Community Newsletter: Q&A: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue
- 8/24/06 5:28 PM
service pack
by Envision99 - 8/25/06 7:21 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had the same problem, and I tried a couple different methods.
I dont know why this worked, but it worked for me.
Download Service pack 1 from somewhere, install it and then go and update windows. It worked for me, and i think it will work for you.
Go to the Microsoft WGA help site. This has happened to me.
by Cococarter - 8/25/06 7:22 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The best advise if for Art to go to the Microsoft WGA web site. Run the WGA and see if it is a legit copy of XP. I did and the site told me my copy was not legit. They gave me the option of Purchasing a new copy of XP. Or Filing out a form and sending in the Disk with the hologram on the copy of XP I had installed. I had to tell them when I purchased it, where, and how much I paid. Send in everthing to a MS Service center in PA. About 2 weeks later Microsoft sent me a legit copy of XP Pro... cd with hologram..and sticker. All for no extra charge.
You could also purchase a legit copy from the MS site for a reduced price.
GREAT Post! Everyone Read
by pmchefalo - 8/25/06 1:57 PM In reply to: Go to the Microsoft WGA help site. This has happened to me. by CococarterMicrosoft is not rying to screw you, just trying to catch pirates.
Microsoft is Ok by me.
by Hondopalman - 8/28/06 5:45 AM In reply to: GREAT Post! Everyone Read by pmchefaloI have quite a few computers, and I knew I had 5 that were not legal. 2 of them were sold to me with illegal systems, 3 of them because of repairs or changed HD´s.
WGA found them and informed me with their special window. I read through their instructions and found them a bit hard to understand. But decided to apply for their offer of $169 for downloading their inpection key, and CD by post. This was for my home computer with XP Pro, Spanish. ( By the way it finished up costing $174 on my CC billing.)
WOW, was I surprised. First the downloading went smoothly as soon as my CC was accepted, and their WGA window disapeared from my screen. THREE DAYS later I received their CD by post at my office address, and I live in HONDURAS C.A. NO PROBLEMS.
My next experience was with a laptop I have, in which the processor had been changed. The technician had replaced the original XP English with a copy he had which turned out to be illegal. I have an original CD XP Pro, English, legal for two computers, which I had used, but one of the computers went bad and I had made some other changes to it. (A year ago I had been in touch with Microsoft in Costa Rica to inform them of this problem.) Because of this I thought I would try their other suggestion and send them this CD code for my laptop. IT WORKED, the computer accepted this code, and the WGA window disapeared. Cost, NOTHING.
Another computer had XP Home, I simply went out and bought a new OEM CD, here in Honduras, it cost about $100. It seemed the cheapest way to fix the problem.
One problem I did have with their WGA to obtain a legal System, was that the program does not allow a person in Honduras to buy an ENGLISH system, only Spanish. I tried various times to get around this problem but had no success, even calling Costa Rica. I do not know if this applies to other Spanish speaking countries.
Otherwise, Microsoft is OK by me.
Hiden Link to secondary Validation
by celtmaiden - 8/25/06 8:01 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
On the page that tells you that you are running an OS that can not be validated, there in an obscure link, I can't remember exactly where on the page, but it's there, I found it. Read thru the page. It says something along the lines of "Know this is wrong?" Click on that link and it will take you to another validation site. It worked for me after having to re-install my Windows XP-SP2.
WGA
by twt97 - 8/25/06 8:15 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Having a problem with updates? Microsoft will help you one on one for free. I had a problem when trying to install .NET Framework 1.1. Judy Wu at What problem are you having with Windows Update? solved my problem with an email reply within 24 hrs.
Tom Taylor
Try updating IE
by Simkid - 8/25/06 8:37 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If SP2 isn't already installed or the system isn't running the latest version of IE there can be problems with WGA. My windows disk is a pre SP2 OEM copy, and it simply wouldn't validate after I reinstalled it recently (had always worked fine to that point). The actual verification utility was fine, but the updater wouldn't validate, and as such wouldn't let me download my updates. For some reason the problem was in the IE version that came with my Windows disk, manually updating it solved my problems with Windows update.
WGA Advantage Tool
by Decorte16 - 8/25/06 8:50 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had a similar problem. Although I have not read the 53 or so replies, I am going to offer my 2 cents worth.
I installed Shavlik's Netchk Protect, and I now receive all of my updates through them. I have blocked Windows Genuine Advantage with my Firewall, and have also instructed Automatic Updates to only notify me when updates are available, not to download or install anything! Hereis the Netchk Protect link:
http://www.shavlik.com/netchk-protect.aspx
Decorte
RE: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue
by protagonistic - 8/25/06 8:56 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This discussion seems to be missing the easiest solution to the WGA problem, and that is to always do a custom update and do not install WGA in the first place. If it is already installed there are good tools out there to remove it. I have not allowed WGA to be installed on my system and if you get tired of the nag messages about it not being installed you can turn off the Security Center and no more nags. The downside of that is that you have to be sure to check for updates on a regular basis but I do that anyway.
At this point WGA on your system is not required to update. If it comes to the point where MS does require it then there is also a simple solution to that. Just format the hard drive and install any good linux distribution. If you don't want to try that then just buy a Mac. No piracy checks, no activation, and you don't even have to register OS X if you don't want to. Clean, simple and you are not treated like a criminal.
It sounds like.......
by philliprowland - 8/25/06 9:15 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Im sure many people have heard of Craigslist. In all the cities I browse I always see computers with full versions of Windows XP Professional installed but they never include the original installation disks. The end result is people are screwed when it comes to updating windows because either A. Someone decided to keep the CD from the buyer. B. The seller had a cracked copy of Windows XP Professional installed on the machine and the buyer just realized it. Always buy a computer with the reinstallation disks. Or buy from a reputable deal such as Gateway , Dell , Alienware etc.
Roll back time
by BradPois - 8/25/06 9:27 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If the reason that the computers are being rejected is because of a WGA update, try using system restore to roll back time before the update was made.
Here are some links
by BradPois - 8/25/06 9:29 AM In reply to: Roll back time by BradPoishttp://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=170650
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/browse_thread/thread/f66976ee3becaa72/
Simple Fix for Genuine Advantage
by anutloose - 8/25/06 10:10 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Apparently the computer isn't service packed. Try and bypass the Windows updates and download SP1 and SP2. If you are able to get the Service Packs on CD's that is even better. After you install SP1 and SP2 the Genuine Advantage "error" will go away. At that point you will be able to continue with the verification and other Windows Updates. Please note!!!! Do not attempt to verify or do any Windows Updates until SP2 has been installed!
WGA causing many problems
by charlieworton - 8/25/06 10:13 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
At the private school where I'm training, we have hundreds of machines; and all of them make use of a ghost copy from a master machine. This strategy worked until Microsoft introduced WGA checking in early August; at that point, all our machines failed authorisation, for they all bore the same ghosted key on the hard drive. We had purchased the correct licensing agreement for our machines, so we were in compliance; the problem was to suddenly get the proper information for hundreds of machines onto the hard drives.
Fortunately, it's not my problem. But it's a big problem, and any company that has been using ghost to build machines - a very common occurrence - is going to suddenly have a lot of very unhappy customers; because everyone, from the small corner computer store to large government and corporate outlets, uses ghost to build machines. The fact that the machines bore the 'wrong' ghosted key has never been a problem - until now.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is denying support to many clients who own legitimate copies of the software. This is unfortunate, for it's hard enough to get customers to update their systems anyway; and once WGA is convinced it's found a 'pirate' copy, it throws up large, embarrassing 'warnings' every time the machine is restarted, and periodically during use. This will serve to motivate clients to stay away from Microsoft, and never again update their systems; and that will just make life a little bit easier for the bad guys, and tougher for the innocent, non-technical victims whose machines are suddenly left unprotected, through no fault of their own.
Microsoft is entitled to protection from piracy. But I don't feel the implementation of WGA has been well thought out, and I feel it will serve to increase the rift between Microsoft and the general public.
Customers with a valid copy of XP in their hands and a valid sticker on their computer, need more options than to be told to spend $100 for another key.
I can fix this on all your machines in a few minutes.
by dhrwfan - 8/25/06 1:20 PM In reply to: WGA causing many problems by charliewortonHmmm..I know to much.
And I fix it using the Windows XP CD.
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