Where can I get help with partitioning my hard drive? I have a "non-genuine" version of windows that I need to replace but I have not a clue how to go about doing that.

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Where can I get help with partitioning my hard drive? I have a "non-genuine" version of windows that I need to replace but I have not a clue how to go about doing that.

I love my mac, but I unfortunately have to also run windows because of engineering software. I bought windows 7 at my campus computre store and one year later my computer is telling me that my software is "non-genuine." I need to fix this asap, but my computer store refuses to do anything because a year has passed. Microsoft wont help because I have a Mac.

My question is, where can I go to find someone who can help me uninstall the "non-genuine" windows 7 and replace it with a functional one?

Im allowed a free download of windows 7 because I'm still a student, but I have no clue how to go about uninstalling and reinstalling windows.

Thanks a bunch.

Windows 7

Posted on Sep 26, 2012 8:57 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 26, 2012 9:02 AM in response to engineerwithmac

are you using Boot Camp or a virtual machine to run Windows?

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Answer 2

Sep 26, 2012 9:15 AM in response to engineerwithmac

Hello,

This kind of question is best asked in the Windows Forums, however I've had some succession with a similar issue myself.

Non-Genuine Windows means that it can't authenticate your copy of Windows.

It's not a problem, all your need is a genuine product key code. Provided you don't have different version of Windows 7 installed to the one you are buying (for example windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 business) Then you can use the new key code.

Click on the Start Button and type: CMD (into the 'Search programs and files' field in the Start Menu)
The Start Menu will show 'CMD.exe',
Right-click the CMD.exe file and select Run As Administrator.
In the CMD window, type: slmgr.vbs -ipk <type your product key here>
To activate windows after changing the key, type: slmgr.vbs -ato

It should now accept the new key code and you will need to be connected to the Internet to authenticate.

If by chance the windows 7 types are different (One is Home premium say and the other is Business) then you will need to uninstall that copy of Windows 7 and install the new one. If your using BootCamp then you will need to go into BootCamp under system preferences and remove that copy of Windows (delete it)

Then create a new setup with your new Windows 7 disk.

For me I had the same type of windows, changing the product code worked. Saved me the bother of having to reinstall Windows again and it was all genuine.

Best of luck

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