[RESOLVED] Not genuine Windows message... but it is!

[InvisibleDuncan]

The hard-drive on my wife's laptop failed, so she took it to a shop to get it replaced. They cloned everything off her existing drive and reloaded it onto the new drive, using the restore disks that came with the laptop. Unfortunately, she's now regularly getting pop up messages telling her that this isn't a genuine copy of Windows.

Any idea how she can get it to recognise that this is a genuine version?

[Hack]

I would take it back to the shop and tell them to fix it.....free!

[techgnome]

The HD changed... which means a new serial number ... so the OS thinks it's been illegally cloned to a new machine... you may have to contact MS support to get it sorted out.

-tg

[stanav]

In my experience, it's the combination of cloning software used and the OEM BIOS. Here at work, I use Acronis True Image 2010 to clone Win7 HDD's. If I use earlier versions of Acronis then the cloned computer would crash on 1st boot up... It works great with HP, Gateway but would fail on Lenovo... For Lenovo machines, after the clone, I have to enter the product key (found on the sticker of each machine) manually to get it activated. I don't have to do this for other brands such as HP, Gateway...

[dac10012]

To clarify, what you have to do to eliminate "This computer is not running genuine windows" pop-up after cloning your hard drive but you know your windows is activated: Get the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver from one of two places, depending on whether you have a brand name or generic computer, and then reactivate windows online. For generic drivers for all versions of Windows XP thru 8, including updates for December 2012, go to: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sear...tel%c2%ae+RST)
For my brand, Lenovo Thinkpad T410-T430, for Win7 (32 bit): http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/down...cID=MIGR-74431
Don't forget to reactivate Windows, using your product i.d., or you'll still get the "Not genuine windows" pop-up.

[InvisibleDuncan]

Thanks, dac. This one's an Asus, so I'll have a look for those drivers over the weekend.

[InvisibleDuncan]

Dac, you're a superstar. That worked, and it's now being recognised as genuine Windows again.

Thanks a million!