How do I authenticate windows?

I am trying to fix my daughters laptop. The hard drive was going bad so she did a system backup to 4 CD's. Then she changed the hard drive and installed the backup.

The laptop generally works OK and is totally usable but it keeps popping up an error saying that it is not genuine windows and I also notice that windows update is not working at all so nothing is updating. I have tried numerous fixes and also got a Microsoft support agent to take control of the laptop and try to fix it.

He was unable to fix it and escalated to level 2 support supposedly but twice now they were supposed to call me back and after hours upon hours of waiting for the call I can only assume they are blowing me off and won't help me at this point.

Can anyone advise me as to what I should do?

Also I want to ask this: I have another laptop (both are windows 7) and I made a system backup to a thumbdrive. Can I use a system back from one laptop and use it on another? I assume that Microsoft prohibits this but I don't know.

Any help is much appreciated!

Hello Joe, :)

If you are able to find the product key for the laptop, you should be able to activate with it. Usually on a laptop, the COA sticker with the key on it will be on the bottom or under the battery.

Product Key Number for Windows 7 - Find and See

Activate Windows 7 Online

Brink said:

Hello Joe, :)

If you are able to find the product key for the laptop, you should be able to activate with it. Usually on a laptop, the COA sticker with the key on it will be on the bottom or under the battery.

Product Key Number for Windows 7 - Find and See

Activate Windows 7 Online

Thanks Brink! You have given me some great information. I will try it tonight when I get home from work.

You're welcome. Please let us know how it went. :)

The most likely problem is the hard drive drivers - please post an MGADiag report to confirm this...


Please follow this tutorial and post an MGADiag report - then we can see what the problem is.

Windows Genuine and Activation Issue Posting Instructions

Ignore errors produced when clicking on the Copy button - they simply mean that the tool could not create the backup files for some reason. The data is still copied to the clipboard for pasting to your response.

Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine (or inside the battery compartment), but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/howt...spx#PCPurchase

Thanks I did get the product key from the bottom of the laptop and entered it and it took it so it is now authenticated. But it is still messed up and windows update not working. I finally got a microsoft tech support person to remote in and work on it but they could not fix it. They claim they will follow up with a call from level 2 (not holding my breath).

I have to leave town shortly so I may not be able to follow up with anything till sunday.

Well, at least it's activated.

You might see if using OPTION THREE below to completely reset Windows Update may help.

Windows Update - Reset

Thanks Brink I tried it but still not working and I am still getting a popup saying it is not genuine windows even though I authenticated it with the key

NoelDP said:

The most likely problem is the hard drive drivers - please post an MGADiag report to confirm this...


Please follow this tutorial and post an MGADiag report - then we can see what the problem is.

Windows Genuine and Activation Issue Posting Instructions

Ignore errors produced when clicking on the Copy button - they simply mean that the tool could not create the backup files for some reason. The data is still copied to the clipboard for pasting to your response.

Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine (or inside the battery compartment), but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/howt...spx#PCPurchase

Here are the results of the MGADiag:

Code:

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0019.0):
-----------------------------------------
WGA Data-->
Validation Status: Genuine
Validation Code: 0
 
Cached Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-28CHQ-HF89P-BQDK8
Windows Product Key Hash: efDVeiE6oyBHJOU5dAFafL0Ak24=
Windows Product ID: 00359-OEM-9809583-31691
Windows Product ID Type: 8
Windows License Type: COA SLP
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.003
ID: {2C2E414F-3064-4730-924D-F7149CE394B4}(3)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
WGA Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Home Premium
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.130318-1533
TTS Error: 
Validation Diagnostic: 
Resolution Status: N/A
 
WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
 
WGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
File Exists: No
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
 
OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
 
OGA Data-->
Office Status: 109 N/A
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3
 
Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera\opera.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed
 
File Scan Data-->
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\watadminsvc.exe[7.1.7600.16395]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\watux.exe[7.1.7600.16395]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppobjs.dll[6.1.7601.17514]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppc.dll[6.1.7601.17514]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppcext.dll[6.1.7600.16385]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppwinob.dll[6.1.7601.17514]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\slc.dll[6.1.7600.16385]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\slcext.dll[6.1.7600.16385]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppuinotify.dll[6.1.7600.16385]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\slui.exe[6.1.7601.17514]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppcomapi.dll[6.1.7601.17514]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppcommdlg.dll[6.1.7600.16385]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe[6.1.7601.17514]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\spsys.sys[6.1.7127.0]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\spldr.sys[6.1.7127.0]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\systemcpl.dll[6.1.7601.17514]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\en-us\user32.dll.mui[6.1.7601.17514]
 
Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{2C2E414F-3064-4730-924D-F7149CE394B4}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0019.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.003</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-BQDK8</PKey><PID>00359-OEM-9809583-31691</PID><PIDType>8</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-1933340213-2107477965-640390738</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Sony Corporation</Manufacturer><Model>VPCEB23FM</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>American Megatrends Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>R0300Y8</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="6"/><Date>20100720000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>A5523507018400FC</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Pacific Standard Time(GMT-08:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>Sony</OEMID><OEMTableID>VAIO</OEMTableID></OEM><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>  
 
Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002
 
Licensing Data-->
Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514
 
Name: Windows(R) 7, HomePremium edition
Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, OEM_COA_SLP channel
Activation ID: 5e017a8a-f3f9-4167-b1bd-ba3e236a4d8f
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 00359-00196-095-831691-02-1033-7601.0000-2742015
Installation ID: 011820480641711415628646882716848853134613195612531994
Processor Certificate URL: SpcService Web Service
Machine Certificate URL: RacService Web Service
Use License URL: UseLicenseService Web Service
Product Key Certificate URL: PkcService Web Service
Partial Product Key: BQDK8
License Status: Licensed
Remaining Windows rearm count: 4
Trusted time: 10/2/2015 10:04:59 AM
 
Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x8004FE21
HrOnline: 0x00000000
HealthStatus: 0x000000000001EFF0
Event Time Stamp: 9:26:2015 16:34
WAT Activex: Registered
WAT Admin Service: Registered
 
HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: MgAAAAEAAwABAAEAAAABAAAAAwABAAEA6GG+I+4yUsce7vpFfHRGKlhLLOsOMTC4XF0=
 
OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A
 
OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes
Windows marker version: 0x20001
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes
BIOS Information: 
  ACPI Table Name    OEMID Value    OEMTableID Value
  APIC            Sony        VAIO
  FACP            Sony        VAIO
  HPET            Sony        VAIO
  MCFG            Sony        VAIO
  SLIC            Sony        VAIO
  SSDT            Sony        VAIO
  SSDT            Sony        VAIO
 
******************************************
Also I am running Windows 7 Home Premium Service pack 1
Product ID: 00359-OEM-9809583-31691

This may simply be caused by a bad set of Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers -

Installing the Intel Rapid Storage Drivers
try downloading and installing them from here - https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...&DwnldID=22194

(you want the iata_enu.exe download)

Once complete, please reboot twice, then post another MGADiag report.