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Strange msg about Windows Security Essentials

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jigo

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May 25, 2012, 1:21:05 PM5/25/12
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I've had Windows Security Essentials installed for some time. Yesterday
I get a pop-up balloon in the lower right corner saying "Windows did not
pass validation, Security Essentials will be disabled in 30 days if you
do not resolve the issue. To continue using Security Essentials Go
online now and get genuine Windows."

I know my Windows XP version is genuine because it came installed on my
hp computer. Has anyone else had this happen? Can they disable Windows
completely?

VanguardLH

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May 26, 2012, 2:53:32 AM5/26/12
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MSE is available only for validated installations of Windows. When you
go to download it, you also have to pass their validation.

Apparently WGA thinks something significantly changed on your computer
that it no longer thinks that license is not in use on the same computer
as it was before. See what happens when you try to re-validate it. If
you run:

oobe/msoobe /a

then it will say it your license is [still] validated. If not, you'll
start the validation process which may complete with an online check but
may fail which requires you phone in to get a new product key.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916247
(You need to use IE for the diag page & it be running under admin
privileges.)

jigo

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May 27, 2012, 2:02:06 PM5/27/12
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> (You need to use IE for the diag page& it be running under admin
> privileges.)

Strange. Nothing significantly changed on my computer. What is WGA? It
seems to me that the simplest thing to do is uninstall MSE and install
Avast or AVG or some other free anti-software program. A lot are rated
better than MSE anyway, and I would not have to waste time on such nonsense.


VanguardLH

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May 27, 2012, 3:32:04 PM5/27/12
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That won't alter that your *Windows* installation now thinks it is no
longer validated. That means it will disable itself after the 30-day
trial period. It's pretty easy, as described, to check if Windows is
validated or not right now.

jigo

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May 27, 2012, 6:51:48 PM5/27/12
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I entered oobe/msoobe /a at the command prompt and got back the message
'oobe' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable
program, or batch file.

VanguardLH

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May 28, 2012, 12:59:37 AM5/28/12
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The oobe folder is under the system32 folder which is under the Windows
folder (usually C:\Windows). If the PATH environment was defined
correctly, and if not screwed up by other installers or apps that modify
it, then the C:\Windows\system32 folder should still be list in the PATH
environment variable. If it isn't may be why you cannot find the oobe
subfolder.

So just run the msoobe program found under C:\Windows\System32\oobe. A
simple file search would've also found it.
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