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General discussion

Copy of Windows is not genuine

Aug 9, 2010 9:25AM PDT

I've been using Windows 7 for about a month with no issues. A new message that seems to be part of the desktop is now showing up in the bottom right hand corner of my screen that states "Windows 7 Build 7600 This copy of Windows is not genuine".

However, this is a legitimate copy of Windows that was purchased through work (public school). It was a copied version but the school system has licenses for them.

Any ideas? Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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No problem.
Aug 9, 2010 9:51AM PDT

Back to the school and have them issue you the new activation key. Why this happens is that if they leak that key and copy Microsoft revokes the license and they get a new key.
Bob

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I think Bob is right and, as well, it would be proper
Aug 9, 2010 8:48PM PDT

to notify the holder of the license as others could be affected as well. I get to deal with a school's XP and MS Office volume licenses which are each for some "X" number of installations. Your license must be different because, if we have 49 of 50 copies in use, we don't get to install the unused one on someone's personal PC. Exceeding the number of licensed installations, if caught by MS, could create real problems for the school. What you've experienced might be related to even sharper teeth that MS may have put in Win 7 versus XP. The school needs to know of this and be able to control potential abuse of their license.

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You will need to get a new key from the school
Aug 13, 2010 11:06AM PDT

When you activate the new key make sure you follow thru and also validate it.

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Validate and activation
Aug 13, 2010 11:13AM PDT
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Copy ?
Aug 13, 2010 6:40PM PDT

Are you using this at home ? Does the school have permission to copy and distribute these to home users.....hmmm not sure on that. Places of business will have licenses to use it on only so many computers at the place of business. I don't know of any copies being legit unless you back up a legit home copy. You have to have a new separate key and you can't use the key they use at school for their system because it is attached to the business license. I assume you bought this with a NEW key. If they make a copy they have to provide you with a legitimate key purchased from microsoft. You can't use their business license key at home.
I may indeed have errors in this as I don't recall all the licensing stuff from school.
Now if you are using it at work then maybe they simply went over the allocated number of installs they are allowed with the license.
Check the Microsoft site for licensing info and get the folks you got it from to give you a new key.