Windows 7 “Copy is not genuine”

[ad]Dear Computer Lady,

I love your column and have used your suggestions several times.

Two years ago I bought a one terabyte HP from Office Depot with Windows 7 installed. Two days ago I downloaded the latest Windows update and the message came back:

“Windows 7 Build 7601 This copy of Windows is not genuine”

MS offered to sell me a serial number, lol. Is this a scam or do you think Office Depot sold me a computer with a bogus copy of Windows 7. Why didn’t this show up earlier with all the other windows updates that I have downloaded in the last two years?

Thanks, Arden

Dear Arden,

I don’t believe that Office Depot sold you a computer with a bogus copy of Windows on it.

I suspect that one of two things is happening here.

Either something got corrupted in your registry, or you somehow got some malware on your system that is trying to scam you into “buying” something you don’t really need.

Either way, a system restore to a date before this latest update might very well solve this problem.

Elizabeth

 

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Elizabeth Boston is a Web designer, Social Media Consultant and managing editor of, “Ask The Computer Lady”.
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