My PC is failing WGA when it didn't before!

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G

Guest

Hello.

I installed Vista and Office 2007 on this machine, both of which are genuine
as were bought as gifts by a family member of an employee at Microsoft UK.
Vista has passed the genuine test before, but failed today. Office passed
fine today.

Today the test for Vista failed when it never used to, I tried on IE7 and
Firefox and the alternate method.

I have NOT used the product key more than once and not given it to anyone
else.
I did install Vista from the same disc on other computer so I could evaluate
it before switching from a dual boot with XP and only to vista. (two computer
household).
As I understand is I was allowed to do this for 30 days using the same disc
as long as I did not enter the product key code. If this is the reason I am
happy not to evaule vista on my other pc and reformat the partition and just
leave XP on there, but I was surprised and unhapy to find that installing
what is pretty much a 30 day free trial on my other pc (using the same disc
but no key) has caused me to lose my genuine status.

Any help appreciated.

I tried to email microsoft but the report submission fails with an
unexpected error whenever I try it.
 
There seems to be an issue with the Microsoft WGA servers
that developed within the past 24 hours. There is no reason
to become alarmed. When the issue is resolved, I'll post
back with a solution.

In the mean time, you can try the following:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&displayLang=en

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------

:

Hello.

I installed Vista and Office 2007 on this machine, both of which are genuine
as were bought as gifts by a family member of an employee at Microsoft UK.
Vista has passed the genuine test before, but failed today. Office passed
fine today.

Today the test for Vista failed when it never used to, I tried on IE7 and
Firefox and the alternate method.

I have NOT used the product key more than once and not given it to anyone
else.
I did install Vista from the same disc on other computer so I could evaluate
it before switching from a dual boot with XP and only to vista. (two computer
household).
As I understand is I was allowed to do this for 30 days using the same disc
as long as I did not enter the product key code. If this is the reason I am
happy not to evaule vista on my other pc and reformat the partition and just
leave XP on there, but I was surprised and unhapy to find that installing
what is pretty much a 30 day free trial on my other pc (using the same disc
but no key) has caused me to lose my genuine status.

Any help appreciated.

I tried to email microsoft but the report submission fails with an
unexpected error whenever I try it.
 
Thanks for letting me know, I did try that link you gave but the same message
was given. Unable to determin if this copy of Windows is genuine.
 
Actually thank you, it is helpful when people quickly report back
results, it didn't work for me either but then I already knew my Debian
Linux was genuine :)

Seriously though I "Think" it would still have to contact the server.
 
Me too
Booted up my computer today and got an message about Aero not working, You
may be the victim of software counterfeiting. Vista says my copy is not
genuine.
tried emailing microsoft but also get submission fails with an unexpected
error.
 
Did not work;

The validation service is unable to determine whether this copy of Windows
Vista is genuine.
[0xC004C4A5]

Would really like to get this sorted ASAP, just got Bioshock and i cant play
it cause game keeps minimizing when a popup appears telling me about windows
not being genuine.
 
Don't be alarmed? HA! a microsoft server goes down and now once validated
Vista instals are deemed counterfiet?!?! This is not acceptable to put the
burden of software piracy on the backs of the legit consumer! I personally
will be seeking legal reprensentation for our company as this is just too
much. I hope all above board consumers will join in the only thing MS
understands. BIG LAWSUITS!
 
OK a friend of mine has just phoned and has the same problem, this seems to
be widespread problem.
 
Don't be alarmed? HA! a microsoft server goes down and now once validated
Vista instals are deemed counterfiet?!?! This is not acceptable to put the
burden of software piracy on the backs of the legit consumer! I personally
will be seeking legal reprensentation for our company as this is just too
much. I hope all above board consumers will join in the only thing MS
understands. BIG LAWSUITS!
Click to expand...

I'm shorting my Microsoft stock, this could be BIG. Talk about
leaving themselves wide open to huge class action law suits!

If this gets as big as the potential sounds it could be except several
major law firms to jump on it next week.
 
ETGwebs said:
Don't be alarmed? HA! a microsoft server goes down and now once validated
Vista instals are deemed counterfiet?!?! This is not acceptable to put the
burden of software piracy on the backs of the legit consumer! I personally
will be seeking legal reprensentation for our company as this is just too
much. I hope all above board consumers will join in the only thing MS
understands. BIG LAWSUITS!
Click to expand...


Well you may not have a choice of OS if your other software isn't
available so there are two issues here.

1. As you mention legal action

2. Advise your software supplier you may need to make other choices in
future so they better start writing for alternative OS.

MS have not just shot themselves in the foot, or both feet, they have
fallen into a meat grinder. This is a pity but they were told of the
dangers. It won't be the law suits, their real problems will start with
customers feet as they start walking elsewhere.
 
OK a friend of mine has just phoned and has the same problem, this seems to
be widespread problem.
Click to expand...

Check this out from over a month ago.

Workers at anti-virus specialist Sophos were among the first to
unearth the worm disguising itself as WGA. Dubbed by the firm as
Cuebot-K, the virus is spreading over AOL's popular instant messaging
network posing as Microsoft's controversial anti-piracy software.

Sophos said Cuebot-K is registering itself on infected PCs as a new
system driver service named "wgavn" that also bears the public display
name of "Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Notification." The virus
automatically runs during system startup, and users who view the list
of services offered by the threat are informed that removing or
stopping the service will result in system instability.

Researchers indicated that once in place, Cuebot-K disables the
Windows OS firewall and opens a backdoor to infected computers, which
could potentially allow hackers to gain remote access of a machine to
spy on users or launch DDOS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks.

Adding to the threat is widespread controversy over WGA that has
forced Microsoft to offer an updated version of the program, a
previous iteration of which some people have labeled as having
spywarelike capabilities. End users looking for that update could
unknowingly expose themselves to Cuebot-K, experts said.

My guess, some hackers (wouldn't be the first time) hacked the
Microsoft site and are responsible for the latest nonsense.

DO NOT REBOOT your system till Microsoft fixes. Yea, right, we won't
wait long for that. Typical of Redmond idiots!
 
Adam said:
I'm shorting my Microsoft stock, this could be BIG. Talk about
leaving themselves wide open to huge class action law suits!

If this gets as big as the potential sounds it could be except several
major law firms to jump on it next week.
Click to expand...
hahaha...don't you wish you actually had some ms stock to short...lol!
You're a riot!
Frank
 
The issue has been resolved.

Visit: http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx?displaylang=en
and click on "Validate Windows". Afterward, log-off your account and
log back on and the Windows Vista Aero feature will return to normal
functionality.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------

:

Hello.

I installed Vista and Office 2007 on this machine, both of which are genuine
as were bought as gifts by a family member of an employee at Microsoft UK.
Vista has passed the genuine test before, but failed today. Office passed
fine today.

Today the test for Vista failed when it never used to, I tried on IE7 and
Firefox and the alternate method.

I have NOT used the product key more than once and not given it to anyone
else.
I did install Vista from the same disc on other computer so I could evaluate
it before switching from a dual boot with XP and only to vista. (two computer
household).
As I understand is I was allowed to do this for 30 days using the same disc
as long as I did not enter the product key code. If this is the reason I am
happy not to evaule vista on my other pc and reformat the partition and just
leave XP on there, but I was surprised and unhapy to find that installing
what is pretty much a 30 day free trial on my other pc (using the same disc
but no key) has caused me to lose my genuine status.

Any help appreciated.

I tried to email microsoft but the report submission fails with an
unexpected error whenever I try it.
 
The issue has been resolved.

Visit: http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx?displaylang=en
and click on "Validate Windows". Afterward, log-off your account and
log back on and the Windows Vista Aero feature will return to normal
functionality.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------

:

Me too
Booted up my computer today and got an message about Aero not working, You
may be the victim of software counterfeiting. Vista says my copy is not
genuine.
tried emailing microsoft but also get submission fails with an unexpected
error.
 
* Charlie Tame:
Well you may not have a choice of OS if your other software isn't
available so there are two issues here.

1. As you mention legal action

2. Advise your software supplier you may need to make other choices in
future so they better start writing for alternative OS.

MS have not just shot themselves in the foot, or both feet, they have
fallen into a meat grinder. This is a pity but they were told of the
dangers. It won't be the law suits, their real problems will start with
customers feet as they start walking elsewhere.
Click to expand...

I'm sure the two below threads are going to grow to be very long. ;-)

As much as I hate it for folks who run into problems because of
this mess, there is a certain satisfaction in seeing this debacle take
place....... so many of us are saying- "see, I told you so".

Where are Microsoft's backups.... where's the redundancy?
Absolutely pathetic.... in an almost amusing fashion.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r18946736-Just-keeps-getting-better-not-Windows-Validation-Issues

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18948266


-Michael
 
* Charlie Tame:
Well you may not have a choice of OS if your other software isn't
available so there are two issues here.

1. As you mention legal action

2. Advise your software supplier you may need to make other choices in
future so they better start writing for alternative OS.

MS have not just shot themselves in the foot, or both feet, they have
fallen into a meat grinder. This is a pity but they were told of the
dangers. It won't be the law suits, their real problems will start with
customers feet as they start walking elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Charlie,

Here's an article by Ed Bott about WGA. He is no fan of WGA
or DRM. At times he can be very critical of Microsoft and a cheerleader.
Microsoft Press publishes his books. I find him to be fair and accurate.
Of course, there will always be those fan boys who will jump on any
type of negative article that has to do with Microsoft/Windows/Vista,
it's as if someone had insulted their mother or father. Although, there
are many fan boys who are now quoting and linking to an Ed Bott article
that takes apart Peter Gutmann's "research" article about Vista's
built-in DRM.

This article is from September 26, 2006;

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=142

<quote>
Scrolling through the posts on Microsoft's official WGA Validation Problems forum is like
reading accident reports from a multiple-car pileup on Interstate 5. Many of the victims are
completely innocent and have no idea what hit them, and cleaning up the mess can be a nightmare.

Even a casual reading of the posts at the WGA Validation Problems forum makes it clear that WGA
has serious problems. But Microsoft refuses to share any hard data about WGA installations,
making it impossible for independent observers to quantify the extent of the problems. Until
now, that is.
</quote>

Also, I've been trying to get to the WGA forums this morning
with no luck. Anyone else seeing this?
http://forums.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx?siteid=25
http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=442&SiteID=25


-Michael
 
MICHAEL said:
* Charlie Tame:

Charlie,

Here's an article by Ed Bott about WGA. He is no fan of WGA
or DRM. At times he can be very critical of Microsoft and a cheerleader.
Microsoft Press publishes his books. I find him to be fair and accurate.
Of course, there will always be those fan boys who will jump on any
type of negative article that has to do with Microsoft/Windows/Vista,
it's as if someone had insulted their mother or father. Although, there
are many fan boys who are now quoting and linking to an Ed Bott article
that takes apart Peter Gutmann's "research" article about Vista's
built-in DRM.

This article is from September 26, 2006;

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=142

<quote>
Scrolling through the posts on Microsoft's official WGA Validation Problems forum is like
reading accident reports from a multiple-car pileup on Interstate 5. Many of the victims are
completely innocent and have no idea what hit them, and cleaning up the mess can be a nightmare.

Even a casual reading of the posts at the WGA Validation Problems forum makes it clear that WGA
has serious problems. But Microsoft refuses to share any hard data about WGA installations,
making it impossible for independent observers to quantify the extent of the problems. Until
now, that is.
</quote>

Also, I've been trying to get to the WGA forums this morning
with no luck. Anyone else seeing this?
http://forums.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx?siteid=25
http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=442&SiteID=25


-Michael
Click to expand...

They both work fine for me but, then again, I am not using Windows to
access the sites ;-)
 
* MICHAEL:
* Charlie Tame:

Charlie,

Here's an article by Ed Bott about WGA. He is no fan of WGA
or DRM. At times he can be very critical of Microsoft and a cheerleader.
Microsoft Press publishes his books. I find him to be fair and accurate.
Of course, there will always be those fan boys who will jump on any
type of negative article that has to do with Microsoft/Windows/Vista,
it's as if someone had insulted their mother or father. Although, there
are many fan boys who are now quoting and linking to an Ed Bott article
that takes apart Peter Gutmann's "research" article about Vista's
built-in DRM.

This article is from September 26, 2006;

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=142

<quote>
Scrolling through the posts on Microsoft's official WGA Validation Problems forum is like
reading accident reports from a multiple-car pileup on Interstate 5. Many of the victims are
completely innocent and have no idea what hit them, and cleaning up the mess can be a nightmare.

Even a casual reading of the posts at the WGA Validation Problems forum makes it clear that WGA
has serious problems. But Microsoft refuses to share any hard data about WGA installations,
making it impossible for independent observers to quantify the extent of the problems. Until
now, that is.
</quote>
Click to expand...
Also, I've been trying to get to the WGA forums this morning
with no luck. Anyone else seeing this?
http://forums.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx?siteid=25
http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=442&SiteID=25
Click to expand...

Strange.... I can get to those sites using Firefox but not with IE.


-Michael
 

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