Windows 7 Build 7601 This Copy of Windows is Not Genuine

Microsoft’s KB971033 update for Windows 7 added the ability for the then-current Windows OS to verify that a given installation was a legit copy of Microsoft’s operating system.

Windows 7 would replace the user’s desktop wallpaper with a black screen and the warning “This copy of Windows is not genuine,” along with the OS version and build number, if it ever determined that a particular installation of the OS was not authentic.

Causes of the “Windows 7 Build 7601 This Copy of Windows is Not Genuine” Error

Several factors can trigger the “This Copy of Windows is Not Genuine” error in Windows 7 Build 7601:

1. Non-Genuine Activation: If your Windows 7 copy is not activated or has been activated with a non-genuine product key, you will encounter this error.
2. Expired Product Key: If your Windows product key has expired or is no longer valid, your operating system may not be recognized as genuine.
3. Tampered Files: Modifications or tampering with system files related to Windows activation can trigger this error.
4. Failed Updates: Some Windows updates may have failed or caused issues with the validation process.
5. System Changes: Significant hardware changes to your computer can result in activation issues.

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Method 1: Getting Rid of The Update KB971033

You must first remove update KB971033 from your machine. Keep in mind, however, that this is only a portion of the answer to removing the “This copy of Windows is not authentic” notice and will not resolve the problem by itself. Remove KB971033 by following these steps:

1. It’s time to fire up the Start menu.
2. Google “Windows update” to find it.
3. To access Windows Update, select it from the list of results under “Programs”
4. On the left hand side, select Updates > View Installed.
5. After all of your updates have downloaded and appeared in the right pane, search for KB971033 using the search bar, then right-click on it and select Uninstall from the menu that appears.
6. Start over after you’ve finished uninstalling everything. Once the machine has booted up, you can proceed to Step 2.

Method 2: Computer Licence Status Reset

After removing KB971033 from your computer, you will see the “This copy of Windows is not authentic” notification again unless you reset your machine’s licencing status. For this to happen, you must:

1. Click the “Start” button.
2. Look for “cmd” in your search.
3. You need to select the cmd result and then select Run as administrator from the context menu. Using this method will open a Command Prompt with administrative rights.
4. In the elevated Command Prompt, type the following command line and hit Enter:

slmgr –rearm

5. There will be a prompt for you to confirm your selection. If you’re sure, press the OK button.
6. In order to observe that the “This copy of Windows is not genuine” notification has been removed, you must restart your computer. If you don’t like the default black background on your desktop, you may change it by right-clicking an empty area, selecting Personalize, and then selecting a new background.

slmgr /rearm

If you get an error saying “This maximum allowable number of rearms has been exceeded” when you try to use the “slmgr -rearm” or “slmgr /rearm” command line, here’s how to solve it and move on to Step 2:

1. For the Run dialogue, press the Windows Logo key + R.
2. In the Run box, enter regedit.exe and hit Enter.
3. To access this folder, go to its location in the left pane and click here.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Microsoft > WindowsNT > Current version

4. Selecting the SoftwareProtectionPlatform folder in the left pane will open its contents in the right.
5. Find a registry value titled SkipRearm in the right pane, right-click it, and select Modify from the menu that appears.
6. After changing the Value data for the key from 0 to 1 in the Modify dialogue box, click OK.
7. Don’t forget to close Registry Editor before rebooting! Phase 2 should work this time, so try it again when your computer restarts.

If you run SLMGR -REARM or SLMGR /REARM and get the error “SLGMR is not recognised as an internal or external command,” it could be because you mistyped the command, because you aren’t running the Command Prompt as an administrator, or because there is a problem with the slmgr.vbs file on your computer.

If the slmgr.vbs file on your computer is corrupted, preventing the command line from running properly, try the following:

1. Bring up My Computer.
2. Windows 7 is installed on a partition of your hard drive; to access it, double-click on that disc.
3. To open the Windows folder, simply double-click its name.
4. Search for a folder labelled “System32” and open it with a double click.
5. To rename a file with the slmgr name, right-click it (the file’s extension doesn’t matter) and select Rename from the drop-down menu.
6. Switch the extension to.vbs.
7. Phase 2 should be re-attempted after a computer restart. You should be able to execute the SLMGR -REARM or SLMGR /REARM command successfully this time around.

Method 3: The Plug and Play Service Has Been Reconfigured

The policy settings on your machine could be incorrect, prohibiting specific services from being launched. In this step, we’ll modify the system’s rules to permit the Plug and Play Security service to launch without further intervention. Because of this:

1. To open the Run dialogue box, hit the Windows key plus the letter “R” on your keyboard.
2. Simply enter “Rsop.msc” and hit the “Enter” button to open the appropriate menu.
3. After you have done the aforementioned, setup will begin; once setup is complete, you will see the Resultant Set of Policy window.
4. To access the Windows Settings menu, expand the “Computer Configuration” submenu by double-clicking on it.
5. Follow that by doing a double-click on the “Security Settings” tab, and finally on the “System Services” sub-tab.
6. Services that are expected to be active in the background will be displayed in the right pane.
7. Using the list, locate the “Plug and Play” service, and then double-click on it to see its settings.
8. When prompted, select “Automatic” from the drop-down menu labelled “Select Service Startup Mode,” and then save your changes.
9. After you’ve confirmed that your modifications have been successfully saved, you can close the window.
10. Reopen the Run prompt by pressing the Windows key plus R, then type the following command.

gpupdate/force

11. Simply pressing “Enter” will start the command and allow you to sit back and watch it run to completion.
12. Start your computer back up and see whether the problem persists after that.

How to Make Windows 7 Genuine Without a Product Key

If you want to resolve the “This Copy of Windows is Not Genuine” error without a valid product key, here are some steps you can take:

1. Use SLMGR Command:
   • Open the Command Prompt as an administrator by searching for “cmd” in the Start menu, right-clicking on “Command Prompt,” and selecting “Run as administrator.”
   • Type the command slmgr -rearm and press Enter.
   • Restart your computer.
2. Check for Windows Updates:
   • Ensure that your Windows 7 installation is up to date by checking for and installing all available updates.
3. Uninstall KB971033 Update:
   • Some users have reported that uninstalling the KB971033 update (Windows Activation Technologies) helped resolve the issue. To do this, go to “Control Panel” > “Programs” > “Programs and Features” > “Installed Updates” and locate KB971033. Right-click and uninstall it.
4. Activate with a Valid Key:
   • If possible, enter a valid Windows 7 product key and activate your copy of Windows through the Control Panel.
5. Contact Microsoft Support:
   • If all else fails, contacting Microsoft Support may be necessary to resolve activation issues.

What Version of Windows is Build 7601?

Windows 7 Build 7601 refers to Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (SP1). SP1 is a significant update that includes various security, stability, and performance improvements for the Windows 7 operating system. It also incorporates all updates and fixes released up to that point.

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Conclusion

The “This Copy of Windows is Not Genuine” error in Windows 7 Build 7601 can be a frustrating experience, but it can often be resolved with the steps mentioned above. Ensure that you attempt these solutions carefully and consider contacting Microsoft Support if the issue persists.

It’s important to have a genuine and properly activated copy of Windows to ensure you receive critical updates, security patches, and access to all the features of the operating system.