Windows 7 Genuine Advantage troubles.

[xxsilk109xx]

I have a customer who is a 23 year old kid, plays warcraft and every other rpg game out there. He brought me a custom built computer with Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. Well the issue is that a rootkit has really done some damage and after working on it for a bit I noticed that there had never been any updates, so I then looked for a product key and didnt find one.

I called customer and asked if this was pirated, he said yes, I told him that there was not really much I could do since it was pirated. He said he would buy a copy of Windows 7 legally, so I ordered him one, home premium version.

So I then manually installed SP1 on the current ultimate system, went into the registry and changed the id from ultimate to home premium, and then did an inplace upgrade install of home premium, it goes through it just fine, asks for the key, it accepts the key, then restarts the computer.

When it opens the user account for the first time it tells me its not genuine, I then try to activate it again by retyping the product key and it takes the key then says this copy is not genuine.

The reason we did not to a full fresh install is because of course the 500gb hard drive in this thing is full of games and game saves, etc.

Is there any other way around this that I can not seem to find out there in google land?

 

[shamrin]

I have a customer who is a 23 year old kid, plays warcraft and every other rpg game out there. He brought me a custom built computer with Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. Well the issue is that a rootkit has really done some damage and after working on it for a bit I noticed that there had never been any updates, so I then looked for a product key and didnt find one.

I called customer and asked if this was pirated, he said yes, I told him that there was not really much I could do since it was pirated. He said he would buy a copy of Windows 7 legally, so I ordered him one, home premium version.

So I then manually installed SP1 on the current ultimate system, went into the registry and changed the id from ultimate to home premium, and then did an inplace upgrade install of home premium, it goes through it just fine, asks for the key, it accepts the key, then restarts the computer.

When it opens the user account for the first time it tells me its not genuine, I then try to activate it again by retyping the product key and it takes the key then says this copy is not genuine.

The reason we did not to a full fresh install is because of course the 500gb hard drive in this thing is full of games and game saves, etc.

Is there any other way around this that I can not seem to find out there in google land?

If it's a hack there is often an executable or dll hanging around in the Windows folder trying to prevent it from doing a WGA check. MSE is good at finding these hacks. Try running it, remove hack, update product key again. Second idea is call MS and tell them your problem (leaving out the registry edit bit I think and see if they will give you a key that will work.

 

[xxsilk109xx]

If it's a hack there is often an executable or dll hanging around in the Windows folder trying to prevent it from doing a WGA check. MSE is good at finding these hacks. Try running it, remove hack, update product key again. Second idea is call MS and tell them your problem (leaving out the registry edit bit I think and see if they will give you a key that will work.

I tried but cant install MSE on a system that is not genuine

 

[Rosco]

download the 15 day trail of vipre it will pick up the crack in no time. Ever pirated copy of windows i have tried it worked with! I know i say this a lot but GFI is great! you should be fine after that.

 

[Tekko]

Try this:

1. Open a elevated command prompt.
2. Make sure the Software Protection service is not running by entering "net stop sppsvc" into an elevated cmd prompt and pressing Enter.
3. Open the following directory "C:WindowsServiceProfilesNetworkServiceAppDataRoamingMicrosoftSoftwareProtectionPlatform" and rename "tokens.bat" to "tokens.old"
4. Start the Software Protection service by entering "net start sppsvc" into an elevated cmd prompt and pressing Enter.
5. Force reactivation by entering "slui.exe" into an elevated cmd prompt and pressing Enter

Let me know if it works.

 

[xxsilk109xx]

Tekko - I did exactly that, tried to type the key again and it didnt work.

I am trying Viper now, will report.

Edit - Tried Vipre and it didnt pick up anything but a few tracking cookies.

I am going to break the hard news to the little gamer
Time for a Nuke and Pave

 

[Tekko]

Tekko - I did exactly that, tried to type the key again and it didnt work.

That should confirm sharmin's suspicions, something is preventing a WGA check.

 

[stidham]

it's his own fault for using the pirated version in the first place. Hats off to you man for doing as much as you did.