This copy of Windows is not genuine "is one of the most common errors in the Windows operating system.
The strange thing about this error is that sometimes it appears without however preventing the use of the PC, other times instead the desktop background turns black, the battery life of the laptop decreases as this message continues to appear and other Windows features are limited.
This warning can therefore become quite annoying, especially while working on important things and if it appears at regular intervals.
The main reason why the computer displays this error message is because the Windows license was probably not activated after the trial period or that non-original Windows was installed.
In fact, we must consider that Windows is not a free system and even if it is always pre-installed in new PCs, it is not said that the copy used is original or activable.
You can also receive this error because the license of the Windows operating system you are using has expired or has been blocked .
For example, if other people use the same copy of Windows or if it was used on other PCs, Microsoft may block your license due to use on multiple computers or for trying to activate the same license too many times.
There are also cases where this issue occurs due to an error with validating the regular license.
Following the instructions in this post you should solve the problem of the unauthentic copy of Windows (Windows 10 or even Windows 8.1 and Windows 7) and remove the error message .
READ ALSO: Find the Windows Product Key and validate the authentic copy
1) Solution 1: use the RSOP command
You can try to solve the error generated on the Windows screen you can use the RSOP method, where RSOP stands for Resultant Set of Policy Window, proceeding as follows:
Press the Windows and R buttons on the keyboard to open the Run window
Type rsop.msc there and press the Enter button
Go to the Windows settings on the left side, press on Security settings and then go to System services .
Look for Plug and Play, press on it with a double click or with the right button to open the properties and then change the start mode of the service by putting " Automatic ".
Then press the Windows-R keys again and run the gpupdate / force command and restart the computer.
2) Solution 2: use the SLMGR-REARM command
Using Command Prompt you can solve the problem of the non-original Windows copy in both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows and in all versions of the Windows operating system:
Start command prompt from the start menu as an administrator by clicking Start, typing cmd in the search box and then pressing the right mouse button on Command Prompt to choose Run as administrator .
Then type SLMGR – REARM or SLMGR / REARM and press Enter
Then press OK and restart your computer
SLMGR is the Windows software license management tool, the restore command restores the state of the machine license.
The REARM command extends the system trial period for another 30 days.
3) Solution 3: check if the license used is really legitimate
If you purchased a license that is found to be counterfeit and not original or authentic, you should contact Microsoft and report the matter.
Surely you can ask the supplier who sold us the copy of Windows to give us explanations and support also because Microsoft support, in most cases, allows you to solve the problem only if you have bought the operating system from the Microsoft Store.
4) Solution 4: run Microsoft Genuine Advance Diagnostic Tool
The Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool provides detailed information about the components and settings of Microsoft Genuine Advantage that are currently on the system so that you can automatically resolve problems.
With this automatic tool you can then copy the results to be sent in the Windows technical assistance request to Microsoft.
The information on the validation status could tell us if the product code is not valid or if it is a corporate copy that is no longer usable.
There will also be a warning in case the LegitCheckControl.dll file has been tampered with, which means having applied some form of crack on the Windows installation.
If there is a problem that the tool can solve, press the Solve button.
4 BIS) The slmgr / rlic command on the command prompt (as seen in point 2), allows you to recreate the license file by correcting any errors.
5) Solution 5: uninstall the KB971033 update if you are using Windows 7
The KB971033 update may be causing the unauthentic copy problem in Windows 7.
To uninstall the following update, open the Control Panel, go to the Windows Update section, press on View installed updates, check if the KB971033 update is present and uninstall it.
6) Solution 6: disable updates
To make sure that the message " This copy of Windows is not genuine " does not return, you need to disable automatic Windows updates.
To disable automatic Windows updates, open the Control Panel from the Start button, go to Windows Update, press the Install updates automatically option and select Never check for updates .
In Windows 10 this option is only temporary and can be found in Settings> Update and security> Windows Update> Advanced options> Pause updates .
This way your computer will no longer receive this error, although it will not be possible to update Windows to the latest version to fix bugs or get new features.
The methods described above should correct the error message that requires you to activate the unauthentic copy of Windows, provided that you are obviously not knowingly using a pirated copy.
Since using Windows 10 pirated Windows has certainly become inconvenient, since it is updated with a new version twice a year and every time you should look for a new crack, my advice, in case you have problems, is to buy the license Windows for a few Euros (maximum 10) on Amazon or on Ebay and rest assured definitively.
The strange thing about this error is that sometimes it appears without however preventing the use of the PC, other times instead the desktop background turns black, the battery life of the laptop decreases as this message continues to appear and other Windows features are limited.
This warning can therefore become quite annoying, especially while working on important things and if it appears at regular intervals.
The main reason why the computer displays this error message is because the Windows license was probably not activated after the trial period or that non-original Windows was installed.
In fact, we must consider that Windows is not a free system and even if it is always pre-installed in new PCs, it is not said that the copy used is original or activable.
You can also receive this error because the license of the Windows operating system you are using has expired or has been blocked .
For example, if other people use the same copy of Windows or if it was used on other PCs, Microsoft may block your license due to use on multiple computers or for trying to activate the same license too many times.
There are also cases where this issue occurs due to an error with validating the regular license.
Following the instructions in this post you should solve the problem of the unauthentic copy of Windows (Windows 10 or even Windows 8.1 and Windows 7) and remove the error message .
READ ALSO: Find the Windows Product Key and validate the authentic copy
1) Solution 1: use the RSOP command
You can try to solve the error generated on the Windows screen you can use the RSOP method, where RSOP stands for Resultant Set of Policy Window, proceeding as follows:
Press the Windows and R buttons on the keyboard to open the Run window
Type rsop.msc there and press the Enter button
Go to the Windows settings on the left side, press on Security settings and then go to System services .
Look for Plug and Play, press on it with a double click or with the right button to open the properties and then change the start mode of the service by putting " Automatic ".
Then press the Windows-R keys again and run the gpupdate / force command and restart the computer.
2) Solution 2: use the SLMGR-REARM command
Using Command Prompt you can solve the problem of the non-original Windows copy in both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows and in all versions of the Windows operating system:
Start command prompt from the start menu as an administrator by clicking Start, typing cmd in the search box and then pressing the right mouse button on Command Prompt to choose Run as administrator .
Then type SLMGR – REARM or SLMGR / REARM and press Enter
Then press OK and restart your computer
SLMGR is the Windows software license management tool, the restore command restores the state of the machine license.
The REARM command extends the system trial period for another 30 days.
3) Solution 3: check if the license used is really legitimate
If you purchased a license that is found to be counterfeit and not original or authentic, you should contact Microsoft and report the matter.
Surely you can ask the supplier who sold us the copy of Windows to give us explanations and support also because Microsoft support, in most cases, allows you to solve the problem only if you have bought the operating system from the Microsoft Store.
4) Solution 4: run Microsoft Genuine Advance Diagnostic Tool
The Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool provides detailed information about the components and settings of Microsoft Genuine Advantage that are currently on the system so that you can automatically resolve problems.
With this automatic tool you can then copy the results to be sent in the Windows technical assistance request to Microsoft.
The information on the validation status could tell us if the product code is not valid or if it is a corporate copy that is no longer usable.
There will also be a warning in case the LegitCheckControl.dll file has been tampered with, which means having applied some form of crack on the Windows installation.
If there is a problem that the tool can solve, press the Solve button.
4 BIS) The slmgr / rlic command on the command prompt (as seen in point 2), allows you to recreate the license file by correcting any errors.
5) Solution 5: uninstall the KB971033 update if you are using Windows 7
The KB971033 update may be causing the unauthentic copy problem in Windows 7.
To uninstall the following update, open the Control Panel, go to the Windows Update section, press on View installed updates, check if the KB971033 update is present and uninstall it.
6) Solution 6: disable updates
To make sure that the message " This copy of Windows is not genuine " does not return, you need to disable automatic Windows updates.
To disable automatic Windows updates, open the Control Panel from the Start button, go to Windows Update, press the Install updates automatically option and select Never check for updates .
In Windows 10 this option is only temporary and can be found in Settings> Update and security> Windows Update> Advanced options> Pause updates .
This way your computer will no longer receive this error, although it will not be possible to update Windows to the latest version to fix bugs or get new features.
The methods described above should correct the error message that requires you to activate the unauthentic copy of Windows, provided that you are obviously not knowingly using a pirated copy.
Since using Windows 10 pirated Windows has certainly become inconvenient, since it is updated with a new version twice a year and every time you should look for a new crack, my advice, in case you have problems, is to buy the license Windows for a few Euros (maximum 10) on Amazon or on Ebay and rest assured definitively.
