How should one remove Windows 7 genuine message?

Contrary to what many believe, Windows is not a free operating system. Microsoft might have provided free updates to Windows 10 to users running Windows 8 or Windows 7,  but they did it with the expectation that those users (who got the updates) were already running a licensed version of Windows. Rapid increase in the number of computers running the latest Windows Operating system was also a top priority for them.

Some users might ask, “why my windows isn’t genuine?” when the answer is quite easy to figure out. You get a licensed version of Windows by either purchasing it directly from the Windows Store or buying it from third-party vendors. Activation involves ensuring that your copy of Windows is used according to the Microsoft Software License terms. If you fail to activate your copy of Windows or Windows itself detects it as a counterfeit, then you might experience unwanted problems.

Windows 7 genuine validation is a process (usually carried out online) that verifies that your copy of Windows is genuine. This process also involves ensuring that important Windows licensing files are intact in their required location. You could find out more from Microsoft on this topic.

Microsoft, through the KB971033 update provided to systems running Windows 7, became able to detect whether the copy of Windows running on that system was genuine or real. When Windows determines that the copy of the operating system in use is not genuine, the system’s desktop gets replaced by a wallpaper with a blank black background stating “This copy of Windows is not genuine”. Information about the version and the build of the Windows operating system running in that PC is also provided in this message.

If you do not fix this issue, you will constantly receive this message. You might be able to reset it, but every hour or thereabouts, the issue would reoccur. Your system would also continue to receive security updates because they are the critical ones, but you would lose optional or other updates (containing extra features for your Windows OS). The other negative effects brought about by this error message include

•        Reduction in speed or general PC performance.
•        Poor battery life
•        Loss of some features among others.

Fixing this error message

First, why would you even want a Windows 7 counterfeit fix? The quality of counterfeits never actually match the real deal no matter the number of tweaks performed on them.

The instructions contained herein for fixing the error message stating (“This copy of Windows is not genuine”) are strictly educational. We do not endorse any form of piracy. We recommend that you always purchase an original copy of Windows operating system directly from Microsoft, and not through third-party vendors. This is because Microsoft only offers support to users who purchased their software directly from its store or through other official means. If you believe you are a victim of counterfeit software, you can file a report.

Now we outline the most effective ways of getting rid of this frustrating error message:

1. Activating your Windows:

This fix is useful only to users who purchased a genuine copy of Windows but for some reason or the other failed to activate their operating system. You will need a license key and internet connection to complete this process.

A product license or an activation key is a specific software-based key for a program. The program, in this case, is the Windows operating system. The keys typically consist of a series of numbers and/or letters. To activate your Windows, follow these instructions:

• Click on the Start icon or press the Windows button on your keyboard
• Right-click on Computer, click on Properties and click on Activate Windows now.
• Windows should detect an internet connection, and you will be required to click on Activate Windows online now. You might be prompted for an administrator password or to verify your choice. Do the necessary and move on.
• Input your Windows 7 key when asked for it, click on Next and follow the instructions as directed to activate your Windows.

2. Uninstalling Windows update:

If you cannot find your license key or you have one, but it is invalid, you can get rid of the error message by uninstalling Windows update KB971033. This particular piece of Windows update is capable of working to detect if the Windows running on your system is genuine. Although Windows updates are generally important and tend to contain useful patches and bug fixes to improve security, getting rid of the error message is currently your biggest priority. To uninstall this update, do this:

• Click on the Start icon or press the Windows button on your keyboard
• Click on Control Panel to open it
• Click on System and Security and select View installed updates
• Locate KB971033, right-click on it and select Uninstall
• Restart your PC for the work you have just done to take effect

If you could not find the stated update or you found it, but this method simply failed to stop the “This copy of Windows is not genuine” message from reappearing on your PC, move on to the next one.

3. Using Command Prompt:

Follow these steps carefully:

• Click on the Start icon or press the Windows button on your keyboard.
• Search for cmd in the available box, right-click on the presented result and select Run as Administrator to launch an elevated Command Prompt with administrator privileges
• Now type the following command into Command Prompt: slmgr -rearm
• Press the Enter key on your keyboard to run the inputted code. You will now be presented with a confirmation window.
• Click on OK and restart your PC.

The command you have just used works by resetting the license status of your system. If you restarted your PC, but you still received the error message after reboot, then follow the instructions above to perform the same process, but this time using a different command: slmgr /rearm

If you had no luck using either of the commands but received an error message stating that the maximum number of rearms has been exceeded, then follow these instructions on editing your system registry to fix the problem:

• Press the Windows key first and then the R key on your keyboard almost simultaneously to launch the Run program
• Type regedit.exe into the available box and press the Enter key on your keyboard
• Navigate to the following directory on the left plane: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Microsoft > WindowsNT > Current version
• Locate the SoftwareProtectionPlatform folder on the left side and click on it to display its contents on the right side
• Locate SkipRearm, right-click on it and select Modify
• After the Modify box opens, locate the box for Value Data. Change its content from 0 to 1 and click on OK
• Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC.

After this reboot, perform the already attempted fixes using Command Prompt again, and you will be delighted with your success.

If the commands used in Command Prompt failed to work for you, but you got a message stating that SLGMR is not recognized as an internal or external command, then you got this message because

• You were inputting an incorrect command. Now note that there is space between slmgr and -rearm. The same space exists between slmgr and /rearm. There is no shame in reattempting the fixes if you believe you were inputting the wrong code
• You are not using a Command Prompt with administrator privileges. Ensure you click on Run as administrator when launching the Command Prompt program
• There are issues with your system’s slmgr.vbs file. Follow this guide to solve the issues:
• Click on the Start icon or press the Windows button on your keyboard
• Click on My Computer
• Double-click on your current Windows partition
• Locate the folder named Windows and double-click on it
• Double-click on the System32 folder.
• Find any file with the name slmgr (forget about the file extension) and click on rename in the other menu.
• Make vbs the new name of that file.

Now restart your system and perform the fix using Command Prompt. This time you should have success with this method since you would not receive any error message when using Command Prompt. Restart your system again after performing the fix.

After this reboot, you should no longer see the message “This copy of Windows is not genuine”. The blank background might still be present on your desktop, but this is a relatively easy issue to fix- simply change your background image:

Right-click on an empty spot on your desktop background

Select Personalize and change your desktop background image.

4. Using Resultant Set of Policy Window (RSOP):

This fix might work for you even when others failed you.

Follow these instructions:

• Press the Windows key first and then the R key on your keyboard almost simultaneously to launch the Run program
• Type rsop.msc in the available box and press the Enter key on your keyboard
• Navigate through the following folders: Windows settings> security system> system services
• Now from the presented list, locate Plug and Play. Right-click on it.
• Select Startup and click on Automatic. Save it
• Press the Windows key first and then the R key on your keyboard almost simultaneously to launch the Run program again
• Input the following command into the available box: update /force
• Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
• Close the Run program and restart your system. The inputted command was necessary to force the changes you have just made to take effect on your next system startup.

We believe that the message “This copy of Windows is not genuine” should be gone by now.

Making the fix permanent:

In theory, there is no Windows 7 counterfeit fix. The only permanent fix available when you do not possess a genuine copy of Windows is a bad fix. This bad fix requires you to stop updates completely to prevent Microsoft from sending you an update that will cause similar problems with error messages. Windows updates are extremely important. Systems lacking these updates are generally more vulnerable to virus, malware or spyware attacks.

Regardless, if you wish to proceed, follow these instructions to turn off automatic updates on Windows 7:

• Click on the Start icon or press the Windows button on your keyboard
• Click on Control Panel to launch it. Click on System and Security
• Click on Install updates automatically (Recommended) or whatever option is selected there
• Choose Never Check for Updates (Not recommended). Click on Apply or save it and exit.

The good or perfect permanent fix is reinstalling a genuine copy of Windows or purchasing a new copy from Microsoft. However, you should know that reinstalling a new copy of Windows would cause you to lose all data or information stored on your current operating system. We recommend that you make a comprehensive backup of all your files before performing this action.

The drivers for your system would also be missing in a fresh copy of Windows, so we advise that you use Auslogics Driver Updater to update all your drivers in a single click. Updating drivers manually or individually is a messy task that is best left to excellent applications. This is why we have provided you with an excellent program for this job. Good luck.