So I decided to buy Windows 7 from eBay. I didn't trust the people selling product keys only, so I purchased a brand new retail package. When I shop on eBay, I always look for sellers that are really close to me so shipping is fast. So I found a seller, said to be located in Maryland (which is two states away from me), with a great price and great feedback for his W7 sells. I was pissed because when the guy sent me the tracking number, I found out that the item was coming from Beijing, China, not Maryland! But I figured, well at least he shipped it. THEN, I get an email from eBay saying the listing for the item I just purchased because the copyright holder reported that the item may be a counterfeit. At first I was pissed at eBay because now I had to record of the transaction in my eBay account and could not contact the seller directly from within the item invoice, since eBay deleted. Plus, he had several other sells of this same item, all with positive feedback of the W7 package, and eBay did not remove the listings for them. So I was like, why me? Luckily, I had his email from paypal and contacted him. He assured me that he is the legal owner of the item and that he sent proof to eBay saying so. Still never got my records back. Anyway, this prompted me to search counterfeit Windows 7 retail packages. I found some interesting info, but my package doesn't fit any of the counterfeit profiles Microsoft says to look out for. The top hologram is built onto the cds, not stickers. Both my CD's have holograms on the small inner ring on the data side of the disks. The COA has the correct print inter-wooven into it and says Made in Puerto Rico. The Product Key passed PID check and activation. The three digit key everyone talks about is 068 (not 065, 066, or 067). And overall, the package looks extremely genuine...unless you actually look for counterfeit features, which I have found that leads me to believe this was not made by Microsoft. Firstly, the MAJOR thing I found that prompted this whole suspicion. On the back cover, in the second foot not under the features bullet list, there is a TYPO. Referring to XP Mode, it is says "2. Requires download of Windows XP Mode (which tuns on Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate)..." Notice it says "tuns on Windows 7..." instead of "runs on Windows 7..."! Being that the T key is right next to the R on a QWERTY keyboard, this leads me to believe this is human error. Aren't these things manufactured in a factory or something, by robots and machines...and Quality Controlled??? Also, all the text under the bullet list is not that sharp, like it was printed on an inkjet. Also, all that text under the bullet list is yellow. I believe on a genuine copy, that text is white, no? Here is the picture link: #mce_temp_url# Here's the front cover. Nothing really to note here, that I can see: #mce_temp_url# Another major flaw I found was on the top of the 32-Bit disc. Notice that in relation to the Microsoft/Genuine hologram at the top right and the large Windows 7 hologram at the bottom, the text on the center of the disc is is upside down and some of the black coating is chipped off: #mce_temp_url# The 64-Bit disc is just about perfect, other than some slight chipping of the black coating: #mce_temp_url# The COA looks really authentic other than the barcode being shaped different than the one on the Windows 7 counterfeit page, even though the SKU number is the same. Another interesting note, if I take my barcode scanner app on my iphone and scan the barcode on the MS website, it comes up as "Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Full (From $137 online / $269.99 local)." When I scan the barcode on my physical COA, I get "Windows 7 Ult English DVD (From $85 online)." I don't know what the different could be, because the SKU numbers in the barcodes match. #mce_temp_url# Another thing I noticed was some ink smeared on a page of the information booklet. #mce_temp_url# Lastly, the text and pictures in the info booklet are not that clear and look like poor inkjet printing: #mce_temp_url# So, what do you guys think? I'm scared to report this to MS in fear of them making my key blacklisted. But I am also afraid that my key might get blacklisted in the future, even though it doesn't have characteristics of an MSDN product key! Other than that stuff I noticed, it installed fine!

The -068- key is suspicious, too. MSDN/TechNet subscription, not for resale, you know that. Unfortunately, the means to let a counterfeit copy of Windows look exactly like a genuine copy are very advanced today. That's an industry. There's only one advice against that - don't buy from eBay or other "trustworthy" sellers if you have no proof they are trustworthy. MS Store may not be the cheapest alternative but at least you can be sure to get the "real thing"."192 GB ought to be enough for anybody." (from the miniseries "Next Generation's Jokes")

The -068- key is suspicious, too. MSDN/TechNet subscription, not for resale, you know that. Unfortunately, the means to let a counterfeit copy of Windows look exactly like a genuine copy are very advanced today. That's an industry. There's only one advice against that - don't buy from eBay or other "trustworthy" sellers if you have no proof they are trustworthy. MS Store may not be the cheapest alternative but at least you can be sure to get the "real thing". "192 GB ought to be enough for anybody." (from the miniseries "Next Generation's Jokes") Yeah. Unfortunately, the average consumer is not gonna know any of this stuff before purchase, especially considering the purchaser is tricked into thinking they are buying from US instead of China.

You're completely right."192 GB ought to be enough for anybody." (from the miniseries "Next Generation's Jokes")