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"Not running genuine Windows" error message after recovery.

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Shortly after I recovered to a new hard drive on my PC, I started getting a "You are not running genuine Windows" message. I'm guessing this is not a coincidence. Dell tells me I will have to reinstall Windows.

Is this the only real solution?

Having never done this before, am I in for days of getting things back the way they were, or is there an easier way?

Gary

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Hi Gary,
I seem to remember reading about an issue similar to this previously. Sometimes this issue can be caused by the date and time stamp on files. Other times it can be related to the versions of certain files required for WPA changing all together.

OEM's often use a a line of code in the system BIOS for self activation. If you have changed the partition structure of the disk, it may not be able to find the file it is expecting (or an OEM or hidden partition) and therefore is failing WPA authentication. Your issue might be different?

You haven't stated what you did, except that the message appeared after recovery. You replaced a failed drive? Or you cloned from one drive to another... and maybe started the system with both disks connected? Maybe you didn't restore all the partitions... Or...??

Have you tried merely reactivating?

Thanks

AS Shadowsports says, re-activating works in most cases, it also sometimes sorts itself out over about a 7 day period.

I did replace the 1TB hard drive with a 2TB drive, then added the extra capacity to the existing partition. The trouble started sometime after adding the extra capacity. I'll try the reactivation if I can figure out how to do that.

Gary

Hi Gary,
Using the Add Capacity utility does change the structure of the disk, as it will modify the partition information so it can be interpreted correctly by hardware that won't support large disks natively.

Usually if a BIOS will support 1TB, 2 should not be a problem. Problems start above 2.2TB typically... but there are exceptions.

There are several ways to initiate windows activation, but the easiest is by right-clicking on the Computer icon (on your desktop or start menu) and select Properties. You will see an activation dialog option on the bottom of this screen.

If you continue to experience problems, try restoring to the new disk and, (A) extend the size of the partitions during recovery (Acronis can do this for you) or (B) Use a Partition Management Software after the new drive is booting and correctly activated. Can't say for sure what the best option for you is since it's not clear if your problem is software or hardware related from where we sit.

Make sure you select "restore disk signature" at the end of the restore process from the recovery CD.

I tried the standard activate procedure (Sorry, forgot how I got there), I got an instant reply that Windows is activated. Since the reply was so quick, I wasn't convinced anything had really been done. I then received the "Not running genuine Windows" message soon thereafter.

I searched online for a way to re-actrivate and enter the Product Key. On another forum, Someone said to run slui.exe. They said it has various options for activating a Windows license. You can try re-entering your product key by running "slui.exe 3". I did this and the process took much longer, a minute or so. I got the message that my copy of Windows is now activated. It's only 1.5 hours later. So far, no message. I'll let you know...

Gary

The same problem persists. A short synopsis so far:
I had my C drive go bad, it was a 1 TB drive
I purchased and installed a 2 TB drive, after removing the 1 TB drive.
I restored to the new drive
I noticed that only 1 TB of the new drive was being used.
I used Windows to allocate the full 2 TB to C:
That is when I started getting the "Not Genuine Windows" messages.
I tried reactivating Windows, using my Product Key

The re-activation did not work. So I tried a new restore. I was NOT given the option at the end of the restore process to "restore disk signature". I returned to find a freshly booted PC. After a short time, I got the "not running Genuine Windows" message again. I tried re-activation again. Same problem. What now? I REALLY don't want to have to re-install Windows, I have lots of software that would have to be re-installed.
What, really, did I do wrong here?

Gary

Gary Beyer wrote:
I was NOT given the option at the end of the restore process to "restore disk signature".

If you created a full disk mode backup, that option would have been there during restore. It would not appear "at the end of the restore process", it would be a checkbox to select when you are configuring the restore.

Perhaps Gary, instead of resizing the partition from within Windows, you should try the resize option on restore in True Image and of course nclude the disk signature.

What brand and model is your PC?

I am now setting the size of the partition as part of the restore. To be clear, I am no longer restoring from the backup from immediately before the problem started. I no longer have that backup. All was well for a week or two before I resized, so that backup got overwritten.

I have a Dell Studio XPS

Gary

If you have any disk image old backups, you can restore only
mbr/track 0
choosing the mbr box should allow access on the next screen (where target disk is selected)
to the "Recover disk signature" option which the user must check.

Note: the "Recover disk signature" option is only available in "disk image or disk mode" backups.
This "recover disk signature+ option is NOT AVAILABLE if the image was created in Partition mode even if all partitions were checked.