iPhone 3GS from AT&T. Free Shipping
Community Newsletter: Q&A: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue
- 8/24/06 5:28 PM
XP Validation
by pardussi - 8/25/06 2:12 PM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I think this answer is more complicated than it needs to be.
I called their tech support, was directed to a site that started with "go.microsoft ..." and moved through the procedure from there. It worked, but it was time consuming.
MSFT has a problem, primarily with the Chinese copies of the OS and they have to do something. If it were my company, I would be mad as heck and try to protect myself, which MSFT has a right to do.
WIndows update
by JoeChilll - 8/25/06 2:26 PM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You will be able to validate and update windows if you have your firewall,popup blocker and antispam Disabled.Disable all oand it will work.I use eztrust(zonealarm)and I have to disable all to get windows validation and updates.
Getting around WGA
by Red Diamond - 8/25/06 2:45 PM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Art,
If I understand you correctly you are upgrading computers with a newer legit version of XP over old 'unrecognized' versions on a couple of computers.
What you should do is go to Madboot.com and download their tool. Bootup their program from A: and go to the section that lets you delete the Master boot record.
Reboot with the XP upgrade. When XP asks for a previous version of windows to upgrade from remove the XP upgrade disk and throw in ANY Windows OS disk. Sometimes you can even get the upgrade to look at itself and fool it.
If that doesn't work, backup their data, repartition and repeat the upgrade process. You do not have to have a previous version installed.
Good Luck
WGA fix
by HSIA PEI-TZU - 8/25/06 2:47 PM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Do a google search on removal tools for WGA. It is quick and easy. MS says that they have fixed the problems that WGA was causing with legal versions of XP. I re installed the new WGA and I've not had a problem since.
If Ms XP was a car
by todd.falls - 8/25/06 3:17 PM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Ok if Microsoft XP was a car you wouldn't have nearly any of these problems from Microsoft as there are laws protecting you from bad workmanship and faulty devices. It would have been recalled in the first 3 months, but it's not and the powers that be allow not just MS to get away with it but to hold all the users to ransom. ok there are other software companies that do the same but they don't have the market share like MS. it is even worse if you have to deal with someone who doesn't speak English as a first language as those of us outside the USA have to deal with. MS should not only get rid of WGA but be fined for all it's products that don't work how they are suppost to or have major bugs. I know that's harsh but the if you break the law you face the fine or do the time. I Can see MS's point in trying to stop pirate software, but they have overstepped the boundry so many time that they think that they are above the law. Well that's my rant about what I see as a problem that needs to be fixed.
product quality
by avoura - 9/2/06 1:22 PM In reply to: If Ms XP was a car by todd.fallsI understand what you are saying. There are laws to protect consumers against faulty or defective products, and if they were to be applied to software then Windows would have been recalled and MS would have had to fix it, many years ago. Things were going wrong in Windows 3.0. I have also seen copies of Windows 1 and 2, which were very basic and never really got to do anything with those, but Windows has been crashing and failing to live up to its promises since 1990 at least.
Although I will say that XP Professional seems to be the most stable and reliable version yet. XP Home is just crap and should be avoided, everyone I know who bought that has had serious problems. But with XP Professional there is less hassle, although it is still far from perfect.
But also we should consider that software writers often make software that does not work properly in XP or conflicts with some other piece of software they could not reasonably have foreseen.
But if XP was made properly then any conflicts could easily be dealt with by the OS and stopped from crashing the PC.
The WGA "critical update" that MS has forced on us can only make a PC more unstable and less reliable, it is one more piece of unnecessary software that can cause conflicts and errors, depending on what other software might be running. It is also spyware and I hope that anti-spyware programs will soon find a way to remove it without stopping Windows from working.
Had Windows Genuine Advantage Cause Problems
by pyramid_guy - 8/25/06 3:55 PM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi..I had a Dell Computer that had Windows XP installed on it when I purchased it and I BOUGHT a copy of XP Pro, but I moved and LOST the disc, and the guy who fixes my computer told me I had to buy another copy of XP Pro...my Dell is out of warranty & I don't have the receipt to my XP Pro purchase, & I appreciate the advice, but I am hoping that if anyone has any other suggestions, they could let me know! Even $91 is a lot for me right now! Thanks & THANKS to CNET for all your help every month! Becki W
Options...
by John.Wilkinson - 8/25/06 5:02 PM
In reply to: Had Windows Genuine Advantage Cause Problems by pyramid_guy
You actually have a couple legal options to avoid paying for a new copy:
1.) Do you still have the OEM Recovery System that either came with your Dell computer or you were prompted to burn after installation? If so just use that when you need to reinstall Windows.
2.) If you don't have the Dell OEM recovery system CDs then you can contact Dell, even though your warranty has expired, and see if they can send you a set. You'll have to pay for shipping and handling, and perhaps a nominal fee, but it will be far less than that $91.
3.) When you installed the copy of XP that you bought, did you register it as well or just activate it? If you registered you can request a new set of CDs from Microsoft, again at the cost of S&H and perhaps a nominal fee.
4.) If you still have the original Product Key for the retail copy of XP that you purchased you're in luck. You can borrow someone else's CD (make sure it's retail Windows XP Professional) and use your product key during installation.
5.) If you don't have your product key written down but still have that retail copy of XP Professional installed then you can download and run the free program Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to identify your product key and then follow through with #4.
Hope this helps,
John
Keyfinder Does Work -- Caveat
by pmchefalo - 8/25/06 9:16 PM In reply to: Options... by John.Wilkinson
I was able to retrieve my keys with it. I assume that if I somehow got the same version of the installation disk (Windows XP Pro SP1 from a particular subscription pack) that it would work to repair. I'm not sure that an OEM version could use it, however.
If the key was invalid, but was originally able to "hack through" a product activation, it may still fail the WGA test, since Microsoft apparently now has a database of invalid keys that have been used per the messages I have seen on a couple customers who were defrauded by their previous providers.
Right...
by John.Wilkinson - 8/25/06 9:21 PM
In reply to: Keyfinder Does Work -- Caveat by pmchefalo
It doesn't always work with OEM copies...sometimes it reports the correct product key while other times it may report a 'generic' key used by the manufacturer that will not be able to activate Windows. Thus, it's best just to check the sticker affixed to the outside of the case.
I don't think that the service pack matters, though, just the version (Home, Professional, Media Center, etc). If that was the case then you'd have to receive a new product key when you upgrade from SP1 to SP2 or it would report it as pirated.
John
Keyfinder works on OEM Retail, Volume License and MSDN
by thewizardofahhs - 8/30/06 11:33 PM In reply to: Keyfinder Does Work -- Caveat by pmchefaloIt even works on betas.
A more complete report is available at www.belarc.com
Geuine Advantage Problem
by zapvolt - 8/25/06 4:22 PM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had the same problem with my husbands computer when I reformatted his hard drive. I was informed by a Microsoft Tech that it was because of outdated installtion files. If their copy is indeed Genuine then all they have to do is call Microsoft and "Big Brother" will help them through it.
Scissors
Not technicians with accents!!
by terrancedv50 - 8/25/06 11:09 PM In reply to: Geuine Advantage Problem by zapvoltOne or two subscribers have referred to being served by technicians "with accents."
I admit in Australia-this is very common.
But, I hasten to add these technicians in no way detract from the invaluable service MS doesn't, er, sorry does provide.
One "accented" gentleman was suggesting I shell out 50 bucks or more to go to Microsoft Level 2 where presumably you get the same advice-except it costs you.
davidjd
(no location)
for fear of retribution from Big Brother!
WGA fix.
by Lt.ColeVADF - 8/25/06 6:15 PM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Here's how I worked around the WGA to get the updates.
I turned the Auto update off. Then I go to the Update web site and click on CUSTOM.
It then goes through it's deal and picks up the updates and displays them. I unclick the WGA program and leave all the others in place and then let it do it's thing.
A little work, but it works.
One thing though. You CAN'T dl the free programs that M$ has as it looks for the WGA when you try to open them and when it doesn't find it, installer stops and there you go.
windows genuine advantage issue fix
by jimMaverick - 8/25/06 6:19 PM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
hi all. i have a small repair shop and i think i can add a little fix to your problem.
I run imto this all the time. Before wgad was required machines from dell-hp-ect windows were provided on their own disks. Now microsoft is provided with a data base from these companies. You simple have to reactivate by calling and verifing the machine brand-model # and if it is a match they will gladly reactivate a second party xp.
This problem does not exist on a store bought xp but they will not interchange without a clean install.
Once you do this ; your windows update will work just fine. They have always been great about fixing this issue with no problems.
Remember-if you have a dell-hp-ect a new xp will not solve this problem with out a clean install; it will see it as bogus.
Simply reactivate and use the phone option.
It has never failed to fix this issue for me.
jim
Maverick Computer Repair
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
