UNSOLVED
XP PRO VOLUME LICENSE ERROR FROM MICROSOFT - CAN'T PROPERLY ACTIVATE
Hi All,
This has been a problem for me for a while. I have an Inspiron 9100 purchased from a legal reseller of Dell products. It came with original dell software disks for WinXP Pro. The disk has the license number right on the actual disk. This matches the Microsoft sticker on the bottom of my unit.
When I try to use Microsoft Update, I get the validation screen and ask to validate. I receive an error /
Why did my machine fail validation?
The product key found on your computer is from a Volume License Key (VLK), which has been blocked. A VLK is typically licensed to organizations who want to use multiple copies of Windows. However, if a VLK is reported as stolen or leaked, it is then blocked from passing through validation.
If you received a computer with a VLK, and you do not have a Volume License Agreement with Microsoft, then you may be a victim of software piracy. If this has happened to you, please see below for the steps you can take.
If you do have a Volume License Agreement with Microsoft, you believe you are using the appropriate VLK assigned to your organization, and your VLK has not been reported as stolen or lost, please contact your system administrator, Large Account Reseller (LAR), or Enterprise Software Advisor (ESA) to report the problem.
I can't seem to find the proper support options at Dell to determine how to fix this.
Anyone?
Thanks,
This has been a problem for me for a while. I have an Inspiron 9100 purchased from a legal reseller of Dell products. It came with original dell software disks for WinXP Pro. The disk has the license number right on the actual disk. This matches the Microsoft sticker on the bottom of my unit.
When I try to use Microsoft Update, I get the validation screen and ask to validate. I receive an error /
Why did my machine fail validation?
The product key found on your computer is from a Volume License Key (VLK), which has been blocked. A VLK is typically licensed to organizations who want to use multiple copies of Windows. However, if a VLK is reported as stolen or leaked, it is then blocked from passing through validation.
If you received a computer with a VLK, and you do not have a Volume License Agreement with Microsoft, then you may be a victim of software piracy. If this has happened to you, please see below for the steps you can take.
If you do have a Volume License Agreement with Microsoft, you believe you are using the appropriate VLK assigned to your organization, and your VLK has not been reported as stolen or lost, please contact your system administrator, Large Account Reseller (LAR), or Enterprise Software Advisor (ESA) to report the problem.
I can't seem to find the proper support options at Dell to determine how to fix this.
Anyone?
Thanks,
1156
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Posted March 17th, 2006 01:00
Dafried,If you do not receive satisfaction from your legal reseller, contact Dell and/or Microsoft directly. Had same problem with sealed Microsoft Windows XP Professional CD purchased from major office products retailer recently. Interesting thing is that the Genuine Microsoft Windows XP Pro gave basically the same message when trying to activate on a Dell 4100. Most retailers have a "not our problem" attitude on software problems (especially licensing issues) if package has been opened.Dell Chat:
Dell Email:Dell Phone Support
1-800-624-9896Lots of luck!Tony1156
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Posted March 17th, 2006 11:00
By the way, the Dell Windows XP license is an OEM license, not a VLK license. If I remember correctly the VLK license strictly speaking is an upgrade license.1156
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Posted March 17th, 2006 12:00
WOW!
To rickmktg, tgsmith, and esquire: I can't thank you enough for all jumping on this thread so quickly with thoughtful answers. You each obviously have experience and knowledge, but more importantly for me, your answers were helpful.
I will pursue the avenues you suggest and let you know....
Most Sincere Thanks :)1156
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Posted March 17th, 2006 12:00
Esquire,
You remember correctly: http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/YourPC_do.mspx which says:
"A volume license (VL) agreement offers Windows upgrades—for example, you can use a VL agreement to upgrade a machine from Windows 2000 to Windows XP—but not to install the initial Windows license on a new machine. "
However, compare that official advice with http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326904 which says:
"If you are a Microsoft volume license customer and you have licenses for Windows XP Professional, perform a clean install of Windows XP on the computer that received the error message by using the Windows XP Professional media and the Volume License Product Key that is provided with your agreement. If you cannot perform a clean install, you must change the product ID. "Dafried's Windows XP Pro apparently has an activated license, but the Windows Update site's Validation test detects a Volume License and not a Dell OEM License. Perhaps Dafried should download keyfinder and see if his Product Key matches the one on his CD and the Microsoft label.Dafried, you can download keyfinder from here: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml .Let us know what you find.Tony1156
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Posted March 17th, 2006 16:00
tgsmith,
Dafried's Windows XP Pro apparently has an activated license, but the Windows Update site's Validation test detects a Volume License and not a Dell OEM License. Perhaps Dafried should download keyfinder and see if his Product Key matches the one on his CD and the Microsoft label.
Dafried, you can download keyfinder from here: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml .
That keyfinder, as well as Belarc and Aida, return something which appears to be a volume licensing key. None of them has ever, in my memory, returned the Product ID listed on the sticker on the computer. I suspect the business which installed the version of XP in question obtained the Product ID using one of those key finders.
1156
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Posted March 17th, 2006 22:00
@tgsmith wrote:
However, compare that official advice with http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326904 which says:
"If you are a Microsoft volume license customer and you have licenses for Windows XP Professional, perform a clean install of Windows XP on the computer that received the error message by using the Windows XP Professional media and the Volume License Product Key that is provided with your agreement. If you cannot perform a clean install, you must change the product ID. "
Thanks Tony.Yes, one can perform a clean install using a VLK Product Key, but the user license remains an upgrade license - just like one can perform a clean install physically using a retail Windows XP upgrade CD :smileywink:1156
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Posted March 18th, 2006 00:00
Esquire,Yes. That's what I suspect has happened to Dafried. I'm sure he has a legitimate Microsoft license, but apparently a VLK CD was used to install XP Pro on the computer. That's why I suggested he download keyfinder. To see if the Product Key of his Windows XP Pro installation matches the one on his COA. Probably should have just asked him to right click on My Computer, left click on Properties and see if Product ID has OEM in it. If it does, then I reckon I'll have to rethink my theory.Tony1156
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Posted March 18th, 2006 01:00
Hey All - thanks for keeping on this with me.
I checked under My Computer under System I don't see anything OEM. It says:
Microsoft Windows XP
Professional
Version 2002
Service Pack 2
I ran the keyfinder program to see my own machine key and it says the same number as printed on my Dell Disks and on the Microsoft label on the bottom of my laptop.
Does any of this help? I sent an email to my VAR about the issue as well.
Thanks,Message Edited by dafried on 03-17-2006 09:27 PM
410
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Posted March 18th, 2006 01:00
The word OEM should appear as part of your Product ID if an OEM Product Key is used (see below). I believe this becomes 640 and 642 if a VLK Product Key is used instead. There might be other numbers shown as a VLK Product ID but with all the pirated copies I've seen, these two numbers are the most common. (Hint Hint)Does your Certicate of Authenticity (CoA) label on the underside of your notebook has the DELL word on it (right beneath Windows XP Professional)?Message Edited by esquire on 03-18-2006 12:06 PM
rickmktg
2 Intern
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11898 Posts
1156
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Posted March 16th, 2006 22:00