Robert in CA wrote:
I thought I had a picture of where it said invalid OS but I don't.
All I have is the popup I get once in awhile when I connect
the external hd to the 8500 via USB connection.

I don't understand why its not connecting? I checked inside the
Startech case again and thought it was loose so I reset it and thought
for sure it would connect this time but still nothing. I don't understand
it and I tried both ports and I recently had connected the other external
hd for the Mrimgs.

https://postimg.cc/kDLCz455

https://postimg.cc/YGV55nMP

https://postimg.cc/NyjZ5q0V

https://postimg.cc/BXfy2162

https://postimg.cc/WFJWk2c9

https://postimg.cc/3yz97P02


Everything was going smoothly until the 3rd hd needed to restart and
then I got that message of invalid OS and since then I haven't been
able to connect the external hd. I'll keep trying of course.

Thoughts/suggestions?
Robert



You're doing the test boot inside the 8500 ?
With the new (cloned) drive connected to a SATA port ?

A machine as nicely updated as yours is, will be running
the Windows Genuine Advantage check software. (This was a
separate check installed by Windows Update as an update
at some point.)

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/for...ow-can-i-tell/

"If the ID number in the "Registered to:" section on the General tab
of System Properties contains -OEM- then it is OEM Windows. I can't say
off the top of my head if all OEM installs must contain this character
string though."

Maybe there is a problem when the WGA check attempts to
contact Microsoft and there is a problem with their server.

To resolve activation issues, the output of MGADiag can be sent
to someone at Microsoft. The output of the application is
not normally something an ordinary user would parse. And
if you're posting the output of this in a public forum,
you'd shroud anything like license keys. The 8500 would be
running a SLIC-activated OS with generic key, so perhaps
that's not as much of an issue in this case. If at some point
you had reinstalled from a retail (or Refurbisher) DVD and
had used the COA (Certificate Of Authenticity sticker with key),
then that key should not be posted in a public forum.

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/det...stic_tool.html

Or, the Microsoft one (which apparently has been removed from their
server, so I have to use the archive.org copy)...

https://web.archive.org/web/20200806...AA/MGADiag.exe

There is a picture here, of someone running the Windows 7 MGADiag
on a Windows 10 setup, and the tool becomes "confused". But
at least you can see some of the output (and also output which
has been covered up by the poster).

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...0-2acc1273f928

Another example of MGADiag output which is mostly intact. I
think it's possible MGADiag was designed for Windows XP,
and might not have been as scrupulously updated as it should
have been.

https://social.microsoft.com/Forums/...enuinewindows7

If I run it on mine, the "Copy" button copies all the info
it collects, for pasting into a text tool.

It's possible this stuff:

File Scan Data--
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\watadminsvc.exe[Hr = 0x80070003]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\npwatweb.dll[Hr = 0x80070003]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\watux.exe[Hr = 0x80070003]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\wat\watweb.dll[Hr = 0x80070003]

references KB971033, the Windows Update containing the additional
Genuine check. It checks at regular intervals apparently. The article
by Ed.Bott concerning this, appears to have been removed (since telling
people about these files, is probably a technical violation of DMCA
legislation).

At the end of my output, it covers the Acer SLIC table entry.

OEM Activation 2.0 Data--
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes
Windows marker version: 0x20001
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes
BIOS Information:
ACPI Table Name OEMID Value OEMTableID Value
APIC ACRSYS ACRPRDCT
FACP ACRSYS ACRPRDCT
HPET ACRSYS ACRPRDCT
BOOT ACRSYS ACRPRDCT
MCFG ACRSYS ACRPRDCT
SLIC ACRSYS ACRPRDCT === how my Acer laptop activates
SSDT AMD POWERNOW

Name: Windows(R) 7, HomePremium edition
....
License Status: Licensed

Now, if you booted with the working hard drive, you would note the Hash value.
Then, with the non-working drive complaining about activation, you would
copy and save the Hash computed with that disk. Since the disk serial number
could be included, they'll probably always be different, and only the
server separates these and decides which ones are important. I can't guarantee
that even this, is an unambiguous display of "what is wrong". While I would be
checking this out, if I was there, I would not be expecting miracles. I
would have to take two "legit" items and compare their hash strings to
see if those were equal first.

HWID Data--
HWID Hash Current: NgAAAAEABAABAAEAAAACAAAAAwABAAEAeqhEXILDVPmqlBAzgs Emm+Zq6kXECEwuWvdEDio/

These are examples of commands I can find, like "slui 2" in Start:Run (presumably as admin).
For a SLIC activated OS, there is no key to type in. Just activating it
should be enough. Only when using a COA sticker and reinstalling that
way, would you think of doing 3 or 4. Of course, 4 may give you access to
a phone number, and maybe you can raise help there. Help with activation
issues at Microsoft should be free - no credit card requests should be
listened to, as they're supposed to do this stuff for free.

SLUI 1 brings up the activation status window
SLUI 2 brings up the activation window ===
SLUI 3 brings up the CHANGE PRODUCT KEY window
SLUI 4 brings up the CALL MICROSOFT & MANUALLY ACTIVATE window

*******

Summary: *Make sure* the date on the 8500 is correct.
If the browser works, you can check he https://www.time.gov/
The Date and Time control panel can update time from the Internet.
I presume since the battery was changed, the time has
been corrected more than once by now.

You can use MGADiag for hints, but don't post the whole thing.

Try to do your best at seeing if there are hints, before posting
parts of it.

Paul