asked on Is Windows Genuine?
I have a copy of Windows 7 on a Dell laptop. The machine originally had Vista and the Product key on the "proof of license" label is for Vista. The machine shows the "Genuine" icon for Windows 7. I'm not so sure. Is there another way to verify if this is a Genuine license?
Laptops NotebooksMicrosoft Legacy OSOperating SystemsDell
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☠ MASQ ☠
eventhough it shows it is genuine, it may not sometimes. There are few methods to verify. But i think serial number verification may success.
Http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/check-if-windows-7-is-genuine/
Http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/check-if-windows-7-is-genuine/
If Windows shows as Activated and also shows a product key, it will be Genuine. It has always done so for me and all my client machines.
.... Thinkpads_User
.... Thinkpads_User
Here's a little trick to see if the key is valid and not an OEM SLP key. Download Produkey and run it. Save you Windows 7 key that it finds and paste that into Google. If nothing comes up, it is a valid key! :-) Be sure to write it down or print it off in that case.
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Quick and easy way to tell. Download and install Microsoft Security Essentials http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/security-essentials-download
If Windows is not genuine, it will tell you and will not install. If it installs, it is genuine.
If Windows is not genuine, it will tell you and will not install. If it installs, it is genuine.
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@thinkpads_user, it's actually very easy to fool the activation process so the install appears genuine, includes both a product key and the Window Genuine graphic and the validation server is ignored. There are a lot of machines that are sold on auction sites like this - "upgraded" to Windows 7
@ rbudj And it's also possible to install MSE on them because it's fundamentally a security product M$ allow it to be downloaded and installed without product validation in the same way security updates are currently allowed from Windows Update even if validation isn't completed. It may detect some of the activation cracks but most are invisible to it.
The definitive test is the validation tool
@ rbudj And it's also possible to install MSE on them because it's fundamentally a security product M$ allow it to be downloaded and installed without product validation in the same way security updates are currently allowed from Windows Update even if validation isn't completed. It may detect some of the activation cracks but most are invisible to it.
The definitive test is the validation tool
No worry. Go to Computer, right click for Properties and allow the screen to load. It should show you a Product Key and if it does, you are good to go. You click to the right for Learn more online about Genuine Windows, but the presence of the product key with Windows is Activate above it tells you that all is well.
.... Thinkpads_User