GRMCULXFER_EN is this a Win7 torrent?

[Max]

I rebuilt my computer yesterday. Hold that thought...

Several years back a local computer repair shop installed Win7 Ultimate on my previous system. I was never provided an original copy of Win nor a product key.

Six months ago I returned the computer to this shop, had them install a new HD and asked the to do a clean install of Win7. I also asked them for the installation DVD and product key. They gave me a burned DVD and a print out of all the product/installation keys that were on my previous HD (which I still have). Something seemed very fishy. Fast forward back to yesterday.

Upon booting the system yesterday with my burned Win7 DVD, the mobo splash screen came up followed by a split second BSOD, followed by "Windows Error Recovery" screen...options being "Start Windows Normally" & Launch Startup Repair (recommended) Rinse & repeat...same thing.

I put the Win7 install disk in my laptop and the DVD is identified by GRMCUKXFER_EN  A Google search turned up some suspicious links including a YouTube of "How to get Win7 for free" GRMCULXFER_EN was involved.

I'm guessing that what I was sold was a torrent copy of Win7 and my system won't be able to do a clean install unless I buy a legit copy of Windows.

Has anyone come across this GRMCULXFER before? I'd like to get some consensus before going back to this shop tomorrow swinging a rage bat.

Thanks

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Different variations of windows have been legally available from digitalriver for years. http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/windows-7-sp-1-downloads-once-again-available-digital-river-239516 Anyone is allowed to download and burn as many copies of the Windows installation disks as they like, but they're only allowed to install them to computers which have a valid licence key.

So as long as your licence is legal you can always install windows whether it happens from a torrent or the original dvd. In some cases when you update your hardware the automatic licence verification will fail and you have to activate your licence by calling the microsoft activation number. This usually fixes the problem in a couple of minutes.

If your licence is really bad, Microsoft will tell you and the company who sold it to you will be in trouble. But remember that if you bought an OEM licence of Windows XP, Vista or 7, the licence does not allow you to transfer your windows to a new computer, meaning that if you upgrade your motherboard, cpu, ram etc. you will have to buy windows again for the 'new' computer.

Retail licenses can be moved from a computer to another but they cost more. Windows 8 has removed this limitation, you can transfer even OEM licenses legally from a computer to another as long as you have only 1 installation of that licence at one time.

[Max]

The 1st install of Win7 was an upgrade from XP

[Masherbrum]

I would never go to that store again.   Apparently pirated operating systems are becoming more common.   That sucks because your new pc is a good build and you can see the finish line.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

The 1st install of Win7 was an upgrade from XP

Some upgrade packs won't allow you to do a clean install, you have to have Vista or XP on the same drive before the activation is accepted. This can be averted with a registry key setting post install though.

Since your setup is not advancing past the post screen, I would suspect that either your DVD is bad or you have some sort of a hardware problem. If you have a configuration problem in your new hardware that may well cause the BSOD during the install.

As the first step of the troubleshooting remove everything from the computer except your OS harddrive, your CPU/cooler, ram and optical drive. Remove even the graphics card if you can use built in graphics for the setup. Then do a bios reset and CMOS reset and try installing again. If that fails you have to remove all but one ram stick, try again. If it still fails, remove the previous ram stick and try another. If even those fail, then you would have to suspect that either your DVD is bad or you have DOA hardware in your hands. It's common for self burned OS installation DVDs to be bad if they're burned with max speed, the installation disk is sensitive to burn errors.

I would just download the official ISO from digitalriver, burn it using 2x or 4x speed, do the setup and then contact Microsoft when the key is asked (and if you fail the automatic activation). The Microsoft people will tell you what to do from that point on. If you fail the automated phone activation also, you'll be directed to a support person (probably in India though). In the worst case you'll have to buy a new license but the company that 'sold' you the pirated license is going to get sued.

The series of letters RMCULXFER_EN per se has nothing to do with any sort of piracy. It's a part of the .iso filename.

Windows 7 Retail Ultimate E English (x86)
Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x86fre_cliente_en-us_Retail_UltimateE-GRMCEULFRER_EN_DVD.iso
CRC: 0x953EFBCC
SHA-1: 0xBC10F09B86DCBAF35B31B0E6FBA 7D006ACAAD28D

Windows 7 Retail Ultimate E English (x64)
Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x64fre_cliente_en-us_Retail_UltimateE-GRMCEULXFRER_EN_DVD.iso
CRC: 0x77BE890E
SHA-1: 0x029DCCEDD7691206010F84CE583 43405A4DA92C9

Windows 7 Retail Ultimate English (x86)
Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULFRER_EN_DVD.iso
CRC: 0xC1C20F76
MD5: D0B8B407E8A3D4B75EE9C10147266 B89
SHA-1: 0x5395DC4B38F7BDB1E005FF414DE EDFDB16DBF610

Windows 7 Retail Ultimate English (x64)
Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x64fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULXFRER_EN_DVD.iso
CRC: 0x1F1257CA
MD5: F43D22E4FB07BF617D573ACD8785C 028
SHA-1: 0x326327CC2FF9F05379F5058C41B E6BC5E004BAA7

Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Simplified Chinese (x86)
Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x86fre_client_zh-cn_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULFRER_CN_DVD.iso
SHA1: B589336602E3B7E134E222ED47FC9 4938B04354F

Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Simplified Chinese (x64)
Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x64fre_client_zh-cn_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULXFRER_CN_DVD.iso
SHA1: 4A98A2F1ED794425674D04A37B70B 9763522B0D4

Windows Server 2008 R2 Volume License (VL) English
Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x64fre_server_en-us_VL-GRMSXVOL_EN_DVD.iso
SHA1: AD855EA913AAEC3F1D0E1833C1AEF 7A0DE326B0A

[Max]

I'm an idiot but there's a happy ending.

I opened a chat with Microsoft and was told about a software download that would create a boot able thumb drive that would reinstall Win7 with a valid key. They checked the key I was provided and it was valid. An hour later I was back in business. The guy who helped me was a life saver and provided the best customer support I've ever had, tech wise.

Once I had an operable OS I attempted to install mobo drivers. No go. Turns out I didn't connect SATA or power to the DVR drive. 

So...the suspicious installation DVD could have worked if given the chance. Like I said, the key was valid.

[Masherbrum]

I'm an idiot but there's a happy ending.

I opened a chat with Microsoft and was told about a software download that would create a boot able thumb drive that would reinstall Win7 with a valid key. They checked the key I was provided and it was valid. An hour later I was back in business. The guy who helped me was a life saver and provided the best customer support I've ever had, tech wise.

Once I had an operable OS I attempted to install mobo drivers. No go. Turns out I didn't connect SATA or power to the DVR drive. 

So...the suspicious installation DVD could have worked if given the chance. Like I said, the key was valid.

    

[Max]

Kudos and thanks to Karaya, who was kind & patient enough to take 6+ phone calls during the build out.

[Masherbrum]

Kudos and thanks to Karaya, who was kind & patient enough to take 6+ phone calls during the build out.

Anytime my friend.   

[guncrasher]

max we just learned a new thing thanks to you .  trust me screw up and learn from somebody else's mistakes is better   .


semp

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I'm an idiot but there's a happy ending.

I opened a chat with Microsoft and was told about a software download that would create a boot able thumb drive that would reinstall Win7 with a valid key. They checked the key I was provided and it was valid. An hour later I was back in business. The guy who helped me was a life saver and provided the best customer support I've ever had, tech wise.

Once I had an operable OS I attempted to install mobo drivers. No go. Turns out I didn't connect SATA or power to the DVR drive. 

So...the suspicious installation DVD could have worked if given the chance. Like I said, the key was valid.

Next time it's advisable to listen if the DVD starts even to spin when you boot the computer up, if you plan to boot from DVD. It's very common to forget to plug in the optical drive, I've done it myself on some occasion. When I had the water cooling setup the pump and reservoir pushed the optical drive sata cable so that if you installed first the optical drive and then pushed the pump/reservoir in place, it easily unplugged the optical drive SATA. Banged my head a couple times with that.

[Max]

I've compiled report notes from this build, to be filed with all the docs received with new parts. One thing 1st time builders should be aware of is to get the mobo configured as much as possible prior to securing it to the case. I attached the CPU, fan, RAM sticks. Wish I had also attached the SATA cables as well...those sockets are hard to access once in place. Definitely wait till the end to add in PCI-E components and vid card.