Validation for Windows Update

[billurie]

A year or two ago, when Microsoft introduced the
requirement for Validation, for use of the new WU,
I had no trouble getting validated the code that
came with this XP/Pro that I inherited. Since then,
I did WU periodically (I do it 'custom' because one
of the automatic updates clobbered the AC97 Audio,
which I leave as is)......and successfully.

Now I haven't done (or been 'invited' to) download
Windows Updates for a while, and decided to see what's
there. It doesn't accept the Validation Code that I
used before.....that it accepted before.

I'm wondering.....I have the Validation Code for the
XP/Home that was on an older, slower machine which
I took out of service a couple of years ago, so now
it is on *no* machine. Would Microsoft consider that
to be legal, to use on my sometimes acceptable, some-
times unacceptable modern XP/Pro?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The WGA diagnostic tool has been updated to correct
this problem seen by some users.

Please download and execute it from:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

After running the tool, please return to Windows Update and try it again.

You cannot install some updates or programs
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822798/en-us

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| A year or two ago, when Microsoft introduced the
| requirement for Validation, for use of the new WU,
| I had no trouble getting validated the code that
| came with this XP/Pro that I inherited. Since then,
| I did WU periodically (I do it 'custom' because one
| of the automatic updates clobbered the AC97 Audio,
| which I leave as is)......and successfully.
|
| Now I haven't done (or been 'invited' to) download
| Windows Updates for a while, and decided to see what's
| there. It doesn't accept the Validation Code that I
| used before.....that it accepted before.
|
| I'm wondering.....I have the Validation Code for the
| XP/Home that was on an older, slower machine which
| I took out of service a couple of years ago, so now
| it is on *no* machine. Would Microsoft consider that
| to be legal, to use on my sometimes acceptable, some-
| times unacceptable modern XP/Pro?
| --
| William B. Lurie

 

[billurie]

The WGA diagnostic tool has been updated to correct
this problem seen by some users.

Please download and execute it from:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

After running the tool, please return to Windows Update and try it again.

You cannot install some updates or programs
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822798/en-us

Thank you, Carey. I did the first part, and the
resulting tabulation starts with "Blocked VLK" in red.
Some of the pertinent information below that says
Product ID Type ------1
Product License Type--volume

I didn't take the next recommended step yet, because
I interpret from the above that it will be rejected.
I'll wait for your further advice.....
W B Lurie

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

From whom did you acquire a Volume License
Windows XP Pro CD and Product Key? A VL is
normally available only to business enterprises
and not individuals.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| Thank you, Carey. I did the first part, and the
| resulting tabulation starts with "Blocked VLK" in red.
| Some of the pertinent information below that says
| Product ID Type ------1
| Product License Type--volume
|
| I didn't take the next recommended step yet, because
| I interpret from the above that it will be rejected.
| I'll wait for your further advice.....
| W B Lurie
|
| --
| William B. Lurie

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

William

It would appear that you have inherited a pirate copy of XP Pro.. XP Home
keys do not work with XP Pro.. your copy of XP Pro will still accept
automatic updates, but will not update via 'custom' until such time as you
change the key for a legal one.. there is no facility to change the key at
the point of getting updates, which essentially means that you will have to
do a repair install with a legal copy..

 

[Larry Samuels]

You are using an illegally obtained volume license copy (through no fault of
your own). You will need a legal copy of XP for the computer.

The XP home that you have can be installed legally IF it is a retail box
copy, or if it is an upgrade and you have a qualifying product. IF the copy
you have is an OEM version then it died with the old pc.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[billurie]

You are using an illegally obtained volume license copy (through no fault of
your own). You will need a legal copy of XP for the computer.

Well, it was legal for *some*body, who gave it to me and
that made it illegal, but when Microsoft added new qualifications
for WU a year or so ago, they accepted it then.

The XP home that you have can be installed legally IF it is a retail box
copy, or if it is an upgrade and you have a qualifying product. IF the copy
you have is an OEM version then it died with the old pc.

My XP/Home is an OEM version, no longer in use.

So I guess my only course, short of buying a new license, is
to live with no 'custom' updates, since one known automatic
update has been proving damaging to my computer's health.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Assuming you have an illegal license, it is also probable the person who
gave it to you had it illegally.
At some point is was most likely stolen.

See if this applies:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm

 

[billurie]

Assuming you have an illegal license, it is also probable the person who
gave it to you had it illegally.
At some point is was most likely stolen.

See if this applies:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm

-------------------------------------------------
I thank you all for contributing.....and I understand almost
all of what you've told me, and led me to. The one thing that
bugs me still is that my questionable software was presented
to Microsoft when Windows Update tightened up by checking
the I.D. a year or so ago, and has been accepted when I
did W.U. "Custom" a dozen or more times since.......right up
to this week.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

I am uncertain why.
Before you purchase a replacement, verify with the link in my last post that
it is in fact illegitimate

 

[billurie]

I am uncertain why.
Before you purchase a replacement, verify with the link in my last post that
it is in fact illegitimate

Thanks for the good advice and the link to Validation Assistant.
I note that it requires installation of a a Microsoft Advantage
Tool which I am afraid to install. I'd be concerned about
what the investigation might do to my system, which functions
perfectly, with the exception that I'm unable to do Windows
Update. which has worked fine, on this possibly illegal system,
right up until very recently.

I'm not about to purchase a replacement, for any number
of reasons. I'll just plod along, waiting for the OS revolution
which appears to be looming on the horizon.

 

[billurie]

Thanks for the good advice and the link to Validation Assistant.
I note that it requires installation of a a Microsoft Advantage
Tool which I am afraid to install. I'd be concerned about
what the investigation might do to my system, which functions
perfectly, with the exception that I'm unable to do Windows
Update. which has worked fine, on this possibly illegal system,
right up until very recently.

I'm not about to purchase a replacement, for any number
of reasons. I'll just plod along, waiting for the OS revolution
which appears to be looming on the horizon.

I had another thought that perhaps one of you MVPs can help
me with. I have no objection to becoming legitimate; as a matter
of fact, I own a perfectly valid OEM XP (Home Edition) which
has been resting on the shelf since I was given this Pro
Edition. I'd be willing to drop back to Home Edition but I
shudder at the thought of trying to transfer everything I need
from the Pro hard drive to the Home drive. Files are easy
enough to move, but all of the programs/applications I'm not
about to reinstall. Any reasonable way to accomplish it? I
have no problem with running one a master and one as slave
in the same machine.

 

[Larry Samuels]

Unfortunately there is no way to accomplish this. Downgrades are blocked by
setup.The only way to get back to XP Home is by a clean install.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[billurie]

Unfortunately there is no way to accomplish this. Downgrades are blocked by
setup.The only way to get back to XP Home is by a clean install.

Larry, my XP/Home is in the form of an OEM "Restore Disk".
I can use that to recreate the "clean install" that the machine first
came with. The question is, is that really what you refer to as a
"clean install"? If it is, then how do I get all the applications
added to it, from my questionable XP-Pro OS?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

You would need to install all the applications when the Windows XP Home
installation is complete since everything would be gone.

You can save Files and Settings:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

 

[billurie]

You would need to install all the applications when the Windows XP Home
installation is complete since everything would be gone.

You can save Files and Settings:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

JJ, I realize that my XP-Home will be a bare OS
after I Restore it from the Restore CD. Everything would be gone.
The point I was making is that I certainly will not be able
to "install all the applications". The question I asked was,
would I be able to transfer all of the applications and
shortcuts and settings from the working XP-Pro to the bare
XP-Home. I thank you for the link to F.A.S.T., which I
have bookmarked. It is many pages long, and I'd appreciate
it if you'd tell me whether it is capable of doing a transfer
of all the applications, etcetera, from the Pro OS to the
Home OS, thereby making them fully interchangeable except
for the OS system differences.

 

[Larry Samuels]

It can transfer the app data files--it cannot transfer the apps. You will
have to install the apps.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[billurie]

It can transfer the app data files--it cannot transfer the apps. You will
have to install the apps.

Let's bring this up to date, because the picture may have
changed somewhat.

Today I started with a 98 hard drive and installed XP-Pro,
as an upgrade. It installed all the way, and then I installed
SP2, and accepted the invitations to activate, and to validate.
and then I went to Windows Update, allowed it to install the
new WU software, followed by over 40 downloads and installs.

So I would presume that I have what Microsoft would consider a
validated, legal system.

I also have my old XP Pro, on which I am here communicating,
with all of my proprietary and application software. Now I
can, with extreme difficulty, try to transfer all the the apps
and files from invalid to valid system. Or I can ask for a
method of replacing the invalid code in the 'invalid' system
with the accepted code. After I do that, I will have no need
or use for the newly loaded system. And so I am asking.

 

[billurie]

Let's bring this up to date, because the picture may have
changed somewhat.

Today I started with a 98 hard drive and installed XP-Pro,
as an upgrade. It installed all the way, and then I installed
SP2, and accepted the invitations to activate, and to validate.
and then I went to Windows Update, allowed it to install the
new WU software, followed by over 40 downloads and installs.

So I would presume that I have what Microsoft would consider a
validated, legal system.

I also have my old XP Pro, on which I am here communicating,
with all of my proprietary and application software. Now I
can, with extreme difficulty, try to transfer all the the apps
and files from invalid to valid system. Or I can ask for a
method of replacing the invalid code in the 'invalid' system
with the accepted code. After I do that, I will have no need
or use for the newly loaded system. And so I am asking.

Sorry....I didn't intend to start a new thread; I thought
I was tacking this onto an existing thread. Actually, the
question does stand alone.....

 

[billurie]

William

It would appear that you have inherited a pirate copy of XP Pro.. XP Home
keys do not work with XP Pro.. your copy of XP Pro will still accept
automatic updates, but will not update via 'custom' until such time as you
change the key for a legal one.. there is no facility to change the key at
the point of getting updates, which essentially means that you will have to
do a repair install with a legal copy..

Latest road block:

Michael Stevens' very valuable FAQ has #18 "I need to change
my Product Key". Therein is a link to download xppid.zip and one
for same with source code. When I click those, I get
Error 404 ... Not found. Not that I need help in finding
the product key...... You might say that I'm just 'reporting the
news'....and proceeding with the next Key Finder......which may
or may not be able to be found....