This copy of Windows is not genuine. Help?

[Starchild]

So I have a Dell Inspiron 580, and when I bought the computer in 2011 from Bestbuy, it had Windows 7 pre-installed. I did not receive a disc. I mean..I think I would've remembered installing the OS. Anyway, I started having problems with my computer last year, and each month it got worse. I thought it was a virus, but..Well, anyway..To the point.

The computer finally crashed in February of this year and refused to boot up. I had to take it in to get repaired, and it turned out that all of the problems I had been experiencing was due to the hard drive. The damn hard drive malfunctioned, and because of that, there was no boot device on startup. The good news is that they were able to restore everything so that when I turned the computer back on, everything was as I left it. The hard drive cost $300, so that put a major dent in my custom PC build that I'm currently working on.

I had to re-activate my video card, and re-configure a few things. Anyway, I eventually noticed a pop up in my taskbar saying "This version of Windows is not genuine". I found a quick fix online that extended the trial, because I didn't know what else to do. I don't have the disc for Windows 7 64 bit. There was never a disc. I don't know what the guys at Best Buy did to make this happen. Anyway, I tried extending it again yesterday but it said I reached the maximum numbers of re-arms.

I'm getting a little tired of this. I suppose I could always buy a Windows 7 disc from Amazon, because I need to buy one anyway for the custom PC I mentioned. But it's not cheap. And I've already spent money on a new power supply for it.

Besides, it already cost $300 to get this ancient computer up and running again. I shouldn't have to pay $90 just to get a genuine version of Windows 7 that I've had for the past five years. Why is it not genuine, anymore? What the hell?

[Azza ☠]

Every time I hear of these BestBuys purchases (computers, hardware, steam cards, etc) and it's staff support... I'm glad we don't have it here in New Zealand.

Anyways, is the Windows OEM?

Go to Control Panel > System > At the bottom "Windows Activation" you will see your Product ID. Check if it's all just numbers or has OEM in it.

If it's OEM, it's tied to your hardware, and the hard drive change might of been the cause for deactivation. You need to contain Microsoft Support via Phone, inform them of that hardware change and the issue. Then if lucky, they give you an exception and reply back to you a long manual activation code to use to reactivate it.

[˜lokkandload˜™]

Azza is correct, contact Microsoft Support.

[Starchild]

I would say you're more than lucky. The Bestbuy out here is the worst ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Bestbuy I've ever been to. I remember I brought in a laptop with a defective disc drive, and one of their idiot staff members dropped the damn laptop on the floor, and dented the back of it. They refused to reimburse me, and charged me more money to fix it. If you guys know of any better places than Bestbuy for PC needs, feel free to tell me. I've been stuck with Bestbuy my whole life.

And the only other place out here is Frys Electronics, and their employees don't know anything about computers. Add to the fact that it's a pretty long drive.

Anyway, the product key is all numbers, and I don't see OEM. I'm guessing that's a deal breaker? OEM stands for Original Equipment Manafactuer, right? I give you my word, the computer is the way it was when I bought it. The hard drive is the only thing that's been changed.

[˜lokkandload˜™]

What you didn't really expect hourly minimum wage guy at Best Buy to actually be anywhere near knowledgable about tech gear did you? Most of them are just trying to find a better job with benefits to get away from Mickey Dees BRUH!!!!

You could've probably taken a potato to The Geek Squad to get it worked on and they'd gank you over software pricing, or just plain not be able to figure out why it won't boot up.

[Starchild]

Call me naive. I guess I just expected some intellect from people that associate themselves with "Geek Squad". But they're all idiots. I was a kid when I first got this computer. I wanted a hardcore gaming computer. They told me this was the best gaming computer. You wanna guess what video card this crap has? An Nvidia Geforce 310, with an i3 processor. I was ripped off. Of course, back then I wasn't serious about computers..Not as serious as I am now, anyway.

I hope Microsoft makes an exception in my case..I guess I'll go see what I can do.

[˜lokkandload˜™]

Being an IT guy by trade, it does crack me up to hear some of the fluffy bullcrap they try to throw at someone they think is a layman in terms of technology. Truly though most consumers, not all but most, are only looking for a high end deck of cards or for facebook anyway, and end up with a PC by mistake.

[Azza ☠]

In NZ - I use PriceSpy to monitor best hardware sales, then work with PBTech or ComputerLounge, they are professional computer stores here in NZ. We also have the "Consumers Guarantee Act" protecting us from all stores and online purchases, products living up to the standards set or a full refund / replacement is offered. For companies such as what I've heard happens in BestBuys, places like that would likely be shutdown here, within a couple months, or go bust.

---

Anyways, just to deal with what you're got. Contact Microsoft and BestBuys (if it comes to that).

Yeah, OEM stands for Original Equipment Manafactuer, that cares about your hardware. That's what I was hoping the issue would be, because a call to Microsoft has a loophole to fix it. If your on OEM and a hardware component is damaged, but you can no longer get the same model replacement version, calling Microsoft up will allow that exception to OEM and they reactivate it for you.

If it's a Retail copy however, it won't care if you replaced the motherboard or any hardware, it should just attempt to go online, contact with Microsoft servers, and reactivate itself. Should be done within a few seconds.

Which leads to the next question: Are you sure the Windows copy is legal and the serial number hasn't been shared/leaked?

Also, are you given the option to get a freebee upgrade to Win 10 (Get Windows 10 icon on taskbar or optin via their website)? That might be another option, as Microsoft wants to force everyone up to that anyways, however it's not released till 29th July, which might be a wait. It's just that Win 7 support is discontinued, but still on extended support till 2020.

[Starchild]

I decided it was better to just go rogue and build my own gaming PC. I did a pretty good job. Most people I've shared my build with are impressed, and offered their own improvements.I'm done with Bestbuy. I have way too many horror stories.

Anyway, I contacted someone at Microsoft tech support. She told me they had no keys to give me for Windows 7, and that I should contact my manufacturer, which I presume is Dell. Then she tried pushing me into buying Windows 8.1. Right, Windows 7 is expensive enough already. This is all because of those idiots at Bestbuy. A little warning would've been nice.

This sucks. This whole situation sucks. Also, the Windows copy was legal. The customer service representative told me that I had received a special version of it that came pre-installed.

I'm also afraid that I don't have the freebee upgrade option to Windows 10. I read somewhere that it wouldn't appear to me anyways because my copy is not "genuine". But it is something I'm interested in.

[IAmEvil]

Let this be a lesson to you, product research.
I recently made a post about needing a new gpu, but you'd better be certain I'll be looking into it before I throw my money away.
Not to be a jerk, but trusting guys who have minumum wage positions to make descions with products that excede the limitations of what they're making in a series of a full work month is generally not intelligent behavior.

[UltrAramA]

The thing these big name electronic resellers live on is selling extended warranty, that's what they profit on. No matter if it's in the US, Europe or anywhere else.

[Starchild]

I learned that lesson five years ago. I just haven't had the money, opportunity, or the know-how to build my own computer until now. Besides, I was a child..Just saying. Pointing out my stupidity(Which I am blatantly aware of every second of every day) doesn't really make me feel any less frustrated.

God, I can't wait until I get all my parts. I just need to keep saving up. Everything else is taken care of.

[IAmEvil]

Ah well. I can feel your pain, mine died in an inglorious raging inferno.
I find its usually cheapest to buy peice by piece, as you can fish through numerous sites, you can get a pretty fair comparrison list going and reduce your own costs.

[Azza ☠]

Note this is advance techniques which will only work for genuine version of Windows 7, but if you need a last resort and want to try reset/rearm activation manually.

First find and note down your Win 7 Product Key:
http://www.howtogeek.com/206329/how-to-find-your-lost-windows-or-office-product-keys/

Open admin command prompt.

Type "SLMGR -REARM" or "SLMGR /REARM" (without the quotes) and press enter. SLMGR is Windows software licensing management tool. REARM command will reset the licensing status of machine.


Download and install this patch (from the offical Microsoft website):
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3024777

Reboot.

Click Start, right-click Computer, choose Properties, and look at the bottom to see if you've been activated. If you haven't, click the link to Activate Windows Now.

Reboot again and double check the activation.

[Starchild]

引用自 MrEvilPB：

Ah well. I can feel your pain, mine died in an inglorious raging inferno.
I find its usually cheapest to buy peice by piece, as you can fish through numerous sites, you can get a pretty fair comparrison list going and reduce your own costs.

That's horrible. Not that I can relate, but I've read a few PC build horror stories where their parts caught on fire. Infact, PC gamer had a story where someone burned all of his arm hair off. I've been planning to build my own PC for a long time, but never had the money. I still don't. But I finally decided to start buying part by part after my Dell crapped out. That was just my breaking point..

[UltrAramA]

引用自 Starwolf：

I learned that lesson five years ago. I just haven't had the money, opportunity, or the know-how to build my own computer until now. Besides, I was a child..Just saying. Pointing out my stupidity(Which I am blatantly aware of every second of every day) doesn't really make me feel any less frustrated.

God, I can't wait until I get all my parts..

Well it's not you who are stupid but they who used you instead of informing of what you had the right to know, It's sad to see how these big home electronic resellers screw you up.

Good luck with your new build.