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Not genuine - Win7 Home Premium retail upgrade package

VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Computer I upgraded to Win7 a couple of years ago, had to work on it again, has black desktop background, says not genuine in the corner. It also has the build number listed. I don't remember which one it is.

I used a retail package, obtained from either Newegg or Amazon, during the pre-release sale event.

Someone I know had worked on the computer in the interim, about a year or so after I upgraded it. He had to replace the mobo I think.

I'm just trying to figure out what happened. I haven't asked the person that worked on it. I hope he didn't re-install a cracked version just because he didn't want to call MS and transfer the retail license to the new motherboard.
 
The "upgrade" version is not tied to one computer or motherboard. That is the OEM version. If you don't have a previous version of Windows XP or Vista on your system, the upgrade won't work. There are easy ways around this. First, since your install is brand new and you have nothing to lose, reinstall the upgrade disk, choosing to wipe your current drive. When it asks for the install CD key, leave it blank. It will install Windows 7. When it finishes, let it do all the automatic updates. When it finishes, reboot your computer, put your Windows 7 upgrade disk back in and choose to install again, or in this case "upgrade" your current Windows 7. This time enter your CD key when asked. If it doesn't activate online, call the number and you will most likely be given computer voice prompts and it will probably activate just fine. This is what is known as the double install trick. It works, I think because Windows 7 is designed to upgrade not just XP and Vista, but also Windows 7. All of this is provided you have the actual update disk and CD key you said you had.
 
Yeah, a fresh format and re-install is likely doable, but as a last resort. My fear is that some malware has stolen the product key and spammed it all over the darker side of the net and MS blacklisted the key.

You don't think that they are blacklisting upgrade keys, just for doing the double-install trick, do you?
 
VirtualLarry said:
You don't think that they are blacklisting upgrade keys, just for doing the double-install trick, do you?
Click to expand...
No, not just for doing the double-install trick.

BTW, if you actually apply a retail upgrade to an OEM license, it remains an OEM license. You don't get full retail from upgrading an OEM license.
 
Last edited:
tcsenter said:
No, not just for doing the double-install trick.

BTW, if you actually apply a retail upgrade to an OEM license, it remains an OEM license. You don't get full retail from upgrading an OEM license.
Click to expand...

How so? When you install it, it clearly displays the RETAIL EULA, not an OEM one. When you agree to it, you have a RETAIL license, that can be moved between machines and motherboards.
 
VirtualLarry said:
How so? When you install it, it clearly displays the RETAIL EULA, not an OEM one. When you agree to it, you have a RETAIL license, that can be moved between machines and motherboards.
Click to expand...
The upgrade can be moved between machines, provided it is uninstalled from any prior machine.
 
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