error message??

Question

Hello-    Just this morning I received an error at startup, after all the programs were loaded. It says 'Windows Genuine Advantage has encountered an error and will have to shut down'.  I closed it out, and everything worked fine. I figured it was a one time thing, but then it happened the next time I started up. So I clicked on the 'more info', and here is what it showed:   error signature-      -- 'app.name:wgatray.exe--app.ver:1.7.17.0--modulename:licdll.dll           mod.ver:5.1.2600.2180--offset:0005c811     What IS THIS??:smileysad: I haven't installed anything new or made changes.  Everything is working fine. How can I fix this?   -M.

RoHe · Answer

wgatray.exe is the application that puts the Windows Genuine Advantage icon in the system tray by the clock. Sounds like the file got corrupted.

Reboot and press F12 before XP starts to load. Go to Utilities partition and run extended hard drive tests, to make sure this isn't a sign of a hard drive failure. Make note of any error messages.

Then reboot normally and run chkdsk
click start>run
type in: chkdsk c: /f
click OK
Accept the offer to run chkdsk at next boot and then reboot.
This will attempt to fix any system file errrors on the drive.

Then you can try running a windows system file check to see if it will repair WGA
click start>run
type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
click OK
Insert XP CD if sfc requests it and reboot when it's done.

If that doesn't fix it, go to the Microsoft site and download/install a fresh copy of WGA.

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 02-09-2008 01:00 PM

fashionluvr · Answer

Ron-
The error message no longer shows up. But I didn't take your suggestions to run the tests, I just jumped ahead and downloaded the WGA validation tool. The first time, I had a problem with the installation. That SAME error would showing during this process. So the second time, the SAME thing happened. But then, after I restarted, the message was gone. I'm not even sure how to find this WGA tool. It's not in add/remove, or any folders that I know of.....how can I verify that I have the latest version? After the incomplete installations, I'm not sure if it went through. But if it's not showing up then that's a good thing. I will try those tests should this happen again. Thanks:smileyhappy:

-M.

RoHe · Answer

Next time you try to download an update from Microsoft, it'll probably test to see if your system is legal. If WGA isn't installed, it'll nag you to install it so it can test your system.

So if the error message is gone, I'd be inclined not to worry about it, for now...

Ron

Windows General

error message??

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