Identify a fake Windows COA?

[evilsatan]

I have recently purchased an OEM COA with a refurbished PC and the COA has arrived in pristine condition on waxed paper (doesn't seem to have been removed from a PC). It has the interwoven strip, I have scraped some of the paper off and the strip is intact running through the paper but something doesn't quite sit right with me. I have another one here which is definitely legit, the printing differs very slightly between them but I guess that is plausible seeing as millions were produced but the genuine one has a gloss finish whereas the questionable one has a matte finish. I can't find any info on google whether it should be glossy or if you could get either. The glossy one doesn't have a plastic overlay, just a glossy finish which isn't consistent, kind of the finish you would get if you sprayed it rather than overlayed a gloss layer.

Any ideas? I haven't tried using the product key, I will return it if it turns out to be a fake.

Cheers

[Realist]

How to Tell

How to spot fake software.

If its any good.

[DJ OD]

Is it really worth faking a COA these days? Maybe the refurb ones aren't the same "quality"...?

What version of windows was it?


DJ OD

[evilsatan]

Already tried the Microsoft link and it didn't help at all as the features it comments on are identical between the legit and questionable COA and the other link is for MS Office rather than Windows but thanks anyway.

[crazyal]

If it weighs the same as a duck then burn it!! Burn it!!

No wait - what was the question again???

[evilsatan]

It's a Windows 7 Pro OA OEM Software. I just don't want to have it come back on me if it turns out the key validates the install now and later gets blacklisted as I won't be able to get a refund then. Might be me being a bit paranoid and it could be totally legit.

[Pegasus]

Take a macro shot (with a decent camera) of both the cert you know to be genuine, and the one you suspect isn't.
The COA on my laptop has what could best be described as a matte finish at a glance, but I do detect a bit of a sheen when I hold it to the light at certain angles.

[evilsatan]

The legit one is on the right, the questionable one is on the left.

IMG_0641.jpg

[evilsatan]

I used the key and it required pone activation but worked fine and there was no message asking how many machines it was installed on so appears to be a legit and unused key. Perhaps it was me being paranoid, having thought about it I am sure I have seen these matte finished COAs on brand new laptops too.

[Mobileman]

i think is it possibly just a case of manufacturer probably printed there under licence from microsoft, going back 20 years ago when worked for a PC manufacturer we had that ability (didnt end well though lol)

can you PM me price mate i have couple of machines that might need to go from8 back to 7 soon

[evilsatan]

Yeah, I am happy with it now, just wanted to make sure.

[consoles]

The one on the left has a thicker black strip def fake

[evilsatan]

Turns out there are fake COAs doing the rounds, printed in China with volume keys. I think I was lucky as the COA I started this thread about has caused no problems so was likely legit, but I have since found sites where they will print you any type of COA, any colour with any text and for any manufacturer.

It's against the EULA to buy OEM COAs if they are moved from their original computer but if you are going to do it either buy old kit with the COA still attached or one where the COA has obviously been removed from old kit rather than a new COA on paper as chances are it will be fake.

Not sure what will happen if you have a fake COA and try to upgrade to Windows 10 (assuming it is free to do so), I imagine it will be blacklisted so you might end up with an unlicensed Windows 10 and unable to downgrade to Windows 7 without a clean install.

Looks like the same goes for Office products but they have copied the packaging perfectly making it impossible to tell the difference unless you try and lookup if the key printed is retail or volume.

[Teajunkie]

The legit one is on the right, the questionable one is on the left.

IMG_0641.jpg

Really i would would say the one to the left was the genuine one!
The one on the right has very dark text to the point it looks shabby and copied where as the left one is clear as a bell.
Some points the text overlaps a little in the right one where the left has perfect spacing and clarity.

[evilsatan]

In the case of the picture it looks like both were legit as the key has worked and all updates have been installed, but the one on the right was from an OEM machine so I knew it was legit.