Here is my 'Genuine Advantage diagnostic tool log' as I have just received a message saying my copy of Windows was not valid. It was of course as I am sitting next to a genuine copy. I know the key hasn't been used because the box was sealed in plastic/cellophane and the security sticker was completely intact when I got it. Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0): ----------------------------------------- Windows Validation Data--> Validation Code: 50 Cached Online Validation Code: 0xc004c4a2 Windows Product Key: *****-*****-9DMVX-M8PR8-B2P4D Windows Product Key Hash: x2te1EhqAuUtGsEAyDeIZfKS/UA= Windows Product ID: 00426-068-0231233-86687 Windows Product ID Type: 5 Windows License Type: Retail Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.001 ID: {3B8A0EBB-63CA-4082-BFDE-FD08AA51A6DF}(1) Is Admin: Yes TestCab: 0x0 LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 Product Name: Windows 7 Ultimate Architecture: 0x00000009 Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850 TTS Error: Validation Diagnostic: Resolution Status: N/A Vista WgaER Data--> ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002 Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 Windows XP Notifications Data--> Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 File Exists: No Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 OGA Notifications Data--> Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 OGA Data--> Office Status: 109 N/A OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002 Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002 Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3 Browser Data--> Proxy settings: N/A User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32) Default Browser: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled Active scripting: Allowed Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed File Scan Data--> Other data--> Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{3B8A0EBB-63CA-4082-BFDE-FD08AA51A6DF}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.001</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-B2P4D</PKey><PID>00426-068-0231233-86687</PID><PIDType>5</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-201973952-1797867594-2831634287</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.</Manufacturer><Model>P35-DS3R</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Award Software International, Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>F3</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="4"/><Date>20070514000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>ABBA3607018400FA</HWID><UserLCID>0809</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>GMT Standard Time(GMT+00:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM/><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults> Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002 Licensing Data--> Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514 Name: Windows(R) 7, Ultimate edition Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, RETAIL channel Activation ID: a0cde89c-3304-4157-b61c-c8ad785d1fad Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f Extended PID: 00426-00172-068-023123-00-2057-7600.0000-2492010 Installation ID: 019110310705936401871735612153623615286831462821644405 Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338 Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339 Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341 Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340 Partial Product Key: B2P4D License Status: Notification Notification Reason: 0xC004F200 (non-genuine). Remaining Windows rearm count: 4 Trusted time: 14/03/2011 19:03:12 Windows Activation Technologies--> HrOffline: 0x00000000 HrOnline: 0xC004C4A2 HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000 Event Time Stamp: 3:14:2011 18:43 ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395 Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395 HealthStatus Bitmask Output: HWID Data--> HWID Hash Current: OAAAAAEABgABAAEAAQACAAAAAQABAAEAJJTEBwrBwo/iG2T+WtmI/QiFZswCaY3vChEOmlCIKoU= OEM Activation 1.0 Data--> N/A OEM Activation 2.0 Data--> BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes, but no SLIC table Windows marker version: N/A OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: N/A BIOS Information: ACPI Table Name OEMID Value OEMTableID Value APIC GBT GBTUACPI FACP GBT GBTUACPI HPET GBT GBTUACPI MCFG GBT GBTUACPI SSDT PmRef Cpu0Ist SSDT PmRef Cpu0Ist The 'Resolve' tab is not available for me to click.

Doing further reading, I see that the copy I bought has the dreaded numbers '068' in the product ID. Guess I was another one who bought a fake.

Windows Product ID: 00426-068-0231233-86687 Product Name: Windows 7 Ultimate you use a Technet Key. I can see this from the PID. If you bought the copy on ebay, you bought an illegal copy which is now blocked. In this case buy a genuine copy at the MS Store: http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Windows-Windows-7/category/102 If the key is part of your actual Technet Subscription, contact the Subscription support. André"A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" Want to install RSAT on Windows 7 Sp1? Check my HowTo: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=150221

Thanks. At least I have genuine copies of XP and Vista to go back to.