Dude, I have a Dell

[Jason Thompson]

I have a Dell PC that is about 1.5 years old. It came with an OEM build of
Windows XP Home Edition. It does not pass the web sites licensing test to
download the antispy program. Any ideas why?

Thanks!

 

[plun]

Jason wrote

-----Original Message-----
I have a Dell PC that is about 1.5 years old. It came
with an OEM build of Windows XP Home Edition. It does
not pass the web sites licensing test to
download the antispy program. Any ideas why?

Hi

You don´t have to validate MSAS, click on the download
link and choose to not validate this time.

About validation, I think this will be a real mess
when users must find their product key and something goes
wrong.

From FAQ:

Q.
What if my copy of Windows fails the validation process
or I believe I have received pirated software?
A.
In either case, Microsoft recommends the following
steps: First, turn on Automatic Updates to make sure your
system is being protected while you are resolving the
problem. Second, use the resources on the Windows Genuine
Advantage pages to learn how to recognize genuine Windows
software. Third, see your reseller and ask for genuine
Windows software, using a print-out of the validation
session for support. Finally, if you can't get assistance
from your reseller and you suspect you've been
victimized, fill out a Report Piracy Now report so
Microsoft can have a record of the transaction and
determine if additional action is warranted.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I have one machine which is similar. My theory about that one is misreading
the label--the machine is on the floor next to a desk, and the lighting is
lousy. They use both 8's and B's, and several other confusing combinations
of characters.

You do need to figure this out, though. When you say it doesn't pass--have
you tried all the options--I'm not sure what is offered these days, but you
should be able to reach a point where you describe the make of the machine
and where it was purchased, etc.

This is an optional process now, but it may not be at some point in the
future, and we--both the customers and Microsoft--need to get the bugs out
of it now.

It is expected behavior that you will need to type in the product ID off the
label on a DELL OEM machine. It is not expected behavior that it will then
fail--but as I say--I've got one like that too.

 

[Jim Byrd]

Hi Plun - FYI: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

--
Please respond in the same thread.
Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP



In

 

[plun]

Hi Plun - FYI: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Well, I dont think "normal users" uses this sort of programs
and therefore this probably will be a mess.

In the wild we have much powerful program to use if you
want to do something with product keys.

Maybe if MS built in this to the validation process.

My problem with this was to recognise my product key
when you have your PC below a desk in the dark.
But Fujitsu-Siemens uses a good place on the cover.

IMHO opinion this will be challenge for MS to achive.

 

[JohnF.]

Jason,

Did you get the PC from Dell? If yes, is the warranty still good, more than
one year? If yes, then give them a call and see what they tell you. If you
bought it from Ebay or other, you may need to call Dell and report the
system tag to see if you have illegal software.

JohnF.

 

[JohnF.]

Well, it does look like MS makes you type in the 25 digit key doesn't it?
Weird - none of my Dells at work have ever asked for the key. Bill is right
then, the digits are difficult to make out sometimes, use a flashlight and
a magnifying glass!

JohnF.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

This is what is happening. When you set up a new OEM machine whose copy of
XP is bios-locked (as is the case with Dell's machines)--you don't have to
activate it. The license for XP on such a machine is specified as for that
machine--period. It isn't transferable, and you can't swap motherboards
except for another Dell motherboard.

The key never gets used in terms of activation.

So--there've been issues with such OEM keys being misused, abused, pirated,
etc...

So one of the purposes of this Genuine Windows validation thing is to get
those numbers recorded and tied to an individual machine.

The carrot, so far, has been the optional use of that validation for some of
the more interesting new downloads from the download center.

If you are small enough that you aren't using volume licensing I recommend
that you run through the validation process on your machines--see whether it
works--if it does, it is essentially a one-time process--the result is
stored. The control must be downloaded again, but you shouldn't have to
type the number in again. If it does not, try to reach a feedback point and
raise the issue loudly and forcefully with the OEM vendor from which you
received the machine.

Make this a part of the routine when you first install a new machine--then
you are set and don't have to crawl around under the desks to try to read
those numbers.

 

[Guest]

Same deal here. Look on the bottom of your laptop...
Dell put an XP authentication sticker on that has the
product code.

 

[Ron Kinner]

If Microsoft wants people to read these stupid tags they
need to either use a bigger clearer font or avoid the use
of look alike letters. Even with a magnifying glass and a
flashlight it is pretty much a trial and error thing to
decide if you have the following:

O or 0
8 or B
Q or O
1 or I

Ron

 

[Ron Kinner]

Just tell it you have a Dell and that you bought it from
Dell and it should work OK for now.

Ron

 

[plun]

If Microsoft wants people to read these stupid tags they
need to either use a bigger clearer font or avoid the use
of look alike letters. Even with a magnifying glass and a
flashlight it is pretty much a trial and error thing to
decide if you have the following:

O or 0
8 or B
Q or O
1 or I

Ron

............ (and you only have 3 times to do it, I
missed 2 beacuse of above)

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I agree 100% I don't know how much control they have over the numbers
involved--I suspect it may be too late to change the character set allowed.
They could make the stickers bigger, or the font size, though.

 

[JRosenfeld]

Also a Dell (Dimension 8300) original OEM install of XP
home SP1, upgraded to SP2 and subsequent updates.
When I recently validated it downloaded an active X
component called 'Windows genuine advantage validation
tool' (in C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files). Then the
page showing the various key locations and where you are
asked to type in your key flashed up, but disappeared and
the page went to continue download. I was not asked to
type in any key. It does this each time I go to a download
and say yes validate. Presumably the active X component is
validating my system automatically.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I haven't spotted that appearance. If you have once validated, the
subsequent invocations of the control won't ask for the key any longer--but
just pass you on to the download page.

So--if you had ever validated in the past, or had activated the software via
Windows Activation, you won't get asked for the key again.

 

[Guest]

skip the valadation process