Solved Error message: Copy of windows is not genuine - Windows 7 Build 7600

[jrodola]

Hi,

My parents bought a laptop (HP g7 i3) around 2011, with a pre-installed Windows 7 Home Basic. It has a "Windows 7" sticker on the keyboard and a sticker with the Product Key on the bottom side of the laptop so it seems everything is legal.
Until now, it has been working fine, they used it just for internet browsing.
Recently, when starting up Windows its says something like "This copy of windows is not genuine Windows 7 Build 7600" and everything (programs, icons, etc...) has disappeared. There is not even WiFi adapter enabled.
I have tried to insert the Product key of the sticker in "Activate Windows > Product key" and it says "The product key you typed does not work with this Windows 7 version. You have to execute Windows 7 installation program or insert a product key for Windows 7 Home Basic". The truth is that the product key on the sticker says "Windows®7 Home Prem OA" and the Windows 7 I see running on the laptop says "Home Basic"

1- Do W7 product keys expire after 13-14 years? If not, what could have happened to the laptop?

2- Is it possible to use a "Windows 7 Home Prem OA" product key on a Windows 7 Home Basic?

3- If the answer to "2" is "No":

• That means all these years that Windows 7 was not activated with "Windows 7 Home Premium" product key, right?
• Should I try to install a "Home Premium" version of Windows 7 on this laptop and use that "Windows®7 Home Prem OA" product key?

Thanks a lot,

Regards,

Javi

 

[SIW2]

Is it possible to use a "Windows 7 Home Prem OA" product key on a Windows 7 Home Basic?

only after upgrading the edition

you can type the word UPGRADE in the start search box

windows anytime upgrade should show up.

click it

put the key in and it will start to upgrade the edition

It does not need to be a special upgrade key, your coa key will do

It might claimto have failed after a minute

ignore that

when you reboot the edition will complete the upgrade

then you need to enter the key in the normal way to activate

 

[jrodola]

Thanks a lot! It worked
Just one extra thing: I had to activate restoration points (I guess it was in Control Panel > System and Security > System > System Protection) to be able to launch Windows Anytime Upgrade.

Regards!

 

[SIW2]