While I’ve run various builds of Linux for many years, I still have to routinely test my work in Windows. While I often attempt to keep my laptops able to dual-boot into Windows, that only (realistically) supports only a single version of Windows. For older versions, I generally rely upon VirtualBox and can then have different configurations available when needed, while keeping my Linux apps open too!
Occasionally, I’ve had a virtual machine running a licensed copy of Windows 7 start warning that it is not activated. This can prove to be annoying for several reasons, as such I did some research and found that others have encountered the same problem and shared the below solutions.
First method:
- Open a command prompt in Administrator mode.
- Execute “slmgr -rearm”
- NOTE: some sites tell you to locate and remove “slui.exe” – DO NOT DO THIS!
- Restart Windows
- Problem should be resolved
Alternative – reactive with your product key:
- Open a command prompt in Administrator mode.
- Execute “slmgr –upk
- Execute “slmgr –ipk (your product key)
- Restart Windows
- Problem should be resolved
REFERENCES:
- https://www.itechfever.com/how-to-fix-windows-7-not-genuine-error/
- http://temcam.com/2013/10/25/how-to-fix-windows-7-not-genuine-error/
- https://www.infoworld.com/article/2859267/operating-systems/windows-7-hit-by-rash-of-bogus-not-genuine-reports-validation-code-0x8004fe21.html
- https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/windows-7-is-suddenly-not-genuine/c802c015-7e2c-434d-b265-cd010135d1a5?auth=1