windows saying not genuine

nutty1

my friend brought one of those laptops for people on benifits, https://www.get onlineathome.org.
it did come on for a few times but now is juat a black screen saying in bottom corner that the copy of windows is not genuine won't let you do nothing. the helpline not open till monday do you think they will give her her money back, its within 30 days.

GunJack

they should absolutely sort it out...replace with another pc. Get on to them first thing Monday, make sure they understand the issue, i.e. Windows not Genuine message and symptoms....

Notmyrealname

It could be that Windows has not been activated. When you turn it on, it should go to a screen where it asks you if you want to activate it or purchase a legitimate licence. What happens if you select activation?

nutty1

she turns it on its the blue screen saying welcome then goes all black with the message in the right hand corner

Figment

Is the exact message "Windows 7 Build 7600 this copy of windows is not genuine"?

Look for the Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) on the bottom of the laptop. Does the version and edition shown match that which is running on the laptop?

nutty1

it doesn't say that, but it is windows 7, think she said it just says windows not genuine

50Twuncle

kathrynt wrote: »

it doesn't say that, but it is windows 7, think she said it just says windows not genuine

Did the laptop come with a Windows 7 CD or does it rely on a restore partition on the Hard Disk ?
As far as I am aware - it SHOULD have one or the other
If not - then I would raise hell
Contact MS and inform them that a "non-genuine" Windows installation has been supplied ....

nutty1

no disc came with it, the lady is a 65 and shes going to ring them tomorrow see if she can have her money back, but she doesn't really know what to do

victor2

kathrynt wrote: »

my friend brought one of those laptops for people on benifits, https://www.getonlineathome.org.
it did come on for a few times but now is juat a black screen saying in bottom corner that the copy of windows is not genuine won't let you do nothing. the helpline not open till monday do you think they will give her her money back, its within 30 days.

I'm surprised it comes with Windows 7. Looking at the website, their laptops are very basic refurbished models. Wouldn't be surprised to find it has a different Microsoft COA sticker on it, if it has one at all.
Get her to see if it has any Microsoft sticker on it (probably underneath on a laptop) and what version of Windows it says on it.
I'd be looking for money back or a replacement.

TakeThis

Can't believe that website is allowed to continue. They advertise these:

but send you this:

Utter crap.