even the store bought sealed windows 7's are not genuine?

[Bushman5]

going thru hell here...........the windows 7 enterprise that was installed by the retailer on my HD is now apparently not genuine. I thought it had activated when i hooked the computer up to the web, have not had any issues for over three months now....yet the other day i get the black screen, and the popup message "windows not genuine" every hour this was a from a sealed win 7 ultimate case! are the counterfits getting that good that they are duplicating the black packaging and printed disc labels? how the hell does one get REAL windows 7! anyone had issues with best Buy ripping them off this way?

 

[richc46]

If you went to a legit dealer and have a sealed pack. I think that you are ok.

MS has started a new validiation procedue, still has some bugs. Activate by phone, if the key does not work a rep will come on. Explain it to him

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html?ltr=A

 

[alphanumeric]

Is it "Enterprise" or "Ultimate"? Their is a difference and you mentioned both in your original post. Did you get a COA sticker with the product code on it?

 

[Ex_Brit]

As Richc46 said, the validation procedure has bugs. I use Microsoft Technet downloads and even they have been branded 'not genuine' on occasion. Usually after a few attempts or a reboot it works OK.
On a couple of occasions it suddenly became 'not genuine' after I'd done the monthly 'Microsoft Tuesday' updates. This has happened to me in both Vista Ultimate SP2 and Windows 7 Ultimate.

 

[jimbo45]

I'm using currently a W7 X64 from technet. W7 X64 Enterprise version.

Didn't have any activation problems at all --

I've also installed W7 X86 and W7 X64 Professional from technet also with no activation problems.

Just try re-booting or doing a W7 Upgrade from your initial installation using the same install ISO. That sometimes fixes the "Not Genuine" validation error.

Another solution is to Change the Product key -- and then input the key you got from technet.

Sometimes you actually NEED to do this -- I think with Enterprise office 2007 you had to re-set the product key --can't remember but it did the trick.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Bushman5]

if you want something done right, do it yourself.............. a quote i have heard and over and one that i stand by. The one time i let someone else install something for me, i get burned. just gonna drop the coin (MORE COIN) and buy win7 ultimate from another store. best buy has crooks working for them.

 

[myzr7]

Might you give this a try before you buy a new key.
Genuine Microsoft Software

 

[cluberti]

I think the root cause is in the original statement - Windows 7 Enterprise from a retailer. Considering Enterprise is volume only, if this really is an Enterprise install, it is 99.9999999% likely to be illegitimate. VL versions of Windows 7, including Enterprise, are *not* for resale. If you got it with a PC other than from your IT department at work or school (etc), that copy is not genuine. Specifically, Windows 7 Enterprise does *not* come in any sort of packaging for retail, so if you have a Win7 Enterprise "box", you can be sure it's fake. It might be a good fake, but it's still fake. Also, the Win7 Enterprise trial is 90 days, so that sort of goes with what you are seeing - at 90 days, it starts telling you it's no longer genuine, and at some point in the future it'll stop working entirely.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc442495.aspx

After the 90-day Trial expires, if you wish to continue to use Windows 7 Enterprise, please note that you will be required to purchase and perform a clean installation of Windows 7, including drivers and applications. Please keep this in mind; Windows 7 Enterprise is not available through retail channels.

Again, if you have a Windows 7 Enterprise "box" and an install that was purchased from a retailer, you were duped.

 

[gregrocker]

Cluberti has it exactly right. Enterprise is not available for retail sale or use.

In order to sell you an installed Win7 copy which is legit, there has to be a COA sticker on the machine. There couldn't really be a retail OEM copy of Enterprise since as stated it is used by Universities and other large institutions for volume licensing of many copies of Windows. It can never be sold retail.

If your receipt or other sales literature verifies that the machine was sold with this phony retail Win7 version on it then you have proof of theft. I would visit the store with a witness and politely ask them what they intend to do about it. Act as though you are embarassed on their behalf and dont' want to hurt their reputation, just get a legit retail version installed. If they offer to give you a retail copy, I would take it since we can most likely help you install it better than thieves would.

If they won't cooperate then file a theft complaint with the local police. If they are too busy to deal with it go to your local prosecuting attorney. If you need MS's help to verfy any of this to authorities or further pursue the merchant, call or email their Customer Service.

 

[alphanumeric]

Thats what I was thinking, thats why I asked if it was Enterprise or Ultimate, and if he got a COA sticker with it.

 

[cluberti]

Agreed. I wouldn't go back to the merchant though, at least not before contacting Microsoft about it.

 

[pparks1]

Another confirmation if you think these guys are nuts...but Windows 7 Enterprise is not available without a volume license and you cannot resell your licenses if you are a volume license customer. Unfortunately you were not aware of this prior to your purchase, but it would have been a huge tipoff that something real shady was going on.

My company is in negotiations with Microsoft and we are planning to not renew our Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft as the Software Assurance components cost us a quarter million dollars a year and they said "you realize that if you let the EA go, you can no longer obtain Windows client enterprise edition...so if you rely on any of these features....as a regular consumer you would have to purchase Ultimate edition instead.

going thru hell here...........the windows 7 enterprise that was installed by the retailer on my HD is now apparently not genuine. anyone had issues with best Buy ripping them off this way?

Edit: Are you saying that Best Buy installed this OS on your hard drive? I'm assuming instead you mean that you are considering purchasing a legit copy from Best Buy...but trying to make sure you don't get ripped off there before you make the move.

 

[Bushman5]

problem solved. I went the simple route and purchased a OEM pack (windows 7 Ultimate 64bit) from another well trusted computer store. The build date is fairly recent (06/28/2010) using Darik's Boot and Nuke disk right now on my main computer prior to installing the minty fresh REAL windows 7 onto it. just want a nice fresh legal OS, and now i have it without any hassles. nuff said.

 

[cluberti]

You want to post some pics of the fake Win7 you had, so we can use them to warn others? It might be useful.

 

[Bushman5]

i'm about to nuke (wipe) all my HD's so i can install the new OS.......what do you want to see?

 

[cluberti]

Pics of the box, the DVD, and the COA (blot out anything you don't want us to see that would be personally identifiable, of course). I'm always interested in fakes, especially good ones.

 

[Bushman5]

got the original disc here, nothing more than a sharpie marked DVD in a plain sleeve.


gimmie few minutes to get pics uploaded

the NEW dvd is full of microsoft holograms and has a peel off COA sticker. It activated immediately upon install and connection to the intrawebz.

 

[pparks1]

yeah, sharpie marked copies in a paper sleeve are not legit Microsoft issue for sale. and as we have learned, neither is Windows 7 enterprise.

 

[Bubby]

if you want something done right, do it yourself.............. a quote i have heard and over and one that i stand by. The one time i let someone else install something for me, i get burned. just gonna drop the coin (MORE COIN) and buy win7 ultimate from another store. best buy has crooks working for them.

Something fishy going on here. You're saying Best Buy sold you a fake copy of Windows? A DVD marked with a sharpie?

Very fishy.

 

[Phone Man]

if you want something done right, do it yourself.............. a quote i have heard and over and one that i stand by. The one time i let someone else install something for me, i get burned. just gonna drop the coin (MORE COIN) and buy win7 ultimate from another store. best buy has crooks working for them.

Something fishy going on here. You're saying Best Buy sold you a fake copy of Windows? A DVD marked with a sharpie?

Very fishy.

Very fishy. In the OP's original post he said " this was a from a sealed win 7 ultimate case! are the counterfits getting that good that they are duplicating the black packaging and printed disc labels?" and now it is a DVD marked with a sharpie. What happen to the pics he was to post last week. I am calling BS on this guy.

Jim