Windows Genuine Advantage Notification and Symantec Ghost

[Guest]

Hi,
I work in a UK Secondary School, and we use Symantec Ghost to install all
our computers each year (installing one machine with all the new educational
software for the year, and then 'cloning' it to all the others - otherwise
the job would be a complete nightmare)
However, the new "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification" tool that is
installed by Automatic Updates is now flagging up all our XP installations as
non-genuine.
I know they are copied... but that's what Ghost is SUPPOSED to do!
Obviously, his is not because they are illegitimate pirated copies... each
machine has a perfectly valid licence for Windows XP Professional, as
indicated by the "Certificate of Authenticity" stickers on the side of each
machine.
How do I get around this? (If it isn't Windows, and is actually something in
Ghost I'm missing, I'd be grateful for any pointers there as well...)
Thanks.

 

[DL]

From earlier post, there are plenty to choose from


Go to www.microsoft.com/genuine and revalidate. Reboot your computer after
this is done.
Let us know us if this fixes the issue.
Sometimes revalidating and rebooting correctly syncs the Windows library
files.

If not try this:

Please click start, then run, then type in "wgatray.exe /b" then press
enter.
After that, log off and log back on.

If still no resolution, then:

Please follow this simple troubleshooting procedure:

1. Download and install the MGA Diagnostic Tool:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=56062

2. After running the WGA Diagnostic Tool, click
on the "Validation" 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
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­
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:

| I am running XPSP2. Last night I got an live update from MS. Today when
I
| boot up I get an error message that says I have an illegal copy of XP.
What
| gives?
|
| W. Wolfe

 

[Kerry Brown]

Do you use sysprep before imaging the computers? Was the image created with
a VL key?

 

[Guest]

Hi Carey,

First - thanks for the info, and speedy response!
I've been to www.microsoft.com/genuine/ on several machines now and
validated again, and that seems to have solved the problem.

Many thanks.

 

[Guest]

Hi Kerry,

I don't think so... I have to admit we implemented Ghost in a bit of a
hurry, and I ddin't have much time to look at the SysPrep utility. I thought
it was merely for preparing images for different hardware configurations
(which doesn't apply, we use separate images for each 'batch' of computers)

 

[Kerry Brown]

Hi Kerry,

I don't think so... I have to admit we implemented Ghost in a bit of a
hurry, and I ddin't have much time to look at the SysPrep utility. I
thought it was merely for preparing images for different hardware
configurations (which doesn't apply, we use separate images for each
'batch' of computers)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302577

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299840

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q314828/

Sysprep allows for many things besides different hardware configurations.
One thing you can use it for is to have each computer run a mini-setup on
first boot so the key on the side of the computer can be entered. This will
only work if the image is made using the same version of XP e.g. OEM Pro,
Retail Home, etc.. In your case if you don't have an Academic volume license
you should investigate purchasing one. This will probably make the problem
go away. With a VL key you can use the same key for all the computers.

http://www.microsoft.com/Education/Open.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/Education/Select.mspx

 

[Guest]

Hi Kerry,

Thanks for the information, that's great!
We've already got the individual licences for the factory-installed OEM
copies of Windows XP Professional on each computer, so the mini-setup system
(with product key entry) would probably be the best way forward for us... at
least for the next academic year.
After that, we may look into purchasing a volume licence, particularly if it
simplifies the process of setting up the machines each year.

Again, many thanks!

 

[Kerry Brown]

Hi Kerry,

Thanks for the information, that's great!
We've already got the individual licences for the factory-installed
OEM copies of Windows XP Professional on each computer, so the
mini-setup system (with product key entry) would probably be the best
way forward for us... at least for the next academic year.
After that, we may look into purchasing a volume licence,
particularly if it simplifies the process of setting up the machines
each year.

Again, many thanks!

Your welcome.

 

[Gene K]

Contact Microsoft directly.