Haven't gotten windows updates in years

Ethanjwg · 16 Aug 2015

Hello, I'm new here, so I'm sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong place. Just a warning, I really don't know too much about computers. I'm posting this because my parents really don't know how to get around a computer at all.

Okay with that aside I'm gonna get to the problem.

About a year and a half ago, my wifi (drivers?) stopped working. I talked to my dad and we agreed to shove the windows recovery disk in the computer (Sony VAIO windows 7 laptop, if you're wondering). After the recovery disk did its thing, we always got this "genuine windows software" message that pops up telling us we have illegal windows. We tried to ignore it but after that message came up we never got windows updates again. We didn't really care, windows 7 worked fine for my gaming hobby, and for my parents work/emails.

( Of course, since I picked up gaming (minecraft mostly) I also picked up a ton of viruses. Like tons. I have malwarebytes and adwcleaner and they mostly get rid of the bad stuff. This paragraph is in bracets because I'm not sure if it directly corrolates with the issue )

So if we don't get windows updates, we don't get windows ten. It's kinda something my family's really been looking forward to.
As system restore (like reverting to how our computer was four years ago) isn't possible because we have all the family pictures and stuff on the computer.
I just want to know how to stop the "Genuine Windows Software" message and be able to get windows 10.
Any help is appreciated.
Note: We DID have legit windows before the incident.

sn00ker · 16 Aug 2015

Ethanjwg said:

Hello, I'm new here, so I'm sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong place. Just a warning, I'm only 13 so I really don't know too much about computers. I'm posting this because my parents really don't know how to get around a computer at all.

Okay with that aside I'm gonna get to the problem.

About a year and a half ago, my wifi (drivers?) stopped working. I talked to my dad and we agreed to shove the windows recovery disk in the computer (Sony VAIO windows 7 laptop, if you're wondering). After the recovery disk did its thing, we always got this "genuine windows software" message that pops up telling us we have illegal windows. We tried to ignore it but after that message came up we never got windows updates again. We didn't really care, windows 7 worked fine for my gaming hobby, and for my parents work/emails.

( Of course, since I picked up gaming (minecraft mostly) I also picked up a ton of viruses. Like tons. I have malwarebytes and adwcleaner and they mostly get rid of the bad stuff. This paragraph is in bracets because I'm not sure if it directly corrolates with the issue )

So if we don't get windows updates, we don't get windows ten. It's kinda something my family's really been looking forward to.
As system restore (like reverting to how our computer was four years ago) isn't possible because we have all the family pictures and stuff on the computer.
I just want to know how to stop the "Genuine Windows Software" message and be able to get windows 10.
Any help is appreciated.
Note: We DID have legit windows before the incident.

If you bought a Sony Laptop and it doesn't register as legit then you need to speak with Sony and ask them why their laptop isn't being accepted with Microsoft . That shouldn't happen . Once your laptop becomes legit and are able to download updates from Microsoft, then you need to update the system to service pack 1 . I would get all the Microsoft updates any ways . Once your system is updated you then should be allow to upgrade to windows 10

teachermark · 16 Aug 2015

Just to be sure, when you right click My Computer and select properties, does it say that Windows is activated or not?

Let's assume it isn't..

Your best hope of upgrading this laptop to Windows 10 is by doing a clean install of Windows 7 with the disc that came with the computer.
(This means moving all your photos and other valuable files to a hard drive or USB stick...
...which you really should be doing anyway with an older laptop.
You just never know when that hard disc will fail!)

Do you have a copy of your product key number on the CD or somewhere?
You'll need it when you see this window...

Haven't gotten windows updates in years-enter-product-key.png

hawkman · 16 Aug 2015

Hi Ethan,
The validation code you need is on the sticker on the bottom of the laptop.
My guess is that the recovery disc was for a different version of W7. (key will still not work)

If it works, there will be lots of updates, do them in small groups its taking ages to download and install them at the moment.

If the key doesn't work go to the W7 forum
Sub forum updates/activations and follow the instuctions in the sticky and post the results in a new thread there.
Where i suspect that my guess will be confirmed

A CLEAN RE-INSTALL IS NOT REQUIRED if my guess is incorrect

Roy

Ethanjwg · 16 Aug 2015

Hello!
Thanks for all the replies so quickly. I will send screenshots of my "Genuine Windows Software" message, as well as screenshots of the "windows activation" window (mine looks slightly different).
Also, I'm just wondering, after I enter that activation key, will it download all the updates since last year? Oh, and if I don't want to update everything at the same time, how do I update it in small groups?

I'll send these screenshots tomorrow, hopefully, as well as the outcome of trying these methods.
I'll forward my question the the W7 support forum.
Again, thanks for all the support!

sn00ker · 17 Aug 2015

Ethanjwg said:

Hello!
Thanks for all the replies so quickly. I will send screenshots of my "Genuine Windows Software" message, as well as screenshots of the "windows activation" window (mine looks slightly different).
Also, I'm just wondering, after I enter that activation key, will it download all the updates since last year? Oh, and if I don't want to update everything at the same time, how do I update it in small groups?

I'll send these screenshots tomorrow, hopefully, as well as the outcome of trying these methods.
I'll forward my question the the W7 support forum.
Again, thanks for all the support!

Yes you will be able to get all the updates and you can select which you want to download by either removing the check mark or adding it

Joergi · 18 Aug 2015

I see two different ways you could go now:

1. you could try to somehow fix the activation of Windows 7, install all Windows 7 upgrades and then upgrade to Windows 10. Afterwards you will have a system with more or less all of the tons of viruses. Not so good. To get rid of the viruses you would then have to do a clean installation of Windows 10 (directly doing a clean install will not work as then Windows 10 will not be activated). After that clean install you will basically miss your drivers and you will have to install them again manually. This will be quite some work. Better might be the following:

2. you should backup all your important files, e-mails, savegames whatever is on the PC. Then put in this recovery disc again and have it reset your PC again just as you did last time. That should kill almost all viruses. Also all drivers should be installed. Actually I even believe that after this, the system should also be activated (however, I read that this did not work the last time). At that point you should make sure that WIndows 7 is activated or activate it, if it isn't. Then install all Windows 7 updates. This will include the "Get Windows 10" tool. After installation, this tool will run periodically; it might take a day or so until it did for the first time. It will contain a report telling you, if an upgrade to Windows 10 would work and what problems you should expect, if any. If you are ok with what the tool tells you, then at that point you can upgrade (not clean-install) to Windows 10. The result should then be a virus-free Windows 10 with more or less all drivers on board. (And in contrast to my method number 1 above you also do not have to install Windows 10 twice.)

Haven't gotten windows updates in years

Haven't gotten windows updates in years

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