Microsoft, in a rather brilliant move, has released an update that checks your OS serial against a list of known leaked serials (corporate edition keys, etc). If your serial matches one of them then it puts a darling little message on the bottom right hand of your login screen, and also a system tray icon that nags you to buy a genuine copy of windows.
It will also pop up a dialog that says “This copy of Windows is not Genuine”
“This copy of Windows is not genuine and you have not yet resolved this issue. This computer is no longer eligible to recieve select security upgrades from Microsoft.
To protect your copy of Windows, you must click Get Genuine now.”
Every so often a little balloon will pop up that says “You may be a victim of software counterfeiting.” Below that it will say “This copy of Windows is not genuine. Click this balloon to resolve now.” If you’re working on a system that has this running it gets annoying in a hurry. What the time interval between pop-ups is, I don’t know, but I imagine it’ll drive most people to buy a legit key after a while just to get the thing to shut up.
Fixing the popup is easy enough.
Reboot to safe mode. Open up HijackThis and scroll down to the selection that says “020 - Winlogon Nofity: Wgalogon - …” select that, and click fix checked.
You can also go and delete the actual executable that nags you. The full path to it should be (for most installs) C:\Windows\System32\wgatray.exe.
Reboot after this. No longer should you get the popups and that nagger as you log in should not show up either.
Note: I am NOT condoning software piracy! If you have jacked your copy of Windows then it’s time to buy one!
Responses to “This copy of Windows is not genuine - how to fix”
May 31st, 2007 at 1:41 am
Nope, not in this case. It sounds like you’ve got a pirated copy of Windows, so if you want it to be legit you’re going to have to purchase it, which I would recommend since Windows Updates are a bit of a necessity considering many of them fix security holes.
As far as the popup is concerned, getting rid of it is described in pretty good detail in the article above.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Hello,
Its not true that NAG Messages are because of Microsoft advancements. its because you have downloaded the WGA Notifier. Turn it off its easy to do. and search around the world for some keys.
August 6th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Um, yeah, the WGA notifier DOES come from Windows Updates, otherwise how would you get it?
It is, of course, not an acutal update, but regardless you “contract” it via the update service.
Microsoft added the WGA notifier as an “update” a while before Vista came out as a deterrent to pirating a copy of Vista. This I would imagine has been quite effective since anybody that is using an illegitimate copy of a Microsoft OS no longer can get security updates/bug fixes.
August 9th, 2007 at 11:02 am
Well, I DID purchase my copy of Vista and after several months of no problems suddenly I am getting the “This copy of Windows is not genuine” message…
I can just see the MS tech support:
“I did purchase my copy of Windows.”
“No, you didn’t”
“But I have the DVD right here.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“But here’s the license key.”
“Our records show that key is owned by an honest, hard-working small business in China in a province that doesn’t get electricity. We’ve traced this call. The FBI will arrive for you shortly.”
September 10th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
I purchased Windows Genuine and downloaded the service key which did get rid of the baloon thing, but now when I try to switch from screen to screen, I get an error message. Says send error report / don’t send. Well I kept sending then it keeps coming back. Now I just click “don’t send”. How do I get rid of that? I also received my software. Should I “uninstall” the downloaded version and reinstall with the software? Do a system restore? Will that get rid of that error message?
September 15th, 2007 at 11:22 am
I tried to delete C:\Windows\System32\wgatray.exe but it says:
“Cannot delete WgaTray.exe: Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.”
I did ctrl alt delete and stopped wgatray.exe from running, but it still says it. I right clicked on it in the lower tray and found I could choose ‘change notification settings’ so I’ve turned it off for the next 30 days… but then it says it’s going to annoy me again. My windows IS genuine but I dont have the serial code.
October 14th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
I got a message saying the same thing, and now all my programs that microsoft made, like word, locked up!!! I purchased my laptop, it came witht the installation cd, the key, and everything. It came with Microsoft Word, and the cd to install it. I got it through my moms work, and now it’s telling me it’s not genuine.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
I successfully delete the notification and everything that comes with it. You have to get HijackThis version 1.99.1 to get read of it. Thanks to this site I’m safe.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:21 am
I have genuine XP pro that’s been running for three years, with all the updates. Suddenly I get the infamous message telling me that too many hardware changes have been done and I have to validate again in three days and blah blah.
Actually the only hardware changes have been a few changes of mouse, a change of keyboard, heavy use of Flash memory and a couple of webcams trials. Reminds me of the blue screen of death.
December 24th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I, as well, have a legit copy, PREINSTALLED on my laptop from Best Buy. Now that the pop up happens, I can’t use Messenger. I even tried to fix it like they suggest, and the microsoft website says i’m legit!! For some reason its not sending that info to my computer though.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:41 am
I was having NTFS error messages in the system event log with my Vista Home Premium - laptop purchased from HP on the internet. After running both sfc.exe and chkdsk.exe and rebooting, now I get the following message after login where I HAVE NO WAY TO USE MY COMPUTER:
Title: Windows must be reinstalled to activate
Msg: Insert the Widows installation DVD or CD into your computer to begin the reinstallation process
Text in bottom right hand corner: Windows Vista (TM) Build 6000 This copy of Windows is not genuine.
The only option I have is to close the message window and the OS promptly logs me off. There is no task manager, no explorer shell…nothing else I can do.
I AM NOW A VICTIM since this laptop was purchased from HP on the internet in Aug 2007.
January 6th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Heres what the little bugger looks like, if it doesnt work theres a link at the bottom. I have yet to solve it yet. My windows has be opperating for like 4 years now… I bought this computer, wth
http://aycu11.webshots.com/image/38450/2000673688097009394_rs.jpg
January 6th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Ok so I deletd C:\Windows\System32\wgatray.exe.
But there is wgalogon.dll also, Im not goin to delete it just just yet, well see if it stops. Also I wanted to add the first time it showed up, I clicked ‘Fix now’ (or whatsever it says) and nothing happened… I didt get the option to but anything, it just loaded as usual.?.
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I got my computer from my school and I am getting this pop up. One of the helpdeskie people I know that is basically a hacker told me that its a virus and i shouldn’t do anything until she can fix it for me. I mean, she works for the school and it sounds like this has happened to other people. I figured since the school gave me this POS machine it would at least have a legit copy of windows on it.
January 27th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
i downloaded hijackthis!
i restarted in safe mode!
i opened hijackthis!
and scanned!
but i couldnt find any file with that name!
vista was working fine first few days of my new laptop.
2 weeks in and this happens!
heeeeeeelp!
January 27th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Wow, that’s a lot of unnecessary exclamation points.
Anyhow, I’ve not run into this issue on any Vista machines that I’ve repaired, and wouldn’t be surprised if the nagger is built into the kernel or whatnot.
Since your laptop is new, then I would approach whomever you recently bought it from and demand that they put a legit install of Vista on it.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:51 am
Oh comon, i am a pirat and all that i want is a way to solve this, your solution is great but since my copie is not genuine the things doesn’t even allow me to start in safe mode and i am useing vista ultimate so i dont have the “wgatray.exe” thing…. is there any other nam,e on vista so i can delete it? dont come on me with silly seremons saying i should buy the real one bla bla.. i am evil and i like it!
February 7th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
ok.. ive done what it said at top..ive deleted the wgatray.exe and its now gone..but i still get this software is not genuine.. ive done exacly what the top said and its still not working..
i hope you can help me =D tyvm
February 10th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
hi, i bought a pc from a legit shop with a legit version of windows xp installed, my pc caught a bug and in the end I had to reinstall windows. Ok, I had to use a copy as I can’t afford to buy a copy as well has having bought a pc. How do I find out the serial number of the original windows that my pc had?
February 15th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Christine, you should find your product key on a sticker somewhere on the side or bottom of your pc. It looks like a sticker with a hologram in it and a barcode type pic along with lots of numbers and letters (those being the key)
If not search google for steps on locating your OS key from your installation files.
March 3rd, 2008 at 6:55 am
I’m having the same issue, but I know Microsoft has had an issue with losing registrations/keys.
Problem is I just called mine in over the phone to have it reactivated; still getting the ‘not genuine’ which leads me to believe a virus…
March 21st, 2008 at 6:59 am
i have a genuine copy i updated my laptop and all of a sudden it tells me my copy is not legit i can’t find te sticke cuz my basement flooded and the cd was down there with the sticke and i threw it out by mistake hel me plz!!
May 6th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Ok I got this computer from usanotebook.com they told me something needed to be updated and that they could not do it them selves (not sure why but ok) so they gave me a disk to update and it updated me to windows vista ( I am guessing that it was a copied disk and that why) well I have had windows vista for like 3 months now and like 2 days ago I logged on and a pop up opened and my screen was all black and said that “this copy of windows is not genuine” I am not some computer geek so dont tell me something confusing and I dont want this to cost a fortune either, but i need help
June 16th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Katie, you have just described the almost exact situation i’m in. I got this laptop and disk three weeks ago and life was good. Today i fire it up and get the black screen and message. Somebody please help.
May 29th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Ipurchased this computer from a guy he told me he didnt have the windows cd and told me it would be ok just dont update well dumb like I forgot and updated and cant get rid of the popup can you help me? I cant afford to buy the cd for windows xp professional version