Win 7 no good

[redvette]

Hi Gang

I noticed this morning I had a little warning I guess you would call it, saying this copy of Win 7 is not genuine, and I know it is. It is down in the right bottom corner.

So what do you think the first course of action should be.?

Thanx....Gunny

[dale_t44]

Hi Gunny,

To see if your copy of windows is activated click START, Right-click Computer, Properties. Near the bottom of the window it will show whether or not Windows is activated, if not click to activate it.

dale_t44

[glc]

It may be genuine, but how many other computers is it installed on?

First step I would do is comprehensive malware scans.

[jdeb]

Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta | Microsoft Connect

[redvette]

Hi all

GLC you know me better than that, sure it is Genuine and is only installed on one computer. and I have done the malware scans, nothing shows up there.

When I go into the page to check your activation info, when I click on to activate it I get this little window saying, "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item". As far as I know I am the administrator on this computer.

Thanx....Gunny

[redvette]

Hi Jdeb What are you saying to go ahead and run that, to check for problems.????

Thanx...Gunny

[glc]

Try a system restore back a few days.

[redvette]

HI GLC... I did that too, went back to the 4th of last month, no change. I thought it was one of the windows updates that did this. I cannot sware to it but it seems to fall into about the time this started.

Does that little box I get does that seem to you like an administrator issue, or does that mean it will take windows to issue a permission.? I am on the phone with them now.

Thanx....Gunny

[jdeb]

The application is an executable file that burns the software on a cd. You then boot the cd and run the scanner and clean if needed.

[rwest]

Redvette I had that happen to me too. I'm trying to remeber how I fixed it. It may have been a format. I do kinda remember what caused it though. I was fooling around with the msconfig files and system startup, something I changed made me reacitvate or something of the sort. I don't actually remember eactly what I was doing there though.

What I do remember is it saying this copy of Win 7 is not genuine, and down in the right bottom corner.

I really think I eneded up turning all features back on and either it went away or I just had to reactivate. Pretty sure I remember concluding it was something I did or changed. Sorry if that really doesn't help much. Best i can do.

[David M]

Did you change out any hardware that might have caused the "Genuine Advantage" to trip requiring you to have to reactivate the OS?

If you cannot reactivate it automatically over the internet then you can call Microsoft for a new code. You will have to explain that you are not a pirate.

The way it works is if somone got your product key, they can use it on any installation DVD with the same OS. They don't need your installation DVD in order to use your license. Microsoft looks for computers using the same license when the OS "phones home". This information also includes information about your hardware.

[redvette]

Hi David M.....That could have taken place now that I think of it. I have heard that there is a update that installs and it ends with a 33 if I am not mistaken, that can cause you problems if you have a boot leg copy, but tis one is genuine as it can be.

I was on the phone with Microsoft about this for 1 1/2 hours yesterday, and they could not get it to activate, that said I have 2 choices, they can send me a new disk, and reinstall it, after backing up all my stuff, or I could use my original disk and do the same. They said it could not be activated any more, which I thought was strange. That Little box with that saying in it that I put in my 5th post keep coming up when ever you try the reactivate it. He took control on my computer and he tried more or less everything I tried, with the same results.

It looks like most of you are thinking that malware might be involved, I sort of do too in a way. But in other ways I don't think a bug is involved. The guy on the phone seems to think it is update related, we did a restore again, he was thinking he would go back beyond where some of the updates that he suspicioned was the problem, but that did not work either.

Do any of you think running that sweeper thing would find any thing, if so I am up to running it. He also told me that running my computer this way with the little notice in the bottom right corner, I might notice some programs not working right, not sure which ones or how that would affect them.

Thanx....Gunny

[jdeb]

Are you getting an error message along with the "not Genuine flag" ?

The System Sweeper will not hurt a thing, just run it and see if it finds anything (malware, keyloggers, virus' etc.). If you have not added any new hardware and your system is clean, then it is related to an update.

Please run System Sweeper so we can proceed.

[Nuclear Krusader]

I've seen machines come to the shop on which Windows was reinstalled and even though the key printed on the label stuck to the machine was typed in and it did activate (or seemed so at the time), after about a month the user is locked out of the system and Windows reports that it's not genuine and asks for the key. Typing the key again fixes the problem. Weird.

Note that after typing the key the second time, the wallpaper remains black with the "not genuine" letters. User has to manually change it: just choose any other wallpaper.

[rwest]

Nk that's what I had to do! Couldn't remeber for the life of me.

I was gonna reinstall and after I typed in my key something made me change my mind, when she rebooted I had the black desktop but the message about windows not being genuine was gone. I'm still a little fuzzy on it but I do remember planning on a reinstall and then I didn't have to.

But I know I caused it, cuz I made some changes to the msconfig files. Windows just didn't like it.


Now I do think that when you install Windows 7 you get like thirty days before you have to activate. If you don't that's what the pc does. I remember loading up my daughters OEM Win 7 disc to my computer to play with it. When the 30 days was up that's what happens. I just uninstalled it and got my own copy.

[redvette]

Hi Rwest

You are saying Msconfig files, do you mean regedit maybe.?

Thanx...Gunny

[redvette]

Hi jdeb

No I am not getting ant error notices, just the little notice down in the corner. I will run that sweeper and let you know if anything is found.

Thanx....Gunny

[redvette]

Hi All

Ok I booted up to the sweer disk and it had the little blue grape thing for about 30/40 seconds and I got this error....Microsoft system sweeper cannot be started please contact support....Error code 0x8004cc05

Thanx....Gunny

[rwest]

Originally Posted by redvette Hi Rwest You are saying Msconfig files, do you mean regedit maybe.? Thanx...Gunny

You know honestly it may have been in the registry where I was poking around.

I know XP made me reactivate with changing to diagnostic startup. I guess I assumed I was in the MS congifg files with 7. It's beem a while, but when it happened to me-I know i did it.

BTW, my version is a licensed student version of Win 7 Pro. I doubt that matters much, but thought I'd bring it up since Nuke mentioned the ones he's seen are retail.

[glc]

Originally Posted by redvette Hi All Ok I booted up to the sweer disk and it had the little blue grape thing for about 30/40 seconds and I got this error....Microsoft system sweeper cannot be started please contact support....Error code 0x8004cc05 Thanx....Gunny

Did you download the right version? There's a 32 bit and a 64 bit version.

[redvette]

Hi GLC.. I was like 99.999999 sure I down loaded the 32 bit version, so to erase all doubt I downloaded it again, and it came up with the same error and error code.

Now what does that mean.?

Thanx....Gunny

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by redvette Hi GLC.. I was like 99.999999 sure I down loaded the 32 bit version, so to erase all doubt I downloaded it again, and it came up with the same error and error code. Now what does that mean.? Thanx....Gunny

Is your windows 7 a 32bit or 64bit version? You are probably trying to run a 32bit version on a 64bit OS

[redvette]

Hi jdeb.... in answer to your question, everything I download that needs to have this info I always put in 32 bit. Now when I go to properties under computer it says
System type 32 bit operating system, it's a AMD 64 processor.
Would there be any harm if I downloaded the 64 bit version and tried that.?

Thanx....Gunny

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by redvette Hi jdeb.... in answer to your question, everything I download that needs to have this info I always put in 32 bit. Now when I go to properties under computer it says System type 32 bit operating system, it's a AMD 64 processor. Would there be any harm if I downloaded the 64 bit version and tried that.? Thanx....Gunny

64Bit will not work. Either a bad burn or the Geniune flag is messing it up. You could pull the drive and scan with malwarebytes by using a USB adapter or try malwarebytes in safe mode if you do not have an adapter.

[redvette]

Hi All.... You all seem to be really sure this is a bug, can you explain to me why you are all thinking this way.

By te way I tried the disk on my other computer, that is not having the activation problem, and is 32 bit win 7 and it came up with the same errors. So I think the idea of a bad burn falls by the wayside. And I tried 2 diff disks. :-( This is getting really confusing

Thanx....Gunny

[Nuclear Krusader]

I had System Sweeper fail on me on a machine yesterday. Didn't record the error code, but upon booting with the CD it refused to run. I had to scan using my bench PC.

[redvette]

Hi All.. Well trying 2 diff disks and 2 diff computers tells me there is a problem with the program, not the computer. What else could it be.?

Thanx...Gunny

[jdeb]

I used it yesterday and no issue with it at all but I burn at slow speeds. I would still scan the drive (usb adapter) to rule out malware.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Were both computers connected to the router when you tried booting with System Sweeper?

[redvette]

Hi Nuc

Yes I had both computers connected to the router. Would this cause the error.?

Thanx...Gunny