"This Copy of Windows is not Genuine"

[Stg-Flame]

I built my mom a PC a few months back so she could play Fallout 3, Oblivion, etc. when I went back to college. The OS I bought for her from Newegg was the exact same OS I bought myself, so I doubt that the OS type is the problem.

As for any oddities, when she exits Fallout 3 or any of her PopCap games, the background will be completely black and the message "This Copy of Windows is not Genuine" is at the bottom right. Does anyone know what this means and how to fix it?

 

[xj0hnx]

Did you but an upgrade? Or a full copy? Unless "bought at Newegg" is code for "downloaded off the internet" I've never seen that.

 

[j0j081]

I got this message once after exiting a game but that was on the Windows 7 beta. Probably shows it is possible since Vista and 7 activation is so similar.

 

[Stg-Flame]

I did not buy an upgrade. I doubt an upgrade would even install the entire OS or even function properly. I did, however, upgrade her PC to SP2 before I handed it over. Any other ideas?

 

[lxskllr]

Try to reactivate, or call in if you have to.

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
...call in if you have to.

this

 

[RebateMonger]

It only takes a couple of minutes to run the Microsoft Genuine Windows validation tool. Try it and see what it says. Microsoft has public forums for validation issues, as well as other forms of support.

 

[Stg-Flame]

Thanks a lot. I shall get all of this done tomorrow and report back.

 

[RebateMonger]

Microsoft Genuine Advantage Forums for Vista

Instructions:

"These Forums are for the support of Vista Activation or Validation issues, only. If you have any XP or Office Validation or Activation issue, please follow the approriate link below:

Office Validation Issues: http://forums.community.micros...genuineoffice/threads/
XP Validation Issues: http://forums.community.micros...uinewindowsxp/threads/"

"Once you have created your Own thread, download and run the Genuine Diagnostics tool found at this link http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012.

Run the Tool, click "Continue" then click the "Copy" button. Return to your new Thread and Paste the report into the thread along with a detailed description of the issue you are experiencing.

Please also post the error code you get (if any) when you validate by clicking "Validate Windows" here: www.microsoft.com/genuine. The error code will be gray and in brackets at the end of the message on the page that says validation failed. (It'll look something like this: [0xC004C000])."

 

[Stg-Flame]

So it seems that the genuine message is not detrimental to the PC itself. As long as I can get it cleared up, then it is fine. At this point in time, however, a reformat would not be a huge loss and would be quite easy if that would clear things up in a more timely manner than using the tool.