"Your copy of Windows is not genuine."

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Kollin wrote on 2012-03-04 12:40

So yeah, this message has popped up. The popup sends me to the Microsoft website to validate it, but it does nothing. I can't update or anything now because of it. What have I fucked up this time? I just need to put down a computer and never touch one again.
Juno wrote on 2012-03-04 13:21

Some windows update will do that to you, don't recall which one.

I currently have the same problem...just haven't bothered trying to re-activate it.
Osayidan wrote on 2012-03-04 20:33

Do you mean the popup for it being not valid shows up, but the "genuine" logo still shows up in computer properties? And did windows update stop working?

If so, it's very, very weird but did you install the intel storage drivers? A certain version, for whatever reason, will cause that on some systems. Uninstall it and download the latest from intel. You can usually see it in add/remove programs.
Kollin wrote on 2012-03-04 21:35

When I got the laptop from my mother this morning it seems to have disappeared. I guess restarting the computer fixed it. Installing updates so that maybe it will prevent it from doing it again.
Fynl wrote on 2012-03-04 21:45

I get that message once in a while, but for me it usually goes away. I dunno why it happens :|
Joker wrote on 2012-03-04 22:31

Quote from Juno;796004:
Some windows update will do that to you, don't recall which one.

I currently have the same problem...just haven't bothered trying to re-activate it.

if you don't do anything and install a bypass hack you will not be able to use your computer and will have to do a complete wipe of your hardrive.. so i sugguest you find one that works ..... seriously..

for those of you confused there will usually be an innate countdown timer within the system that counts down days when it hits a certain number it tells you how much you have left, when it reaches 0 you will not be able to boot up past windows start up,

the bypass deletes the file that asks for windows to be genuine w/o making the program (windows) recognize that its gone essentially
its all stuff that happens within the registry
Rydian wrote on 2012-03-04 23:19

Quote from Joker;796145:
if you don't do anything and install a bypass hack you will not be able to use your computer and will have to do a complete wipe of your hardrive.. so i sugguest you find one that works ..... seriously..

for those of you confused there will usually be an innate countdown timer within the system that counts down days when it hits a certain number it tells you how much you have left, when it reaches 0 you will not be able to boot up past windows start up,

the bypass deletes the file that asks for windows to be genuine w/o making the program (windows) recognize that its gone essentially
its all stuff that happens within the registry
This information is old and mostly incorrect now. The validation aspect of windows has changed.

Yes, retroactively, so modern installs of XP have had their activation technologies updated as well. It's no longer simple registry stuff for them, and for new ones removing those parts of windows isn't the best approach.

If this is a legit install then a legit fix is best in any case.