Microsoft Security Essentials

Hazel · 7th June 2012, 04:31 PM

I hope someone can soothe my frazzled nerves. A weird and quite disturbing thing happened today. I have Windows XP. I bought this computer from Dell in 2005 with Windows XP on it. I am sure it has to be a valid Windows. Dell would not sell invalid platforms. I also have Microsoft Security Essentials which was installed about a year ago. Today, I suddenly had a window with this message:

"Windows did not pass genuine validation. Security Essentials will become disabled in 30 days if you do not resolve this issue. To resolve this issue, click here to go online and validate a new Windows."

A friend tells me that they are going to insist that I purchase a new Windows platform. Why? I know (well, surely) that Dell did not sell me an invalid Windows.

I called the people who keep my computer in good shape. I was told that Microsoft believes that 1 our of 4 users are using invalid Windows and that other people are also getting this message despite the fact that they have valid Windows. I can only guess that Microsoft is doing a "hit or miss" job of scaring people who have invalid Windows to buy legitimate ones. Meanwhile, they scare the rest of us to death.

Someone please tell me what is going on. Is Microsoft going to force me to buy a new Windows platform when this one is doing fine? What is it going to ask me to do when I go online as it instructs? And, what if I just removed Security Essentials and got another virus protection program? Will Security Essential alone become disabled? Or will Microsoft disable my Windows XP?

Help!!!!! Computer User Dummy - ME!

Sam.I.Am · 7th June 2012, 05:16 PM

Just call them. They will ask for the COA number on the sticker on the back of your PC (it's a 25 character alpha numeric key) or if the PC came with an install disk it might be on the packaging that the CD came with. They will then get it sorted out.

They will probably ask you to download and install a WGA tool from their website and email the results to them (or post it in an online form somehow, they will tell you).

As long as Dell didn't get some kind of volume deal that has since expired (it's slightly unlikely with XP Home but highly unlikely with XP Pro) you should be good to go.

Note that if you have ANY other Microsoft products (Office for example) whose registration is shaky or in doubt that that too can trigger this warning even if your XP is 100% valid. The WGA checks ALL Microsoft products.

GodMark2 · 7th June 2012, 05:20 PM

XP is just about a million years old in computer years, and MS isn't making any money of it any more. So, they want to force everyone to use only the latest and greatest version of their product. Only, if they actually forced such a thing, the DOJ in several countries would be all over their bums with lawsuits aplenty. So, they just let support slowly evaporate, with problems being slow to get fixed.

Remember: You haven't bought a copy of Windows XP, you have agreed to a license allowing for use of Windows XP under a rather narrow set of restrictions, subject to change at Microsoft's whims, and backed up through a series of technical enforcement measures that just so happen to be prone to failure. Any failure of the enforcement measures is, according to the license, solely your fault, as you must certainly have been peeking into places you didn't have permission to even know about, let alone actually look at.

Hazel · 7th June 2012, 05:22 PM

Call Microsoft? I didn't know you could call Microsoft. I've never found a way to contact them in any form. So, if I go to their web site, there will be a way given to call them? And, will they charge me for this contact?

Thank you. If this can be done, I'll do it. As I said, early on in my computer life, I tried contacting Microsoft but never had any luck.

Sam.I.Am · 7th June 2012, 05:26 PM

I should add that if you DO have any questionable software then don't run the WGA check. Your best bet is to back up all of your data and format and reinstall the valid copy of XP that came with the PC using the tools and\or disks that the PC came with, then update it via Windows update (if it's not up to SP 3 then you may have to download SP2 manually first but I do believe SP3 had come out by 2005 so you should have it).

Don't reinstall the questionable software (if you had any) and use free solutions instead such as Libre Office to replace MS Office.

If you don't have the disks (or the COA sticker number if you call) then you probably are well and truly screwed.

Hazel · 7th June 2012, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by GodMark2

XP is just about a million years old in computer years, and MS isn't making any money of it any more. So, they want to force everyone to use only the latest and greatest version of their product. Only, if they actually forced such a thing, the DOJ in several countries would be all over their bums with lawsuits aplenty. So, they just let support slowly evaporate, with problems being slow to get fixed.

Remember: You haven't bought a copy of Windows XP, you have agreed to a license allowing for use of Windows XP under a rather narrow set of restrictions, subject to change at Microsoft's whims, and backed up through a series of technical enforcement measures that just so happen to be prone to failure. Any failure of the enforcement measures is, according to the license, solely your fault, as you must certainly have been peeking into places you didn't have permission to even know about, let alone actually look at.

Please tell me they don't have computers on Pern!!! Just smoke signals?

Sam.I.Am · 7th June 2012, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Hazel

Call Microsoft? I didn't know you could call Microsoft. I've never found a way to contact them in any form. So, if I go to their web site, there will be a way given to call them? And, will they charge me for this contact?

Thank you. If this can be done, I'll do it. As I said, early on in my computer life, I tried contacting Microsoft but never had any luck.

You can look through here:

http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/i...dowsxp/threads

And see what other people have had to do to fix this problem but like it was said above MS really doesn't want to support this product anymore but they do want to sell you Windows 7 so keep that in mind and be a bit tenacious if they try to push you around. They are counting on you being scared of them and if you have done nothing wrong you will have nothing to worry about.

It might take a few days or so but you have 30 days to play around with.

Hazel · 7th June 2012, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by Sam.I.Am

I should add that if you DO have any questionable software then don't run the WGA check. Your best bet is to back up all of your data and format and reinstall the valid copy of XP that came with the PC using the tools and\or disks that the PC came with, then update it via Windows update (if it's not up to SP 3 then you may have to download SP2 manually first but I do believe SP3 had come out by 2005 so you should have it).

Don't reinstall the questionable software (if you had any) and use free solutions instead such as Libre Office to replace MS Office.

If you don't have the disks (or the COA sticker number if you call) then you probably are well and truly screwed.

The only "questionable" software that I have is Microsoft Security Essentials. Just my opinion.

I do not have MS Office. Never did like it. I have Open Office. Much easier to use.

And I do still have the disk and everything else that came with the computer including the original invoice. Now I know why I'm a saver.

Thanks much. I am feeling just a bit better. Tomorrow, I'll get into this. Need some sleep tonight which is why I booted up again and posted here.

Sam.I.Am · 7th June 2012, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by Hazel

The only "questionable" software that I have is Microsoft Security Essentials. Just my opinion.

I do not have MS Office. Never did like it. I have Open Office. Much easier to use.

And I do still have the disk and everything else that came with the computer including the original invoice. Now I know why I'm a saver.

Thanks much. I am feeling just a bit better. Tomorrow, I'll get into this. Need some sleep tonight which is why I booted up again and posted here.

Just so you know, Libre Office is made by the same people that made Open Office only it's more up to date.

Hazel · 7th June 2012, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Sam.I.Am

You can look through here:

http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/i...dowsxp/threads

And see what other people have had to do to fix this problem but like it was said above MS really doesn't want to support this product anymore but they do want to sell you Windows 7 so keep that in mind and be a bit tenacious if they try to push you around. They are counting on you being scared of them and if you have done nothing wrong you will have nothing to worry about.

It might take a few days or so but you have 30 days to play around with.

Would this hassling stop if I removed MS Security Essentials and got a different antivirus program?

I just remembered something. Last week, or week before, MS added 15 or 16 updates. I've had little annoyances with it ever since. I wonder if there is a connection.

Hazel · 7th June 2012, 05:41 PM

Thank you, Sam. What I like about Open Office is that it lets me type a letter the way I want to type it, not the way they want me to type it. I'll remember Libre Office.

Sam.I.Am · 7th June 2012, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by Hazel

Would this hassling stop if I removed MS Security Essentials and got a different antivirus program?

I just remembered something. Last week, or week before, MS added 15 or 16 updates. I've had little annoyances with it ever since. I wonder if there is a connection.

The short answer is no. The "Damage" is done and you will have to go through MS now to fix it. Now if you end up reinstalling XP then the answer is maybe you will run into this problem and maybe not but at least if you do have the problem after a reinstall (and you know that there is nothing shady on the PC) you can be as sure as you can that it will be fixed.

The reality is that most XP users (note that this does not apply to Vista or Win 7) don't really need to use MS updates all that often anymore. Just update it once after a re-install and turn it off after that. XP is a very old and stable operating system at this point. Most updates patch minor issues (or check for a bad copy of windows) that won't affect 99% of the users in any significant way as long as you stay away from the really shady parts of the internet and install a free anti virus like Avast (my first choice right now after MSSE but maybe not yours) or AVG that can deal with the vast majority of attacks that the average, non porn viewing, non China or Russia visiting or warez type user might see.

I'd also suggest (if you have a western digital or seagate hard drive) making a backup of the updated operating system using the free Acronis tools that those companies offer. It will save you a lot of hassle later on if you do have to reinstall and reduce the time it takes down to less than half an hour instead of the 4+ hours that you are looking at right now (if you need to do a reinstall). If you do need help just post here again and you will probably find some help in that regard.

BobK · 7th June 2012, 10:54 PM

Hazel,

After doing my regular update a couple months ago I started having the same problem. I could make the problem go away by clicking the link in the pop-up warning window. It would take me to a validation page which checked and told me my Windows was valid. Every couple days the warning would reappear, so I'd rinse and repeat the validation. Got tired of doing that, so I uninstalled MSE and downloaded a fresh copy of it. Haven't had a problem since.

I think there might have been a bug in one of the MSE updates.

Hazel · 8th June 2012, 03:02 AM

Originally Posted by BobK

Hazel,

After doing my regular update a couple months ago I started having the same problem. I could make the problem go away by clicking the link in the pop-up warning window. It would take me to a validation page which checked and told me my Windows was valid. Every couple days the warning would reappear, so I'd rinse and repeat the validation. Got tired of doing that, so I uninstalled MSE and downloaded a fresh copy of it. Haven't had a problem since.

I think there might have been a bug in one of the MSE updates.

This is good to read. Thank you. My favourite computer fixer is coming today to help me through this. The things all of you have told me will help. At least I slept last night.

Hazel · 8th June 2012, 03:13 AM

Thank you, Sam. This is all very encouraging. This constantly getting something new when the old still works quite well (often better) is not part of my nature. But that's how the internet world operates. Before, I had Windows 95 and went through something of the same. It was very stable and causing no problems whatsoever but it had to go. A church group got a few more years of excellent service out of it. Later, I may talk about upgrading. For now, problems enough.

I had developed such trust in MS with its updates. I have friends who did not have this trust and were picky and choosy about what they allowed. Maybe they know something I don't.

You all have a good day. Again, thanks. Hazel

Dancing David · 8th June 2012, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by Hazel

Call Microsoft? I didn't know you could call Microsoft. I've never found a way to contact them in any form. So, if I go to their web site, there will be a way given to call them? And, will they charge me for this contact?

Thank you. If this can be done, I'll do it. As I said, early on in my computer life, I tried contacting Microsoft but never had any luck.

Hello,
I would start here and download the Windows Genuine software.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474

Do you run automatic updates on your machine?

Hazel · 8th June 2012, 04:34 AM

Originally Posted by Dancing David

Hello,
I would start here and download the Windows Genuine software.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474

Do you run automatic updates on your machine?

What, please, is Windows Genuine software?

I don't run "automatic" updates but I do tend to trust MS to know what it is doing. I do check first to be sure they aren't upgrading a program that I do not want. Early on - long ago now - they did try to update Windows XP to a newer version. I said no to that.

Beerina · 8th June 2012, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by GodMark2

XP is just about a million years old in computer years, and MS isn't making any money of it any more. So, they want to force everyone to use only the latest and greatest version of their product. Only, if they actually forced such a thing, the DOJ in several countries would be all over their bums with lawsuits aplenty. So, they just let support slowly evaporate, with problems being slow to get fixed.

Remember: You haven't bought a copy of Windows XP, you have agreed to a license allowing for use of Windows XP under a rather narrow set of restrictions, subject to change at Microsoft's whims, and backed up through a series of technical enforcement measures that just so happen to be prone to failure. Any failure of the enforcement measures is, according to the license, solely your fault, as you must certainly have been peeking into places you didn't have permission to even know about, let alone actually look at.

Also, the fraud that you're "licensing" the software instead of buying it, due to other legal issues more related to them not being sued by you because of product liability laws, would start getting much greater notice if they started pulling this (bleep.)

Hazel · 8th June 2012, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by Beerina

Also, the fraud that you're "licensing" the software instead of buying it, due to other legal issues more related to them not being sued by you because of product liability laws, would start getting much greater notice if they started pulling this (bleep.)

Licensing software if "fraud"? But we license everything in our computers. Even MS Security Essentials asks us to agree to a license when they download or update.

The world has become quite crooked, methinks. Tricky. Started with illegible fine print on insurance policies and grew from there. When you see fine print that even a magnifying glass will not make legible (latest pharmaceuticals labels), you know you're being had.

Lolly · 8th June 2012, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by Hazel

But we license everything in our computers.

Just because Microsoft says it is so, doesn't necessarily make it so.

Anyway, Hazel, as you've bought your computer from Dell, Dell is responsible for support. If there's a problem with the "licence" they sold you, they should be sorting it out for you. (No, it doesn't matter if it is outside the contractual warranty period, the licence is a lifetime licence and should have no issues with failing "validation")

Hazel · 8th June 2012, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by Lolly

Just because Microsoft says it is so, doesn't necessarily make it so.

Anyway, Hazel, as you've bought your computer from Dell, Dell is responsible for support. If there's a problem with the "licence" they sold you, they should be sorting it out for you. (No, it doesn't matter if it is outside the contractual warranty period, the licence is a lifetime licence and should have no issues with failing "validation")

I agree with Bob that it is a flaw in MS Essential Securities. That is my fervent hope anyway. And, if it wants to disable itself in thirty days, fine. I'll get another one.

Dancing David · 8th June 2012, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Hazel

What, please, is Windows Genuine software?

I don't run "automatic" updates but I do tend to trust MS to know what it is doing. I do check first to be sure they aren't upgrading a program that I do not want. Early on - long ago now - they did try to update Windows XP to a newer version. I said no to that.

Well as someone who runs custom updates I understand, however, Service Pack 2 and Service Pack 3 are a 'good thing' to have. I allow the 'important' updates to install as they are mostly security patches.

Windows genuine Software is a ploy by MS to stop people from using unlicensed software.

LTC8K6 · 8th June 2012, 11:21 AM

You must run auto updates, imo.

Big mistake to have that turned off.

Hazel · 8th June 2012, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Dancing David

Well as someone who runs custom updates I understand, however, Service Pack 2 and Service Pack 3 are a 'good thing' to have. I allow the 'important' updates to install as they are mostly security patches.

Windows genuine Software is a ploy by MS to stop people from using unlicensed software.

Thank you. The computer man came and checked. I got a "valid" on it. Now to wait and see if it repeats itself since it did that with someone else.

Hazel

Sam.I.Am · 8th June 2012, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Dancing David

Well as someone who runs custom updates I understand, however, Service Pack 2 and Service Pack 3 are a 'good thing' to have. I allow the 'important' updates to install as they are mostly security patches.

Windows genuine Software is a ploy by MS to stop people from using unlicensed software.

I was going to say this. If you didn't update to SP3 then the odds are that that is your problem. Copies of XP updated to SP1 (But not SP2) (Service Packs are not an upgrade like buying Vista or Win 7) started getting this warning about a year ago or so so it would make sense that any copy of XP updated to SP2 but not SP3 would be seeing the same warning at some point. All of the advice I gave above was predicated on you having SP3 installed.

Hazel · 8th June 2012, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Sam.I.Am

I was going to say this. If you didn't update to SP3 then the odds are that that is your problem. Copies of XP updated to SP1 (But not SP2) (Service Packs are not an upgrade like buying Vista or Win 7) started getting this warning about a year ago or so so it would make sense that any copy of XP updated to SP2 but not SP3 would be seeing the same warning at some point. All of the advice I gave above was predicated on you having SP3 installed.

I am sure I have service pack 3. My computer came with sp 2 and I've had one update since then. Quite a while ago, in fact. I could try to check to be sure but I do remember that.

Thanks for the "heads up", though. Hazel

scissorhands · 8th June 2012, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Hazel

I am sure I have service pack 3. My computer came with sp 2 and I've had one update since then. Quite a while ago, in fact. I could try to check to be sure but I do remember that.

Thanks for the "heads up", though. Hazel

Right click on your "my computer" icon, select properties, it will tell you there what service pack you have.
Unless you, or someone else disabled automatic updates, you will have SP3

Hazel · 9th June 2012, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by scissorhands

Right click on your "my computer" icon, select properties, it will tell you there what service pack you have.
Unless you, or someone else disabled automatic updates, you will have SP3

I did check last night and I do have it. I was sure I remembered it.

These updates always ask if I want them. That lets me know what they are doing. With automatic, you don't always know what they have put in there.

Lolly · 9th June 2012, 04:27 AM

It's a good idea to do that. Also, a quick search to see if there are any issues with a particular update. Sometimes they have a problem which needs a little time to be ironed out, so it may pay to defer installation until you find out whether it's likely to nuke your computer or not.

Hazel · 9th June 2012, 05:06 AM

Whenever the technician from Fantastechs - a great computer repair group here in St Louis - comes to fix something for me, he always checks to see if anything needs updating. If I missed something, he would catch it.

Roma · 9th June 2012, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Hazel

The world has become quite crooked, methinks.

Which is where the Better Business Bureau comes in...

Actually , when I made the mistake of completely deleting all of my windows programs instead of just deleting the free trial of Windows 7 a couple of years ago I complained online to the BBB about Microsoft and what I thought was a deceptive marketing practice to trick me into purchasing Windows 7.
What resulted about a day or two later was a person from Microsoft contacting me.
Since my Windows XP had been installed by a Foundaton and I did not have the disks, the person at Microsoft mailed me all the disks I needed and helped me re-install my Windows programs for me online, free.

jj · 9th June 2012, 11:33 PM

Just click the button that says "revalidate" or "try to validate again". It's a startup glitch 99.95% of the time.

jj · 9th June 2012, 11:35 PM

And keep your updates up to date unless you have a bad bit of hardware that won't work with the modern software. There is a great lot of wrong, paranoid rambling in this thread. And, no, I don't work there any more and I prefer linux.

7th June 2012, 04:31 PM	#1
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Microsoft Security Essentials I hope someone can soothe my frazzled nerves. A weird and quite disturbing thing happened today. I have Windows XP. I bought this computer from Dell in 2005 with Windows XP on it. I am sure it has to be a valid Windows. Dell would not sell invalid platforms. I also have Microsoft Security Essentials which was installed about a year ago. Today, I suddenly had a window with this message: "Windows did not pass genuine validation. Security Essentials will become disabled in 30 days if you do not resolve this issue. To resolve this issue, click here to go online and validate a new Windows." A friend tells me that they are going to insist that I purchase a new Windows platform. Why? I know (well, surely) that Dell did not sell me an invalid Windows. I called the people who keep my computer in good shape. I was told that Microsoft believes that 1 our of 4 users are using invalid Windows and that other people are also getting this message despite the fact that they have valid Windows. I can only guess that Microsoft is doing a "hit or miss" job of scaring people who have invalid Windows to buy legitimate ones. Meanwhile, they scare the rest of us to death. Someone please tell me what is going on. Is Microsoft going to force me to buy a new Windows platform when this one is doing fine? What is it going to ask me to do when I go online as it instructs? And, what if I just removed Security Essentials and got another virus protection program? Will Security Essential alone become disabled? Or will Microsoft disable my Windows XP? Help!!!!! Computer User Dummy - ME!

7th June 2012, 05:16 PM	#2
Sam.I.Am Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hunting Moose and Squirrel Posts: 4,154	Just call them. They will ask for the COA number on the sticker on the back of your PC (it's a 25 character alpha numeric key) or if the PC came with an install disk it might be on the packaging that the CD came with. They will then get it sorted out. They will probably ask you to download and install a WGA tool from their website and email the results to them (or post it in an online form somehow, they will tell you). As long as Dell didn't get some kind of volume deal that has since expired (it's slightly unlikely with XP Home but highly unlikely with XP Pro) you should be good to go. Note that if you have ANY other Microsoft products (Office for example) whose registration is shaky or in doubt that that too can trigger this warning even if your XP is 100% valid. The WGA checks ALL Microsoft products.
	__________________ "Swift, silent and deadly" was a part of my job description Upon hearing me say that my friend asked me "So you're a fart?"... About my avatar.

7th June 2012, 05:20 PM	#3
GodMark2 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 1,041	XP is just about a million years old in computer years, and MS isn't making any money of it any more. So, they want to force everyone to use only the latest and greatest version of their product. Only, if they actually forced such a thing, the DOJ in several countries would be all over their bums with lawsuits aplenty. So, they just let support slowly evaporate, with problems being slow to get fixed. Remember: You haven't bought a copy of Windows XP, you have agreed to a license allowing for use of Windows XP under a rather narrow set of restrictions, subject to change at Microsoft's whims, and backed up through a series of technical enforcement measures that just so happen to be prone to failure. Any failure of the enforcement measures is, according to the license, solely your fault, as you must certainly have been peeking into places you didn't have permission to even know about, let alone actually look at.
	__________________ Knowing that we do not know, it does not necessarily follow that we can not know.

7th June 2012, 05:26 PM	#5
Sam.I.Am Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hunting Moose and Squirrel Posts: 4,154	I should add that if you DO have any questionable software then don't run the WGA check. Your best bet is to back up all of your data and format and reinstall the valid copy of XP that came with the PC using the tools and\or disks that the PC came with, then update it via Windows update (if it's not up to SP 3 then you may have to download SP2 manually first but I do believe SP3 had come out by 2005 so you should have it). Don't reinstall the questionable software (if you had any) and use free solutions instead such as Libre Office to replace MS Office. If you don't have the disks (or the COA sticker number if you call) then you probably are well and truly screwed.
	__________________ "Swift, silent and deadly" was a part of my job description Upon hearing me say that my friend asked me "So you're a fart?"... About my avatar.

7th June 2012, 05:30 PM	#7
Sam.I.Am Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hunting Moose and Squirrel Posts: 4,154	Originally Posted by Hazel Call Microsoft? I didn't know you could call Microsoft. I've never found a way to contact them in any form. So, if I go to their web site, there will be a way given to call them? And, will they charge me for this contact? Thank you. If this can be done, I'll do it. As I said, early on in my computer life, I tried contacting Microsoft but never had any luck. You can look through here: http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/i...dowsxp/threads And see what other people have had to do to fix this problem but like it was said above MS really doesn't want to support this product anymore but they do want to sell you Windows 7 so keep that in mind and be a bit tenacious if they try to push you around. They are counting on you being scared of them and if you have done nothing wrong you will have nothing to worry about. It might take a few days or so but you have 30 days to play around with.
	__________________ "Swift, silent and deadly" was a part of my job description Upon hearing me say that my friend asked me "So you're a fart?"... About my avatar.

7th June 2012, 05:22 PM	#4
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Call Microsoft? I didn't know you could call Microsoft. I've never found a way to contact them in any form. So, if I go to their web site, there will be a way given to call them? And, will they charge me for this contact? Thank you. If this can be done, I'll do it. As I said, early on in my computer life, I tried contacting Microsoft but never had any luck.

7th June 2012, 05:26 PM	#6
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Originally Posted by GodMark2 XP is just about a million years old in computer years, and MS isn't making any money of it any more. So, they want to force everyone to use only the latest and greatest version of their product. Only, if they actually forced such a thing, the DOJ in several countries would be all over their bums with lawsuits aplenty. So, they just let support slowly evaporate, with problems being slow to get fixed. Remember: You haven't bought a copy of Windows XP, you have agreed to a license allowing for use of Windows XP under a rather narrow set of restrictions, subject to change at Microsoft's whims, and backed up through a series of technical enforcement measures that just so happen to be prone to failure. Any failure of the enforcement measures is, according to the license, solely your fault, as you must certainly have been peeking into places you didn't have permission to even know about, let alone actually look at. Please tell me they don't have computers on Pern!!! Just smoke signals?

7th June 2012, 05:33 PM	#8
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Originally Posted by Sam.I.Am I should add that if you DO have any questionable software then don't run the WGA check. Your best bet is to back up all of your data and format and reinstall the valid copy of XP that came with the PC using the tools and\or disks that the PC came with, then update it via Windows update (if it's not up to SP 3 then you may have to download SP2 manually first but I do believe SP3 had come out by 2005 so you should have it). Don't reinstall the questionable software (if you had any) and use free solutions instead such as Libre Office to replace MS Office. If you don't have the disks (or the COA sticker number if you call) then you probably are well and truly screwed. The only "questionable" software that I have is Microsoft Security Essentials. Just my opinion. I do not have MS Office. Never did like it. I have Open Office. Much easier to use. And I do still have the disk and everything else that came with the computer including the original invoice. Now I know why I'm a saver. Thanks much. I am feeling just a bit better. Tomorrow, I'll get into this. Need some sleep tonight which is why I booted up again and posted here.

7th June 2012, 05:36 PM	#9
Sam.I.Am Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hunting Moose and Squirrel Posts: 4,154	Originally Posted by Hazel The only "questionable" software that I have is Microsoft Security Essentials. Just my opinion. I do not have MS Office. Never did like it. I have Open Office. Much easier to use. And I do still have the disk and everything else that came with the computer including the original invoice. Now I know why I'm a saver. Thanks much. I am feeling just a bit better. Tomorrow, I'll get into this. Need some sleep tonight which is why I booted up again and posted here. Just so you know, Libre Office is made by the same people that made Open Office only it's more up to date.
	__________________ "Swift, silent and deadly" was a part of my job description Upon hearing me say that my friend asked me "So you're a fart?"... About my avatar.

7th June 2012, 05:37 PM	#10
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Originally Posted by Sam.I.Am You can look through here: http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/i...dowsxp/threads And see what other people have had to do to fix this problem but like it was said above MS really doesn't want to support this product anymore but they do want to sell you Windows 7 so keep that in mind and be a bit tenacious if they try to push you around. They are counting on you being scared of them and if you have done nothing wrong you will have nothing to worry about. It might take a few days or so but you have 30 days to play around with. Would this hassling stop if I removed MS Security Essentials and got a different antivirus program? I just remembered something. Last week, or week before, MS added 15 or 16 updates. I've had little annoyances with it ever since. I wonder if there is a connection.
	Last edited by Hazel; 7th June 2012 at 05:38 PM.

7th June 2012, 05:41 PM	#11
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Thank you, Sam. What I like about Open Office is that it lets me type a letter the way I want to type it, not the way they want me to type it. I'll remember Libre Office.

7th June 2012, 06:11 PM	#12
Sam.I.Am Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hunting Moose and Squirrel Posts: 4,154	Originally Posted by Hazel Would this hassling stop if I removed MS Security Essentials and got a different antivirus program? I just remembered something. Last week, or week before, MS added 15 or 16 updates. I've had little annoyances with it ever since. I wonder if there is a connection. The short answer is no. The "Damage" is done and you will have to go through MS now to fix it. Now if you end up reinstalling XP then the answer is maybe you will run into this problem and maybe not but at least if you do have the problem after a reinstall (and you know that there is nothing shady on the PC) you can be as sure as you can that it will be fixed. The reality is that most XP users (note that this does not apply to Vista or Win 7) don't really need to use MS updates all that often anymore. Just update it once after a re-install and turn it off after that. XP is a very old and stable operating system at this point. Most updates patch minor issues (or check for a bad copy of windows) that won't affect 99% of the users in any significant way as long as you stay away from the really shady parts of the internet and install a free anti virus like Avast (my first choice right now after MSSE but maybe not yours) or AVG that can deal with the vast majority of attacks that the average, non porn viewing, non China or Russia visiting or warez type user might see. I'd also suggest (if you have a western digital or seagate hard drive) making a backup of the updated operating system using the free Acronis tools that those companies offer. It will save you a lot of hassle later on if you do have to reinstall and reduce the time it takes down to less than half an hour instead of the 4+ hours that you are looking at right now (if you need to do a reinstall). If you do need help just post here again and you will probably find some help in that regard.
	__________________ "Swift, silent and deadly" was a part of my job description Upon hearing me say that my friend asked me "So you're a fart?"... About my avatar.

7th June 2012, 10:54 PM	#13
BobK Muse Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: State of confusion Posts: 913	Hazel, After doing my regular update a couple months ago I started having the same problem. I could make the problem go away by clicking the link in the pop-up warning window. It would take me to a validation page which checked and told me my Windows was valid. Every couple days the warning would reappear, so I'd rinse and repeat the validation. Got tired of doing that, so I uninstalled MSE and downloaded a fresh copy of it. Haven't had a problem since. I think there might have been a bug in one of the MSE updates.
	__________________ A mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.

8th June 2012, 03:02 AM	#14
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Originally Posted by BobK Hazel, After doing my regular update a couple months ago I started having the same problem. I could make the problem go away by clicking the link in the pop-up warning window. It would take me to a validation page which checked and told me my Windows was valid. Every couple days the warning would reappear, so I'd rinse and repeat the validation. Got tired of doing that, so I uninstalled MSE and downloaded a fresh copy of it. Haven't had a problem since. I think there might have been a bug in one of the MSE updates. This is good to read. Thank you. My favourite computer fixer is coming today to help me through this. The things all of you have told me will help. At least I slept last night.

8th June 2012, 03:13 AM	#15
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Thank you, Sam. This is all very encouraging. This constantly getting something new when the old still works quite well (often better) is not part of my nature. But that's how the internet world operates. Before, I had Windows 95 and went through something of the same. It was very stable and causing no problems whatsoever but it had to go. A church group got a few more years of excellent service out of it. Later, I may talk about upgrading. For now, problems enough. I had developed such trust in MS with its updates. I have friends who did not have this trust and were picky and choosy about what they allowed. Maybe they know something I don't. You all have a good day. Again, thanks. Hazel

8th June 2012, 04:24 AM	#16
Dancing David Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 34,699	Originally Posted by Hazel Call Microsoft? I didn't know you could call Microsoft. I've never found a way to contact them in any form. So, if I go to their web site, there will be a way given to call them? And, will they charge me for this contact? Thank you. If this can be done, I'll do it. As I said, early on in my computer life, I tried contacting Microsoft but never had any luck. Hello, I would start here and download the Windows Genuine software. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474 Do you run automatic updates on your machine?
	__________________ Hell, dynamiting fish in a barrel is more challenging. - Ladewig I suspect you are a sandwich, metaphorically speaking. -Donn And a shot rang out. Now Space is doing time... -Ben Burch You built the toilet - don't complain when people crap in it. _Kid Eager

8th June 2012, 04:34 AM	#17
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Originally Posted by Dancing David Hello, I would start here and download the Windows Genuine software. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474 Do you run automatic updates on your machine? What, please, is Windows Genuine software? I don't run "automatic" updates but I do tend to trust MS to know what it is doing. I do check first to be sure they aren't upgrading a program that I do not want. Early on - long ago now - they did try to update Windows XP to a newer version. I said no to that.

8th June 2012, 05:43 AM	#18
Beerina Sarcastic Conqueror of Notions Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: A floating island above the clouds Posts: 23,835	Originally Posted by GodMark2 XP is just about a million years old in computer years, and MS isn't making any money of it any more. So, they want to force everyone to use only the latest and greatest version of their product. Only, if they actually forced such a thing, the DOJ in several countries would be all over their bums with lawsuits aplenty. So, they just let support slowly evaporate, with problems being slow to get fixed. Remember: You haven't bought a copy of Windows XP, you have agreed to a license allowing for use of Windows XP under a rather narrow set of restrictions, subject to change at Microsoft's whims, and backed up through a series of technical enforcement measures that just so happen to be prone to failure. Any failure of the enforcement measures is, according to the license, solely your fault, as you must certainly have been peeking into places you didn't have permission to even know about, let alone actually look at. Also, the fraud that you're "licensing" the software instead of buying it, due to other legal issues more related to them not being sued by you because of product liability laws, would start getting much greater notice if they started pulling this (bleep.)
	__________________ "Great innovations should not be forced [by way of] slender majorities." - Thomas Jefferson The government should nationalize it! Socialized, single-payer video game development and sales *now!* More, cheaper, better games, right? Right?

8th June 2012, 05:54 AM	#19
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Originally Posted by Beerina Also, the fraud that you're "licensing" the software instead of buying it, due to other legal issues more related to them not being sued by you because of product liability laws, would start getting much greater notice if they started pulling this (bleep.) Licensing software if "fraud"? But we license everything in our computers. Even MS Security Essentials asks us to agree to a license when they download or update. The world has become quite crooked, methinks. Tricky. Started with illegible fine print on insurance policies and grew from there. When you see fine print that even a magnifying glass will not make legible (latest pharmaceuticals labels), you know you're being had.

8th June 2012, 06:10 AM	#20
Lolly discombobulated Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Western Australia Posts: 4,573	Originally Posted by Hazel But we license everything in our computers. Just because Microsoft says it is so, doesn't necessarily make it so. Anyway, Hazel, as you've bought your computer from Dell, Dell is responsible for support. If there's a problem with the "licence" they sold you, they should be sorting it out for you. (No, it doesn't matter if it is outside the contractual warranty period, the licence is a lifetime licence and should have no issues with failing "validation")
	__________________ Pet Lover http://forums.randi.org/group.php?groupid=45 "When particles of evil and iniquity swarm together, they make a Lolly.": Legend

8th June 2012, 06:30 AM	#21
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Originally Posted by Lolly Just because Microsoft says it is so, doesn't necessarily make it so. Anyway, Hazel, as you've bought your computer from Dell, Dell is responsible for support. If there's a problem with the "licence" they sold you, they should be sorting it out for you. (No, it doesn't matter if it is outside the contractual warranty period, the licence is a lifetime licence and should have no issues with failing "validation") I agree with Bob that it is a flaw in MS Essential Securities. That is my fervent hope anyway. And, if it wants to disable itself in thirty days, fine. I'll get another one.

8th June 2012, 11:15 AM	#22
Dancing David Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 34,699	Originally Posted by Hazel What, please, is Windows Genuine software? I don't run "automatic" updates but I do tend to trust MS to know what it is doing. I do check first to be sure they aren't upgrading a program that I do not want. Early on - long ago now - they did try to update Windows XP to a newer version. I said no to that. Well as someone who runs custom updates I understand, however, Service Pack 2 and Service Pack 3 are a 'good thing' to have. I allow the 'important' updates to install as they are mostly security patches. Windows genuine Software is a ploy by MS to stop people from using unlicensed software.
	__________________ Hell, dynamiting fish in a barrel is more challenging. - Ladewig I suspect you are a sandwich, metaphorically speaking. -Donn And a shot rang out. Now Space is doing time... -Ben Burch You built the toilet - don't complain when people crap in it. _Kid Eager

8th June 2012, 11:21 AM	#23
LTC8K6 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Directly under a deadly chemtrail Posts: 12,616	You must run auto updates, imo. Big mistake to have that turned off.
	__________________ What a fool believes, no wise man has the power to reason away. What seems to be, is always better than nothing. 2 prints, same midtarsal crock..., I mean break?

8th June 2012, 11:42 AM	#24
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Originally Posted by Dancing David Well as someone who runs custom updates I understand, however, Service Pack 2 and Service Pack 3 are a 'good thing' to have. I allow the 'important' updates to install as they are mostly security patches. Windows genuine Software is a ploy by MS to stop people from using unlicensed software. Thank you. The computer man came and checked. I got a "valid" on it. Now to wait and see if it repeats itself since it did that with someone else. Hazel

8th June 2012, 11:46 AM	#25
Sam.I.Am Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hunting Moose and Squirrel Posts: 4,154	Originally Posted by Dancing David Well as someone who runs custom updates I understand, however, Service Pack 2 and Service Pack 3 are a 'good thing' to have. I allow the 'important' updates to install as they are mostly security patches. Windows genuine Software is a ploy by MS to stop people from using unlicensed software. I was going to say this. If you didn't update to SP3 then the odds are that that is your problem. Copies of XP updated to SP1 (But not SP2) (Service Packs are not an upgrade like buying Vista or Win 7) started getting this warning about a year ago or so so it would make sense that any copy of XP updated to SP2 but not SP3 would be seeing the same warning at some point. All of the advice I gave above was predicated on you having SP3 installed.
	__________________ "Swift, silent and deadly" was a part of my job description Upon hearing me say that my friend asked me "So you're a fart?"... About my avatar.

8th June 2012, 12:18 PM	#26
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Originally Posted by Sam.I.Am I was going to say this. If you didn't update to SP3 then the odds are that that is your problem. Copies of XP updated to SP1 (But not SP2) (Service Packs are not an upgrade like buying Vista or Win 7) started getting this warning about a year ago or so so it would make sense that any copy of XP updated to SP2 but not SP3 would be seeing the same warning at some point. All of the advice I gave above was predicated on you having SP3 installed. I am sure I have service pack 3. My computer came with sp 2 and I've had one update since then. Quite a while ago, in fact. I could try to check to be sure but I do remember that. Thanks for the "heads up", though. Hazel

8th June 2012, 02:36 PM	#27
scissorhands Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,537	Originally Posted by Hazel I am sure I have service pack 3. My computer came with sp 2 and I've had one update since then. Quite a while ago, in fact. I could try to check to be sure but I do remember that. Thanks for the "heads up", though. Hazel Right click on your "my computer" icon, select properties, it will tell you there what service pack you have. Unless you, or someone else disabled automatic updates, you will have SP3
	Last edited by scissorhands; 8th June 2012 at 02:44 PM.

9th June 2012, 04:16 AM	#28
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Originally Posted by scissorhands Right click on your "my computer" icon, select properties, it will tell you there what service pack you have. Unless you, or someone else disabled automatic updates, you will have SP3 I did check last night and I do have it. I was sure I remembered it. These updates always ask if I want them. That lets me know what they are doing. With automatic, you don't always know what they have put in there.

9th June 2012, 04:27 AM	#29
Lolly discombobulated Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Western Australia Posts: 4,573	It's a good idea to do that. Also, a quick search to see if there are any issues with a particular update. Sometimes they have a problem which needs a little time to be ironed out, so it may pay to defer installation until you find out whether it's likely to nuke your computer or not.
	__________________ Pet Lover http://forums.randi.org/group.php?groupid=45 "When particles of evil and iniquity swarm together, they make a Lolly.": Legend

9th June 2012, 05:06 AM	#30
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,222	Whenever the technician from Fantastechs - a great computer repair group here in St Louis - comes to fix something for me, he always checks to see if anything needs updating. If I missed something, he would catch it.

9th June 2012, 10:14 PM	#31
Roma Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 2,059	Originally Posted by Hazel The world has become quite crooked, methinks. Which is where the Better Business Bureau comes in... Actually , when I made the mistake of completely deleting all of my windows programs instead of just deleting the free trial of Windows 7 a couple of years ago I complained online to the BBB about Microsoft and what I thought was a deceptive marketing practice to trick me into purchasing Windows 7. What resulted about a day or two later was a person from Microsoft contacting me. Since my Windows XP had been installed by a Foundaton and I did not have the disks, the person at Microsoft mailed me all the disks I needed and helped me re-install my Windows programs for me online, free.
	__________________ I only know what I want to know.

9th June 2012, 11:33 PM	#32
jj grumpy old skeptic Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Deep in the rain Posts: 18,476	Just click the button that says "revalidate" or "try to validate again". It's a startup glitch 99.95% of the time.
	__________________ The Power to Quit

9th June 2012, 11:35 PM	#33
jj grumpy old skeptic Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Deep in the rain Posts: 18,476	And keep your updates up to date unless you have a bad bit of hardware that won't work with the modern software. There is a great lot of wrong, paranoid rambling in this thread. And, no, I don't work there any more and I prefer linux.
	__________________ The Power to Quit