laurentio
17th March 2009, 03:59 AM
Problem:
"Suddenly get a message this AM "You may be a victim........"
WGA says my Windows XP is fake...run MS Windows Diagnostic Tool it says it is Genuine.
How do I get WGA to correct itself or how it is possible that my Windows XP was genuine until today (more than a year now) and suddenly has turned into a fake one over night?
Is this a genuine message that comes from Microsoft or is just another trojan-scam ??!"
http://support.bicestercomputers.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=168&stc=1&d=1237262198
Explanation:
Windows cannot be fake. Windows is not a fake Breitling or Gucci hand watch made on a Chinese ship on its way to USA...
The message you see it tells you that your copy of Windows XP or Vista is not genuine and/or it did not pass the activation. What does that mean?
The following detailed explanation has been copied from Microsoft's website:
Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)
The Windows Genuine Advantage program for Windows uses Windows product activation, validation, and notifications to verify that your copy of Windows is genuine.
Activation is an anti-piracy technology designed to make sure that your copy of Windows is properly licensed. It works by verifying that the product key is valid and is only being used on the number of computers permitted by the software license.
Validation is a quick process that allows you to find out if the product key you activated is counterfeit or has been misused. For example, you may have accidentally received a product key that was reported as lost or stolen by its original owner. Sometimes, during a repair or reinstall, an invalid product key is used if the original product key is not handy.
(Or, as part of hardware changes and upgrades your fully working license key becomes invalid)
Notifications helps Microsoft to fight software piracy and helps to you validate that the copy of Microsoft Windows that's installed on your computer is genuine and properly licensed. It reminds you that your copy of Windows did not pass validation.
Back to your questions:
It is hard to tell if the message is a genuine message from Microsoft or not and it would be wise to call a specialist onsite. Call today - Bicester Computers does a free system diagnostic which doesn't take more than a minute.
What you can do?
Do not panic and do not buy anything yet. Call your IT engineer, the vendor or the person that has installed your copy of Windows and ask him/them to check the problem for you. If that is a fake message or a trojan the IT specialist should be able to spot it and remove it for you.
If the message is from Microsoft it doesn't necessarily mean that your Windows is not genuine as there are too many factors to be taken in calculation:
http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2007/01/8690.ars
The license type might not be suitable for your system.
Was the system upgraded - changed motherboard?
The geographic zone/area - was your computer bought from USA or Asia?
Wrong system time?
Again, the IT engineer should be able to help you in this case too.
More from Microsoft's website in regard to this matter:
Q:
What do I do if my system fails validation, but I am certain that I purchased/have a genuine copy of Windows?
A:
If your computer came with a genuine product key, but Windows was improperly installed using an invalid product key, the Product Key Update Tool helps convert your computer to a genuine status without having to purchase a new copy of Windows. If this solution does not work, refer to the instructions above for what to do when your system fails validation.
Q:
What happens to customers who have mistakenly purchased a counterfeit version of Windows?
A:
Microsoft advises users who learn that their copy of Windows is not genuine to take the following steps:
Return to the reseller who provided the software to seek redress.
If their reseller is unable to help, users can take advantage of Microsoft genuine Windows offers designed to help victims of counterfeit software. To learn about the genuine Windows offer, customers can read about it (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/FAQ.aspx#) later in this FAQ.
Users can also purchase a genuine copy of Windows from a local reseller.
Q:
What happens if a corporation’s Volume License key was leaked or stolen and, as a result, fails validation?
A:
If your corporate system fails the validation process, you should contact your system administrator as soon as possible. The system administrator should ensure that the Volume License keys or the Product Activation keys being used are the proper keys issued from Microsoft. If the Microsoft-issued keys are being used and are still not validating through the Windows Genuine Advantage site or the Office Genuine Advantage site, the system administrator should contact the channel partner, or the system administrator can call one of the phone numbers listed at http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/vol/numbers.mspx. Please have your Authorization number for Open Licensing, an enrolment number for Select and Enterprise customers, and the Volume License keys that you are currently using available during the call.
Q:
Some people are saying that WGA from Microsoft is spyware. Is this true?
A:
Broadly speaking, spyware is deceptive software that is installed on a user’s computer without the user’s consent and has some malicious purpose. WGA is installed with the consent of the user and seeks only to notify the user if a proper license is not in place. If the user declines the installation agreement, WGA Notifications will not be installed on user’s machine. But, once installed, WGA Notifications becomes a permanent part of Windows XP software, and therefore cannot be uninstalled.
Q:
Why does Microsoft block certain Office product keys?
A:
When Microsoft discovers that a key has been leaked, stolen, misused, or is a false key, Microsoft may block that key to keep it from being improperly used. If you receive a failure message indicating that the key used to install your copy of Office has been blocked, and you believe you have received the message in error, contact your system administrator or the place from which you purchased Office to resolve the issue.
Conclusion:
Be that message on your computer a genuine or a fake message you still have to contact your IT engineer, your software or PC vendor or the person that has installed the operating system on your PC and have it checked.
If your system was installed - maintained by Bicester Computers, do not hesitate to contact us. The diagnostic is free and it doesn't take more than a minute. We, at Bicester Computers do not tolerate, accept, condone or support piracy - in any form and work hand in hand with the authories and our partners to protect their and our intellectual property.
Read more about WGA at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage
(http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2007/01/8690.ars)
"Suddenly get a message this AM "You may be a victim........"
WGA says my Windows XP is fake...run MS Windows Diagnostic Tool it says it is Genuine.
How do I get WGA to correct itself or how it is possible that my Windows XP was genuine until today (more than a year now) and suddenly has turned into a fake one over night?
Is this a genuine message that comes from Microsoft or is just another trojan-scam ??!"
http://support.bicestercomputers.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=168&stc=1&d=1237262198
Explanation:
Windows cannot be fake. Windows is not a fake Breitling or Gucci hand watch made on a Chinese ship on its way to USA...
The message you see it tells you that your copy of Windows XP or Vista is not genuine and/or it did not pass the activation. What does that mean?
The following detailed explanation has been copied from Microsoft's website:
Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)
The Windows Genuine Advantage program for Windows uses Windows product activation, validation, and notifications to verify that your copy of Windows is genuine.
Activation is an anti-piracy technology designed to make sure that your copy of Windows is properly licensed. It works by verifying that the product key is valid and is only being used on the number of computers permitted by the software license.
Validation is a quick process that allows you to find out if the product key you activated is counterfeit or has been misused. For example, you may have accidentally received a product key that was reported as lost or stolen by its original owner. Sometimes, during a repair or reinstall, an invalid product key is used if the original product key is not handy.
(Or, as part of hardware changes and upgrades your fully working license key becomes invalid)
Notifications helps Microsoft to fight software piracy and helps to you validate that the copy of Microsoft Windows that's installed on your computer is genuine and properly licensed. It reminds you that your copy of Windows did not pass validation.
Back to your questions:
It is hard to tell if the message is a genuine message from Microsoft or not and it would be wise to call a specialist onsite. Call today - Bicester Computers does a free system diagnostic which doesn't take more than a minute.
What you can do?
Do not panic and do not buy anything yet. Call your IT engineer, the vendor or the person that has installed your copy of Windows and ask him/them to check the problem for you. If that is a fake message or a trojan the IT specialist should be able to spot it and remove it for you.
If the message is from Microsoft it doesn't necessarily mean that your Windows is not genuine as there are too many factors to be taken in calculation:
http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2007/01/8690.ars
The license type might not be suitable for your system.
Was the system upgraded - changed motherboard?
The geographic zone/area - was your computer bought from USA or Asia?
Wrong system time?
Again, the IT engineer should be able to help you in this case too.
More from Microsoft's website in regard to this matter:
Q:
What do I do if my system fails validation, but I am certain that I purchased/have a genuine copy of Windows?
A:
If your computer came with a genuine product key, but Windows was improperly installed using an invalid product key, the Product Key Update Tool helps convert your computer to a genuine status without having to purchase a new copy of Windows. If this solution does not work, refer to the instructions above for what to do when your system fails validation.
Q:
What happens to customers who have mistakenly purchased a counterfeit version of Windows?
A:
Microsoft advises users who learn that their copy of Windows is not genuine to take the following steps:
Return to the reseller who provided the software to seek redress.
If their reseller is unable to help, users can take advantage of Microsoft genuine Windows offers designed to help victims of counterfeit software. To learn about the genuine Windows offer, customers can read about it (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/FAQ.aspx#) later in this FAQ.
Users can also purchase a genuine copy of Windows from a local reseller.
Q:
What happens if a corporation’s Volume License key was leaked or stolen and, as a result, fails validation?
A:
If your corporate system fails the validation process, you should contact your system administrator as soon as possible. The system administrator should ensure that the Volume License keys or the Product Activation keys being used are the proper keys issued from Microsoft. If the Microsoft-issued keys are being used and are still not validating through the Windows Genuine Advantage site or the Office Genuine Advantage site, the system administrator should contact the channel partner, or the system administrator can call one of the phone numbers listed at http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/vol/numbers.mspx. Please have your Authorization number for Open Licensing, an enrolment number for Select and Enterprise customers, and the Volume License keys that you are currently using available during the call.
Q:
Some people are saying that WGA from Microsoft is spyware. Is this true?
A:
Broadly speaking, spyware is deceptive software that is installed on a user’s computer without the user’s consent and has some malicious purpose. WGA is installed with the consent of the user and seeks only to notify the user if a proper license is not in place. If the user declines the installation agreement, WGA Notifications will not be installed on user’s machine. But, once installed, WGA Notifications becomes a permanent part of Windows XP software, and therefore cannot be uninstalled.
Q:
Why does Microsoft block certain Office product keys?
A:
When Microsoft discovers that a key has been leaked, stolen, misused, or is a false key, Microsoft may block that key to keep it from being improperly used. If you receive a failure message indicating that the key used to install your copy of Office has been blocked, and you believe you have received the message in error, contact your system administrator or the place from which you purchased Office to resolve the issue.
Conclusion:
Be that message on your computer a genuine or a fake message you still have to contact your IT engineer, your software or PC vendor or the person that has installed the operating system on your PC and have it checked.
If your system was installed - maintained by Bicester Computers, do not hesitate to contact us. The diagnostic is free and it doesn't take more than a minute. We, at Bicester Computers do not tolerate, accept, condone or support piracy - in any form and work hand in hand with the authories and our partners to protect their and our intellectual property.
Read more about WGA at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage
(http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2007/01/8690.ars)