Counterfeiting

[KathyKay]

I got this computer from a friend. I have been using it and recieving
automatic updates from windows with no trouble until about 1 week ago. Now
each time I start up I get a message that I may be using a counterfeit
version of Windows XP Professional 2002. I went through microsoft support
only to be told that I cannot recieve any help until I pay a $35.00 fee.

Does anyone know why this has just occured? And how I can clear this
message from my startup? I have been using this computer for almost one year
and have had it on DSL since January 16, 2006. I just don't understand why
it wasn't showing up as counterfeit until now.

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Description of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474/


On the computer in question:

Please follow this diagnostic troubleshooting procedure:

1. Download and run the MGA Diagnostic Tool:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

2. After running the MGA Diagnostic Tool, click
on the "Windows" tab and then click on "Copy to Clipboard".

3. Next, visit the following website and create a post in the
"WGA Validation Problems" forum and paste the
results of the WGA Diagnostic Data in a detailed post.
http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/default.aspx?SiteID=25

4. A WGA troubleshooting specialist will analyze the data and
recommend an appropriate solution.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Â*---------------------------------

"KathyKay" wrote:

| I got this computer from a friend. I have been using it and recieving
| automatic updates from windows with no trouble until about 1 week ago. Now
| each time I start up I get a message that I may be using a counterfeit
| version of Windows XP Professional 2002. I went through microsoft support
| only to be told that I cannot recieve any help until I pay a $35.00 fee.
|
| Does anyone know why this has just occured? And how I can clear this
| message from my startup? I have been using this computer for almost one year
| and have had it on DSL since January 16, 2006. I just don't understand why
| it wasn't showing up as counterfeit until now.

[ANONYMOUS]

Kathy,

You have just received an advice from a weirdo called Carey Frish - Most
Valuable Pig MVP. Just ignore it as he knows nothing about computers.

Please read this article as the warning you have received is false
designed to get money from you by illegal means. MS is having financial
problms due to no new programs being made by its programmers.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/03/02/bypass-windows-genuine-advantage-validation-check-in-windows-update/

hth


KathyKay wrote:
>
> I got this computer from a friend. I have been using it and recieving
> automatic updates from windows with no trouble until about 1 week ago. Now
> each time I start up I get a message that I may be using a counterfeit
> version of Windows XP Professional 2002. I went through microsoft support
> only to be told that I cannot recieve any help until I pay a $35.00 fee.
>
> Does anyone know why this has just occured? And how I can clear this
> message from my startup? I have been using this computer for almost one year
> and have had it on DSL since January 16, 2006. I just don't understand why
> it wasn't showing up as counterfeit until now.

[Plato]

=?Utf-8?B?S2F0aHlLYXk=?= wrote:
>

Purchase the OS you want to use on your PC.

> I got this computer from a friend. I have been using it and recieving
> automatic updates from windows with no trouble until about 1 week ago. Now
> each time I start up I get a message that I may be using a counterfeit
> version of Windows XP Professional 2002. I went through microsoft support
> only to be told that I cannot recieve any help until I pay a $35.00 fee.
>
> Does anyone know why this has just occured? And how I can clear this
> message from my startup? I have been using this computer for almost one year
> and have had it on DSL since January 16, 2006. I just don't understand why
> it wasn't showing up as counterfeit until now.

--
http://www.bootdisk.com/

[Ghostrider]

ANONYMOUS wrote:

> Kathy,
>
> You have just received an advice from a weirdo called Carey Frish - Most
> Valuable Pig MVP. Just ignore it as he knows nothing about computers.
>
> Please read this article as the warning you have received is false
> designed to get money from you by illegal means. MS is having financial
> problms due to no new programs being made by its programmers.
>
> http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/03/02/bypass-windows-genuine-advantage-validation-check-in-windows-update/
>
> hth
>
>

First, the advice provided by Carey is sound and pertinent as
the first step in resolving this issue. At this time, you do not
really know the validity of the Windows XP version that had been
harshly described as "counterfeit" by WGA(N). That is, is this
computer a spare one that was given to the OP and the original
Windows XP currently resides in another computer and is active?
Or did the OP obtain the computer alone without the OS; original
OS kept by first buyer and now being used in another computer?
There are plausible explanations for WGA's response.

The OP, knowing the facts that she (or her friend) is the rightful
owner of this copy of XP, has the license and bill of sale, should
follow-up on posting the WGA Diagnostic Data, and let a Microsoft
staffer make the final determination and resolution.

If the outcome is unsatisfactory in light of the real circumstances,
then there are always the options mentioned, as indicated, in:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/03/02/bypass-windows-genuine-advantage-validation-check-in-windows-update/

This would be the action of last recourse as removing WGA forces
the user to manually obtain and install updates.

[ANONYMOUS]

Ghostrider wrote:
>
>
> This would be the action of last recourse as removing WGA forces
> the user to manually obtain and install updates.

Now this advice is completely wrong. I don't have WGA on my system and
yet I am getting all updates automatically. It is your word against
mine.

[Ghostrider]

ANONYMOUS wrote:

>
> Ghostrider wrote:
>
>>
>>This would be the action of last recourse as removing WGA forces
>>the user to manually obtain and install updates.
>
>
> Now this advice is completely wrong. I don't have WGA on my system and
> yet I am getting all updates automatically. It is your word against
> mine.

If you are getting your updates automatically, then your
computer has been updated with WGA and it has passed. No
one knew what WGA was being sent by Microsoft as a critical
update until after the fact, and it was by reported mainly
by those people who were subsequently adversely affected.
QED.

[--Alias--]

Ghostrider wrote:
>
> ANONYMOUS wrote:
>
>>
>> Ghostrider wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> This would be the action of last recourse as removing WGA forces
>>> the user to manually obtain and install updates.
>>
>>
>> Now this advice is completely wrong. I don't have WGA on my system and
>> yet I am getting all updates automatically. It is your word against
>> mine.
>
> If you are getting your updates automatically, then your
> computer has been updated with WGA and it has passed. No
> one knew what WGA was being sent by Microsoft as a critical
> update until after the fact, and it was by reported mainly
> by those people who were subsequently adversely affected.
> QED.

Only those people who don't read the descriptions of what they are
installing or had AU set to download and install without user
intervention got hoodwinked. Now, WGA is not offered through Auto
Update. I have one computer that is completely WGAless and it got last
Tuesday's and every other critical update through AU, no problemo. What
you can't do is go to Windows Update without jumping through the WGA hoops.

Alias

[ANONYMOUS]

I don't allow my machine to be updated by MS. It can download
everything (automatically) but I chosse when to install after I have
decided I need that critical update. I know I was offered WGA twice but
I did not install it.

hth


Ghostrider wrote:
>
> ANONYMOUS wrote:
>
> >
> > Ghostrider wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>This would be the action of last recourse as removing WGA forces
> >>the user to manually obtain and install updates.
> >
> >
> > Now this advice is completely wrong. I don't have WGA on my system and
> > yet I am getting all updates automatically. It is your word against
> > mine.
>
> If you are getting your updates automatically, then your
> computer has been updated with WGA and it has passed. No
> one knew what WGA was being sent by Microsoft as a critical
> update until after the fact, and it was by reported mainly
> by those people who were subsequently adversely affected.
> QED.

[GHalleck]

ANONYMOUS wrote:

> I don't allow my machine to be updated by MS. It can download
> everything (automatically) but I chosse when to install after I have
> decided I need that critical update. I know I was offered WGA twice but
> I did not install it.
>
> hth
>
>

I think it was offered 3 times --- late April, early June and
in July. And the fourth revision, this week?