Windows Genuine Advantage?

bpgreen

14 years ago

Where did you buy the computer? Are you sure your copy of Windows is legitimate?

Got this off the MS site:
Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications for Windows XP notifies you if a copy of Windows XP is not genuine. The notification messages only appear on computers that have failed the WGA validation process and that are running a copy of Windows XP that is not genuine. If you are running a validated, genuine copy of Windows XP, you will not receive notification messages.

As mentioned, looks like your copy of windows on the computer is not legit

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To start with, you can't just switch drives from one computer to another and expect it to boot to windows, unless the computers are the exact same make and model. You can put your C drive into the new computer and if you have a windows xp disc, do a repair install. If it asks for a product key, look on the case of the new computer for the sticker. If the new computer came with a HD and works, I'd just start transferring important data to it either with dvd or flash drives and eventually get it setup the way you like. The people that do a clean install are erasing the whole drive. Yes, a re-install will erase your entire C: drive, a repair install would leave your documents intact. You're going to need a windows xp disc to get started, also software needs to be installed to work, not just a simple transfer folders thing. You may be able to put your old C drive in the new computer, boot from the xp disc, go to the recovery console and fixboot or fixmbr and she may boot up. Don't know what windows genuine advantage or activation will do noticing your C drive has a different motherboard, video and ram.

a blue screen message!!!

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my guess and I do mean guess is that it was a conincidence that it failed right after doing the updates, for DA it was not a drive failure but a corrupted/failed Operating system. It could be due to the fact the drive they provided you was not a new drive, but drives that are brand new sometimes fail. There is an old trick for trying to save info from a failed drive you might want to try it, you freeze the drive literally put it in the freezer,wrap it in paper towels put it in a sealed ziplock baggie, let it freeze well(a few hours or over night), stick it in the enclosure, or plug into the pc, and as fast as possible try to access it and grab your info, it will not work for long but many times it will work long enough to get the info off of it. Usually the window is about 15 mins. You can make it last longer if you put a frozen container or those blue ice packs on top of the drive when you take it out and connect it to the pc (protect it from moisture of course). Have a flash drive or some backup drive ready to go to get that info backed up immediately. You can repeat this a few times if you are lucky. Why freezing a hard drive might help on this site scroll way way down below all the blue text to read the info on how to and why freezing might work. does the drive spin at all? can you hear it spin up? is there any clicking or noise, does your pc recognize or see the drive? If it is spinning then freezing it is not the way to go because a spinning drive is not a dead drive. IF you want to try Spin Rite by Steve Gibson here is the site for it. SpinRite also this link talks of options to try including the freezer technique. Here is a link that might be useful: freezer technique and more

owbist

14 years ago

Assuming you have been updating your copy of Windows over time you might visit the update site looking for the latest updates and see what happens.

stu2900
Original Author

14 years ago

Windows came on the computer from Dell about 4 years ago and we've never had any trouble until the last couple of days. I ran the anti malware program last night and it disappeared. It said it removed something called "Rogue." Seems I picked up something somewhere. Super Antispyware and Spybot S&D didn't change anything, but Mallwarebytes did. Thanks for your input

1

ravencajun Zone 8b TX

14 years ago

malware can indeed cause those problems so be sure you do update malwarebytes and run full scan again a few times to make sure you get it all.

also go to the windows update page and manually go through the update process so that if you do need to have WGA re-applied it will do so at that time, select the custom option and then do which ever updates it has selected for your pc.

when getting a WGA pop up it is rarely an issue of a bootleg copy if you have never encountered the issue prior to that instance, if you have had no problem in the past getting windows updates you can pretty much know it is something else causing the problem.

DA_Mccoy

14 years ago

Gosh, now I am sorry that I only have dial-up. I'm gonna miss out on covert installations of those highly needed updates for Xbox, Play Station and of course those reoccurring expired drivers.

DA

DA_Mccoy

14 years ago

Wow! Too much holiday cheer already. Or, maybe just too much rain. I posted this on the wrong thread. I guess there is a first time for everything.

DA

mikie_gw

14 years ago

All those submit buttons look alike.

padd_y

14 years ago

If your computer is properly licensed to run XP Home as provided by Dell.

You may be at the point where you need to contact MS tech support. WGA issues have free email tech support at this link: Below..

Paddy

Here is a link that might be useful: WGA Support

Windows Genuine Advantage?

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bpgreen

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Windows Genuine Advantage?

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