So you have a computer with Windows 7 installed, but you’re not sure if you are using a genuine version of the OS? This problem can occur if you downloaded a copy of Windows 7 or someone else installed it.
In any case, there are several different ways to verify the authenticity of your copy of Windows 7.
First method – activate Windows dialog
The first way to authenticate Windows 7 is to click the Start button and then type Activate Windows in the search box.
If your copy of Windows 7 is activated and is genuine, you will receive a “Activation Successful” message and on the right side you will see the Genuine Microsoft software logo.
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The second method – online verification
The second way to determine if you have a valid copy of Windows 7 is to use the validation tool on Microsoft’s website.
If you’ve ever tried to download updates from Microsoft, you’ve probably noticed that sometimes your copy of Windows needs to be checked before it allows you to start downloading.
Well, you can use this tool regardless of the update download by going to the following URL:
http: //www.microsoft.com/genoine/validate
Then click the Check Now link at the top. Make sure you visit the site in Internet Explorer, otherwise it won’t load properly. In addition, he will ask you to download a small program to his computer for testing.
The program will start and you will see a window telling you if Windows 7 is genuine or not.
The third method – the control panel
The third way to authenticate Windows 7 is to go to Control Panel. Click Start, then Control Panel, then click System and Security, and finally click System.
Then scroll down to the very bottom and you should see a section titled “Windows Activation” that says “Windows is activated” and lists the product ID. It also includes the genuine Microsoft software logo.
So, in conclusion, if you bought a copy of Windows 7 from a dubious local computer seller or on eBay for a discounted price, you can check and make sure that the product key is indeed valid and not fake!
If you have any other questions about whether your copy of Windows 7 is right, leave a comment here and I’ll try to help. Enjoy!
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