I had problems with a Windows XP Professional system crashing. At first I thought it might be a memory issue, since the system failed memory tests, but the memory tests also failed when I replaced the memory with the memory tests showing the same errors in the exact same memory locations. At that point I decided I would simply move the hard drives to a new system. Thus began my saga of aggravation and wasted time dealing with Microsoft's "Windows Genuine Advantage" process.
I had to reinstall Windows through a repair operation after moving the disk drive on which Windows resided to a new system. I found that the Windows XP Professional CD I had for the orginal system apparently is no longer completely readable. When I repaired Windows using it, I received messages about missing files and the system crashed when I tried to reboot it afterwards. I couldn't even boot into Safe Mode. I tried the repair process a couple of times with the same results.
So I then tried the same process with another Windows XP Professional CD. This one included Service Pack 2. When I tried to use the Product Key from the original CD, the installation process wouldn't accept it. When I tried the Product Key for the second CD, the Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 CD, it was acccepted. But when I rebooted, Windows complained that I was using a counterfeit version of Windows. The CD and the accompanying stiker certainly looked genuine to me, though.
At the login screen, I saw the message below at the bottom of the screen.
When I entered the login information for the administrator account, I saw another window with a "get genuine" button. I clicked it and was taken to a Microsoft webpage where Microsoft wanted me to by a copy of Windows XP Professional for $149. But I don't want to buy another copy when I already purchased one for the system - I'm moving the hard drive to a new system and the old system will get another hard drive with Linux on it.
The webpage to which I was taken had the following at the top of the page:
 |
This copy of Windows did not pass genuine validation.The product key found on this computer was not assigned by Microsoft.
The Windows product key installed on this computer was not assigned by
Microsoft. The key is counterfeit and was most likely generated by a
non-sanctioned key generator. If Windows came pre-installed on your computer,
learn how to get genuine below |
||
|
I clicked on the "Understanding common validation failure scenarios" link in that message, which took me to a page with a "Validate Now" button, which I clicked on to validate and get more information. A window appeared prompted me to install "Windows Genuine Advantage", which I did, but that just put me back to the same page I had been on without providing any furhter information.
I decided I would chnage the product key using instructions I found at
Get IT Done: Change the product key on Windows XP. I clicked
on Start, selected Run, and entered regedit.
Within the Registry Editor, I navigated to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents
. I right-clicked on ODBETimer in the right pane and
selected Modify. I changed the first character from hexadecimal
FF to 00 (change at least one character of this value
to either a number from 0 to 9 or to a letter from A to F). I then closed the
Registry Editor.
Then, to reactivate Windows, I clicked on Start, selected
Run and typed %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe /a.
If have not modified ODBETimer timer as instructed above first,
you will get a message saying Windows is already activated. When
I ran the msoobe /a command,
that brought up a "Let's activate Windows" window. I put in the
product key associated with the original system. I saw an "Incorrect
product key" message further stating "If the product key below was mistyped,
please correct it, and then click Retry. Yet it was not mistyped.
Confirming it matched they key on the side of the case and retyping it
several times produced the same results. I then
tried the Product Key from the second CD. I was informed it was
an "unauthorized product key" with the message below:
This product key is unauthorized. Activation cannot be completed until a valid product key is entered. The 25-digit product key should be located on the back of the Windows XP CD folder on a sticker that looks similar to the example below. Please correct the product key below or type a valid product key and theh click Retry.
When I dailed the 888-571-2048 number to activate by phone, I received a message that "Our records show that this copy of Windows XP may have been installed with incorrect Product Key. You should contact your reseller about this problem." I was given a choice of having the automated system suggest 4 steps to resolve the problem with the message "If they don't work you may have to contact the retailer who sold you your copy of Windows XP." Since those steps were simply to re-enter the product key, they were useless. When I indicated they didn't help, I was informed "I'm sorry I couldn't help you this time, please call back when you've gotten this straightened out."
The original PC is a clone PC I purchased at a local computer show several years ago. Vendors at such shows are sometimes people from computer shops in the metropolitan area where the shows are held, but may also be from other nearby states. Some of them are people running their business from their homes. I bought the system several years ago and don't know the vendor nor have any means of contacting him now. It might be different if it was a Dell or Gateway system; i.e. I might be able to easily find a support number. But why should I have to contact the vendor anyway. It's a Microsoft-caused problem. Even if I could contact the vendor, I'm sure he would tell me I have to contact Microsoft to resolve it.
Ok, so the OEM version is supposed to be tied to the system. However, if I took the motherboard from the current case and put it in the original case along with the hard drives, I would be in the same situation. And the second product key was for another OEM version of Windows I purchased. So I have two licensed copies and can't use either.
I thought it might help, if I could actually talk to a support person for Microsoft. Finding a number to call isn't easy. The windows you see when trying to activate Windows only provide a number where you get an automated system. But, after some Google searching, I found a number for the Microsoft Activation Call Center at 1-888-352-7140 (US customers) at Windows Vista Volume Activation 2.0 Step-By-Step Guide. Though the number was on a webpage referencing volume activation for Vista, I thought I might be able to get a number from some support person, which would allow me to talk to someone who could actually assist me with the problem.
The first person I spoke to had me run the command oobe/msoobe /a.
I gave him the installation ID. He asked me if the software I was using
came with a computer. I said "yes" and told me I couldn't get any assistance
from Microsoft, because the product key was for an OEM version. I would have
to buy a new copy of Windows XP. I was tired and aggravated at that point,
so decided I would call again the next day, Sunday, and try explaining to
someone else that neither XP product key would work.
Sunday morning I called again. I was told I would have to talk to my computer manufacturer. Why? I don't have a Dell or Gateway PC, which may be using a "Royalty OEM" version as discussed in Ed Bott's Everything you always wanted to know about Windows Product Activation. A "Roalty OEM" aka "named" or "Multi-National" OEM version, would be distributed only by very large computer manufacturers, such as Dell, Gateway, or HP. Instead, I have a clone with a generic "system builder" OEM version of Windows XP Professional. Why can't I reactivate a copy of Windows, if I changed some of the hardware. E.g., if I change a motherboard, upgrade the BIOS, etc., should I have to buy a new copy of Windows?
After I persisted, the person gave me what she said was a technical support number, 1-888-346-5229, though I found it was not a technical support number when I called it. When I called it there was no reference to tech support on the phone menu. I heard "for U.S. PSS press 1." I pressed "1" and got some awful, loud music as I waited for someone to respond. Fortunately, the wait wasn't terribly long. But when I spoke to someone, I was told that she was in customer service and could not help me. She tried to tell me I could contact my computer manufacturer, go to a Microsoft website, or a support forum where I could search for information from others having the same problem. It sounded to me like she was just trying to get me off the line quickly, which probably helps her call metrics, but wouldn't help me at all. So I persisted in asking for a phone number for someone I could speake to who might actually be able to provide useful assistance.
I was given two numbers to call for technical support:
1-800-234-6020
1-888-772-4357
I tried the second one, 1-888-772-4357, first. I got a message that "the number you have called can not be reached from your calling area." I then tried the first number. It didn't work.
So I called 1-888-346-5229 again. I heard "for U.S. PSS press 1." I pressed "1" and got awful, very loud music again as I waited for someone to respond. When I did get someone on the line, she was the first person who actually sounded like she was speaking with a U.S. accent. All the others sounded like they were in India - many companies outsource tech support to India, so that didn't surprise me.
I explained the problem over again to her. She said I would have to speak to someone in the Windows Genuine Advantage group, but said no one will be available until Monday morning. She gave me the number 1-866-530-6599 for that group.
This system isn't a mission critical business system. I've got Service Pack 2 on it and I can download and install other security fixes manually, but what if it had been a critical system at a small business where someone had to get it back on-line on the weekend and needed to ensure it was up-to-date with security patches before making it accessible to the Internet? My experience only reinforces my belief that I should not use nor recommend Windows systems for web, email, or FTP servers that must be Internet accessible. I use Linux or Unix as the operating system in those cases.
In this case I could ignore the "Windows may not be genuine" warnings and get the system patched without the benefit of Microsoft's automated patching process, but the experience points to a definite advantage of Linux/Unix systems over Microsoft Windows. And all of the time I wasted without getting any further, doesn't incline me to regard Microsoft more favorably.
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