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July 29th, 2005 00:00
Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool
I ran the G.A. Validation Tool that came up in Windows XP Updates and it says I have "an invalid product key"! I have a Dim. 8200 w/Windows XP Pro original from Dell w/SP2 installed after. I had to have WinXP clean reinstalled last summer by a computer repair shop but I gave them the original Dell disc for the install. I installed SP2 from a MS disc. that I ordered from MS. I've been using Windows Update OK since then until the last few weeks. First I noticed I couldn't get any updates that weren't run Automatic to install. They downloaded and appeared to be doing everything OK, then it would say "Failed to Install". I worked with MS Email support for days doing everything they said and never did get it straight. They had me download the update file saved to a location (desktop), then run it. It installed that way.
Now this Invalid thing! What can I do? I didn't "pirate" anything!! I bought my computer from Dell w/WinXP Pro on it and have the disc that came with it and the sticker on the side of the CPU. I'd like to get it cleared up so I can add updates as they come. Can it be done? or do I have to buy a new copy!!?
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Denny Denham
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18.8K Posts
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July 30th, 2005 04:00
You wrote, "if you do decide to reinstall windows xp, microsoft recommends fully updating win xpsp1." Since XP2 contains all updates which predate it, I would be interested in taking a look at this advice from Microsoft. Can you provide a URL?
redwolfe_98
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1.3K Posts
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July 30th, 2005 05:00
Message Edited by redwolfe_98 on 07-30-2005 03:04 AM
redwolfe_98
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July 30th, 2005 11:00
PolarUpgrade
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July 30th, 2005 12:00
If one has the original OEM-supplied XP CD, than it is reasonable to reinstall that LEGAL CD with its LEGAL key after a hard drive reformatting is completed. If indeed an unlicensed Windows is on the computer because a shop restored it that way, the copyright on the install is invalid and copyright infringement has taken place. Genuine Advantage may rightfully take you down.
One of the unfortunate provisions of U.S. and Canadian copyright law is that any use of infringing material also renders the user essentially guilty of infringement, regardless of whether one knew the content or other intellectual property was not legal. This is why Genuine Advantage can snuff a system for updates EVEN IF the owner of the PC genuinely believes the setup is legal.
We may reasonably expect that Genuine Advantage will not pass such a setup as valid, and we cannot expect MS to provide a correction. If MS did so, that would allow anyone to plead similar circumstances and argue their way out of an illegal OS.
Years ago MS warned companies that unless they have a global key as part of a license for many PCs, that they must not simply install one key on many computers. Of course many firms did this by Ghosting one PC and then restoring the image to all PCs, provided they had licenses for each PC. This was warned against for many years.
We do learn something here that was always implicit in software licensing: A PC repair firm is not legally permitted to restore Windows for a customer using anything other than the customer’s legal license for Windows, which really means the customer's CD and key.
The difference today is that, thanks to "Genuine Advantage," Microsoft can enforce this legal limit that has always existed.
Moral: The days are over when PC owners, private and business alike, can have the proverbial "Computer Guy" simply drop around and restore a "sick" Windows PC with his single [illegally] copied restore disc. Computer Guy MUST use the customer's own LEGAL Windows CD. The practice of typical such "Computer Guy" repair persons to just restore with a cracked (XP) or copied Windows 2000 CD in the case of Win2K are all over.
Sadly, those PC owners who never understood the copyright law in this regard, and who relied on such Computer Guys, even if they do have LEGAL Windows discs but allowed fixes with other discs they do not have licenses to, are gonna feel the pain of failing to adhere to the copyright law.
There are presumably other situations related to this restore-with-unlicensed-discs custom that are going to crop up as well. Just think of the down time and lost productivity!
Message Edited by PolarUpgrade on 07-30-2005 08:30 AM
Denny Denham
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18.8K Posts
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July 30th, 2005 15:00
Thanks. I didn't consider the download route, since I (as a downtrodden dial-up user) got the SP2 CD.
Tom 2112
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August 2nd, 2005 23:00
DooglasD
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August 14th, 2005 14:00
Message Edited by DooglasD on 08-14-2005 10:29 AM
DouglasWoodsLed
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August 20th, 2005 22:00
I had the same problem. It is because Dell uses the same key on all their installations of the OEM version of Windows XP, then tapes the real key to the side of the box.
Both Dell and Microsoft verified this.
Their suggestion, do a full reinstall of Windows XP.
Which means countless updates to get the OS back up to current levels of updates.
I was not willing to do that.
Searching the WEB, I found a utility called KEYFINDER. It has an option to change the Product Key, but it failed.
There was verbiage and a link on the CHANGE SCREEN that indicated the program was put together from information in a MS Article on "Changing the Product Key".
I double clicked on the link. The MS article shows the key to change in the Registry to make my Product Key INVALID.
In the article were instructions on how to force the Product Activation Program to run.
Since my product key was now INVALID, the Product Activation Program gave me the opportunity to change the Product Key.
I put in the product key from the COA tapped to the side of the box and IT WORKED!!!!
1dee1doug
50 Posts
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August 20th, 2005 23:00
DouglasWoodsLed
3 Posts
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August 21st, 2005 08:00
The MS Article ID is: 328874
Dated: 4-25-2005
Doug
JRosenfeld
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4.4K Posts
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August 21st, 2005 14:00
I am somewhat puzzled by problems people are having with WGA, product keys, et al.
When I first used WGA it asked to download an activeX component which I allowed, it then wizzed through the screens (the ones showing the various labels where keys might be), never asked for a key and proceeded to the download page. Since then, it has never bothered me, I click on validate and it goes to the download. XP SP2 Home (OEM initial install of XP SP1, subsequently updated), never reformatted or reinstalled.
1dee1doug
50 Posts
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August 21st, 2005 18:00
You are just one of the lucky ones! I've been working with MS, several different teams, since June 26th and still can't validate. As I originally posted, back in June before WGA, I suddenly couldn't get "Custom" updates to install (Auto Updates OK). It said Failed to install. Then when validation hit I ALSO couldn't validate. Evidently, discovered it was because I had a shop reinstall WinXP Pro about a year ago, and they used one of THOSE keys. After much documentation from me to MS, they gave me a key # and a program called a New Product Key Tool. Well that won't run either, so I still can't validate. I've been on several forums, trying their fixes including a different program to install a new product key. At this point the MS boys are sending my stuff to the "Senslog" team, whatever that is. I frankly think that something in the WinUpdate function got messed-up by a malware that I deleted back in June. I'm not savvy enough on Registry keys and such to fix it without help. I'd sure be grateful if one of you bright people could help me. I've done all the spyware/malware removal and a lot of other things as well as sending many logs to MS. I don't want to do another reinstall since I had that done a few months ago and it took months to get all my programs and setting going again! Unless maybe just uninstall sp2 and reinstall it. I have it on a MS disc. But does that help when your machine has had a OS reinstall? This is getting really discouraging.
Dee
Dim. 8200, P4, 2.4 Ghz
512 RAM
PolarUpgrade
59 Posts
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August 21st, 2005 19:00
I think reasonably one should cut the losses here and do a reinstall as you have your master CD on hand, from what I read previously.
Three days ago I upgraded our main Windows 2000 Pro machine, with dozens of complex apps--occupying 5.17 gigs on Drive C:. The reinstall of all apps from scratch took about 12 hours of casual coffee-sipping and moderate speed installing of CD after CD. And the PC was usable for email and Word and PageMaker 7 three hours into the reinstall. Using Open Source Thunderbird email and Firefox browser now, at the boss's decree, too. All the other time was ancillary app installation. Very nice. Very smooth. Very glitch-free. And wow is that Thunderbird so much more elegant than MS Nonlook, er, Outlook.
Sometimes we have to do this as part of routine PC replacements. It is part of the TCO of Windows. Product Activation raises the TCO in my experience, which is why in my little firm the only Activated app allowed is Windows XP when absolutely needed. We cannot afford downtime due to Ingenuine Disadvantage or Product InActivation and wil not suffer it unless we must. As our old machines age, we shall be forced to suffer along with you, I suspect.
Also, I would like to thank Dell very much for their recent 10% off sale on software. Take 10% off the cost of Dell's already well-priced Windows XP Pro SP2 Upgrade CD, and you have one heck of a bargain, indeed. And an even bigger bargain on the full version of XP Pro.
Way to go, Dell!
Message Edited by PolarUpgrade on 08-21-2005 03:59 PM
Message Edited by PolarUpgrade on 08-21-2005 04:01 PM