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How many licenses do I need to be valid?

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After dropping my laptop and destroying it in the process, for second time (yes - I know - butter and fingers jump to mind!!!), I purchased a desktop PC in Montenegro October 2007 and a technician friend installed all for me. Since then basically no problems, until now. Now I get Validation error for MS Windows XP Professional, 2002 version, service pack 3. I have followed instructions, downloaded plugins which confirmed validation failure and checked the online forum for guidance on how to fix and tips. After hunting around the house and the PC I note there is no visible CoA on the PC and I cannot find any of the installation CDs - I only have backup copies of various driver CDs (i.e. no MS originals for this PC). To cap it all the tech friend who did the install is now systems manager on a ship somewhere on the planet and I am not sure how to get hold of him.

I believe I have the original CDs/CoAs from my two dead laptops, both of which were purchased in the UK via reputable manufacturers (Toshiba & Acer) and both appeared to be the real deal.

Therefore I am less than happy about paying for yet another copy of XP and would appreciate it if someone could advise me on how to utilise one of my other valid copies of software to resolve the problem - ideally using one of the licenses I have at home from my smashed laptops? Please note - my technical capability does not extend to setting timer on my oven - so be gentle with me!

Saturday, August 8, 2009 2:05 PM

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Hello MarcMignot,

Right now, your computer has a Volume Licensing edition of XP Pro installed (Line 10), and that installation was done with a now-geographically blocked Volume Licensing Key (VLK) (Line 2). VLKs are blocked by Microsoft at the request of the original key holder for such reasons as the key was lost, stolen, compromised, misused, or expired. Also, Microsoft may have blocked the key if it notices a pattern of misuse, i.e., more installations of XP using that key than authorized.

A geographically blocked key is blocked when it is detected in use outside of the worldwide geographic area(s) covered by its Volume Licensing Agreement. The particular Product Key you are using, which ends in 3R89F-D2KXW-VPK3J, is a widely pirated key, and it looks like it recently had a geographic block put on it to try to curb its use, which probably explains why it was showing as Genuine up until recently.

As a rule, VL editions of XP should not be sold to individual consumers. Businesses, schools and governments normally use VL editions for flexibility in installing many computers. Additionally, VL editions are Upgrade licenses ONLY, and therefore cannot be used as the primary or base license for a computer.

This is why you were seeing the "software counterfeiting" messages on your computer, because the current installation of XP is an unauthorized installation.

Regarding your installation of Microsoft Office 2003 Professional, it is also a Volume Licensing installation. Volume Licensing copies of Office 2003 are not to be sold to individual consumers, as the use of these licenses is subject to a Volume Licensing Agreement that can be limited (as in the geographic block put on XP above) or cancelled at any time, thus leaving the consumer "high and dry" without the software they paid for. If you purchased this copy of Office thinking it was a retail copy authorized to be sold to individual consumers, you may be a victim of software counterfeiting. If so, you will want to return it to the place of purchase and demand the retail software you paid for, or a refund of your money.

You mentioned that you already looked on the computer and elsewhere and did not find Certificates of Authenticity for Windows or Office, and I got the impression that you don't expect to find any.

With your current circumstances, it's not looking very good---both Windows and Office are pirated installations.

Regarding the licenses for Windows that originated with the two broken laptops, I do not think those are going to be much help, either. Typically Windows licenses that come preinstalled on name brand computers are OEM licenses, and OEM licenses are valid only on the computer onto which they are first installed, and OEM licenses are not permitted to be moved to any other computer. In the case of the "dead" laptops, when the laptops died, so did their licenses for Windows. Placing this movement limitation on these OEM licenses (as well as other limitations such as requiring the computer manufacturer to provide all operatin system tech support to the consumer) allows Microsoft to sell the licenses to these major computer manufacturers at a fraction of what it would cost you to buy a retail license.

So, if the licenses for Windows and Office on the desktop are no good, and you can't move the laptop licenses to the desktop, what are your options?

1. Do nothing. The computer will still run Windows and Office. You will see some inconvenient nagging about being nongenuine. The computer will still get critical security updates if Automatic Updates is enabled. You will not be able to get nice-to-have things like manual Windows Updates and access to a nice selection of Office templates and clip art.

2. Take advantage of the Windows and Office Genuine Offers to order Windows XP Pro and Office 2007 (2003 is no longer offered) at about half off of retail pricing. You are likely seeing this messaging on the computer now.

3. Purchase less expensive Windows and Office licenses by shopping for cheaper but more restrictive OEM licenses. But, be careful where you buy, there's a lot of counterfeit software out there, so buy only from trusted major online or local retailers.

4. Consider using alternative operating systems (such as Linux) and other office-like programs such as Google apps or Open Office.

Personally I'd like to see you choose #2 or #3, and IMHO #4 is a better choice than #1.

Good luck!
For great advice on all topics XP, visit http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp
- Marked as answer by Carey FrischMVP, Editor Sunday, August 9, 2009 3:13 PM
Saturday, August 8, 2009 9:43 PM

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I have just run the MGDA tool with the following results:

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0011.0):
-----------------------------------------
WGA Data-->
Validation Status: Geographically blocked PID
Validation Code: 13

Cached Validation Code: N/A
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-3R89F-D2KXW-VPK3J
Windows Product Key Hash: Ro/Y7HENE9CfW7lW+QtlNbYQEE8=
Windows Product ID: 55274-640-8365391-23814
Windows Product ID Type: 1
Windows License Type: Volume
Windows OS version: 5.1.2600.2.00010100.3.0.pro
ID: {8D0E3157-E407-4CDE-B2EC-3344BD7C590A}(3)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
WGA Version: Registered, 1.9.40.0
Signed By: Microsoft
Product Name: N/A
Architecture: N/A
Build lab: N/A
TTS Error: N/A
Validation Diagnostic: 025D1FF3-230-1
Resolution Status: N/A

WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A
Version: N/A

WGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: 13
File Exists: Yes
Version: 1.9.40.0
WgaTray.exe Signed By: Microsoft
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: Microsoft

OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Data-->
Office Status: 114 Blocked VLK 2
Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 - 114 Blocked VLK 2
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-230-1

Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed

File Scan Data-->

Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{8D0E3157-E407-4CDE-B2EC-3344BD7C590A}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0011.0</Version><OS>5.1.2600.2.00010100.3.0.pro</OS><Architecture>x32</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-VPK3J</PKey><PID>55274-640-8365391-23814</PID><PIDType>1</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-1645522239-1078145449-839522115</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>MSI</Manufacturer><Model>MS-7250</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>MS-7250</Manufacturer><Version>V1.7</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="5"/><Date>20070517000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>3085387F01848078</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Central Europe Standard Time(GMT+01:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>2</stat><msppid></msppid><name>Click Computers</name><model></model></SBID><OEM/><GANotification><File Name="WgaTray.exe" Version="1.9.40.0"/><File Name="WgaLogon.dll" Version="1.9.40.0"/></GANotification></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>114</Result><Products><Product GUID="{90110409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0150048383C9}"><LegitResult>114</LegitResult><Name>Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003</Name><Ver>11</Ver><Val>59D1605114E3500</Val><Hash>vfZmaSmFPIYrLWTcZSZErUQg+Fo=</Hash><Pid>73931-640-0000106-57448</Pid><PidType>14</PidType></Product></Products><Applications><App Id="15" Version="11" Result="114"/><App Id="16" Version="11" Result="114"/><App Id="18" Version="11" Result="114"/><App Id="19" Version="11" Result="114"/><App Id="1A" Version="11" Result="114"/><App Id="1B" Version="11" Result="114"/><App Id="44" Version="11" Result="114"/></Applications></Office></Software></GenuineResults>

Licensing Data-->
N/A

HWID Data-->
N/A

OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
BIOS string matches: no
Marker string from BIOS: N/A
Marker string from OEMBIOS.DAT: N/A, hr = 0x80004005

OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
N/A

So, it seems I have a bad copy of XP Pro. But as mentioned earlier, I have licensed and registered copies of XP from dead laptops - so what can I do to get legit without buying yet another license?

Saturday, August 8, 2009 2:38 PM
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Hello MarcMignot,

Right now, your computer has a Volume Licensing edition of XP Pro installed (Line 10), and that installation was done with a now-geographically blocked Volume Licensing Key (VLK) (Line 2). VLKs are blocked by Microsoft at the request of the original key holder for such reasons as the key was lost, stolen, compromised, misused, or expired. Also, Microsoft may have blocked the key if it notices a pattern of misuse, i.e., more installations of XP using that key than authorized.

A geographically blocked key is blocked when it is detected in use outside of the worldwide geographic area(s) covered by its Volume Licensing Agreement. The particular Product Key you are using, which ends in 3R89F-D2KXW-VPK3J, is a widely pirated key, and it looks like it recently had a geographic block put on it to try to curb its use, which probably explains why it was showing as Genuine up until recently.

As a rule, VL editions of XP should not be sold to individual consumers. Businesses, schools and governments normally use VL editions for flexibility in installing many computers. Additionally, VL editions are Upgrade licenses ONLY, and therefore cannot be used as the primary or base license for a computer.

This is why you were seeing the "software counterfeiting" messages on your computer, because the current installation of XP is an unauthorized installation.

Regarding your installation of Microsoft Office 2003 Professional, it is also a Volume Licensing installation. Volume Licensing copies of Office 2003 are not to be sold to individual consumers, as the use of these licenses is subject to a Volume Licensing Agreement that can be limited (as in the geographic block put on XP above) or cancelled at any time, thus leaving the consumer "high and dry" without the software they paid for. If you purchased this copy of Office thinking it was a retail copy authorized to be sold to individual consumers, you may be a victim of software counterfeiting. If so, you will want to return it to the place of purchase and demand the retail software you paid for, or a refund of your money.

You mentioned that you already looked on the computer and elsewhere and did not find Certificates of Authenticity for Windows or Office, and I got the impression that you don't expect to find any.

With your current circumstances, it's not looking very good---both Windows and Office are pirated installations.

Regarding the licenses for Windows that originated with the two broken laptops, I do not think those are going to be much help, either. Typically Windows licenses that come preinstalled on name brand computers are OEM licenses, and OEM licenses are valid only on the computer onto which they are first installed, and OEM licenses are not permitted to be moved to any other computer. In the case of the "dead" laptops, when the laptops died, so did their licenses for Windows. Placing this movement limitation on these OEM licenses (as well as other limitations such as requiring the computer manufacturer to provide all operatin system tech support to the consumer) allows Microsoft to sell the licenses to these major computer manufacturers at a fraction of what it would cost you to buy a retail license.

So, if the licenses for Windows and Office on the desktop are no good, and you can't move the laptop licenses to the desktop, what are your options?

1. Do nothing. The computer will still run Windows and Office. You will see some inconvenient nagging about being nongenuine. The computer will still get critical security updates if Automatic Updates is enabled. You will not be able to get nice-to-have things like manual Windows Updates and access to a nice selection of Office templates and clip art.

2. Take advantage of the Windows and Office Genuine Offers to order Windows XP Pro and Office 2007 (2003 is no longer offered) at about half off of retail pricing. You are likely seeing this messaging on the computer now.

3. Purchase less expensive Windows and Office licenses by shopping for cheaper but more restrictive OEM licenses. But, be careful where you buy, there's a lot of counterfeit software out there, so buy only from trusted major online or local retailers.

4. Consider using alternative operating systems (such as Linux) and other office-like programs such as Google apps or Open Office.

Personally I'd like to see you choose #2 or #3, and IMHO #4 is a better choice than #1.

Good luck!
For great advice on all topics XP, visit http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp
- Marked as answer by Carey FrischMVP, Editor Sunday, August 9, 2009 3:13 PM
Saturday, August 8, 2009 9:43 PM
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Thanks Dan, specific and helpful, though depressing to my wallet! I thought only the FED had the power to print dollars ... we live and learn!

Sunday, August 9, 2009 12:52 PM

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How many licenses do I need to be valid?

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