Community Newsletter: Q&A: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue
- 8/24/06 5:28 PM
Survey Says? Try OptiPlex
by pmchefalo - 9/2/06 7:00 AM In reply to: well maybe not but regardless DELL SUCKS!! by jayw654Your "story" does not match my experience.
At one point Dell used Intel motherboards produced for OEM market. Because of that, and because they do not use AMD processors, they were spared the exploding capacitor problems of a few years ago from white-box makers. Dell and others do have a similar problem with some recent capacitors.
Dell components are (at worst) industry standard. Becuase they warrant their Optiplex and Latitude lines for three years as a standard, they would go broke supplying sub-standard parts. PC Mags surveys of owners do not show the poor components trend either.
The experience you relate may or may not be fiction (after all this is the Internet, refuge of scammers) but if true, I'd guess that you're talking about the consumer Dimension/Inspiron lines. Everyone looking for reliability should look at the OptiPlex/Latitude series. Prices are comparable for comparable warranty, etc. and they are supported in the US.
i will admit they WERE there better line of comps
by jayw654 - 9/3/06 1:19 AM In reply to: Survey Says? Try OptiPlex by pmchefaloanyway even that has changed the older optiplexes were godd machines but not the newer ones, DELL is only trying to my a buck and get a greater overhead, i don't blame any company for trying to make money, however alot of companies use crap underpar components in there comps, and at cummins where i was saying they regret there decision, well guess what, there all optiplexes. i never had my hands on the inspiron line, and btw i'm and AMD user pentium sucks, i can spend a cheaper price and get a faster processor for a cheaper price AMD is blowing pentium out of the water, it is now fact if you go and read around that AMD is now the premium processor. And the quality of AMD is better also they use better raw materials to make there processors than pentium does, god i love being right and to be able to back up what i say feel free to challenge what i have said just get the info before writing
Invalid key
by seelearn - 8/25/06 7:10 AM In reply to: Other suggestions from our members by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had the same problem with a computer I purchased from TigerDirect.com. I was lucky in that I finely got it on line. I logged into Microsoft and did a validation on line and got my Key. Sadly they to not tell you what the Key is. So you need to back up your system at that point. I find that a snapshot program like Norton Ghost works best for any back up. But that is a whole new discussion.
valid key
by vinedw - 8/28/06 7:37 AM In reply to: Invalid key by seelearnIf you now have a valid key in your present installation, youy can view this key with a number of utilities, my favourite being AIDA 32. If you now keep thi key safe, you can use almost any XP professioal install disc to install windows and then late update the key to your key using the activate windows to change product key
Use Belarc advisor to obtain your Key.
by thewizardofahhs - 8/30/06 11:07 PM In reply to: Invalid key by seelearnI take my laptop into my hands..!!
by terrancedv50 - 8/25/06 7:29 AM In reply to: Other suggestions from our members by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My story is brief and simple. I bought,in good faith, a laptop, allegedy equipped with XP Pro, from noted auctioneer Ebay.
Quite a while passed-everything functioned relatively smoothly.
Then I recently noticed that Microsoft had "snuck in" in two updates in their daily alerts.
I blithely clicked on the updates, and voila, MS had got in!
I now get reminded continually on the hour I have not genuine windows-but may (rpt) may have a counterfeit copy.
Then strange crashes happened!
I'm not a conspiracy theorist-but they all seemed to lead back to "shell out $230 for the genuine product and we'll leave you in peace."
MS also suggested I install SP2.
I have been reduced to trembling paranoia by MS-so I did install SP2.
Much to my delight-it seems to have improved my system. I had previously criticised SP2 in a CNET forum-on hearsay. I hope I am forgiven MS.
I notice the issue of "legality" has arisen.
Has Microsoft the legal right to "invade" my PC and install "threats" (to be brutally frank - this is what they are)?
I notice on other web discussion sites, other "innocents" like me have been hit by the MS WGA patrol squad.
I hate to criticise MS-I fear they have the power to wreak awful havoc on one's PC.
But courage, mon brave!
davidjd
Bright
Australia
Windows Genuine Advantage
by bee4god - 8/25/06 10:01 AM In reply to: Other suggestions from our members by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My answer is a question. Why buy a PC without Windows already installed from the PC maker without Windows already installed? If you build one yourself then make sure that the Windows CD is valid. Then it will work. In the meantime the best way is to save all your important stuff and do a clean install. Mack
windows validation
by evansgranny - 8/26/06 10:53 AM In reply to: Other suggestions from our members by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
we reinstalled windows and then call the number that was given and microsoft gave me a key that works. this seems to be the easiest way i have read so far.
Shavlik Update Software
by N3MIS1S - 8/27/06 4:26 PM In reply to: Other suggestions from our members by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Simple solution;
Use Shavliks Patch management software to deploy patches across your home PC's -
http://www.shavlik.com/product_cat_patch_mang.aspx
make windows C.O.A easy to red
by iscom - 8/25/06 2:07 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have found printing on the lable is so small its hard to see and many of the letters cant be seen so clearly such a 8B VY CG and so one anyone with impaire vision would find it very hard to see the code
alternative update program
by Densailri - 8/25/06 2:22 AM In reply to: 8/25/06 Help! Windows Genuine Advantage issue by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I just recently read an article that promotes an alterative program for updating windows and it also can update other programs as well.This is from the newsletter ''Windows Secrets'' http://windowssecrets.com/comp/060713/
I haven't tried it because I don't have any WGA problems, but it sounds promising and it's free!
WGA Allows Security Udates
by pmchefalo - 8/25/06 5:58 AM In reply to: alternative update program by DensailriAFAIK, WGA allows security updates, which the Shavlik Technologies checks, to be applied.
The WGA problems I've briefly seen on a known pirated copies of XP is that:
1) the logon screen is tatooed with a logo saying the software is not genuine.
2) There is an annoying icon in the system tray that alerts you that the system is not licensed.
3) You cannot install extras, which will soon includes IE 7, to a non-licensed system. (There's a bit of dichotony here since IE 7 will otherwise be pushed as a critical update.)
Exactly-
by terrancedv50 - 8/25/06 7:38 AM In reply to: WGA Allows Security Udates by pmchefaloThis is exactly what I experience daily. Do you think Microsoft will resolve the dichotomy you refer to-without purchase of WGA...or whatever? Will be interesting. Any other CNET forum member care to comment?
davidjd
Bright
Australia
Suggestion for different update/patch manager - Bigfix
by ozyman4269 - 8/25/06 10:11 PM In reply to: alternative update program by DensailriOrigionally posted in this forum:
http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6142_7-0.html?forumID=5&messageID=2082851&threadID=192250
Edited to make current to this discussion
WGA anoyed me by constently checking, re checking, failing, starting the process to check again, checking hanging ect.
Eventually I just removed it and i don't even go to windowsupdate.com any more. I've found a better way.
The update manager that I have been using successfully for the past 5 months is Bigfix.
(I started using it because I found WGA to be annoying and buggy)
*NB It's alerts to updates is usually 2 days behind Microsofts*
It alerts me when that are updates to patch vulnerabilities in office and in XP.
I can select which updates to install.
Downloading the patches/updates are easy and so is installing them.
BigFix will even remind you if your Anti Virus is out of Date.
Give it a shot if you like.
For more info www.bigfix.com
For program download http://www.bigfix.com/download/download.html
As a single user you would be the consumer edition
Exactly what I was looking for
by vicbee - 8/27/06 8:35 PM In reply to: Suggestion for different update/patch manager - Bigfix by ozyman4269Just downloaded BigFix...it's exactly what I was looking for: Being able to download MS security patches while bypassing the WGA...Cheers mate!
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