I am running Windows XP Professional 2002 version, which is definitely a
genuine Microsoft product, on my new laptop. The first few Windows Update
sessions went smoothly, with the Genuine Microsoft Advantage check validating
my software and downloading the updates. Then several weeks ago, the
validation check suddenly started failing, and mis-identifying my software as
being not genuine. My software vendor is unable to explain why or how this
could happen, and can only recommend re-installing Windows on my machine.
However, I am very reluctant to do this because of the time and hassle
involved. I have tried Msoft support online - it did not say my registration
number was not genuine, but it did say that I did not qualfy for free online
support and it directed me here to "Newsgroups for free support from other
users". Actually I don't mind at all to pay for support, I just want to solve
the problem. Is there any way to appeal to Msoft Windows Update Dept., or or
to have someone from Microsoft run a manual remote check on my machine to
verify my software? Or is there any other way to sort it out apart from
re-installing Win XP Pro? Even so, how can I prevent a similar occurrence in
the future? Could the problem have been caused by some virus or malware
deliberately altering my registration number for Windows - can these programs
do this? Any suggestions, please, would be most welcome, as I have not been
able to download any updates for several weeks now.... feeling very
vulnerable without the Updates......
lindzus

How to troubleshoot Windows Update, Microsoft Update, and Windows Server
Update Services installation issues:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=906602

1. See the "Need more help? Tell us what problem you are having" section of
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=ph;en-us;6527

2. You cannot install some updates or programs
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;822798

3a. Check Windowsupdate.log (%windir%\Windowsupdate.log) for errors
associated with the download/install.

How to read the Windowsupdate.log file:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=902093

3b. Compare errors to those listed here:
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/archive...date_codes.htm and/or go to
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com > click on Help and Support link in left
pane > Solve problems on your own.

4. Windows Update Checklist:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/updtcl.htm
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), AH-VSOP

lindzus wrote:
> I am running Windows XP Professional 2002 version, which is definitely a
> genuine Microsoft product, on my new laptop. The first few Windows Update
> sessions went smoothly, with the Genuine Microsoft Advantage check
> validating my software and downloading the updates. Then several weeks
> ago, the validation check suddenly started failing, and mis-identifying
> my software as being not genuine. My software vendor is unable to explain
> why or how this could happen, and can only recommend re-installing
> Windows on my machine. However, I am very reluctant to do this because of
> the time and hassle involved. I have tried Msoft support online - it did
> not say my registration number was not genuine, but it did say that I did
> not qualfy for free online support and it directed me here to "Newsgroups
> for free support from other users". Actually I don't mind at all to pay
> for support, I just want to solve the problem. Is there any way to appeal
> to Msoft Windows Update Dept., or or to have someone from Microsoft run a
> manual remote check on my machine to verify my software? Or is there any
> other way to sort it out apart from re-installing Win XP Pro? Even so,
> how can I prevent a similar occurrence in the future? Could the problem
> have been caused by some virus or malware deliberately altering my
> registration number for Windows - can these programs do this? Any
> suggestions, please, would be most welcome, as I have not been able to
> download any updates for several weeks now.... feeling very vulnerable
> without the Updates......
> lindzus

"lindzus" wrote:

> I am running Windows XP Professional 2002 version, which is definitely a
> genuine Microsoft product, on my new laptop. The first few Windows Update
> sessions went smoothly, with the Genuine Microsoft Advantage check validating
> my software and downloading the updates. Then several weeks ago, the
> validation check suddenly started failing, and mis-identifying my software as
> being not genuine. My software vendor is unable to explain why or how this
> could happen, and can only recommend re-installing Windows on my machine.
> However, I am very reluctant to do this because of the time and hassle
> involved. I have tried Msoft support online - it did not say my registration
> number was not genuine, but it did say that I did not qualfy for free online
> support and it directed me here to "Newsgroups for free support from other
> users". Actually I don't mind at all to pay for support, I just want to solve
> the problem. Is there any way to appeal to Msoft Windows Update Dept., or or
> to have someone from Microsoft run a manual remote check on my machine to
> verify my software? Or is there any other way to sort it out apart from
> re-installing Win XP Pro? Even so, how can I prevent a similar occurrence in
> the future? Could the problem have been caused by some virus or malware
> deliberately altering my registration number for Windows - can these programs
> do this? Any suggestions, please, would be most welcome, as I have not been
> able to download any updates for several weeks now.... feeling very
> vulnerable without the Updates......
> lindzus

Hi ,
I also am devastated by this same problem which started about two weeks
ago.. My legal version of WindowsXP cannot be validated.. I can do NO updates
& some major malfunctioning of some features like "autoplay" ( for my beloved
camera) will not work.. I was told after 6 plus hours on the phone with
Windows (& Dell, my seller) that "someone other than Microsoft" (a
conterfeiter) has blocked my "validation key"..I will now need to buy a new
version of Windows and re-install it ..I am terrified because I am not a
computer whiz..I am an art teacher who doesn't want to go thru that BIG
hassle and I don't want to loose data...Please let me know what you find
out..I believe there are thousands of folks w/ this same problem!!!!..I
believe MS should have to send someone out to fix our PCs since they are the
computer giants who should have control over this type of problem..
thanks
teresa

"lindzus" wrote:

> I am running Windows XP Professional 2002 version, which is definitely a
> genuine Microsoft product, on my new laptop. The first few Windows Update
> sessions went smoothly, with the Genuine Microsoft Advantage check validating
> my software and downloading the updates. Then several weeks ago, the
> validation check suddenly started failing, and mis-identifying my software as
> being not genuine. My software vendor is unable to explain why or how this
> could happen, and can only recommend re-installing Windows on my machine.
> However, I am very reluctant to do this because of the time and hassle
> involved. I have tried Msoft support online - it did not say my registration
> number was not genuine, but it did say that I did not qualfy for free online
> support and it directed me here to "Newsgroups for free support from other
> users". Actually I don't mind at all to pay for support, I just want to solve
> the problem. Is there any way to appeal to Msoft Windows Update Dept., or or
> to have someone from Microsoft run a manual remote check on my machine to
> verify my software? Or is there any other way to sort it out apart from
> re-installing Win XP Pro? Even so, how can I prevent a similar occurrence in
> the future? Could the problem have been caused by some virus or malware
> deliberately altering my registration number for Windows - can these programs
> do this? Any suggestions, please, would be most welcome, as I have not been
> able to download any updates for several weeks now.... feeling very
> vulnerable without the Updates......
> lindzus

Once again, WGA has inconvenienced and scared PAYING customers while the
crackers just crack away and laugh.

To both:

As a workaround, open IE/Tools/Internet Options/Programs/Add ons.
Disable Windows Genuined Advantage. Close IE for it to take effect.
Reopen IE and go get the updates from Windows updates and ignore the
bubble that comes up to inform you of what you just did.

Alias

Teresa wrote:
> Hi ,
> I also am devastated by this same problem which started about two weeks
> ago.. My legal version of WindowsXP cannot be validated.. I can do NO updates
> & some major malfunctioning of some features like "autoplay" ( for my beloved
> camera) will not work.. I was told after 6 plus hours on the phone with
> Windows (& Dell, my seller) that "someone other than Microsoft" (a
> conterfeiter) has blocked my "validation key"..I will now need to buy a new
> version of Windows and re-install it ..I am terrified because I am not a
> computer whiz..I am an art teacher who doesn't want to go thru that BIG
> hassle and I don't want to loose data...Please let me know what you find
> out..I believe there are thousands of folks w/ this same problem!!!!..I
> believe MS should have to send someone out to fix our PCs since they are the
> computer giants who should have control over this type of problem..
> thanks
> teresa
>
> "lindzus" wrote:
>
>
>>I am running Windows XP Professional 2002 version, which is definitely a
>>genuine Microsoft product, on my new laptop. The first few Windows Update
>>sessions went smoothly, with the Genuine Microsoft Advantage check validating
>>my software and downloading the updates. Then several weeks ago, the
>>validation check suddenly started failing, and mis-identifying my software as
>>being not genuine. My software vendor is unable to explain why or how this
>>could happen, and can only recommend re-installing Windows on my machine.
>>However, I am very reluctant to do this because of the time and hassle
>>involved. I have tried Msoft support online - it did not say my registration
>>number was not genuine, but it did say that I did not qualfy for free online
>>support and it directed me here to "Newsgroups for free support from other
>>users". Actually I don't mind at all to pay for support, I just want to solve
>>the problem. Is there any way to appeal to Msoft Windows Update Dept., or or
>>to have someone from Microsoft run a manual remote check on my machine to
>>verify my software? Or is there any other way to sort it out apart from
>>re-installing Win XP Pro? Even so, how can I prevent a similar occurrence in
>>the future? Could the problem have been caused by some virus or malware
>>deliberately altering my registration number for Windows - can these programs
>>do this? Any suggestions, please, would be most welcome, as I have not been
>>able to download any updates for several weeks now.... feeling very
>>vulnerable without the Updates......
>>lindzus