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LeeAn article is posted at PC World about a user who had bought Windows XP Pro operating system (OS) from an online company. He checked it with Microsoft Genuine Advantage Tools and it was pronounced as legitimate. However, over a year later, he got a message that his OS is no longer legal.
“If Microsoft declared my copy legal in 2007, it should stay legal. Why is this such a wishy-washy situation? Now I can’t get updates and if I have to reinstall the operating system I won’t be able to,” says William.
Source: PC World
Cheap XP disks with pre-installed WGA cracks would have passed WGA test a year ago.
I suggest the customer who “Purchased” the XP disc contacts Microsoft once again with details about who he bought it from with receipts to back up his information.
He may very well get a free replacement,
This sounds like a spyware issues….I’ve dealt with this before…..
http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/08/unable-to-complete-genuine-windows.html
I had a similar situation with an emachines desktop running Windows Vista Home Basic that I bought brand new. One day WGA popped in just to say that I was possibly using pirated software. I used the windows system disk that came with the machine and did a repair. When all was said and done, everything was back to normal again and I haven’t had that problem since. Maybe that is a possibility for you. I don’t know. I hope this helps some.
I hope in the near future more people will want to install linux or other “Free” type operating systems, so they don’t have to deal with this nonsense. Competition is good, especially for microsoft. Too much greed without competition.
Your copy of windows is valid. Microsoft has been unable to sort out its own mess, and there is already pending lawsuits against Microsoft for what is being presented on peoples computer as spyware. As long as you have a COA sticker on the side of your machine, you computer is licensed for windows. So what is the problem…If it originally passed the WGA test, and you have a coa sticker, and you were already able to run all the updates then it looks like a microsoft problem, not yours.
Apparently what Microsoft is doing is trying to create another revenue stream from un suspecting users or those users that really dont know any difference and will just pay to get rid of the script message. Sad, that they have to do this when Bill Gates alreay makes more money than most small countries. Most IT professionals already know how to turn off the message.
I have 3 genuine copies of Windows xp and all three copies no longer pass the WGA test. I now use crack versions. MS sucks!
These people are nothing but government sanctioned criminals.
The only people I hold in higher contempt are the MS defenders and enablers. What a sack of crap.
@Eddige – I agree. Linux is FREE. Who needs Windows? I LIKE total control of my PC, no fragmentation, tons of F/OSS, etc.
And people wonder why Windows is pirated so much.
I’ve seen this a handful of times. Most likely the person purchased a volume license that was making it’s way around the “pirates”, and it wasn’t invalid until the original purchaser canceled the license.
Bottom line, whenever purchasing stuff online, it’s buyer beware.