Shaz_shh077,
I understand the inconvenience you are currently experiencing. We have seen numerous issues from customers who were provided a Volume License Key (VLK) on their computer that has either been blocked by Microsoft or generated by a fake key code generator. Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) currently provides checks for these type keys and prompts the user to notify them of this situation. More invalid keys are being identified daily and WGA is constantly refreshing its database with these newly identified keys and immediately blocks them. Right now, your computer has a Volume Licensing (VL) edition of Windows XP Professional and Office XP Professional identified on line 7. The installation was done with a now-blocked Volume Licensing Key (VLK) located on line 2. VLKs are blocked by Microsoft at the request of the original key holder for various reasons such as the key was lost, stolen, compromised, misused, or expired. Also, MS may have blocked the key if it notices a pattern of misuse, i.e., more installations of Windows XP professional and Office XP Professional using that key than authorized.
As a rule, VL editions of Windows XP Professional and Office XP Professional should not be sold to individual consumers. Businesses, schools and governments normally use VL editions for flexibility in installing many computers. Also, Volume Licenses for Windows XP is Upgrade licenses ONLY and cannot be used as the original or base license for a new computer.
This is why you were seeing the "Software Counterfeiting" messages on your computer, because the current installation of Windows XP Professional and Office XP Professional is an unauthorized installation.
Look on the computer or in the materials that came with your computer to see if you have a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). The following websites will help determine the validity of your operating system as well as identify various COA’s.
There are three ways operating systems are installed on systems which you as the customer purchase.
1. Pre-installation: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/windows/quiz_coa.mspx provides a quiz giving detailed information for customers who purchased a PC with preinstalled software.
2. Retail Version: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/windows/quiz_cd.mspx. Please read and answer the questions. You will be given an answer about the validity of the retail version of software recently purchased.
3. Volume Licensing: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/windows/quiz_vol.mspx. Please read and answer the questions. You will be given an answer about the validity of the Volume Licensing version of software recently purchased.
If you have one, tell us about the COA. Tell us:
1. What edition of Windows XP is it for, Home, Pro, or Media Center, or for another version of Windows?
2. Does it read "OEM Software" or "OEM Product" in black lettering?
3. Or, does it have the computer manufacturer's name in black lettering?
4. DO NOT post the Product Key.
If this comes as a total surprise to you, please go back to where you purchased the installed Windows XP Professional and let them know it is a counterfeit copy and demand they immediately reimburse you and/or provide a Genuine Copy which was originally paid for. In any case, please uninstall the non-genuine installation of Windows XP Professional because there could be viruses prebuilt into the counterfeit version of the software purchased.
If you still believe your VLK is Genuine please refer to the following steps to confirm either genuine or non-genuine status:
1) If you are a Microsoft Volume Licensing customer you should contact your Reseller and address the issue with them directly.
2) Refer to this site for information concerning VLK’s http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/vol/default.mspx#EJG
3) If your reseller did not keep a record of your key, is unable to assist you or can no longer be contacted please call the appropriate number here to confirm your Volume Licensing Agreement directly with Microsoft. The below Licensing FAQ will provide you with all the information needed to contact Microsoft directly about your Volume Licensing agreement:
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/faq.mspx
4) If you believe you have been sold counterfeit software you can provide Piracy information using the below link:
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/Reporting.mspx
5) If your issue is still not resolved you may Purchase a copy of Windows XP or if you believe you have an existing valid Product Key and change the existing product key using the following MS Knowledge base article to change the VLK only. This will not work when trying to change the Blocked VLK to a Retail or OEM Product Key.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328874/en-us
6) If you are attempting to change the existing key to a valid OEM or Retail key please follow the repair installation outlined in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341
Lori MS
