windows validation

[rainblue]

Why am I getting the message that my windows version does not pass validation test when I've been using computer for the last 6 months with no problem. System restore has been switched off.

[VHG]

Have you downloaded some Windows updates lately?

If you have it may have included a "Genuine Windows" check which runs on your computer and verifies if the version of windows you have is genuine.

Not sure how it does this, perhaps checks if your Windows COA number has been used by other users.

More here
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/ProgramInfo.a spx?displaylang=en&sGuid=6a86aed3-0880-41eb-91 1a-9cef03f591a3

[rainblue]

Thanks VHG , Yes 3 auto downloads received 2 days ago.
Ive uninstalled them but to no effect (message now locked in I suppose). What harm if this situation is ignored? What remedy do you suggest.
History- XPpro installed from cd 5 years ago. Updated toSP3. 6 mnths ago nasty virus, asked local guy to reformat. he could not get my cd to load so used his own which I gather now was a pirated version. He has gone out of bis. Need I spend �95 to get another key from MS. Thanks for your tolerance.

[VHG]

If a genuine copy of XP Home was installed 5 years ago it will have come with a "sticker" with your COA (Certificate of Authenticity) code on it. Often this is stuck on the case of your computer somehwere.

The sticker will look a bit like this
http://www.telecommander.com/pics/links/operat ingsystems/mswinxppropeeloem/mswinx2.jpg

There will be a series of numbers on it like:
12345-ABCDE-67890-FGHJK-TYUI9

These numbers are YOUR license for XP.

The person who reinstalled XP on your computer should have used THOSE numbers to reinstall it (he may have done if he could have got your CD to work).

As you have already paid for XP Home once you should not need to pay for it again.

So what you need is the MEDIA (the CD). If yours does not work you can pick one of those up (without the COA of course) for a few pounds.

(Did the guy who repaired your PC give you the Windows XP CD back?)

If you HAVE got the COA sticker to hand I believe you can convert a pirated copy of XP to a genuine copy by running a program and putting in the genuine code.

Maybe you need to phone Microsoft and see if you can do that.

[peanut]

You can change your license key to match the one on the sticker. Give this a try.

1) Click Start, and then click Run.

2) In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.

3) In the navigation pane, locate and then click the following registry key:

4) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents

5) In the topic pane, right-click OOBETimer, and then click Modify.

6) Change at least one digit of this value to deactivate Windows.


7) To Reactivate Windows and add new product key,

8) Click Start, and then click Run.

9) In the Open box, type the following command, and then click OK.
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

10) Click Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows,
and then click Next.

11) Click Change Product key.

12) Type the new product key in the New key boxes, and then click Update.

If you are returned to the previous window, click Remind me later, and then restart the computer.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 to verify that Windows is activated. You receive the following message:
Windows is already activated. Click OK to exit.
Click OK.

[peanut]

EDIT for my last post, don't repeat steps 1 and 2. Just repeat step 9 and 10 except click activate over the internet instead of telephone a rep.