Is this a legitimate Windows 7?

Foxhack

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
229
A friend of mine in Mexico has been stuck using a pirated version of Windows XP for many years, and we've been looking for a deal on a legal, non-OEM copy of Windows 7 so he could at least try to have a more modern OS on his system. (The Windows 10 upgrade offer doesn't hurt, either!) I found one today and I thought it was legitimate, but now I'm not so sure since this doesn't match up with Microsoft's current "How to tell" pictures.

I figured asking here would be fine since you guys have helped me out in the past.

Warning, pictures are HUGE to make sure you can see the details.

Discs:
http://i.imgur.com/liBhZ3D.jpg

Inner rings (data side)
http://i.imgur.com/mxG430N.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ufAP8x1.jpg

COA on plastic case:
http://i.imgur.com/CDOEHa9.jpg

The edges of the disc are also rounded, with no sharp corners, which is unusual and makes me suspect this -is- legit since my own copy of Windows 7 (which I purchased from a seller here, and that matches up with the How to Tell page) is like that.

The plastic clamshell didn't include the outer cardboard sleeve, it was just the discs in the case, the card with the key (the sticker has that line across the middle of it, as shown in the How to Tell page) and a booklet.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. :)
 
Did the serial validate?

We haven't tried to install it yet. We don't plan to until he gets a new hard drive to install this in, at least that way he'd have his old XP install to fall back on in case something goes wrong.

I suppose I could try to install this on a VM...
 
Did the serial validate?


That was going to be my first suggestion. Easiest way to know is by verifying the serial with Microsoft on their site. Since Windows 7 the OS phones home to Microsoft to check the serial on the PC is one they have in there database as one created, sold, being used.

As far as the discs go, besides the Puerto Rico watermark and the black front not riding the edge a lot closer like mine, it looks fairly legit.
 
The disc is not necessary, you can download the iso from microsoft's website, put that on a usb and install it, the serial key is what you care about
 
The disc is not necessary, you can download the iso from microsoft's website, put that on a usb and install it, the serial key is what you care about

Well there's a good chance the key will be dodgy if the discs / COA are dodgy. :p

So, will this validate in a VMWare VM? I have a legit 7 Ultimate install on my computer, and I always have to phone Microsoft to activate it.

Edit: Activation on the VM was successful. I even downloaded the validation tool to double check and it worked, so I guess my buddy just got himself an OS upgrade. :)

Edit 2: So to triple check I went to the Microsoft Software Recovery page where you can download a Windows 7 iso from Microsoft directly... and I got an Unsupported Language error. The hell?
 
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Good to hear it activated in the VM, but now wont you have to call to activate the actual machine since its a 2nd activation so close to the original?

Not a problem, just a hassle
 
Good to hear it activated in the VM, but now wont you have to call to activate the actual machine since its a 2nd activation so close to the original?

Not a problem, just a hassle

Nah, he still has to get a new hard drive first... and I'll keep pestering him to buy a new computer. The upgrade won't happen anytime soon. :)
 
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