Windows 7 Genuine Check Tool
You can recover 100 MB file in the free version:! In this video, I am doing a quick tutorial on how to fix the message saying tha. If, in any case, Windows 7 would determine that a specific copy of the OS was not genuine, it would replace the user’s desktop wallpaper with a blank black background with a message stating “This copy of Windows is not genuine” along with the version and build of the Windows OS installed on the computer in question.
Notes:
Jun 06, 2018 Type your Windows 7 product key when prompted, select Next, and then follow the instructions. To activate Windows 7 by phone: Select the Start button, right-click Computer, select Properties, and then select Activate Windows now. Choose Show me other ways to activate. Type your Windows 7 product key, and then select Next. You'll need a free product key-finder program that supports Windows 7, then just follow the easy instructions to get the number. The Windows 7 product key is sometimes called the Windows 7 serial key, activation key, or CD key. A copy of your Windows 7 key is also stored in the registry. It's encrypted but a special program will extract it for you.
Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020
We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.
Genuine versions of Windows are published by Microsoft, properly licensed, and supported by Microsoft or a trusted partner. You'll need a genuine version of Windows to access the optional updates and downloads that help you get the most from your PC.
To learn how to activate Windows, see Activate Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. If you're using Windows 10, see Activation in Windows 10.
Here are answers to some common questions about genuine Windows software.
How do I know if I'm running genuine Windows software?
Look for key features of genuine Windows software, such as the Certificate of Authenticity (COA), a proof of license label, and an edge-to-edge hologram. For more information, visit the What to look for page on the Microsoft How to Tell website. Your safest option is always to buy Windows from Microsoft, or to buy a PC with Windows preinstalled directly from Microsoft or a store you know and trust.
I see messages that Windows might not be genuine. How do I fix this?
If you're seeing these notifications, it's likely that your copy of Windows wasn't properly activated. Click the notification and follow the steps to repair Windows or buy a genuine version of Windows if you find out the software is counterfeit.
Until you correct the issue, you'll receive periodic reminders that Windows is not genuine. Your desktop may also turn black to emphasize the messages. You can reset it, but it will return to black every 60 minutes until the issue is resolved.
Windows will always be able to get critical security updates, even if your version isn't genuine. However, other updates and benefits are available exclusively for genuine Windows software.
How is activation related to genuine Windows software?
Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is used only on PCs that the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. It pairs your product key or digital entitlement with your hardware configuration. Usually, you only need to activate Windows once, unless you make a significant hardware change.
When your PC downloads updates, Windows checks to see if your product key or digital entitlement is valid. If it is, you're eligible to receive the latest updates from Microsoft. If it's not, your PC is running non-genuine Windows.
Can I install my copy of Windows on more than one PC?
You can't install Windows on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. Usually, a copy of Windows can only be installed on one PC. To learn more about licensing Windows on more than one PC, go to the Microsoft Volume Licensing website.
If my PC is running non-genuine Windows software, can it still receive critical security updates?
Yes. You'll still be able to get critical security updates. However, many updates are exclusively for customers with genuine versions of Windows. We strongly recommend that you get genuine Microsoft software immediately to keep you safer while using your PC.
What is validation?
Validation is an online process. It verifies that your copy of Windows is genuine and that critical Windows licensing files haven't been damaged, deleted, or removed. It takes only a few moments and lets Microsoft create a match between your PC's hardware profile and your 25-character product key or digital entitlement.
Your copy of Windows may need to be validated before you can get downloads and the updates which are reserved for PCs that are running genuine Windows. Windows might also prompt you to run genuine validation if activation isn't properly completed.
If your copy of Windows fails validation, you'll see a results page that tells you why it isn't genuine. You'll also see info about how to resolve the issue.
What are the most common reasons Windows fails validation?
There are a few common scenarios in which Windows running on a PC might be discovered to be non-genuine during validation.
Repairs. If your PC has been repaired, you might start to see messages on your desktop that Windows isn't genuine. If the repairs required Windows to be reinstalled, the technician may have activated Windows with a different key than you used when it was originally installed. You might not see the messages until you try to download something from the Microsoft Download Center that requires validation, and validation fails. To fix the issue, you can properly activate Windows by reentering your original product key.
For other issues, you may need to buy a genuine version of Windows.1 License = 1 PC. Another common cause of Windows validation failure happens when you try to install Windows on more PCs than your license allows. For instance, if you purchased a copy of Windows and installed it on more than one PC, online validation might fail because the product key has already been used on another PC. The rule for most copies of Windows is that only one copy of Windows can be installed on one PC. To learn about licensing more than one PC, go to the Microsoft Volume Licensing website.
Counterfeit software. Validation will also fail if you’ve inadvertently acquired and installed counterfeit Windows software. The Microsoft How to Tell website can help you identify counterfeit software and file a counterfeit software report if needed. Validation failure is common for versions of Windows that were purchased from an online auction site, or if Windows was on a used PC that you purchased. Remember to ask the seller for the Certificate of Authenticity and the original Windows disc, if there was one.
How do I report counterfeit software?
To file a counterfeit report, go to the Microsoft How to Tell website.
You can file an online report if you inadvertently bought or received counterfeit software, or have information about a person, business, or online site that might be selling counterfeit software. The report you submit will be treated as confidential. Microsoft devotes substantial time and energy to fighting software counterfeiting, and you can be assured that we will take appropriate action in response to your report.
What do the activation errors mean?
If you got an error when you were activating Windows, you can find what it means. For details, go to Get help with activation errors.
How do I find my product key?
You’ll need a product key when you install Windows. To learn more, go to Find a product key.
Buying and using pirated software is a dangerous game to play for many reasons. If you’ve purchased Windows from an auction site or some other non-retail location you may not have a genuine version of Windows. Thankfully Microsoft has made it pretty easy to find out if you have a real copy of Windows. This guide will show you how to check whether your Windows installation is genuine.
Lets take a look at using the Microsoft Genuine Diagnostics Tool
Windows 7 Genuine Disable
The MSGDT provides an easy way to find out key information regarding your Windows licensing and can be used diagnose common problems with Windows Activation problems. In future article, we will take a look at using the Microsoft Genuine Diagnostics Tool (MSGDT) to diagnose and troubleshoot Activation problems.
Step 1: Download MSGDT here
Step 2: Once saved, run the tool.
Step 3: Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
Step 4: To copy the report to your results, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into a text editor such as NotePad or WordPad (preferably WordPad).
The first thing we are going to look at is the product identification.
Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
————————————————————————————–
Windows Validation Data–>
Validation Code: 50
Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-AAAAA-BBBBB-CCCCC
Windows Product Key Hash: uniSKNJNgGH/kpdR+KWVmDElfq0=
Windows Product ID: XXXXX-067-XXXXXXX-XXXXX
Windows Product ID Type: 5
Windows License Type: Retail
Windows OS version: 6.1.7600.2.00010100.0.0.001
—————————————————————————————-
The highlighted 067 tells us the channel from which the software originated, which is either MSDN or TechNet. This tells us immediately if you are running software from a channel from which it is for evaluation purposes only. Also if it has one of the following examples below you probably have an MSDN key.
065, 066, 067, 068 for Ultimate, 220 area for Pro and the 230, 231, 221 area for Home Premium, there are probably others but they should be close to the ones I have listed here.
Other information you can look at too is the Licensing Data:
—————————————————————————————
Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool
Licensing Data–>
Software licensing service version: 6.0.6002.18005
Name: Windows(TM) Vista, Business edition
Description: Windows Operating System – Vista, OEM_SLP channel
Activation ID: fd3bcb98-5c55-4b2d-ae32-a4515e3c17a3
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 89584-00146-321-400039-02-1033-6001.0000-3362008
Installation ID: 019730227492214585406233828444513601479652905332893231
———————————————————————————————
In the above example, the following describes additional information about the channel it is intended for. If you are certain you bought a retail Windows License and you see OEM_SLP Channel, that’s a bad sign. What some clever pirates are able to do is use a hacked OEM BIOS (DELL, Lenovo, Gateway, HP) which does not require activation of their Windows licenses are used to create Frankenstein installations that can bypass activation on any computer.
This results in the software being used in the wrong channel and on systems they are not intended for. You can notice this easily too, for example, if you have a HP system, and you installed one of these hacked OEM Windows 7 installations, when you you click Start, right click Computer > click Properties > you will end up seeing a logo for a different OEM brand logo under System Type.
More about OEM_SLP licenses and how they work:
Computers, which are built by large manufactures that come with Windows Pre-Installed, come with two (2) Product Keys:
A) OEM SLP: This key comes pre-installed in Windows, when it comes from the Factory. This key is geared to work with the OEM Bios Flag found only on that Manufacturer’s computer hardware. So when Windows was installed using the OEM SLP key (at the factory) Windows looks at the motherboard and sees the proper OEM Bios Flag (for that Manufacturer and that version of Windows) and Self-Activates. (that’s why you did not need to Activate your computer after you brought it home)
B) COA SLP: This is the Product key that you see on the sticker on the side (or bottom) of your computer. It is a valid product key, but should only be used in limited situations (such as if the OEM SLP key stops self-activating for whatever reason). The key must be activated by Phone. (Note: All manufacturers that use the OEM SLP system are required by contract to include a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker, that has a COA SLP key, on the computer)
Your Windows is using an OEM SLP key, but (for whatever reason) cannot see the special instructions in the computer’s motherboard and is unable to Self-Activate.
To fix the issue, you will need to change out the OEM SLP key with the COA SLP key. The normal way to do this is to click the ‘Start’ button, right-click ‘Computer’, select ‘Properties’ and then click ‘Change Product Key’ (located in the lower right-hand side of the window). Enter the COA SLP key and follow the instructions in the Change Product Key Wizard.
Steps to Take
If you discover that your key is indeed a non-genuine license, there certain actions you can take to resolve this matter. The first one, is to try demanding a refund from the source or channel you purchased the software. If this option does not work out (usually it doesn’t), either you get no response from the source because you have discovered what they did. The next thing to do even if you do get a refund is to report the vendor to Ebay here The next step is to report it to Microsoft:
Method 1: E-mail [email protected].
Method 2: Call the Microsoft Anti-Piracy Hotline at (800) RU-LEGIT.
Method 3: Fill out an online reporting form.
So, you have done your part, now what about the non-genuine software that is still installed on your computer? I checked Microsoft’s How To Tell website, but did not find a clear explanation of what must be done in terms of compensation or how to get a genuine replacement.
The Report Suspected Piracy page though does provide a detailed form with instructions about how to report the software, description, place of purchase, time of purchase that can help resolve the issue. It is assumed that the option to provide personal information will allow Microsoft to contact you and follow-up with the issue.
The next option is the Microsoft Product Key Update Tool. One of these steps will let you check to see whether you can use the online Product Key Update Tool. If your computer came with a genuine product key, but Windows was improperly installed using an invalid product key, the Product Key Update Tool helps convert your computer to a genuine status without having to purchase a new copy of Windows. If this solution does not work, refer to the instructions here for what to do when your system fails validation.
One of things I should point out, usually the non-genuine software is purchased at too good to be true prices compared to the retail product, so the loss is usually minimal in some cases. So, the best recommendation going forward would be to purchase from a reputable source such as the Microsoft Store or a retail store software and computer products are sold. Some online stores allow resellers to retail products through their stores, called merchants. Persons for example have purchased Windows software through Amazon.com only to find out it’s a non-genuine license. So make sure you buying directly from Amazon. If you have any questions, please post in the comments.
Resources:
Windows 7 Genuine Advantage Validation Issues (Windows 7) Forum
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