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Thread ID: 108757 2010-04-10 06:37:00 Windows 7 activation sucks Digby (677) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
874856 2010-04-10 06:37:00 Hi Guys

I just bought Windows 7 Home premium.

I installed it with no problems on a new machine.
It came up with a message in the system tray "This Software is Not Genuine"
I registered over the phone and that message disappeared.

To my mind the message should have read "This software has not been activated" It was genuine software.

Secondly, just for interest, over the years I have reinstalled my Windows XP on several machines as I have updated over the years, but only on one machine at a time. I did this over the phone and I always got a new activation code right away.

However with Windows 7, this time my first installation had a problem with my motherboard and I had to get a new motherboard.

When I went to re-activate over the phone I got a recorded message that I was on different hardware. I was then put though to a nice Indian lady (I presume) who right away gave me a new number without asking any questions ! (That seemed strange I would have thought that she would ask me why I was re-activating so soon)
Digby (677)
874857 2010-04-10 06:57:00 So what is the problem?

Is Win 7 now genuine and activated?
Sweep (90)
874858 2010-04-10 07:16:00 When I went to re-activate over the phone I got a recorded message that I was on different hardware. Thats right ! - you just said you changed the motherboard.

SO if its a OEM COA then it would have been tied to the original board that it was activated on - by changing the board, you changed the code that's embedded in the board the OS looks for.

As Sweep said -- Whats the problem ?
wainuitech (129)
874859 2010-04-10 07:22:00 No problem - it all works OK

But I don't think they should say "your software is Not Genuine" for 30 days while you activate it !
Digby (677)
874860 2010-04-10 07:28:00 So there is not really a problem is there apart from people complaining.

Did Microsoft ask you to change your motherboard?
Sweep (90)
874861 2010-04-10 08:41:00 Sweep, you are missing the point.

The message says that Windows is not geniune, when it has not yet been activated. This is not true and can be a source of confusion and fear for many users.

This is what Digby is complaining about, and for good reason - as several of my customers have encountered such a message and taken it at its word!
george12 (7)
874862 2010-04-10 09:34:00 The message says that Windows is not geniune, when it has not yet been activated I know what you are saying, BUT for Christ sake - simply activate it and problems solved. No real brainer,or are they that stupid.

There will be a message Pop up saying it hasn't been activated, all a person has to do is click that and follow onscreen instructions. If they have been supplied with a legal DVD and COA then whats the problem.

If the PC is built and supplied then theres no reason not to activate before hand anyway, as well as run updates, and make sure every thing is working perfectly -- Unless its a cowboy builder doing a half arse job.
wainuitech (129)
874863 2010-04-10 09:42:00 If it is all bombastic, blustering and accusing you of illegal activities for no good reason you can be fairly sure it is genuine windows alright.
It's just the Balmer way. Lucky you didn't get a dancing paper clip I suppose.
R2x1 (4628)
874864 2010-04-10 10:00:00 I know what you are saying, BUT for Christ sake - simply activate it and problems solved. No real brainer,or are they that stupid.

There will be a message Pop up saying it hasn't been activated, all a person has to do is click that and follow onscreen instructions. If they have been supplied with a legal DVD and COA then whats the problem.

If the PC is built and supplied then theres no reason not to activate before hand anyway, as well as run updates, and make sure every thing is working perfectly -- Unless its a cowboy builder doing a half arse job.

Not everyone who installs Windows is a computer tech.

People can install it, see the message and think "crap, I've got a non genuine copy of Windows!" - that being exactly what the message says.

Nobody's saying it's hard to activate - just that Windows should not produce a message claiming that it is not genuine when it most likely is.
george12 (7)
874865 2010-04-10 11:34:00 Not everyone who installs Windows is a computer tech.

People can install it, see the message and think "crap, I've got a non genuine copy of Windows!" - that being exactly what the message says.

Nobody's saying it's hard to activate - just that Windows should not produce a message claiming that it is not genuine when it most likely is. AND at the same time there is a message to activate it - I've done countless installs of W7 and only ever seen that once (after leaving it over 2 nights to carry on).

If a person has enough clues to install windows and all drivers correctly, and they have purchased a legit version then theres no problem - the only reason I know of it comes up with the message is because it has not yet been activated.
I Have sold W7 (legally) as in people purchase all the parts and assemble the PC themselves and no ones ever complained about that message.

One thing that can cause the message, if the BIOS clock, and system clock are out of sync by a great amount - once again, comes back to knowing how to setup a PC.

Just curious --
as several of my customers have encountered such a message and taken it at its word! Why is that - have you sold them the software only and they install it or not activated the PC yourself ?
wainuitech (129)
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