Help! "This copy of windows is not genuine"

Hi all,

Well I recently had to recover of OS on my new laptop caused it crashed and a blue screen appeared. I used the manufacturer's recovery disk I got when I purchased the laptop. However I recently noticed that on the bottom right hand corner of the screen the following text always appears no matter which wallpaper I change to:

Windows Vista (TM)
Build 6000
This copy of windows is not genuine

This has never appeared before the crash, I don;t know what to make of it, can anyone?

 

That means, Windows Genuine Advantage believes you are using a counterfeit copy of Windows.

If you are absolutely sure that it is a licensed copy of Windows (well, a manufacturer recovery disk would be considered licensed), call Microsoft.

 

umm, the windows must have not activated, call ms

 

Have you tried activating your copy from the System page?

 

This is very strange behavior, if your notebook came with vista installed it should never need activating. OEMs use pre-activation techniques which means that a user would never have to run activation when they install windows. Something probably got corrupted (I suspect the OEM certification). Have you tried re-installing(recovering) windows again to see what happens?

 

A step-by-step solution:

Step 1) Shut down computer.

Step 2) Unplug all peripherals and the power supply. Ensure that no cables are plugged in to the tower.

Step 3) Lift the tower using your knees (not your arms, thats bad for you!) and transport it to the nearest open 4 or 5 story window (5 is recommended).

Step 4) Toss the damn thing out the window!

Disclaimer: I'm just kidding.

 

Yeah, I've seen this happen and usually the only way to fix it is a complete reinstall. MS's activation servers were recently screwed up so maybe your problem is related to their failure. But either way, it sounds like something got corrupted (like my installation) but I wasn't able to fix it without a complete reinstall.

Sorry to hear about it! That shouldn't have happened...

 

thankyou for your suggestions, i will try in reinstall the recovery disk after I finish uni next week and see if it solves the problem

 

I have your solution. Go to control panel. Go to system, then go down to where it says change your key. Click on change product key and put it your key again. IT should validate it fine now.

 

PIRATES!! Ye Ol' Pirates!! - LoL

Or is it thieves, crooks or hoodlems they're calling legitimate customers these days at Microsoft HQ?

- Jordan

 

getting mad, threaten to throw the os out ... = no good

a better idea would be to get together and force a kinda class action suit for all the inconveniences and lost production times over this "os not genuine" issue and over this "lousy" programming and "i m hollyer than thou" mentality

cheers ...

 

LoL - Don't forget the 'forced' OS incompatibility - i.e. since MS has been forcing the manufacturers (which directly affects us) to drop XP & support Vista Soley

- Jordan

 

Same problem here using XP I just installed it... Twice.

Using a Generic CD that's passed the holographic/anti-counterfeit test on the Microsoft website.
The COA on the side of this computer (Dell) has also passed all anti-counterfeit tests. (It damn well should. It came on the computer when it was bought.)

It says my product key is invalid... I had to use an invalid key just to get Windows to install.

I want to use the generic XP CD rather than the recovery CD to install for three reasons:

1.) Original Dell Motherboard was damaged. Motherboard has been replaced needing a different set of drivers.
2.) I don't want all the Dell demo software crap.
3.) I don't have the original recovery CD.

XP should be XP and a product key should be a product key.
Both are legal.



I should also point out that I normally run a Mac. I do have a Windows desktop. This is my first time ever attempt (and opportunity) to install XP legally. If this is what I get, I'm going back to illegal installations.

When my Panasonic Toughbook comes next week, I assume I'll have the same trouble as it'll have an XP COA on it as well, but no recovery CDs.

 

Did you have to insert your serial number? I guess no because it's a recovery DVD. Go to windows activation and if it fails, insert the key at the bottom of your laptop. Just for information, is it a Dell? The "official" pirated copy of Vista had Dell's recovery DVD activation files integrated to a clean DVD. Surprisingly, it stopped succeeding the genuine tests 2 weeks after Dell started to ship laptops with SP1

 

You should call MS to get your windows installation activated. Just have your product key ready.

 

Bee Eee Ay utiful...

Go to Microsoft.com, use their search tool at the top of the page.

Search for "Key Tool"

Take the first link titled "Genuine Microsoft Software"
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/pkuinstructions.aspx

Pick your product type, XP or Vista. In my case XP

Download the executable.

Enter your key from the COA that's glued to the computer's case. It should prompt you to reboot after you hit "OK"

Reboot and you're golden.