[zapp22]

I have been down that road twice [i rebuild systems and sell them so go through a few], spending 4 hours with a wide assortment of MS folk. The bottom line is that they did not want to fool with OEM/Volume keys whatsoever. no matter how I approached it, they would push back and say "go figure out who originally sprayed the bits"

A rule of thumb is that a New MB=a new computer. According to the record keeping at MS, you have the OS installed on two computers. The next time it happens, I would call MS, explain and they will get you validiated permanently.
Microsoft Volume Licensing - Activation Centers

 

[Tews]

If you are rebuilding/selling systems, then are you installing new OEM versions on each system?? Otherwise what you are doing is in violation of MS' EULA... You could always load the 90 day evaluation version of Windows 7 Enterprise on the machine...

Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day Trial

 

[Bill2]

If your win7 license is OEM (like dell, hp etc.), then changing the mobo deactivates the license. If its retail, the license is freely transferable as long it is used on only a single machine at any given time, you'll need to call MS in that case and convince them you've installed on a single machine only.

 

[zapp22]

TEWS
if you can PROVE that assertion, step up and do so now.
I spent hours on the phone directly with MS tech AND OEM/Volume licensing people including managers trying to get their interpretation of their own EULA Ts & C's on this issue, and elsewhere on this Forum posted the results of tthose conversations in detail.
What you assert is not their understanding, nor mine, as of the time of that incident.

In [too] brief, the Windows 7 license stands alone just like any other MS license. Transferability is not an issue, assuming the single license is active on one machine, period. The biggest culprit in these issues is the KMS license type - ill-conceived by MS in my opinion and that of at least one prominent IT Director who is a personal friend of mine . He had a terrible run-in with Dell because between the twin behemoths of Dell and MS they could not manage to provide him with a licensing process that would result in solid reliable Activation/Validation in his enterprise [happens to be public but that has no bearing on the issue]. The result was Dell having to trash the process and that run of keys [i have no idea how many]. The whole thing was simply unreliable in real production.

I asked the specific question you refer to at least 5 times of different people at MS and all but one of them gave the quick answer: yes you can reuse that license but you will either need to reattach to the original KMS server or have the contractee provide a MAK key in replacement of the original KMS key. In the case I was working on in that incidence, there were two Dell machines with KMS type licenses [the provider didn't even understand what KMS issues were] and we successfully made the switch to MAK key type.

The reason for my post was not to open this can of worms but to inquire as to whether this particular system can be remedied. And secondarily, to try to get some clarity on how, if this is truly and maliciously a blacklisted copy, how can it remain Activated? I bet MS would have to plead mea culpa on that issue - if its blacklisted, the authentication process should surely de-activate the license [or should]. This system has been online nonstop for two days straight.

In its original configuration on an Optiplex GX620, i punished the system for about four days, many hours, with BIT and other testing routines, downloaded every single update available for Win7 Ultimate at that point, as the system was buggy and I was trying to determine the fault [a ground short as it turns out]. NEVER did it lapse out of validation or activation.

 

[zapp22]

Bill that is what I expected, but I was surprised that the Activation status persisted. seems to be a hole in the process.

the provider is fwd'ing a program [i knew nothing about] that permanently decommissions this key/license, then replace with a 'good' one... in theory. we shall see.

Can someone refer me to the "decoder ring" for comprehending the readout of the WGA Diagnosis applet?

If your win7 license is OEM (like dell, hp etc.), then changing the mobo deactivates the license. If its retail, the license is freely transferable as long it is used on only a single machine at any given time, you'll need to call MS in that case and convince them you've installed on a single machine only.

 

[Bill2]

Zapp you're not getting the point. A change of mobo WILL kill the activation. As to "activation persisting", if you believe the machine remained genuine and validated even after the mobo changed, then SUDDENLY changed its mind, call MS.

OTOH, if you tell us specifically what license type you have, we can help you. Another thing you can do is to upload the mgadiag output with your next post as a text file, I'll take a look at it.

 

[Tews]

Im sorry if there was some misunderstanding on my part.. It sounded like you were building/refurbing systems, then attempting to install an OEM copy of Windows 7 on it, which of course would not succeed, as an OEM copy of Windows is tied to the machine that it is originally installed on. Apparently MS was under this impression as well, thus there refusal to get involved...

The bottom line is that they did not want to fool with OEM/Volume keys whatsoever

Good luck with getting MS to offer support for an OEM copy of Windows..

 

[zapp22]

I do get it. I fully expected the OS to DE-ACTIVATE. It didn't, and hasn't.. I think the goat's head may be that it is hacked.
I'm dealing now with the provider.

 

[Bill2]

If windows is activated "illegally" it'll be activated but not validated/genuine.

 

[Tews]

I do get it. I fully expected the OS to DE-ACTIVATE. It didn't, and hasn't.. I think the goat's head may be that it is hacked.
I'm dealing now with the provider.

That would explain it... sounds like your client got busted...

 

[zapp22]

in this case the buck will stop with me. I'll convert it back to the original spec as it left Dell, and take the hit.

There are a LOT of grayware Win7 licenses on machines being pedaled on Ebay, and in some cases the seller is unaware of it. In fact one such seller MAY be Dell... that is Dell Financial Services. I inquired in my standard fashion about the licenses for Win7 that were associated with off-lease or otherwise owned systems being dumped by DFS, and the answer I got was "we know nothing about the Windows 7 that is on these machines" .... in otherwords, "don't tell" and ... "we wish you would 'don't ask' .." .

But the idea that Microsoft somehow prohibits OEM licenses from re-use on hardware other than the original is mistaken. I shall not take the time to dig up my long post on this, but I'm surprised that good folks still spread that idea. The people I spoke with were very clear - no problems with moving from one to another, just make sure that if its KMS it gets reactivated by the original server, and 1-machine, 1-license, as always. I inquired about whether [as someone on Sevenforums asserted in the other thread] the Ts & C's restrict what an OEM/Vol-license-holder may DO with the systems that they put the OS on. The answer is a solid "NO". There's nothing in their terms that restricts the intermediaries from reselling machines a dozen times if they want to. Hardware gets changed. Stuff happens. Capacitors blow out [yay Dell....] - none of that neuters the good license that someone paid good money for.

in the present case, this one is clearly a 'bad' win7 Ultimate oem license that was graywared apparently way back early in Windows 7 days... I got stuck. the oddity is that the same system has a perfectly good legitimate Office Pro 2010 license - everything just dandy.
Go figure. :huh:

I do get it. I fully expected the OS to DE-ACTIVATE. It didn't, and hasn't.. I think the goat's head may be that it is hacked.
I'm dealing now with the provider.

That would explain it... sounds like your client got busted...

 

[zapp22]

that appears to be the case bill.
apparently there is some successful hackery programs out there that can do "presto!" and make an illegitimate copy pass the current crop of builtin validation routines.
all over youtube etc etc.... One of them bravely has a Website up and running, almost looks legit - go there and download your 'activate/validate' solution.

If windows is activated "illegally" it'll be activated but not validated/genuine.