My Windows 7 ultimate is not suddenly not genuine

I have a similar problem. My copy of Windows 7 that I have used for years is suddenly "Not Genuine". I assembled this computer myself and installed a perfectly legal and validated copy of Windows 7 years ago. Just because Microsoft has stopped supporting and updating Windows 7, it should not invalidate my older operating system should it?

While I appreciate the responses this question received (basically re-registering) and the details on where to find the product key, these replies do not answer the real question here: How did my verified copy of Windows 7 become un-genuine?, and how do I make sure this never happens again?

Please, if any one can help with the underlying reason this occurs it would be very much appreciated.

Thank you for the honest reply. It is good to know someone understands the problem and is willing to tell me the hard truth: Microsoft hates me. ;)

I actually did just now fix the problem with a simple command line hack. Will it stay fixed? Who knows? But for now...

Thanks for your time and effort to help out a Windows 7 dinosaur.

I have a similar problem. My copy of Windows 7 that I have used for years is suddenly "Not Genuine". I assembled this computer myself and installed a perfectly legal and validated copy of Windows 7 years ago. Just because Microsoft has stopped supporting and updating Windows 7, it should not invalidate my older operating system should it?

While I appreciate the responses this question received (basically re-registering) and the details on where to find the product key, these replies do not answer the real question here: How did my verified copy of Windows 7 become un-genuine?, and how do I make sure this never happens again?

Please, if any one can help with the underlying reason this occurs it would be very much appreciated.

One other thing you do not realize about here.

Every time someone posts here, everyone one who is subscribed to this thread receives an email with a notification about it.

Which means that the original poster and  posters trying to help them in this thread are receiving emails about other peoples problems that are not their concern.

That is why the original poster's problem is dealt with on its own with posters only replying to them.

How did my verified copy of Windows 7 become un-genuine?, and how do I make sure this never happens again?

Please, if any one can help with the underlying reason this occurs it would be very much appreciated.

This occasionally happens, although rarely, and you can't "make sure this never happens again." Often, the cause is corrupted files.

See the advice I gave above:

As to why your system suddenly reported that it is "not genuine," you can download and run the Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool (unfortunately no longer available from Microsoft, but downloadable from MajorGeeks): https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_genuine_advantage_diagnostic_tool.html

Unfortunately, although you can post the results (click the "Copy" button) here, odds are that you will not get help, as few, if any, of the folks who understand how to interpret the results from running that tool continue to be active in this community and the specialist forum for those issues has been archived and is no longer active (https://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/home?forum=genuinewindows7). 

If you've already fixed the situation, running the MGADiag tool will only show that everything is OK; it will not reveal the past problem.

If OEM preinstalled (Dell, HP, etc.) license:

The COA sticker, which has the Product Key on it, is either on the underside of the Laptop or in the Battery Compartment.

With a Desktop it is either on the side, rear or top of the Computer Case.

Product Key finder programs do NOT find a useable product key on OEM preinstalled operating systems (Dell, HP, etc.)

Key Finder Programs used on preinstalled Operating Systems only find the Manufacturer's Product Key which was used on multiple machines during manufacture and what they find is not suitable to use for a reinstall or activation problems.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

List of Activation error codes and what to do about them:

Error message when you try to activate Windows 7 or Windows Vista: "An error has occurred"

Contact Microsoft:

Activate Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 - Windows Help - Microsoft Support

When you begin activation, Windows will try to use your Internet connection to activate online. If you have problems activating online, you can activate using the phone.

___________________________________________________

If you have to use Phone Activation, read this detailed information about using that method:

"How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone"

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

_________________________________________________

If you have problems using that method contact Microsoft Support:

To contact Microsoft Support:

Contact support        

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/contact-support