"This copy of Windows not genuine." How do I fix this?

It is possible someone overseas pirated your OEM ID number and is using it. I would suggest you contact microsoft directly and look into this. This problem is uncommon but not rare.

The only other way this could happen to you is if the ID information for your version got corrupted. If you have a backup of your original OS try reinstalling it. This should fix it. If you do not, contact microsoft with your OEM number and proof you are the original purchaser. They can then reissue a new OS as a download.

Good Luck!

...Marty; with any windows installation, Redmond dweebs seem to think they have the inalienable right to scan your computer via Windows update at any time they please.
That's why Win Update has the default setting of 'automatic with delayed start' in its properties, and why every default setting within windows encourages you to follow their recommendations - i.e. to give them access to your PC and everything on it.
Most Windows updates are a waste of time in any case, in fact more often than not they cause more problems than they solve, so the simple answer is to disable updates, not only in control panel > Action Center, but by going into Admin Tasks >Services >Automatic Updates and changing the start properties to 'Disabled' - apply and OK it.
Frankly the less Microsoft knows about what goes on within YOUR computer, the better off you'll be; basically it's legalised spying, and if you LOOK at the EULA you're agreeing to when installing it, it's there in the terms of the agreement.
However, for T's and C's to be legal, they have to be both reasonable AND adhere to the laws of personal privacy - and no matter which way you look at it, agreeing to have some snotty-nosed halfwit looking through your private data is neither of those things.
As usual, MS wants it both ways - and the simple answer, again, is to keep their noses out of it!

I don't think this may affect but depending if you had a complete computer malfunction and reinstalled but in order versions if it's oem that could've been a problem. Windows 7 as long as it's not oem should be transferable so most cases just pushing the verify button with a live Internet connection should work. I'm pretty sure that worked for me. Even if someone is using your key it's not likely they are fighting every click to verify.

If it comes that your key is the problem hopefully the call to Microsoft and a verification you have the key that should be afixed on your pc. If its oem its up to the dealer to help but I'd expect them to replace if it's not.
If they are a pain it can't be as much as a full box to replace.

Good luck

I contacted a human at Microsoft and was told there were too many registrations of my key code. He stated the last attempt, and that was when I was out of the country. Since I had purchased the software as a download from a company which was no longer in business (365 professionals) I had to purchase a new license.
The software checked genuine for over 18 months, then suddenly not.
Lesson learned: be careful of low price downloads.

I contacted a human at Microsoft and was told there were too many registrations of my key code. He stated the last attempt, and that was when I was out of the country. Since I had purchased the software as a download from a company which was no longer in business (365 professionals) I had to purchase a new license.
The software checked genuine for over 18 months, then suddenly not.
Lesson learned: be careful of low price downloads, even if they check genuine.

I had my system go bad also and called Dell about it and they told me not to use the Disk to reload windows or I would get a message that the copy I have is pirated. They took over remote control and down loaded Windows for me from their end. One would have to think what is going on here? Dell couldn't explain it to me well enough themselves.
That's why I went and purchased a mac and have been happy. I will never buy a windows computer again or any thing to do with windows. Mac you can call and they will help you thru your problem,Have you noticed that Windows has no live support. Windows can go to Hell..........

If it comes to be that your version is pirated, you'll get Windows Ultimate GetGenuineOnlineKit. All I had to do was send in everything that came with the win/dvd and records of where I bought it. You could wait for Win 8.2! I hear it's going to be the next XP.

I too had the very same trouble--starting last January 2014--Purchased the computer Brand NEW in October 2011--worked find until last January--had to have tech come to my home--he could not fix--took computer to his shop to do further inspection--found no viruses no malware--he asked me if I wanted him to upgrade my Windows--he then put Windows Ultimate SP1 32 bit and computer working just find again. A little on the expensive side but I knew I ould not fix--Hope this will give you some ideas of how to fix your problem

I've had this error when i formatted my hard drive after using windows 7 64 bit home edition for 4 years. decided to do a clean reinstall.

when i entered my product key and got back into windows and activated said my copy was not genuine...

I called microsoft and talked to a tech, and they reported all the devices and changes that i had made to my computer at that time. but most i had upgraded physically was usb flash drives added a few harddrives added a sound card and newer NIC. And some of my usb devices were usb drives, audio devices tv tuners joy sticks various keyboards and mice.

and some of my programs and such required virtual devices like virtual wi-fi and virtual cd/dvd rom, virtual display adapter.

but microsoft had tracked the virtual devices as real devices and all the changes to my pc even though most of it was virtual and usb and upgrades flagged it as a different pc to them. So they believed i had installed my windows on a different pc when when it was the same pc all this time same hard drive,motherboard,ram case power supply etc still in it.

they would not revalidate my key, so i was told to buy a new one. even though i was not at fault at all. although i do like windows 7 64 bit ultimate, i was "forced" into buying a new key for windows for no fault of my own. to this day i hold a 200 dollar grudge against microsoft.

I have noticed sometimes when i upgrade now or add a virtual device i will get a windows activation trigger and i wince each time. fearing that microsoft will "force" me once again to buy a new key if i wish to use a pc.

Since XP, Windows updates have made computers more secure by knocking them out. I made a large part of my living fixing them after patch Tuesday.

For myself, I've found the answer is to not use Windows. That isn't meant to be snarky, its just that after you fix this problem, something will happen over and over again, always something else broken. Windows users just think thats part of life, but it doesn't have to be.

Even in Windows 8, with my Wife's computer, which I bought after she had a shoulder Operation, was a W8 touchscreen. Microsoft has made several forced upgrades on it. They've broken login screens, and bollixed up the browser, fouled up several programs, resetting either the preferences or just making the programs malfunction. I'm constantly going into it and fixing things. And it's not from her mistakes. She doesn't even want to use it any more. I might trade her my chrome book I was experimenting with. Either that or install a different OS that has touchscreen compatibility.

Meanwhile my other systems just chug along and work. Have not received one "This is not a genuine copy" from any of them.

This activation thing is designed to make sure that, if you put a copy of windows on one machine, that you don't try and load it on another machine. How does it think you are trying to load it on another machine? Hardware changes. If you add memory (or lose it) then it thinks you might be on another machine. New processor? Same. Change out the hard disk? Same.

The way you are supposed to handle this is to call into the activation people and tell them what you did (if anything) and then they will give you a new product code. This is to deal with companies that buy one copy of windows 7 and install it all over the place or a computer builder that thinks he only has to buy one copy of windows.

So, did you change anything? Did you create a new virtual desktop? You can't use the same product code twice.

It's a windows update file issue. I've had this problem before as well and I have a home built PC with windows 7ultimate. And yes, it's one thing that has annoyed me with windows and Microsoft. One of the windows updates decided that even after me buying a Microsoft certified copy of windows twice, my copy of windows was not authentic enough. The way to fix it is to look at all the system updates you've installed recently and then delete the bad file. If only I could remember the update file in question...

The license key is tied to your hardware. If you change almost any component in your system, motherboard, cpu, hard drive, even video card you will probably start seeing this message. Irritates me a little that changing one item is all it takes. If every other piece of hardware is the same shouldn't windows be smart enough to figure out it is still the same computer with a component replaced? Well unfortunately no.

As someone else noted try bouncing the Windows Activation service. If that alone does not work try running windows update which should run the latest version of the license checker.

If all else fails you may have to re-enter your license key that came with your OS DVD. If you purchased a system likely you do not have that. Look on the computer itself for a sticker. Usually computer manufacturers place a genuine windows sticker on machines they sell with the unique license key for that machine. For anyone who has not experienced this problem yet make sure you have your number recorded somewhere before making any hardware changes.

Had this happen with Windows 7 Professional last November. After deleting a supposedly offending Microsoft update, at the suggestion of the Microsoft Knowledge Base, Windows would still not validate. Dug out my install disk and called Microsoft Support. To make a long story short, after the technician validated my install CD, he located my "tokens" in file in system 32, renamed it and triggered the validation routine. Everything fine since then. Seems the"tokens" file stores the validation and mine had been corrupted. You might need to escalate the issue with the Level 1 technician that first answers the support call to a higher level. The first technician I had worked for about 2 hours before escalating the issue. Took the higher level technician 5 minutes. Be careful on your own, there a several "tokens" files in System 32 and only 1 is the correct one.

Had this happen with Windows 7 Professional last November. After deleting a supposedly offending Microsoft update, at the suggestion of the Microsoft Knowledge Base, Windows would still not validate. Dug out my install disk and called Microsoft Support. To make a long story short, after the technician validated my install CD, he located my "tokens" in file in system 32, renamed it and triggered the validation routine. Everything fine since then. Seems the "tokens" file stores the validation and mine had been corrupted. You might need to escalate the issue with the Level 1 technician that first answers the support call to a higher level. The first technician I had worked for about 2 hours before escalating the issue. Took the higher level technician 5 minutes. Be careful on your own, there a several "tokens" files in System 32 and only 1 is the correct one.

Had this happen last November with Windows 7 Professional. After trying the Knowledge Base fixes with no success, dug out my install disk and called Microsoft Support. The first technician spent about 2 hours searching for windows/system32/tokens. She escalated the issue and the following day, the next level technician called and within 5 minutes, found the correct tokens file, renamed it and triggered the validation routine. He explained hat the file I had was corrupted and the system cold not bypass it. Use care doing this yourself, there are 10 or 12 tokens files within system 32 and only one is the Windows validation information.

I had the same issue with my Windows 7 Professional. Unfortunately, at the same time I received the message, I also received a blank black screen. My copy was pre-installed by HP on my new pavilion. I simply rebooted and that worked for a short period.

The problem became more predominant, and I finally reached the point that I did not think I would get back in. Fortunately, I had two active service contracts. One with Geek squad and the other with Microsoft. First, I went to GeekSquad. Their fix lasted less than a month. Then I went to Microsoft, and their fix has lasted several months, and still going.

Both companies reported this to be a common issue. For a quick fix, I recommend to let Microsoft fix it. Without an existing contract, I believe the fee is $40 to $50.