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Will I be able to run WGA on an isolated Vista computer?

Question
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My company has a security policy that forbids us from connecting virtual machines to the company's intranet (and subsequently from the internet as well). I have a Vista RC2 virtual machine that I have not run in a few weeks. Today I started it up and after a few minutes, received this error dialog:
Optional update delivery is not working.
This copy of Microsoft Windows is not genuine.
<link>Go online and resolve now</link>
I can't go online! Is there any way to download a program and resolve this locally?? I realize this is a release candidate version, but this seems like a design issue, not a bug, so I assume the RTM version will be the same way. I think I've read somewhere that Vista reassesses its genuineness every 30 days.
I've searched microsoft.com, I can't find any way to download a standalone WGA tool.
Please help, this is going to torpedo my ability to test with Vista (I am a software tester).
I should mention that I have a WSUS server running on the host PC, and Windows Update on the VM guest is configured to get updates from this server, that is working fine.
Thanks,
ChuckFriday, November 10, 2006 8:08 PM
Answers
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Vista builds can be determined to be non-genuine "normally" only when you go online to a Genuine enabled web-site. There are, of course, certain exceptions. To resolve your non-genuine state locally, the most likely things to check for are:
#1) You say above, "... I have not run in a few weeks." This might mean that the 30-day out of box grace period has expired -- this will put your Vista copy into a reduced functionality mode, most easily recognized by being locked out at Winlogon screen. If this is your scenario, you will have to activate Vista to remove non-genuine status. Online activation, of course, will not work, but you will be able to activate over the telephone.
#2) There are three known compatibility issues (previously discussed in other threads in this forum) that cause a non-genuine status, even for machines that have never gone online. Vendors report that all three have been addressed now, though we (Microsoft) have only verified two so far:
* Spyware Doctor -- the latest version from PC Tools web-site no longer reports non-genuine. If you are running an older version of the Spyware Doctor binary, please either uninstall or download and install the latest
* Trend Micro Internet Security (PC-Cillin, etc.) before version 14.56. For machines upgraded from Windows XP, this was a common issue. If you are running this software, please download the latest Vista compatible version from Trend Micro.
* nProtect Gameguard -- this is installed automatically by several games; not usually by end-users directly. nProtect has communicated to our protection team that the issue has been addressed. Game companies who host nProtect's software must update their servers to the latest version in order for customers to get the updated version. I'd imagine this will shake out through most game company's servers within a matter of weeks (if it hasn't already). The only other workaround if the game company's server hasn't been updated yet is to uninstall the game (and Gameguard).
Note that none of the programs above had what I would call "bugs." There code was simply doing things that used to be allowed in XP, and they were unaware that the techniques are no longer permitted in Vista. We have send general guidance and communication to several vendors about this issue, so we hope the incidence is less and less going forward.
Anyhow, there should be no need to download a standalone WGA tool if the machine has never been online. If the machine has been online, like when it was setup for instance, a non-genuine status would have been reflected immediately if one was found while online. That doesn't sound like your case. If the above doesn't help, please post more details about the edition and build number of Vista you installed, your Product ID (not you 5x5 product key -- that's valuable, personal, and something you should never share publically -- just the PID from Control Panel->System tab), and any specific error codes/messages you see.
Monday, November 13, 2006 2:37 PM
All replies
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I would suggest submitting a WGA support request here: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?&c1=509&gprid=9860Friday, November 10, 2006 11:13 PMModerator
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Vista builds can be determined to be non-genuine "normally" only when you go online to a Genuine enabled web-site. There are, of course, certain exceptions. To resolve your non-genuine state locally, the most likely things to check for are:
#1) You say above, "... I have not run in a few weeks." This might mean that the 30-day out of box grace period has expired -- this will put your Vista copy into a reduced functionality mode, most easily recognized by being locked out at Winlogon screen. If this is your scenario, you will have to activate Vista to remove non-genuine status. Online activation, of course, will not work, but you will be able to activate over the telephone.
#2) There are three known compatibility issues (previously discussed in other threads in this forum) that cause a non-genuine status, even for machines that have never gone online. Vendors report that all three have been addressed now, though we (Microsoft) have only verified two so far:
* Spyware Doctor -- the latest version from PC Tools web-site no longer reports non-genuine. If you are running an older version of the Spyware Doctor binary, please either uninstall or download and install the latest
* Trend Micro Internet Security (PC-Cillin, etc.) before version 14.56. For machines upgraded from Windows XP, this was a common issue. If you are running this software, please download the latest Vista compatible version from Trend Micro.
* nProtect Gameguard -- this is installed automatically by several games; not usually by end-users directly. nProtect has communicated to our protection team that the issue has been addressed. Game companies who host nProtect's software must update their servers to the latest version in order for customers to get the updated version. I'd imagine this will shake out through most game company's servers within a matter of weeks (if it hasn't already). The only other workaround if the game company's server hasn't been updated yet is to uninstall the game (and Gameguard).
Note that none of the programs above had what I would call "bugs." There code was simply doing things that used to be allowed in XP, and they were unaware that the techniques are no longer permitted in Vista. We have send general guidance and communication to several vendors about this issue, so we hope the incidence is less and less going forward.
Anyhow, there should be no need to download a standalone WGA tool if the machine has never been online. If the machine has been online, like when it was setup for instance, a non-genuine status would have been reflected immediately if one was found while online. That doesn't sound like your case. If the above doesn't help, please post more details about the edition and build number of Vista you installed, your Product ID (not you 5x5 product key -- that's valuable, personal, and something you should never share publically -- just the PID from Control Panel->System tab), and any specific error codes/messages you see.
Monday, November 13, 2006 2:37 PM -
Rich,
Thanks for your answer. I realized over the weekend that I had actually NOT activated this install. However, I got the non-genuine dialog about 10 minutes before the "you need to activate" dialog appeared.
Since this issue occurred with RC2 and Vista RTM is done and about to be released on MSDN, I will just wait and see if the same thing is happening there.
Thanks,
ChuckTuesday, November 14, 2006 4:47 PM