How do I determine if Windows 7 is legal?

Bootleg or Not?

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ComputerWizKid

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2004
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My community center was recently donated 10 computer from a school and I have reason to believe that all of the computers are running an illegitimate copy of Windows 7 Professional

Is there a way to determine this for sure?

I am suspicious because they only have and XP Professional Key code (Older Computers) and in the DVD drive of one of the computers was a DVD-R copy

but my main reason for being suspicious is what I posted in the code box below

Here is the output file from SterJo Keyfinder

Code:
Windows 7 Professional ->Product ID:
55041-008-1615465-86988

Windows 7 Professional ->Key:
BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB

Microsoft Office 2010 ->Product ID:
82503-018-0000106-48773

Microsoft Office 2010 ->Key:
VYBBJ-TRJPB-QFQRF-QFT4D-H3GVB
Yes this is real any key finder does the same thing with a capital B for all 25 characters
and I get the same output from all 10 Computers
 

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
167
106
The Windows 7 Pro key is outright invalid. Someone has clearly tampered with the OS.

As for the Office key, that's MS's generic KMS client key. It's not for individual clients, it's for Enterprise users who have site licenses and KMS servers.

My guess is that the machines are running a KMS emulator of some kind.
 
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ComputerWizKid

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2004
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So what should I do now with the mess I am now in? The only thing that was changed from the OEM configuration of the computers was the ram and obviously the OS (OEM was 512MB they now have 768MB) The computers are exactly the same (HP DC500MT PJ357UA#ABA) I know I can install XP back onto the computers but the school assured me that they would be ready to go and they even spent extra time (I was supposed to get them a month ago) installing the software
I also checked the Windows update and it was never done (EX absolutely no updates were installed besides SP1)
 

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
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All you can do is get valid licenses for the computers (whatever OS you decide to run) and then reinstall everything. If they're identical then you can at least use an image rather than setting all 10 up individually. The OS has been tampered with and cannot be trusted, so even ignoring the licensing issues it's a very bad idea to keep them as-is.

And I'm not surprised the OS hasn't been updated. The crack they used to tamper with the OS and fake the activation probably breaks when the OS is patched.
 

Subyman

Moderator <br> VC&G Forum
Mar 18, 2005
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Ouch, I probably wouldn't even bother, unless you can use the old xp installs. Legit 7 keys are worth more than those pcs.
 

ComputerWizKid

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2004
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All you can do is get valid licenses for the computers (whatever OS you decide to run) and then reinstall everything. If they're identical then you can at least use an image rather than setting all 10 up individually. The OS has been tampered with and cannot be trusted, so even ignoring the licensing issues it's a very bad idea to keep them as-is.

And I'm not surprised the OS hasn't been updated. The crack they used to tamper with the OS and fake the activation probably breaks when the OS is patched.

The community center I work (Volunteer) for was hoping to get a good computer as it is a housing authority and they don't have alot of extra $ laying around
I was going to teach computer classes

I am wondering if I should even bother with XP as it is going to be EOL in less then a year now.

So should I install a form of Linux?

I am definitely going to tell the school about this and maybe report them (Who knows they may have illegal installs on all of there computers)
If they handle it well I will let this off the hook and just reinstall XP or a form of Linux
 
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ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
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So should I install a form of Linux?
That would be my suggestion, due to the fact that XP is going EOL soon. A lightweight Linux plus LibreOffice is going to be the best you can do with something that old.

I am definitely going to tell the school about this and maybe report them (Who knows they may have illegal installs on all of there computers)
Schools usually have pirated copies. For a public school I'd be more surprised if they didn't. Software budgets died in the previous decade.:|
 
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ComputerWizKid

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2004
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Can you recommend a good Linux to install?
I am a fan of Linux Mint but I want something that will not hog all of the system resources

Here is the School that donated the computers
I actually went to that school and I graduated in 2002 so they probably got the computers about 2 years after I left
 

Magic Carpet

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2011
3,477
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IMO, it's about time Windows 8 Core should become free.

Ubuntu should do it otherwise (if you get lucky with video drivers).
 

Snoop

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
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I would just leave it alone and ride it out. If you start having an issue then do something. Installing Linux is a good idea but most users aren't too crazy about having to learn something new.

Also, if you go the Linux route, I have been playing with Linux Deepin and have enjoyed it. http://www.linuxdeepin.com/index.en.html
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
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After all this publicity, riding it out may not be wise - it leaves the host wide open to Microsoft litigation. Stick with Ubuntu as suggested.

Alternatively, if your Community Center computer lab is a 501(C)3 organization, you may be able to get a package deal (Win 7) from Microsoft that someone could support with a tax deductible gift.

I serve as a volunteer instructor here in Tucson, and we have such an organization that has two community center labs, primarily for the purpose of teaching computer skills to seniors.
 
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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,981
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Ubuntu can be a little heavy due to the graphics, Mint perhaps a bit less so. I'd use Xubuntu, or Lubuntu. Xubuntu is a bit nicer feature wise, and Lubuntu is a bit lighter. I prefer Xubuntu, but would lean towards Lubuntu to make the most of limited resources.

Edit:
btw, I wouldn't consider XP for any machine these days. It's too old, and support is almost finished. If I *had* to use it for some ancient proprietary software, my preference would be a vm over native install if possible.
 
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Subyman

Moderator <br> VC&G Forum
Mar 18, 2005
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I am definitely going to tell the school about this and maybe report them (Who knows they may have illegal installs on all of there computers)
If they handle it well I will let this off the hook and just reinstall XP or a form of Linux

I'd let the school know, but I wouldn't try to cause trouble for them. In the end, they did give you $1000 worth of PCs. Most schools are barely getting by on funding these days, so they skimp on IT. The tech grants totally dried up or they are for dumb things like tablets. That doesn't excuse them, but likely the administration didn't know. Letting them know is the best route.

I agree with skipping Ubuntu and going with Mint or something similar. I tried installing Ubuntu on a 2007 Dell with integrated nvidia graphics and it barely ran the UI.
 

sm625

Diamond Member
May 6, 2011
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Just be ready to install win xp on them if someone comes around asking questions. (Install a valid copy of XP on a spare HDD. Activate it, let it fully update, then unplug it and leave it inside one of the machines.) Then all you have to do is clone it 10 times and use a key changer on each one.
 

Subyman

Moderator <br> VC&G Forum
Mar 18, 2005
7,876
32
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Just be ready to install win xp on them if someone comes around asking questions. (Install a valid copy of XP on a spare HDD. Activate it, let it fully update, then unplug it and leave it inside one of the machines.) Then all you have to do is clone it 10 times and use a key changer on each one.

I wouldn't use the illegitimate Windows 7 copies. Why put the legality burden on yourself? Its not worth it.
 

stlcardinals

Senior member
Sep 15, 2005
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If your Community Center is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit orgranization, take a look at www.techsoup.org They have software donated from many organizations including Microsoft for very low fees.
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
Sometimes community colleges sell computer for little or nothing to churches and other organizations when they buy new computers they eventually get rid of the old ones. Computers are not that expensive. Often churches donate funds to a worthy cause. A raffle or a cake walk might be a way to raise funds. Our church raises hundreds of dollars in donations every year for young womens and young mens camp. Americans can be quite liberal in their giving.
 

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
12,320
3
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I actually think you have systems that were activated with a Multiple Activation Key (MAK). Your real problem is you have Windows 7 systems with only 768MB ram.
 

ComputerWizKid

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2004
1,187
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76
I actually think you have systems that were activated with a Multiple Activation Key (MAK). Your real problem is you have Windows 7 systems with only 768MB ram.

If the systems were actually activated with a Multi Activation Key (MAK) is there a way to get they actual key used to activate them? In case I have to reinstall Windows?
 

vailr

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,365
54
91
A machine with only 768 Mb memory would have to have originally been XP or Vista machines, from the factory. It's also quite possible that the original owners had official legal site licenses from Microsoft, that allowed clone installations of XP, then Vista, and later Windows 7 whenever there was a newer OS release. Call up the IT guy in charge of the place that gave the equipment to you, would be my advice.
 
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ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
167
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If the systems were actually activated with a Multi Activation Key (MAK) is there a way to get they actual key used to activate them? In case I have to reinstall Windows?
If it was a MAK key, you wouldn't be getting BBBBB when you retrieved the key.:(