Windows Genuine Advantage - warning appears on activated machine

[rupertsland]

Hello.

This posting relates to a situation when Windows Genuine Advantage
notification mysteriously appears on a computer with a legitimate and
activated copy of Windows XP installed. More specifically, this situation
pertains to those who normally do NOT have their computer connected to the
internet (but might have it set up for a connection).

This problem might affect only a small number of users. Nevertheless, I
would like to share what I know after encountering this problem with one of
my rural clients while doing routine maintenance, as my solution may be of
help to others. Please accept my apology if these comments have been posted
to the wrong forum.

I contacted Microsoft earlier this evening for support and spoke with three
representatives. Unfortunately, they could not resolve the problem. However,
the good news is that I was able to resolve the problem on my own, and the
solution was fairly simple.

It is possible for a computer with a legal and properly activated copy of
Windows XP (home/pro) to display a Windows Genuine Advantage notification at
the logon screen and in the system tray. This could happen if the computer:

- is normally NOT connected to the internet (but may be set up for it),
- has not been updated for many months or a year using Automatic Updates,
- has not been manually updated for many months or a year using Microsoft
Update, and
- does have the Windows Genuine Advantage Notification update installed

The solution was simply to connect the client's computer to the internet and
let the Windows Genuine Advantage access Microsoft's website to validate
Windows online. It took two attempts. Running the validation a second time
worked. Restarting the computer removed the Genuine Advantage notification
from the logon screen and the system tray. From there, it was then possible
to download updates.

I'm not exactly certain why the notification appeared this past week. I
suspect that after the Genuine Advantage Notification update was downloaded
many months ago, validation was never run. After the new year began, Genuine
Advantage feature kicked in produced the warning.

To validate Windows, visit the Genuine Microsoft Software webpage at:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx?displaylang=en

--
rupertsland,
Canada

[Ian]

Yes, it's a very common problem, as is failure of OEM licences to activate.

Only yesterday I did a repair-install on an OEM copy supplied by myself (So
I know it's genuine!) and it demanded activation immediately after the
repair. Worst thing was, there was no network connectivity where it was so it
couldn't be activated, and -major oversight on the WPA coders' part- no means
of shutting the machine off, so I had to cut the power, risking HD
corruption.