bronicabill said:
Here's the situation... the computer was purchased used without a HDD. I
had
a copy of Windows XP Pro that I had previously purchased and I used that
with
a new HDD on the computer. I recently discovered while doing running some
Windows updates that the OS was bogus, so I purchased a valid license
directly from Microsoft and fixed the OS following their instructions. The
Windows XP Pro CD showed up today in the mail, and nowhere on it does it
say
it is OEM software, only that it is not for resale. Interestingly it also
does NOT have the license key anywhere on the package for the XP Pro
install,
only for "Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP Professional".
What the heck is a "Genuine Advantage Kit" anyway??? All I wanted was a
legal copy of XP Pro!
Thanks again for your help!
From Microsoft's web site: - Watch long URL which begins with http: and
ends with 63e7435d12c7
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/do...07&sGuid=27a63e26-3150-421d-8512-63e7435d12c7
What is the genuine Windows offer?
Q:What is the genuine Windows offer?
A:The Microsoft genuine Windows offer is designed to help customers who
unknowingly purchased counterfeit versions of Windows XP by offering those
who qualify a complimentary copy or electronic license key for a genuine
copy of Windows XP.
Q:What are the details of the genuine Windows offer?
A:To help customers who unknowingly purchased a counterfeit version of
Windows XP, Microsoft has created two genuine Windows offers for those who
qualify:
Complimentary offer: Microsoft will make a complimentary copy of Windows XP
available to customers who have been sold counterfeit Windows. Customers
will be required to submit a proof of purchase, the counterfeit CD, and a
counterfeit report with details of their purchase. Only high-quality
counterfeit Windows will qualify for the complimentary offer.
Electronic License Key Offer: Microsoft will offer an alternative for
customers who find out via the WGA validation process that they are not
running genuine Windows, but do not qualify for, or choose not to take
advantage of, the complimentary offer. These customers will be able to
license a Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP directly from
Microsoft for a special on-line purchase price. The Windows Genuine
Advantage Kit for Windows XP will include a new 25-character Product Key and
a Windows Product Key Update tool that will allow customers to convert their
counterfeit copy to genuine Windows XP electronically.
Q:How is the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP different from the
product available from resellers?
A:Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP is packaged differently and
is only distributed by Microsoft directly to customers who qualify for the
genuine Windows offer. It is not intended for resale.
What’s included in the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit?
Q:What do customers receive when they order the genuine Windows offer from
Microsoft?
A:
If you qualify for the complimentary offer, you will receive a Windows
Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP in the mail within 4 to 6 weeks of your
order. The Windows Genuine Advantage Kit contains a CD with a new
25-character Product Key. You should reinstall Windows and reactivate your
PCs using the CD and the new Product Key.
If you request the electronic license key offer, you will receive via email,
upon confirmation of payment, your new 25-character Product Key and
instructions on how to download the Windows Product Key Update Tool. You
will also receive a Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP
installation CD in the mail. When you receive your order confirmation, you
can check the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit Order Support page to see when
you will receive your CD.
Q:What technical support is available for the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit
for Windows XP?
A:Once you convert to genuine Windows XP, you are entitled to the support
available from Microsoft for genuine Windows XP. Visit
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/support/default.mspx for details.
Q:Will I be required to re-activate my version of Windows via Product
Activation?
A:
If you receive the complimentary offer, you will be required to reinstall
Windows with the CD you receive and activate your PC with the new
25-character Product Key that comes with the CD.
If you use the electronic key, you will have your Windows system activated
automatically by the Windows Product Key Update Tool, provided with the
offer.
Q
oes the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP CD contain Service
Pack 2?
A:Yes.
Q:How long will it take me to receive my replacement copy?
A:If you qualify for the complimentary offer, Microsoft will send a kit to
you within 4 to 6 weeks of your submission. For the electronic license key
offer, Microsoft will send the electronic key and conversion tool upon
payment confirmation. Timing varies by country and payment type. The
physical media for the electronic license key offer will arrive by post in 4
to 6 weeks.
Q:Who can I contact with inquiries about my order?
A:For contact information to check order status, please refer to your order
confirmation email. If you did not receive an email confirmation of your
order or your new product key, contact your local Microsoft customer
support.
After I receive the kit, how do I convert my software to genuine Windows?
Q:I purchased an electronic license and received the product key in email;
what do I do?
A:To convert your counterfeit Windows XP software to a genuine copy of
Windows XP using the new product key, you will need to download and run the
Windows Product Key Update Tool on the same computer you used to purchase
the electronic license for Windows XP. Visit
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=45668 to download the Windows Product
Key Update Tool. The Windows Product Key Update tool will guide you through
the conversion process and convert your counterfeit Windows XP to a genuine
copy of Windows XP.
Q:How does the electronic license key work?
A:
If you pay for the electronic license key, you will receive an email
confirmation with a new 25-character Product Key and instructions on where
to download the Windows Product Key Update Tool, which will perform a
complete scan of your Windows system files. The update tool will perform a
scan of the approximately 6,000 files which make up the Windows XP
distribution. If the files are unchanged from the original, the scan will
pass and the genuine Windows conversion will continue.
Any differences from the original would indicate a potential vulnerability
and will cause the scan to fail. If the scan fails, you will not be able to
complete the online conversion to genuine Windows. You will be instructed to
store your genuine Windows Product Key in a safe place and wait until your
genuine Windows XP backup disc arrives via postal mail. You should then use
the backup disc, along with your Product Key, to perform a clean
installation of Windows XP.
Q:Why is the system scan necessary?
A:The system scan is necessary because the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit
converts a counterfeit Windows XP system to genuine. Microsoft wants to take
every precaution possible to ensure that the original Windows XP system
files are present and undamaged so that you can have full confidence in your
future experience with genuine Windows. The system scan cannot guarantee
with absolute certainty that your system is safe. Re-installing your
operating system from a CD provided by Microsoft as part of the transaction
will provide a higher level of protection against threats associated with
counterfeit software.
Q:What happens if the scan performed by the Windows Product Key Update Tool
determines that one or more system files have been compromised, corrupted or
tampered with?
A:You will receive the following error:
"One or more Windows files are modified or corrupted. This tool cannot be
used to perform an automatic product key update. Please reinstall Windows
using the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit CD."
As stated in the error text, you must re-install Windows XP from a new
installation CD. When you place an order for a new CD, you can check the
Windows Genuine Advantage Kit Order Support page to see when you will
receive your CD in the mail.
Q:How many PCs can I install using Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows
XP media?
A:Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP contains a Microsoft Windows
XP End-User License Agreement (EULA) that limits the installation of the
software to a single computer, such as a workstation, terminal, or other
device ("Workstation Computer").
