There are a lot of computer shops in Dundee and Fife that’ll sell you a computer at what appears to be a very nice price, complete with Microsoft Windows. Or they’ll install a new copy of Windows at a too-good-to-be-true price. There’s often one snag though; the copy of Windows isn’t always genuine.

If you’re wondering “Is my copy of Microsoft Windows genuine or not?”, read on.

How to Tell If Your Copy of Windows is Genuine or Not

Windows Vista Business license key sticker

Here are some warning signs that your Windows installation isn’t genuine:-

  • No Windows license key sticker on your machine – this is typically found on the side or back of a desktop PC, or on the bottom of a laptop. (You can see some genuine license key stickers to the right, albeit with the numbers changed to stop people copying them!)
  • Version of Windows on sticker doesn’t match installed version – For example, the sticker might show Windows XP Home Edition when you’re running Windows 7 Professional, or it might show Windows Vista Home Basic when you’re actually using Windows 8
  • Windows hasn’t been activated – if your copy of Windows indicates that it hasn’t been activated, or the Windows Genuine Advantage program complains
  • You have a special “student” or “corporate” version of Windows… but you aren’t a student or your computer wasn’t bought as part of a large business installation

While Microsoft have released various beta and trial versions of more recent Windows prior to commercial release, these have been limited to 90-days and will have expired by now. If you’re not aware of any reason you might be running an “evaluation” or similar copy of Windows, we’d recommend looking into it. Also note that there are no “evaluation” or license-free versions of Windows XP or Vista. (If it says this, it’s lying!)

While there are sometimes legitimate reasons for some of the above, we’d generally consider them suspicious. If you’re in any doubt, just bring your computer to us! If it turns out that your Windows installation isn’t genuine, and you would like to buy a legitimate copy, we can supply and install this at a very competitive price.

Installing / Reinstalling Windows

Disc Depot will only install or reinstall legitimate versions of Windows. Of course, if you already have a sticker/key showing that you have a genuine license for that particular version of Windows, then we’re happy to reinstall it for you. If you don’t, we can supply you legitimate copies of the latest versions of Windows (including Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8 and Windows 7) at very competitive prices.

Are They Selling You Pirated Windows?

Some computer shops will even install their unlicensed or pirate versions of Windows– possibly knocking a couple of quid off the price for you, but pocketing most of the savings for themselves. A lot of the time the first you know about this is months or years later when you need to update or reinstall Windows and it complains about not being genuine.

No computer shop should reinstall Windows without evidence of a genuine license– whether it’s yours or theirs. Having a serial number written (or typed) on a plain piece of paper, or a typed up sticker doesn’t count. Even a damaged, obscured or unreadable license sticker doesn’t prove that the license or number is genuine.

Remember, if you or your business is running a cracked or unlicensed version of Windows, it’s not just the installer that is legally responsible- it’s you as well!

Pirate or unlicensed versions of Window also carry the risk of malware or viruses infecting your PC, and even other computers on the network- posing a security threat to your entire company or family.

This is why Disc Depot will only ever install genuine copies of Microsoft Windows. Can you trust other shops to do the same?

MS Windows 8.1 being installed on laptop computer

We’ll only ever install genuine Microsoft Windows on your PC or laptop computer. Can other shops in Dundee and Angus claim the same?