Windows XP: you may be a victim of software counterfeiting?

[nervegrind3r]

whats going on, this is happening on every system I use, even with valid Windows XP software. Im on my sisters computer, she bought a dell less than 6 months ago, and she gets the same message to authenticate her copy of Windows. It says her copy is illegal. Is anyone else getting this MS crap? what giveS?

 

[tyanni]

MS, in their infinite wisdom (Although I can understand why they did it) disabled online activation for OEM keys such as the one on your sisters Dell. If you call in and activate over the phone, they will activate it for you without a hassle. I had to do this last night.

Tim

 

[RebateMonger]

If you have a Dell PC that was sold with a Dell OEM license for XP, and it's failing the Windows Genuine Advantage, you should contact Dell. They are responsible for the version of XP that they sold you, and I'm sure they'll fix the problem.

Similarly, if you have any other PCs with OEM software, I'm sure the system builder would anxious to help you resolve this issue.

If any of the PCs have boxed retail-package XP, then Microsoft would be directly responsible and, again, I'm sure would like to hear about the problem. Microsoft is gradually phasing in their new "Genuine Windows Advantage Notification" program, after testing it in some European countries, and it there are issues, I'd bet they'd want to get them fixed ASAP before continuing with more deployments.

 

[bendixG15]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
.

Similarly, if you have any other PCs with OEM software, I'm sure the system builder would anxious to help you resolve this issue.

Hey...that's me...I'm no help ....

 

[mechBgon]

There was also a bug where Limited users might receive erroneous OMG-non-Genuine! alerts too. If you set them up as Limited users, you might try having them either (1) log on as an Admin and run Windows Update, to get the fixed version of the dealiebob; and/or (2) have them switch their account to a Computer Administrator level, log on once, then switch it back to Limited.

 

[nervegrind3r]

its definitely not a limited user issue, im admin on both systems. I did a google too, it seems microsoft went overboard with this genuine windows thing. I believe it will show up on all oem installations, even if they are legitimate. Very deceiving by MS.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: nervegrind3r
....I believe it will show up on all oem installations, even if they are legitimate....

The problem doesn't appear to be QUITE that widespread. Maybe 80% of all XP installations are OEM (most factory-installed) and you are the first person on Anandtech Forums that I've seen reporting a problem with legitimate OEM licenses and the new WGA Notification program.

I created this thread on WGA Notification over a month ago, and there've been 14,000 views so far and 133 replies, and nobody's reported a false notification. But that's not to say it won't happen.

 

[Looney]

All my current copies are OEM copies, and all of them went through WGA just fine (they're all Dell too). Have you tried calling in to activate it yet? It only takes a couple of mins.

 

[Slowlearner]

At work this morning, one of the users reported a pop window, at startup, about the software being illegal. Checked, and sure enough all of a sudden, a Compaq Presario 6000 purchased from Best Buy 4-5 years ago suddenly was supposedly using a pirated OS. However, before I burst a blood vessel, I went to windows update site and it directed me to validate, and it validated without any problems whatsovever. Restarted the pc and the popups no longer appear. Has the problem been fixed permanently - I dont know? We will see tomorrow.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: nervegrind3r
its definitely not a limited user issue, im admin on both systems. I did a google too, it seems microsoft went overboard with this genuine windows thing. I believe it will show up on all oem installations, even if they are legitimate. Very deceiving by MS.

Try Windows Update or Microsoft Update. Maybe your key had the misfortune of getting keygen'ed and spread around. My 2¢ is that I have an OEM WinXP at home, ditto for two sisters and mom & dad (all genuine, all different) and maybe 20 at work too, and no issues with those.