making w7 "legal"

Hi, I have a pretty potent AMD 3g 6 core desktop and it was fine until about 6 months ago. Then it was not used due to serious illness.

Somewhat better I fired it up about a month ago and it was a mess! "INI Boot file error" or something. "Please insert valid boot media" ??

I tried the W7 disc I bought legitimately years ago when I built this Asus PC but no joy. Then I thought of making a W7 boot disc with my W7 HP laptop. Long...sort eventually "Windows is starting..." Yes, it runs but is constantly telling me I do not have a genuine copy now! Its is the same W7 I installed originally!

How can I make the PC legit please? I don't mind spending a bit more money (the 64 and 32 bit W7 discs cost me over £100) Ultimately I want to make the pc a W10 machine but I think I need to fix W7 first? I doubt it would ever run W11? Don't want it anyway.

Thanks chaps,

Dave Northampton

Windows 7 is unsupported by Microsoft...it truly does not matter whether the install reflects a "genuine copy" or not.

But...take a look:
 

If you have to use Phone Activation, read this detailed information about using that method:

"How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone"

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

 

Louis
 

Hi

the 2 install media;s original and HP have different validation criteria

suspect the original was either a System builder or Retail disc, the HP media is OEM..... (has certain requirements that SB/R installs do not need) 

Depends on how you tried to repair your system, was the original disc W7, if you tried to repair it will fail as your comp is likely running W7 SP1 

Clean install should not have failed

Do you have the packaging for the original install if so the product key should be attached

note

you can also get this message if the install media's are different editions ie Home/Pro etc

please run this tool copy/paste the results and i'll cast my eye over it

https://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/windows-updates-activation/412397d1599542537-windows-genuine-activation-issue-posting-instructions-mgadiag.exe

Roy

(Well we finally won a premiership match) Southampton

Thanks gents, I am waiting on a converter so I can run the pc through a 32" TV via HDMI, eyes not good these days.

Louis, you say the warning makes no difference since Msft have given up on W7, does however  mean the lack of "legality" will have no effect at all on the computer's performance?

Roy. Thank you, as soon as I get it running again I shall try that link.

Dave.

One Answer.

A quote from a 2010 inquiry on subject:

On Windows Vista (without a service pack) the system will boot only into a reduced functionality mode, allowing data to be retrieved from the system's hard disk but making it very difficult to run any other software or use operating system enhancements until Windows is properly activated.<sup id="cite_ref-QSAA_0-9" class="reference">[ 1]</sup> From Windows Vista SP1 onwards and Windows 7, the system will add a text message stating that the copy of Windows in question is not valid, reset the desktop background to black every hour and give periodic notifications to activate the operating system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Product_Activation

Edited by hamluis, 06 November 2024 - 05:18 AM.

Hi Dave,,

as your wanting to upgrade to W10,,, did  you ever give 10 a trial run on that comp

Im asking because there used to be a free upgrade to W10,,, and if you did then you wont have to buy a new licence

Hi Dave,,

 

as your wanting to upgrade to W10,,, did  you ever give 10 a trial run on that comp

Im asking because there used to be a free upgrade to W10,,, and if you did then you wont have to buy a new licence

Actually I did and hated it! I am ahead of you though, I searched as best I could but could find no trace of W10. I did the roll back so does that wipe ten from the drive?

When finances permit I am thinking of one of those PCIe SSDs? I saw 1TB for a nifty. Unplug the incumbent spinner and install a fresh W10...Possible? Costly?

Dave.

Actually thats good news

the transfer from W7 to W10 trial...Validation is totally different

when you trialled W10 your computers info would have been registered on the W10 validation servers

(the W10 Activation servers only use the W7 key as an initial set-up point)

They then convert this and use it as via combination of your comps components to creat a specific identity W10 activation key

all you need to update to W10 is the current MCT tool.... it will be free

Edited by Torchwood, 06 November 2024 - 01:34 PM.

Actually thats good news

 

the transfer from W7 to W10 trial...Validation is totally different

 

when you trialled W10 your computers info would have been registered on the W10 validation servers

(the W10 Activation servers only use the W7 key as an initial set-up point)

They then convert this and use it as via combination of your comps components to creat a specific identity W10 activation key

 

all you need to update to W10 is the current MCT tool.... it will be free

Very interesting! I don't fully understand all this, my computer smarts are patchy (I was a valve guitar amp tech in a former life) but I shall now investigate this "MCT tool"

Dave.

I have been working hard on it. I tried to install W10 but it would not run the W CT tool maybe msft detected a dodgy OS?

I found what I was sure was the right product key so did an install of W 7 This worked and confirmed that I did indeed have a legal copy of the OS.

But I am still in catch 22. Int Explorer is the only browser I can use and am told "you browser is out of date" but I cannot update it nor install another.

I can get to Google and make a search but what ever I next try to open I get that attached "proxy" problem box. I have put both Chrome and Opera exe files on the desktop from another PC via a stick but again Windows won't run them.

Today I tried Safe Mode, no joy there but then could not start out of it! Hour later I found "Save boot" does not re set for a power cycle.

Last ditch idea unless anyone has better is to format the whole drive and install a totally fresh windows 7? Then maybe I can get W10?

BTW the picture is from a camera. Paint also does not seem to work.

Phew.

Dave.

Edited by ecc83, 08 November 2024 - 07:37 AM.

All but one of the major web browsers have dropped support for Windows 7 and will refuse to install.  The one which is maintaining support for the time being is Mozilla Firefox but only the older version 115 ESR branch.  Here's a link: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/desktop-esr/win64/en-US/

All but one of the major web browsers have dropped support for Windows 7 and will refuse to install.  The one which is maintaining support for the time being is Mozilla Firefox but only the older version 115 ESR branch.  Here's a link: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/desktop-esr/win64/en-US/

Thanks but I have no way to get that link to open. I have a Windows\system32\msdt.exe problem that keeps returning..."cannot access control messages at this time"

I think I am going for a total format.

Dave.

I have been trying to format the hard drive, start from a totally clean slate but Windows won't let me! I seem to recall there was a DOS command line that would do that but I cannot find it. I can you see get a cmd box up.

Dave.

https://www.lifewire.com/format-command-2618091

Could not have searched for that ? https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Dos+format+commands

https://www.lifewire.com/format-command-2618091

 

Could not have searched for that ? https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Dos+format+commands

Thank you, I am sure I shall find all that useful.

Dave.