will my backups be affected?

[pawz7]

Hi all, am wondering what to do... I bought a full copy of W7 Home Premium back in June this year, via Amazon, paid £90 for it and received a sealed copy in its green box, with the product key inside. It has worked fine in every respect until yesterday, when it was reckoned by MS to not be a genuine copy of Windows, presumably because the same Product Key has been used to install the software on other computers elsewhere ( not here!) - so pirated software. That was a shock because it all looks 100% genuine on the box, on the disks, holograms,labels etc.

I will, of course, try to get my money back, but that is not why I am posting.

If I put a different version of Windows 7 on here, and then restore my backup of the C: drive via Acronis, which, of course was made on the copy of Windows which is now suspect, will that cause problems do you think? Does the backup overwrite the registry, for instance?

You might say ask Acronis, but last time I did that when trying to find out about copying over hidden partitions, I got no response in the forum and nothing useful in the FAQ, so I do not think I will bother again.

Fed up

[Craig]

The act of restoring a backup of the C drive will overwrite any changes (in this case a new OS install) with the original OS, thus bringing you back to the same issue.

It could be a simple case that the activation application has become corrupt and has defaulted to "not genuine". I have seen this happen a few times with Windows XP.

As an initial step, I would suggest attempting to activate again via telephone. The phone system is automated, however will transfer you to an operator if an issue with the product key is found.

The operator should be able to tell you the state of play with the licence and the applicable course of action to take.

So try telephone activation first, and then report back.

Quick command to get the activation telephone wizard up, in the run command type “slui.exe 4”

[pawz7]

this is windows 7 - which probably doesn't make a difference. I have done the slui.exe 4 thing already and no phone number is offered, only the option to go online, go through the validation test and then get offered the opportunity to buy genuine.

I did find a phone number on the web via another forum, which I rang but which has no 'press 1 for activation/piracy problems' facility on it. I will phone back on a week-day to see if I can get a real person to speak to, but I expect that will be a waste of time. If that key has been used on other computers, hence the block, MS are just going to say 'tough' and leave it at that. However, I will try.

Thank you for the help Craig

[bludgard]

I have done the slui.exe 4 thing already and no phone number is offered, only the option to go online, go through the validation test and then get offered the opportunity to buy genuine.

I have also run into this problem with a couple installs, pawz7. As I knew the COA was legit, I kept calling. Once it took about 10 time or more. I did finally get through and was directed to the proper channels.

It may be worth noting that on one instance, a failing hard drive was the culprit. I do not know why that may be, but after spending several hours with a MS tech and he generating a fresh install key and still no joy, I decided to replace the HDD and try to install and activate. The new HDD accepted the key immediately.

Hopefully you can get this sorted the proper way. However, if you are stuck and there seems to be doom all about, there may be other options.

Edit:

paw7 wrote:

"If I put a different version of Windows 7 on here, and then restore my backup of the C: drive via Acronis, which, of course was made on the copy of Windows which is now suspect, will that cause problems do you think? Does the backup overwrite the registry, for instance?"

I image and reimage often with different installs. I have never had any problems with the product becoming non-genuine.

[pawz7]

thanks bludgard, I will try the number tomorrow and see how it goes. I could try putting it on another machine and seeing if it activates on that OK, in which case that would point to a corruption on here.. hmmm. I might do that tomorrow too, just to try. Thank you also for reassurance about the backup.

[pawz7]

second thoughts, I will wipe the C: drive on the faulting machine, reinstall and then see if it activates - if it does not, it may give me a phone number. I shall do it tonight.

[pawz7]

didn't help, still blocked ( sigh) oh well..

[bludgard]

I totally forgot that you were not getting the Activation phone number.

Someone offered a UK activation number in this thread.

Matches the one on this site. Maybe it will do?

[pawz7]

thankyou bludgard, you are kind to bother searching these out for me. The first one is right, but automated - but going through the automated process and failing might then give you a real person to talk to as a final option. The second one is for VLK whereas I am using retail so that would not apply.

Overall I am not too bothered about calling MS - it seems to me that although the software is genuine, the product key has been compromised or leaked, or whatever they call it, and that is why it has become blocked. MS will expect me to buy a new copy - they are not going to give me a new key.

I have been in contact with Amazon and it does look as if I might qualify for a full refund, even though I bought the software from one of their affiliated sellers and not from them direct. if that turns out to be so I shall be content. Meanwhile best beloved has offered me his as yet unopened copy of W7 Professional ( there's love for you) so I can legally get up and running again.

[bludgard]

Although I commiserate with your potential loss, I rejoice in the knowledge that you have someone that puts you first. There is nothing in the world worth more. :D

[pawz7]

he is a treasure indeed. . My computer is nearly back to how I like it, Just got to tidy up now - and try to get me munney back :)