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    Installed Windows on new hard drive, says it's not genuine

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by lucas755, Mar 20, 2012.

  1. lucas755

    lucas755 Notebook Geek

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    I got a new hard drive a few months ago. Before I made the switch, I used a program that figured out the CD key of my current installation. I swapped out the drives and installed Windows on the new drive with that key. Everything was fine until recently, when I started getting popups from Windows saying that it's not a genuine installation. Now the desktop background is always black with the "Windows is not genuine" message on the bottom-right.

    How can I fix this?
     
    lucas755, Mar 20, 2012
    #1
  2. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    You should have the windows license key at the bottom of your laptop or under the battery. Enter that and then you'll probably have to activate by phone, but it's a rather easy process.
     
    tijo, Mar 20, 2012
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  3. lucas755

    lucas755 Notebook Geek

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    I have that label, and the number is faded. I can see a few letters, and from that I can tell it's not the same as the CD key program told me. What I do have is the "product part number," both on the label and in the program. Can I do something with that?
     
    lucas755, Mar 20, 2012
    #3
  4. spacecowboy

    spacecowboy Notebook Guru

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    If you have the product part number from the label on the bottom of the machine you "should" be able to call Microsoft and they should be able to help you. I had a similar situation a while back, had the part number and Microsoft sorted the situation out after giving them the part number.
     
    spacecowboy, Mar 21, 2012
    #4