Hello wand1953,
We understand the inconvenience you are currently experiencing and would like to provide you with some self-help options we have made available for our customers. Please follow the steps outlined below as it could either resolve your issue or, if need be, provide us with additional information to determine the cause of this issue.
1. Ensure you log onto the computer experiencing the issue with “Administrator” rights.
2. Next we would like to confirm that you are running the most current version of the Genuine Advantage control on your computer. In order to do this please follow the below link and choose the “Validate Windows” option.
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine
If the above steps did not resolve your issue lets continue with the steps below.
If you could also please follow the steps outlined below, the diagnostics Web Site will attempt to resolve the validation errors you are experiencing with Windows.
http://www.microsoft.com/Genuine/diag/RunDiags.aspx?displayLang=en
Next follow the on-screen prompts to resolve the issue if any of the checks at the above site fail. If, after attempting to resolve the issue as per the instructions on the above site fails, please refer to the link below and run the MGA Diagnostics tool:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012
You will be prompted to either “Run” or “Save” the tool. Choose to “Run” the tool and follow the on-screen prompts. You will receive an “Internet Explorer-Security Warning” dialog box for the “Windows Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool”; you must choose to “Run” this tool when prompted.
Once you are presented with the Diagnostics tool choose “Continue” to run the diagnostic report. If the “RESOLVE” button is available after running the diagnostics, please click “RESOLVE” to allow the diagnostic tool to attempt a repair.
1. After running the MGA Diagnostic tool, click on the “Windows” tab and then click on “Copy”.
2. Please return to this post and “Paste” the results here for additional review.
Step 2 is to look on the computer itself, in the documentation you received with the computer or with your retail purchase of Windows to see if you have a Certificate of Authenticity (CoA). 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 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 full Product Key that may be printed on the CoA.
5. On a retail license for XP, the CoA will be affixed to the boxtop of the retail package.
Not sure what to look for? See this page for reference: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/en/coa.mspx
NOTE: The data collected with the Genuine Diagnostics Tool does NOT contain any information that can personally identify you and can be fully reviewed, by you, before being posted.
For great advice on all topics XP, visit http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp
