Make sure you're not using pirated software
So you have a computer with Windows 7 installed, but you’re not sure if you are running a genuine version of the OS? You may have this issue if you downloaded a copy of Windows 7 or if someone else installed it for you.
Either way, there are a couple of different ways to check and make sure that your Windows 7 copy is genuine.
Table of Contents
Method 1 – Activate Windows Dialog
The first way to validate that Windows 7 is genuine is to click on Start, then type in activate windows in the search box.
If your copy of Windows 7 is activated and genuine, you will get a message that says “Activation was successful” and you will see the Microsoft Genuine software logo on the right hand side.
Method 2 – Validate Online
The second way to determine if you have a valid copy of Windows 7 is to use the validation tool on the Microsoft website.
If you ever tried to download updates from Microsoft, you’ve probably noticed that sometimes your copy of Windows has to be validated before it allows you to start the download.
Well, you can use that tool independently of downloading an update by going to the following address:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate
Then click on the Validate Now link at the top. Make sure that you visit the site while in Internet Explorer, otherwise it doesn’t load properly. Also, it will ask you do download a small program onto your computer in order to validate.
The program will run and you’ll get a window that will tell you whether Windows 7 is genuine or not.
Method 3 – Control Panel
The third way to check for genuine Windows 7 is to go to the Control Panel. Click on Start, then Control Panel, then click on System and Security, and finally click on System.
Then scroll all the way down to the bottom and you should see a section called Windows activation, which says “Windows is activated” and gives you the Product ID. It also includes the genuine Microsoft software logo.
So, in conclusion, if you have bought a copy of Windows 7 from a shady local computer dealer or off eBay for a reduced price, you may want to check and make sure the product key is actually valid and not counterfeit!
If you have any other questions about whether your copy of Windows 7 is valid, post a comment here and I will try to help. Enjoy!
