Solved Win 7 Genuine Message after Removing Vista Dual Boot

[DJSHOTMAIL]

I had Vista and Win 7 Ultimate dual booting each on a separate partition of the same hard drive. Vista was installed first.

I used EasyBCD to (a) remove Vista from the boot menu and (b) set Windows to boot directly into Win 7.
This worked.

I then used GParted to remove the Vista partition and add the space to Win 7.

I then used my Win 7 Ultimate disk to do a startup repair because Bootmgr was 'missing' since it was on the Vista partition. This also appeared to work because the computer boots into my login screen and shows the local domain that I log into.

However, after logging in, the 'Preparing your desktop' screen appears for a long time, and then a blue-blank desktop appears with the 'Win 7 Build 7601 This copy of windows is not genuine' message in the lower right.

This copy of Win 7 Ultimate is from my subscription to the Microsoft Action Pack.

Is there a way to fix this without having to re-install Windows 7?

Thanks,

 

[Golden]

In order to completely troubleshoot Windows validation & activation issues, please perform the following:

1. Download and save this tool to your desktop:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

2. Run the tool, and then click Copy - ignore any errors if they appear

3. Use CTRL+V to paste the unedited results of the tool here in your next reply

 

[NoelDP]

Changing the partition number of the Windows 7 install has probably simply triggered a need to re-activate.
Posting the MGADiag report that Golden referred to will confirm whether this is the case or not.

 

[DJSHOTMAIL]

How can I download the tool to my desktop when I cannot get to the desktop?

 

[NoelDP]

Good point!

Can you get into Safe Mode with Networking? - or even ordinary Safe Mode?

If so, try a Clean boot - How to perform a clean boot in Windows

 

[DJSHOTMAIL]

I tried Safe Mode, Safe Mode w/ Networking, and Safe Mode w/ Command Prompt. The results were all the same: a blank black screen with Safe Mode in the four corners.

I then tried the Repair choice and chose Command Prompt from that menu which gave me the C: prompt.

I then tried using SLMGR.VBS /ipk xxx...... which I saw on some post.

However I received an error message 0x2a 0x80041010

 

[NoelDP]

You can't install a Key using the Repair Environment.

Did you attempt a System Restore from there?
What result?

 

[DJSHOTMAIL]

I tried. This is the result.

Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically.

Problem Event Name: StartupRepairOffline
Problem Signature 1: 6.1.7600.16835
Problem Signature 2: 6.1.7600.16835
Problem Signature 3: unknown
Problem Signature 4: 218
Problem Signature 5: ManualRepair
Problem Signature 6: 1
Problem Signature 7: NoRootCause
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
LocaleID: 1033

 

[NoelDP]

It sounds to me as if the BCD is goosed

I don't have enough experience in this area to be able to advise - Golden may have more, but I'll ask Gregrocker to stop by and take a look. With luck he'll be able to see the wood through the trees.

 

[DJSHOTMAIL]

Thanks.

To me it doesn't seem to be a booting issue, since the computer gets to my correct login screen.

However I'll take any suggestions that will prevent me from having to re-install all of my software.

 

[DJSHOTMAIL]

Based on NoelDP's guess, I followed the steps in this article. How To Fix Boot/BCD 0xc000000f Error Windows 7 | Think Like A Computer

Unfortunately that did not solve anything as I am still at the 'not genuine' desktop.

 

[gregrocker]

This sounds like a non-geniune lockout caused by a drive letter change in registry. I happens sometimes during reimaging or repartitioning.

Use FREE Rescue Kit Express | PARAGON Software Group

Boot the Paragon CD - select Normal Mode , then Boot Corrector.

Correct drive letters in the system registry.



Release the incorrect letter first, if necesssary.

If this fails you might be able to insert your Product Key from the System Recovery Options Command Line: SLMgr Commands and Options

If this fails you'll need to boot the Windows 7 installer to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 after rescuiing your files using the Paragon disk.

Incidentally this will not normally happen if the bootmgr is moved first by Marking Win7 Partition Active to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times and then Recover Partition Space Used by an Older OS. At most you might have to do a simple Startup Repair after resizing on the boot sector.

 

[DJSHOTMAIL]

Thanks gregrocker.

I'll have to give this a try.

A related question. There are 3 partitions on the hard drive.
1 - Dell OEM Recover
2 - System (?)
3 - Win 7

Which should be marked as active? 2, 3, or both?

Thanks

 

[DJSHOTMAIL]

I must be an idiot.

I downloaded the paragon software and burned it to a CD.

However the computer will not boot from the CD.

Was I supposed to do something else?

 

[gregrocker]

Did you use Windows Image Burner? It should be on the context menu when you right click the ISO.

Then reboot the PC and tap the Dell F12 Key to access BOot Menu, choose CD drive to boot.

To test the CD try booting it in another PC.

 

[DJSHOTMAIL]

I expected an iso file.

However the link on the Paragon site had me download a file named rk_free.exe.

 

[gregrocker]

Rightclick the .exe to run as Admin and it should burn ISO to disk for you.

I've never heard of it not booting. Do you have good CD's? Are you selecting CD drive from BIOS Boot menu key? Does it prompt to "Press Any key...?"

Try booting it in another PC.

 

[DJSHOTMAIL]

OK - Paragon Rescue CD solved the problem. The issue was that the re-partitioning assigned the Win 7 partition to the E drive. After changing the drive letter to C, the machine booted as normal. Thanks to gregrocker and everyone else that gave suggestions.

 

[gregrocker]

Glad to hear it. We once got that issue regularly but I haven't seen it for months so wondered if it was curtailed by a performance Update. We'll have to keep the link handy.