win 7 suddenly

not authentic MS

from Elemental Forums

My PC, which was off line for about a month (problem with video feed, now fixed) now reports that my windows 7 is not authentic.   A pop up appeared when I booted saying that there is an issue with my windows.  (I ignored because many scammers send fake messages to philsh one.  Also, tiny text message in lower right corner of screen saying windows installed in not authentic.   This is bogus.  Windows installed on PC is same one that been on all along - installed on machine when PC assembled.  Only thing I can think of is I had to reinstall it a while back.   However, I alos reinstalled a year ago - a no message came up.   How do I determine if its all bogus messages?  If it is actually from the real MS, how fix it?  Just nervous about how unforgiving errors can be ...  appreciate any useful appropriate advice you can give.

59,827 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Windows Update installed a recent update that does this (don't ask me how or why).  Google the desktop message for a solution.

You will have to disable Windows Update.

 

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Go to System in Control Panel and click on Change Product key and see if you can enter it again. If not, looks like a fresh install is in order.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting LightStar, reply 2

Go to System in Control Panel and click on Change Product key and see if you can enter it again. If not, looks like a fresh install is in order.

Hello lightstar.  Appreciate help (been off line awhile  (sad)  ctrl panel not have this (or similar) option.   :)   I haven't entered product key.  the four choices that come up include typing in the p key, but when I chose that option - system does nothing. 

 

related question:  my windows is on the c drive.  most other things are on a separate (D:) physical drive.  If I get a new system - how easy/dif is it to move the d drive to the new pc, I mean related to the programs / steam etc working on new PC with dif windows?  Toms hardware doesn't have info on this.  :)

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting ElanaAhova, reply 3


Quoting LightStar,
reply 2

Go to System in Control Panel and click on Change Product key and see if you can enter it again. If not, looks like a fresh install is in order.



Hello lightstar.  Appreciate help (been off line awhile  (sad)  ctrl panel not have this (or similar) option.   :)    I haven't entered product key.  the four choices that come up include typing in the p key, but when I chose that option - system does nothing. 

 

related question:  my windows is on the c drive.  most other things are on a separate (D:) physical drive.  If I get a new system - how easy/dif is it to move the d drive to the new pc, I mean related to the programs / steam etc working on new PC with dif windows?  Toms hardware doesn't have info on this.  :)

If you go into explorer, and right click on your C: drive and select Properties (On Windows 7 for instance), you should see a link that says Change Product Key.

If you get a new system with a newer/different operating system, you would probably need to reinstall everything.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting ElanaAhova, reply 3


Quoting LightStar,
reply 2

Go to System in Control Panel and click on Change Product key and see if you can enter it again. If not, looks like a fresh install is in order.



Hello lightstar.  Appreciate help (been off line awhile  (sad)  ctrl panel not have this (or similar) option.   :)    I haven't entered product key.  the four choices that come up include typing in the p key, but when I chose that option - system does nothing. 

 

related question:  my windows is on the c drive.  most other things are on a separate (D:) physical drive.  If I get a new system - how easy/dif is it to move the d drive to the new pc, I mean related to the programs / steam etc working on new PC with dif windows?  Toms hardware doesn't have info on this.  :)

 

unfortunately.. (afaik) you can't just move programs per se.. you'll have to reinstall them (if they are installed, as opposed to being portable)

for steam.. you'll have to reinstall the steam client itself.. and then tell it where your existing library is... then it probably wouldn't re-d/l everything.. but pretty sure it'll verify each game when you load them as if it's the first run.. i would put steam client itself on your c drive (especially if it's ssd) but keep the games and other stuff on d...  caveat... you might want to reset the settings for the games..