Window Genuine Notification when its a new computer

[Guest]

I don't know much about computers but I just bought this computer that came
with Windows Vista and after playing a online game for a while, the Genuine
thing popped up and it said the validation failed... >< what am i supppose to
do?

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Contact the manufacturer. If it was preinstalled, Vista support is their
responsibility.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Alias]

Hi,

Contact the manufacturer. If it was preinstalled, Vista support is their
responsibility.

Um, the manufacturer did not create WGA/N, Microsoft did. WGA/N is NOT
Vista but spyware that is deployed through *Microsoft's* Automatic Updates.

Alias

 

[Alias]

I don't know much about computers but I just bought this computer that came
with Windows Vista and after playing a online game for a while, the Genuine
thing popped up and it said the validation failed... >< what am i supppose to
do?

Ain't the anti piracy programs wonderful? Call Microsoft and give them hell.

Alias

 

[Justin]

Um, the manufacturer did not create WGA/N, Microsoft did. WGA/N is NOT
Vista but spyware that is deployed through *Microsoft's* Automatic
Updates.

You misunderstood. If he bought a computer with Vista on it then it's an
OEM license. Microsoft will not help him. He has to contact the PC
manufacture. It's up to the PC manufacture to contact MS if they can not
resolve the problem.

Also, WGA is not spyware. You can call it that all you want, but that
doesn't make it so.

The OEM version is CHEAPER for a REASON. No MS support.

 

[Justin]

Ain't the anti piracy programs wonderful? Call Microsoft and give them
hell.

You can't call MS with an OEM license.

Odds are, while he was playing a game a driver downloaded and installed.
Yes, it's a shame this is happening and it will get fixed. However the % of
people having this problem is very small.

The OEM can fix this with no problem.

 

[Alias]

You misunderstood. If he bought a computer with Vista on it then it's
an OEM license. Microsoft will not help him. He has to contact the PC
manufacture. It's up to the PC manufacture to contact MS if they can
not resolve the problem.

False, see below.

Also, WGA is not spyware. You can call it that all you want, but that
doesn't make it so.

The OEM version is CHEAPER for a REASON. No MS support.

There you go again, revealing your reading comprehension problem. WGA/N
is not installed by the OEM but through Windows Updates which is owned
by Microsoft. WGA/N phones home and reports what's on your computer.
That, my friend, IS spyware and, in this case, gave a false positive.

Again, sigh, WPA and WGA in all of its incarnations do not stop piracy
and, as in this case proves, only inconvenience paying customers.

Alias

 

[Alias]

You can't call MS with an OEM license.

You can call MS regarding WGA/N because that has NOTHING to do with the
type of license.

Odds are, while he was playing a game a driver downloaded and installed.
Yes, it's a shame this is happening and it will get fixed. However the
% of people having this problem is very small.

The OEM can fix this with no problem.

The OEM did not create or put WGA/N on the computer. Please read for
content and refrain from knee-jerk MVP reactions.

Alias

 

[Justin]

There you go again, revealing your reading comprehension problem. WGA/N is
not installed by the OEM but through Windows Updates which is owned by
Microsoft. WGA/N phones home and reports what's on your computer. That, my
friend, IS spyware and, in this case, gave a false positive.

Again, sigh, WPA and WGA in all of its incarnations do not stop piracy
and, as in this case proves, only inconvenience paying customers.

If you're going to start acting like this again then this conversation will
be over very quick.

You are incorrect. WGA is apart of Vista. You do realize we're talking
about VISTA in a VISTA NG and not XP RTM/SP1? I believe SP2 contains WGA?
It's not a separate program installed outside of Vista. By your logic, if a
user is having a problem with WMP then it's not the OEMs problem? Wrong.
Everything contained within Vista is the OEMs responsibility.

Fact:

1. Bring your computer home and turn it on
2. Never hook it up to the internet
3. Your machine is activated and recognized as genuine
4. Some how get a NVIDIA driver on your machine and install that driver
5. BAM! You are no longer genuine

Now, explain to us how WGA got on that machine if it's some extra install
from MS?

Just because an app accesses the internet, that does NOT make it spyware. I
have plenty of apps that phone home for updates, that does NOT make them
spyware.

SPYWARE:
Definition: any software that covertly gathers information about a user
while he/she navigates the Internet and transmits the information to an
individual or company that uses it for marketing or other purposes

1. There is nothing covert about WGA.
2. WGA DOES NOT gather web browsing data about the user.
3. MS does not use WGA for marketing.

Unless you can disprove "ALL" of those then by definition alone WGA is NOT
spyware. You can NOT change the dictionary to suit your needs.

 

[Justin]

You can call MS regarding WGA/N because that has NOTHING to do with the
type of license.

The OEM did not create or put WGA/N on the computer. Please read for
content and refrain from knee-jerk MVP reactions.

The OEM did not create Vista! What's your point?

If you're going to start acting like this again then this conversation will
be over very quick.

You are incorrect. WGA is apart of Vista. You do realize we're talking
about VISTA in a VISTA NG and not XP RTM/SP1? I believe SP2 contains WGA?
It's not a separate program installed outside of Vista. By your logic, if a
user is having a problem with WMP then it's not the OEMs problem? Wrong.
Everything contained within Vista is the OEMs responsibility.

Fact:

1. Bring your computer home and turn it on
2. Never hook it up to the internet
3. Your machine is activated and recognized as genuine
4. Some how get a NVIDIA driver on your machine and install that driver
5. BAM! You are no longer genuine

Now, explain to us how WGA got on that machine if it's some extra install
from MS?

Just because an app accesses the internet, that does NOT make it spyware. I
have plenty of apps that phone home for updates, that does NOT make them
spyware.

SPYWARE:
Definition: any software that covertly gathers information about a user
while he/she navigates the Internet and transmits the information to an
individual or company that uses it for marketing or other purposes

1. There is nothing covert about WGA.
2. WGA DOES NOT gather web browsing data about the user.
3. MS does not use WGA for marketing.

Unless you can disprove "ALL" of those then by definition alone WGA is NOT
spyware. You can NOT change the dictionary to suit your needs.

 

[Alias]

If you're going to start acting like this again then this conversation
will be over very quick.

You are incorrect. WGA is apart of Vista.

You just convinced me not to buy Vista if, indeed, that's true. Thanks.

You do realize we're talking

about VISTA in a VISTA NG and not XP RTM/SP1? I believe SP2 contains
WGA?

No, it doesn't. I have just installed an XP Pro SP2b and no WGA. You
gotta go to WU for that.

It's not a separate program installed outside of Vista. By your
logic, if a user is having a problem with WMP then it's not the OEMs
problem? Wrong. Everything contained within Vista is the OEMs
responsibility.

How special, MS fluffing off the failings of its programs on the OEMs.

Fact:

1. Bring your computer home and turn it on
2. Never hook it up to the internet
3. Your machine is activated and recognized as genuine
4. Some how get a NVIDIA driver on your machine and install that driver
5. BAM! You are no longer genuine

How special. Another reason not to buy Vista.

Now, explain to us how WGA got on that machine if it's some extra
install from MS?

Just because an app accesses the internet, that does NOT make it
spyware. I have plenty of apps that phone home for updates, that does
NOT make them spyware.

They don't report all the hardware on your computer or have the power to
shut your computer down.

SPYWARE:
Definition: any software that covertly gathers information about a
user while he/she navigates the Internet and transmits the information
to an individual or company that uses it for marketing or other purposes

1. There is nothing covert about WGA.

Calling it a High Priority update is what, then? Seems sneaky to me when
it is NOT a High Priority update.

2. WGA DOES NOT gather web browsing data about the user.

No, just everything about the user's hardware.

3. MS does not use WGA for marketing.

No, it only uses it to inconvenience paying customers. So, I guess it
would be better called "malware".

Unless you can disprove "ALL" of those then by definition alone WGA is
NOT spyware. You can NOT change the dictionary to suit your needs.

Fine, I'll call it malware from now on. Happy?

Alias

 

[Alias]

The OEM did not create Vista! What's your point?

We were not talking about Vista but the WGA/N download from WU.

If you're going to start acting like this again then this conversation will
be over very quick.

.... quickly ...

You are incorrect. WGA is apart of Vista. You do realize we're talking
about VISTA in a VISTA NG and not XP RTM/SP1? I believe SP2 contains WGA?

Your beliefs are incorrect.

It's not a separate program installed outside of Vista.

Being as you believe that XP SP2 has WGA, it's hard to *believe* you.

By your logic,

if a
user is having a problem with WMP then it's not the OEMs problem? Wrong.
Everything contained within Vista is the OEMs responsibility.

Poor OEMs.

Fact:

1. Bring your computer home and turn it on
2. Never hook it up to the internet
3. Your machine is activated and recognized as genuine
4. Some how get a NVIDIA driver on your machine and install that driver
5. BAM! You are no longer genuine

Now, explain to us how WGA got on that machine if it's some extra install
from MS?

I have to assume your premise is correct, that WGA comes bundled with
Vista. Last I heard, it's called ISS or something like that.

Just because an app accesses the internet, that does NOT make it
spyware. I
have plenty of apps that phone home for updates, that does NOT make them
spyware.

ISS, what comes with Vista, can shut your computer down. So, we'll call
it malware from now on.

SPYWARE:
Definition: any software that covertly gathers information about a user
while he/she navigates the Internet and transmits the information to an
individual or company that uses it for marketing or other purposes

1. There is nothing covert about WGA.
2. WGA DOES NOT gather web browsing data about the user.
3. MS does not use WGA for marketing.

Unless you can disprove "ALL" of those then by definition alone WGA is NOT
spyware. You can NOT change the dictionary to suit your needs.

It's malware, you're right. Silly of me.

Alias

 

[Justin]

You just convinced me not to buy Vista if, indeed, that's true. Thanks.

Fair enough. It's not going to be for everyone. However, this usually
makes people wonder about your (not you specifically but people that think
like this) intentions. I don't care if MS downloaded the entire WMI library
of your computer. Who cares? Nothing about that data is personal. They
can find out the same info by looking up your model. There is nothing
secret about your hardware.

It always comes down to the same two things:

1. WGA only affects thieves.
2. Unfortunately a small percentage of people are inconvenienced with a
PHONE CALL.

I believe SP2 contains WGA?
No, it doesn't. I have just installed an XP Pro SP2b and no WGA. You gotta
go to WU for that.

Ok, fair enough. I couldn't remember one way or another.

How special, MS fluffing off the failings of its programs on the OEMs.

No dude. The OEM version is pennies on the dollar. What do you expect? To
pay LESS and receive the same amount of service? Like I said, it's cheaper
for a reason. If OEMs want to pass back SERVICE to MS then they need to put
full retail versions on their machines. Which is an option. But gee, there
prices will sky rocket.

They don't report all the hardware on your computer or have the power to
shut your computer down.

MS can not shut your computer down. Your computer tells you that you MIGHT
NOT be genuine. I've had to get a few companies "legal" with XP. It was no
big deal. They got screwed either knowingly or not. I didn't care. Now
they're legal.

Calling it a High Priority update is what, then?

Not covert. "concealed; secret; disguised." If you KNOW about it then how
is it covert?

Seems sneaky to me when it is NOT a High Priority update.

Yes it is. Since when is theft a good thing? High priority to MS, no one
said they were high priority to the user.

No, just everything about the user's hardware.

Again, so? You could list the same data right here for the WORLD to know.
Who would care? What would it mater?

No, it only uses it to inconvenience paying customers. So, I guess it
would be better called "malware".

At least that would be the correct term. However, do you SERIOUSLY believe
that MS's intent is to "inconvenience paying customers?" Come on....
Again, that % is so low it's moot. Obviously not moot to those users
however I don't care where you live, odds are, TRAFFIC inconvenience you
more then having to pick up your phone.

Fine, I'll call it malware from now on. Happy?

Sure. That's your opinion. However, expect this:

1. The majority to disagree. (it goes both ways)
2. People will expect you to not purposely use malware. So they're going to
question your use of XP.

Personally, I LOVE WGA. Why?

1. It's never affected any of my machines. All my peers concur and that
totals thousands of machines.
2. When a small mom and pop shop calls because of the WGA message I get to
CHARGE people to BUY XP from me legally.

 

[Justin]

We were not talking about Vista but the WGA/N download from WU.

No dude. We are in a VISTA NEWS GROUP. The OP is discussing VISTA.

... quickly ...

I'll ignore that for now. Otherwise we'd have to go back and pick apart all
typos and grammar errors. Do you really want to do that? You have them as
well.

Your beliefs are incorrect.

Have you forgotten already?

Fact:

1. Bring your computer home and turn it on
2. Never hook it up to the internet
3. Your machine is activated and recognized as genuine
4. Some how get a NVIDIA driver on your machine and install that driver
5. BAM! You are no longer genuine

Now, explain to us how WGA got on that machine if it's some extra install
from MS?

Being as you believe that XP SP2 has WGA, it's hard to *believe* you.

If that's the excuse you need then ok.

I have to assume your premise is correct, that WGA comes bundled with
Vista. Last I heard, it's called ISS or something like that.

What? Is it to early in the morning. You're not making sense to me. Didn’t
you just say above, "Your beliefs are incorrect." Now they're correct?

ISS, what comes with Vista, can shut your computer down. So, we'll call it
malware from now on.

I don't know what you are talking about. This brings up garbage:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=ISS+Vista

It's malware, you're right. Silly of me.

If you can prove it doing harm. I can't find anything where MS can turn
your computer off?

 

[Mark]

Read up boys!
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148

You will find that almost one-half of all "genuine" problems are false
positives, WGA can severely cripple Vista's operation and MS won't admit to
it's failures.

 

[Alias]

Fair enough. It's not going to be for everyone. However, this usually
makes people wonder about your (not you specifically but people that
think like this) intentions. I don't care if MS downloaded the entire
WMI library of your computer. Who cares? Nothing about that data is
personal. They can find out the same info by looking up your model.
There is nothing secret about your hardware.

Fact is, however, that it is none of MS' business.

It always comes down to the same two things:

1. WGA only affects thieves.

False. WGA does not affect thieves one iota.

2. Unfortunately a small percentage of people are inconvenienced with a
PHONE CALL.

More than that, my friend. The rate is more like 50%.

Ok, fair enough. I couldn't remember one way or another.


No dude. The OEM version is pennies on the dollar. What do you
expect? To pay LESS and receive the same amount of service? Like I
said, it's cheaper for a reason. If OEMs want to pass back SERVICE to
MS then they need to put full retail versions on their machines. Which
is an option. But gee, there prices will sky rocket.

Um, WGA is not a part of Vista, IPP is. You have to download it from WU,
which is owned and operated by MS, not the OEM.

MS can not shut your computer down.

Yes, they can. It's called the kill switch and will render your computer
useless except to go online to pay MS and access to your data for only
three days.

Your computer tells you that you
MIGHT NOT be genuine. I've had to get a few companies "legal" with XP.
It was no big deal. They got screwed either knowingly or not. I didn't
care. Now they're legal.

You're changing the subject.

Not covert. "concealed; secret; disguised." If you KNOW about it then
how is it covert?


Yes it is. Since when is theft a good thing? High priority to MS, no
one said they were high priority to the user.

MS says that on their WU site. Read it.

Again, so? You could list the same data right here for the WORLD to
know. Who would care? What would it mater?

It's none of MS' business.

At least that would be the correct term. However, do you SERIOUSLY
believe that MS's intent is to "inconvenience paying customers?"

If not, they're pretty stupid because that's all it does.

Come

on.... Again, that % is so low it's moot. Obviously not moot to those
users however I don't care where you live, odds are, TRAFFIC
inconvenience you more then having to pick up your phone.

I don't drive a car. No need. It's an insult to have to prove, again, to
MS that I paid for my license. If they want me to prove it, they can get
a court order for me to provide my receipt of purchase.

Sure. That's your opinion. However, expect this:

1. The majority to disagree. (it goes both ways)
2. People will expect you to not purposely use malware. So they're
going to question your use of XP.

None of my XP boxes have WGA/N installed and never will.

Personally, I LOVE WGA. Why?

1. It's never affected any of my machines. All my peers concur and that
totals thousands of machines.
2. When a small mom and pop shop calls because of the WGA message I get
to CHARGE people to BUY XP from me legally.

Yawn. WGA/N, IPP, WPA, etc. do NOTHING to stop piracy and ONLY
inconvenience the paying customer. They will also be the end of
Microsoft. Assuming ALL your paying customers are thieves until they
prove otherwise is not a good PR move by any definition and the main
reason that the Ubuntu newsgroups are now flooded with subject lines
that say "New to Ubuntu".

Alias

 

[Justin]

I fail to see a point to that?

1. "doesn't kill it"
2. "but it's arguably a near-death experience" - so pick up the phone!

I used my Ultimate DVD to reload a Dell laptop that came with Home Premium
and used their key (selected home premium). That killed it! We called Dell
and BAM! Fixed. What's the problem?

Maybe it's the fact that I never went to bed last night but I didn't see
anywhere in that article where it mentioned HALF of anything. I even
searched for the word half???

Obviously, if a driver install can kill Vista then there's a major bug in
the system. It wont go untouched.

 

[Alias]

No dude. We are in a VISTA NEWS GROUP. The OP is discussing VISTA.


I'll ignore that for now. Otherwise we'd have to go back and pick apart
all typos and grammar errors. Do you really want to do that? You have
them as well.


Have you forgotten already?

Fact:

1. Bring your computer home and turn it on
2. Never hook it up to the internet
3. Your machine is activated and recognized as genuine
4. Some how get a NVIDIA driver on your machine and install that driver
5. BAM! You are no longer genuine

Now, explain to us how WGA got on that machine if it's some extra install
from MS?



If that's the excuse you need then ok.



What? Is it to early in the morning. You're not making sense to me.
Didn’t you just say above, "Your beliefs are incorrect." Now they're
correct?



I don't know what you are talking about. This brings up garbage:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=ISS+Vista



If you can prove it doing harm. I can't find anything where MS can turn
your computer off?

WGA is NOT a part of Vista (it's called SPP) and, yes, there is a kill
switch. Read this and weep:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148

See http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=142 where it says:

According to our analysis, 42% of the people who experienced problems
with WGA and reported those problems to Microsoft's public forums during
that period were actually running Genuine Microsoft WAccording to our
analysis, 42% of the people who experienced problems with WGA and
reported those problems to Microsoft's public forums during that period
were actually running Genuine Microsoft Windows.That's not just our
opinion, either. Those statistics were reported by the Redmond-approved
Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic utility.

Oops. 42% is a lot, Justin.

Alias

 

[caver1]

Fair enough. It's not going to be for everyone. However, this usually
makes people wonder about your (not you specifically but people that
think like this) intentions. I don't care if MS downloaded the entire
WMI library of your computer. Who cares? Nothing about that data is
personal. They can find out the same info by looking up your model.
There is nothing secret about your hardware.

It always comes down to the same two things:

1. WGA only affects thieves.
2. Unfortunately a small percentage of people are inconvenienced with a
PHONE CALL.

False. By Microsoft's own admission over 40% of WGAs not genuine reports
are false. and this is only from the records of those customers who call
in to get it straightened out. Thieves don't call in. only Windows
Genuine Customers.

 

[Mark]

Let's see...
"Thieves don't call in"
Yet, 60% of those who did call in were positively not genuine MS products.