Windows not genuine error

Ok, this is weird. Today while I was just browsing the internet on my laptop, I get the black desktop background and a "Windows is not genuine" error. Of course, the laptop obviously came with Windows so unless Lenovo is using pirated software all the sudden, this can't be true. If it matters, I used ABR to save the activation information from the original Windows that came on the machine and restored it into a fresh copy of the OS I loaded. When it asks me if I want to enter a new product key and I type in the one from the bottom of the laptop, it comes up as not being a valid Windows 7 product key.

I had this on my desktop once and I fixed it by updating Windows Activation components or something like that. Is there an easy way to resolve this without having to reinstall Windows and all my programs? Even by calling Microsoft and giving them the key on the bottom of the laptop?

 

Try calling in to Microsoft.

 

Calling Microsoft to reactivate is a very painless process and is also quick. I'm a system admin and have called them numerous times for activation issues like this. Give them a ring - they're available 24/7

 

When I click "contact Microsoft," it pops up a help dialog instead of the usual phone activation message. When I re-enter the product key on the bottom of the laptop, it tells me that this Windows 7 Home Premium key cannot be used to activate Windows on this machine.

Does anyone have the MS customer support number handy, because Windows isn't giving it to me?

 

Windows activation: (888) 571-2048

or

(800) 936-5700 and ask for activation.

or

To start windows activation over the phone, use the command "SLUI 4" in command prompt with administrator rights.

 

There is a Lenovo OEM Key which got blacklisted you might be using that.

 

Well, whatever the problem was, I tried activating online twice and it failed, third time (a few hours later) it worked. I don't understand it, but I'll take it I guess.

Luckily I decided to give it a third try before giving up and reinstalling. It's incredibly frustrating that my user experience should be interrupted and that I should, if the issue wasn't resolved, be forced to spend tomorrow reinstalling Windows and all my applications, because Microsoft can't tell the difference between a pirate and someone who bought a computer from a legit manufacturer with Windows already installed!

EDIT: Ok this is just annoying! I just re-entered my product key and did the online activation, which worked, and then restarted the computer. Viola, I get the "not genuine" popup again, but when I try to re-activate with my key, it works again. I wonder if someone out there with a keygen rolled the same number that's on the bottom of my laptop?

 

Seems like you have no choice but to call Microsoft, then.

As for activation hassle, the anti-DRM camp's argument has always been that it inconveniences real customers (like yourself) but doesn't do anything to stop the pirates (plenty of illegal copies of Windows 7 out there), yet that hasn't done anything to make DRM any less popular.

 

Well, after 3 successful online activations and about 5 restarts after that, there haven't been any further traces of errors. Unless it comes up again, I'm leaving it at that.

 

@OP

If it comes up again, just call in. If the key has been blacklisted and you are using the OS legit, then they will more than likely give you a new key or do an activation workaround for you.

 

You bought it and got the bill from it.
Just activate any way you want doesn't matter.
Most loader will just copy the files and enters the key what you already got.
Cert file might got corrupted or it's from the first gen oem notebooks that got key blacklisted and it just got online checked.

Could post links .. and that would get the topic deleted.

Could post links of m$ own command prompt commands to do offline activation 100% legit but ... some mods knowledge prevents that too ...

Google is your best friend .. can activate it in 1 min offline .. or you will spend hours on the phone with m$ ..

 

I'm not going to use a loader or any kind of hacks, they might work now but they'll just cause more of a headache when MS detects them later and then I'll have to reinstall for sure, because calling MS won't do anything.

The laptop has a build date of August, so they shouldn't still be using a key that got blacklisted over a year ago as far as I know.

 

On the technical aspect of a loader... it doesn't do any kind of hacks on your windows install. It will not install a loader either since it detects original Win7OEM bios: no need to emulate genuine one with a loader. It would only install same certificate you already have and same oem key you already had. If used in a computer with no Win7 compatible bios, it would be totally different story.

Is your windows install factory original or have you installed it yourself? If you did clean install, did you use ABR or the bottom COA key?

 

I wiped it immediately and reinstalled Windows, using ABR to activate. It worked for about a month or so, then gave me the error. After two unsuccessful tries to change my product key to the one on the bottom of the laptop, I waited a couple hours and tried the exact same process again, and it worked.

So far, I haven't encountered any more errors.