Windows validation

[Nick Wedd]

I have been running Windows XP on this computer for years. In the
course of those years it has two or three times asked me to validate it,
and I have done so with no problem. I have a copy of AVG anti-virus,
set to run every night.

But today, after a reboot, Microsoft decided that my Windows
installation is not valid. I have made several further attempts to
validate it, but Microsoft insists that my copy does not validate.

Which is most likely:
a bug at Microsoft
spontaneous software rot
some malware has got at my copy of Windows and done something to it?

The last thing I installed was (or claimed to be) an upgrade to my
Safari browser. This told me that it would not become effective until
my next reboot. I have deleted all "Valentine" emails unopened.

Nick

 

[Nick Wedd]

I have been running Windows XP on this computer for years. In the
course of those years it has two or three times asked me to validate
it, and I have done so with no problem. I have a copy of AVG
anti-virus, set to run every night.

But today, after a reboot, Microsoft decided that my Windows
installation is not valid. I have made several further attempts to
validate it, but Microsoft insists that my copy does not validate.

Which is most likely:
a bug at Microsoft
spontaneous software rot
some malware has got at my copy of Windows and done something to it?

The last thing I installed was (or claimed to be) an upgrade to my
Safari browser. This told me that it would not become effective until
my next reboot. I have deleted all "Valentine" emails unopened.

On following instructions at the Microsoft web site, I find I now have a
"Geographically blocked PID". This I think means that Microsoft has
decided that the licence I bought to run on this computer is, after
almost five years, suddenly no longer valid for this computer. So it
looks as if my "PID" has got changed somehow?

Nick

 

[G. Morgan]

On following instructions at the Microsoft web site, I find I now have a
"Geographically blocked PID". This I think means that Microsoft has
decided that the licence I bought to run on this computer is, after
almost five years, suddenly no longer valid for this computer. So it
looks as if my "PID" has got changed somehow?

Read #1 & #2
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1149265994

Does that apply?