Hi there. I purchased an OEM version of Windows XP Professional. I formatted
my harddrive and installed Windows. I was able to use Windows Update without
any problems. Later, it came to the time to format my harddrive again. I
installed the same version of XP on it and used the same product key. When I
went to go get some updates, I failed the Valid Product Key test or whatever
it is. I was furious to say the least. I support Microsoft by purchasing a
LEGAL copy of Windows and this is how they treat me? I am very disappointed.
Is there any way I can get Windows Update to accept my LEGAL (and VALID)
product key? Thank you and sorry for the anger.

Michael

On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 11:32:02 -0800, "Michael"
<Michael@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Hi there. I purchased an OEM version of Windows XP Professional. I formatted
>my harddrive and installed Windows. I was able to use Windows Update without
>any problems. Later, it came to the time to format my harddrive again. I
>installed the same version of XP on it and used the same product key. When I
>went to go get some updates, I failed the Valid Product Key test or whatever
>it is. I was furious to say the least. I support Microsoft by purchasing a
>LEGAL copy of Windows and this is how they treat me? I am very disappointed.
>Is there any way I can get Windows Update to accept my LEGAL (and VALID)
>product key? Thank you and sorry for the anger.
>
>Michael


Try the key fix
http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/key.html

Greg Ro

Right-click on your Desktop Internet Explorer icon and select:

Properties > Settings > View Objects, right-click on the
"Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool and select Remove.

Next, open "My Computer" and click on Help > Is This Copy of Windows Legal?
and click on "Validate Now".

If the above does not resolve your issue, then:

Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of Microsoft Download Center
pages to request assistance directly from Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/ContactDownloads

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Michael" wrote:

| Hi there. I purchased an OEM version of Windows XP Professional. I formatted
| my harddrive and installed Windows. I was able to use Windows Update without
| any problems. Later, it came to the time to format my harddrive again. I
| installed the same version of XP on it and used the same product key. When I
| went to go get some updates, I failed the Valid Product Key test or whatever
| it is. I was furious to say the least. I support Microsoft by purchasing a
| LEGAL copy of Windows and this is how they treat me? I am very disappointed.
| Is there any way I can get Windows Update to accept my LEGAL (and VALID)
| product key? Thank you and sorry for the anger.
|
| Michael

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:

> Right-click on your Desktop Internet Explorer icon and select:
>
> Properties > Settings > View Objects, right-click on the
> "Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool and select Remove.
>
> Next, open "My Computer" and click on Help > Is This Copy of Windows Legal?
> and click on "Validate Now".
>
> If the above does not resolve your issue, then:
>
> Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of Microsoft Download Center
> pages to request assistance directly from Microsoft:
> http://support.microsoft.com/gp/ContactDownloads
>

This is crap. There is no reason why the OP should have to be jumping
through these hoops to prove he bought a legit copy of XP. None
whatsoever. It really riles me when people like Leythos say it's a
"minor inconvenience" when the above instructions are not anywhere near
a "minor inconvenience". Did it ever occur to anyone at MS that people
might be more interested in *using* their computer rather than jumping
through the you are guilty of piracy until you prove otherwise flawed
hoops!?

Alias

As Ronald Reagan used to say, "trust but verify."

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:

> As Ronald Reagan used to say, "trust but verify."
>

And you saw how he ended up, sick from a disease he cut the funds to
research and unable to trust or verify anything.

Fact: PA and WGA doesn't stop piracy one iota.

Fact: PA and WGA have caused many problems for paying customers.

It makes one think that MS doesn't care about its paying customers.

Alias

Michael, when you clean installed XP did you activate windows? failing to
activate windows will not allow you to use Windows Update, there are ways of
disabling Genuine Advantage for WU to work but it needs to be installed
first before you can disable it.


"GregRo" <webwormyes@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:3tplacFtne2hU1@individual.net...
> On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 11:32:02 -0800, "Michael"
> <Michael@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>>Hi there. I purchased an OEM version of Windows XP Professional. I
>>formatted
>>my harddrive and installed Windows. I was able to use Windows Update
>>without
>>any problems. Later, it came to the time to format my harddrive again. I
>>installed the same version of XP on it and used the same product key. When
>>I
>>went to go get some updates, I failed the Valid Product Key test or
>>whatever
>>it is. I was furious to say the least. I support Microsoft by purchasing a
>>LEGAL copy of Windows and this is how they treat me? I am very
>>disappointed.
>>Is there any way I can get Windows Update to accept my LEGAL (and VALID)
>>product key? Thank you and sorry for the anger.
>>
>>Michael
>
>
> Try the key fix
> http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/key.html
>
> Greg Ro

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
> As Ronald Reagan used to say, "trust but verify."
>


You asked for this one...And Microsoft is the "Evil
Empire".