XP Pro License Key different from sticker

[icccapital]

Recently one of our users toshiba laptops got a virus and windows genuine
advantage says it can't validate the computer. I checked the product key
with keyfinder and it is different from what is on the sticker. Is there a
way to change it back without harming the system?

He is only on xp SP2, once I get this fixed I will update to sp3.

 

[Bickford Shmeckler]

Ignore the one in the system, use the one on the sticker.

: Recently one of our users toshiba laptops got a virus and windows genuine
: advantage says it can't validate the computer. I checked the product key
: with keyfinder and it is different from what is on the sticker. Is there
a
: way to change it back without harming the system?
:
: He is only on xp SP2, once I get this fixed I will update to sp3.

 

[Bob I]

That's cause the one you retrieved is for the factory image. Either use
the sticker one or restore to factory fresh.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

1. Download this diagnostic tool, saving it to your desktop:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=56062

=> WinXP: Double-click on the executable to run the tool.

=> Vista & Win7: Right-click on the executable and select Run as
Administrator to run the tool.

2. After running the tool, click on the Windows tab and then click on Copy
(to clipboard).

NB: You may want to open a new Notepad file, paste the contents of your
clipboard into it & save for future reference.

3. Begin a new thread in the following Microsoft Genuine Advantage forum and
paste the results from the WGA Diagnostic Data tool in a detailed post:

http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindowsxp/threads

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

 

[icccapital]

I am actually not planning on wiping it and reinstalling if that is what you
are implying. I want to change the product key in the system so that it is
the one on the sticker so that windows genuine advantage stops giving us
problems and we can get the updates.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Repost:

1. Download this diagnostic tool, saving it to your desktop:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=56062

=> WinXP: Double-click on the executable to run the tool.

=> Vista & Win7: Right-click on the executable and select Run as
Administrator to run the tool.

2. After running the tool, click on the Windows tab and then click on Copy
(to clipboard).

NB: You may want to open a new Notepad file, paste the contents of your
clipboard into it & save for future reference.

3. Begin a new thread in the following Microsoft Genuine Advantage forum and
paste the results from the WGA Diagnostic Data tool in a detailed post:

http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindowsxp/threads

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

 

[Daave]

Recently one of our users toshiba laptops got a virus and windows
genuine advantage says it can't validate the computer.

What is the name of the malware?

How do you know that the warning you see isn't fake?

See:

http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/...p/thread/618a52cb-65e5-408b-8bbc-53a80779a786

http://msmvps.com/blogs/donna/archive/2006/06/29/103242.aspx

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Recently one of our users toshiba laptops got a virus and windows genuine
advantage says it can't validate the computer. I checked the product key
with keyfinder and it is different from what is on the sticker. Is there a
way to change it back without harming the system?

He is only on xp SP2, once I get this fixed I will update to sp3.

If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and haven't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is probably of the drive
image used at the factory and not the specific Product Key for that
computer's license; therefore, it probably cannot be -- and definitely
should not be -- used for a re-installation.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[icccapital]

All,

Thank you for the replies. I did not realize that the product keys from the
factory might not match the one on the sticker. I do realize that the
message is probably "not fake", however it seems it is not necessarily
accurate either because the user does have a valid license key on the
computer that he purchased from the store that has not been adjusted. So he
is not actually in violation of his own accord as the warning would imply.

I will run the diagnostic and repost as suggested by PA Bear.

Thank you all again.

 

[smlunatick]

All,

Thank you for the replies.  I did not realize that the product keys from the
factory might not match the one on the sticker.  I do realize that the
message is probably "not fake", however it seems it is not necessarily
accurate either because the user does have a valid license key on the
computer that he purchased from the store that has not been adjusted.  So he
is not actually in violation of his own accord as the warning would imply..

I will run the diagnostic and repost as suggested by PA Bear.

Thank you all again.

FYI: Factory installed Windows have a specialized CD Key in order to
facilitate the setup of "hundreds" of the PCs.The CD Ky sticker is to
be used for a user reinstall of the matching version of Windows, with
the bundled recovery system / install medias.