xp won't validate

I bought a used Dell computer, put a new hard drive in it and installed my xp
pro. All went well until I tried to do windows update. Apparently there is
something on the main board? that is making windows validation think I need
to be using an OEM version of XP therfore not validating that Microsoft needs
to update. Anyone else have this problem... anyone have a fix? This OEM stuff
is crap!!!

I know if you try and use the Dell Restore 2000/XP on a non Dell PC,
you cannot do it as it is locked to the BIOS, but as for installing any
other operating systems on the Dell PC, you shouldn't have any
troubles. Have you tried posting your problem on the Dell Discussion
Forums? Since this is a bug with Windows itself, you should maybe try
calling Microsoft and explaining your problem to them, this should be
free support if it is their problem, because if the motherboard was
stopping your PC from receiving Windows Updates, I am pretty sure you
wouldn't of been able to activate XP or XP would have prompted to
activate XP if it was a volume license copy.
Let us know how you go.

Regards,
Jim
MCP


IBeBev wrote:
> I bought a used Dell computer, put a new hard drive in it and installed my xp
> pro. All went well until I tried to do windows update. Apparently there is
> something on the main board? that is making windows validation think I need
> to be using an OEM version of XP therfore not validating that Microsoft needs
> to update. Anyone else have this problem... anyone have a fix? This OEM stuff
> is crap!!!

IBeBev <> wrote:

> I bought a used Dell computer, put a new hard drive in it and
> installed my xp pro. All went well until I tried to do windows
> update. Apparently there is something on the main board? that is
> making windows validation think I need to be using an OEM version of
> XP therfore not validating that Microsoft needs to update. Anyone
> else have this problem... anyone have a fix? This OEM stuff is crap!!!

Can you say where you obtained "my XP Pro"?

If that "XP Pro" was an OEM version of XP, then it can be installed only on
physical PCs manufactured by that OEM.

So, for instance, you cannot validate an OEM XP from HP on a Dell, and
vice-versa.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]

Robin Walker [MVP] wrote:
> IBeBev <> wrote:
>
>> I bought a used Dell computer, put a new hard drive in it and
>> installed my xp pro. All went well until I tried to do windows
>> update. Apparently there is something on the main board? that is
>> making windows validation think I need to be using an OEM version of
>> XP therfore not validating that Microsoft needs to update. Anyone
>> else have this problem... anyone have a fix? This OEM stuff is crap!!!
>
> Can you say where you obtained "my XP Pro"?
>
> If that "XP Pro" was an OEM version of XP, then it can be installed only on
> physical PCs manufactured by that OEM.

You mean if it were a *branded* OEM, not a generic OEM, right?

Alias

ºAliasº <> wrote:
> Robin Walker [MVP] wrote:
>> If that "XP Pro" was an OEM version of XP, then it can be installed
>> only on physical PCs manufactured by that OEM.
>
> You mean if it were a *branded* OEM, not a generic OEM, right?

Yes.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]

Jim,
The Dell forum is my next stop. I am assuming there is something on the
motherboard that is my prob. I changed the hard drive so it can't be
something loaded on the boot sector. This is a store bought copy of XP but
when I go to Windows update and it does the "genuine windows" check it kicked
back on the second round of updates telling me to contact my local support.
If I find out something I'll pass it on. Thanks for your reply.

Bev

"Jim" wrote:

> I know if you try and use the Dell Restore 2000/XP on a non Dell PC,
> you cannot do it as it is locked to the BIOS, but as for installing any
> other operating systems on the Dell PC, you shouldn't have any
> troubles. Have you tried posting your problem on the Dell Discussion
> Forums? Since this is a bug with Windows itself, you should maybe try
> calling Microsoft and explaining your problem to them, this should be
> free support if it is their problem, because if the motherboard was
> stopping your PC from receiving Windows Updates, I am pretty sure you
> wouldn't of been able to activate XP or XP would have prompted to
> activate XP if it was a volume license copy.
> Let us know how you go.
>
> Regards,
> Jim
> MCP
>
>
> IBeBev wrote:
> > I bought a used Dell computer, put a new hard drive in it and installed my xp
> > pro. All went well until I tried to do windows update. Apparently there is
> > something on the main board? that is making windows validation think I need
> > to be using an OEM version of XP therfore not validating that Microsoft needs
> > to update. Anyone else have this problem... anyone have a fix? This OEM stuff
> > is crap!!!
>
>

Robin,
This is a store bought copy of XP Pro. It gave me no prob during
installation and even let me download a small update but on the next go round
Windows Update wouldn't pass it as "genuine Windows" and told me to contact
my local support. Maybe I should have stayed with 2000 LOL Thanks

Bev

"Robin Walker [MVP]" wrote:

> IBeBev <> wrote:
>
> > I bought a used Dell computer, put a new hard drive in it and
> > installed my xp pro. All went well until I tried to do windows
> > update. Apparently there is something on the main board? that is
> > making windows validation think I need to be using an OEM version of
> > XP therfore not validating that Microsoft needs to update. Anyone
> > else have this problem... anyone have a fix? This OEM stuff is crap!!!
>
> Can you say where you obtained "my XP Pro"?
>
> If that "XP Pro" was an OEM version of XP, then it can be installed only on
> physical PCs manufactured by that OEM.
>
> So, for instance, you cannot validate an OEM XP from HP on a Dell, and
> vice-versa.
>
> --
> Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
>
>
>
>

IBeBev <> wrote:

> This is a store bought copy of XP Pro. It gave me no prob during
> installation and even let me download a small update but on the next
> go round Windows Update wouldn't pass it as "genuine Windows" and
> told me to contact my local support.

OK - if it is a retail version of XP, then your primary support comes from
Microsoft, not Dell.

If you used the Product Key that came with your retail version CD-ROM (and
not the key that came with the Dell), then you should not be getting
validation failures.

You could try raising a support incident with Microsoft, which ought to be
free of charge since the problem arose from Windows Update.

Or you can seek support from the "WGA Validation Problems" forum at
http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/...=442&SiteID=25
where Microsoft WGA staff may respond. Microsoft Passport required (if you
use MSN Messenger, you already have one).

Here are some self-help steps that might get you back on the road:

Send Internet Explorer to:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/diag/
and click "Start Diagnostics" and follow through the instructions. When you
get to the end, click "Windows Validation" to refresh your WGA software.

Restart Windows and check whether your problems are fixed.

If not, please download and re-install the WGA software again manually:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=69498

Then re-boot Windows. Does this solve your problem?

If not, please download and run the MGA Diagnostic tool:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012
then click the "Copy to Clipboard" button and paste the results into a
follow-up in this thread (or into your first post at the WGA forum referred
to above).

Another thing that occurs to me in your case is that you have installed a
generic retail Windows XP onto a Dell PC, and your system might be missing
special Dell drivers for any custom Dell hardware. You can check for Dell
driver updates at the Dell support site. This ought not to provoke a
validation problem, but we don't live in a perfect world.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]

It might be a generic OEM version sold to her when she bought something
else, e.g., a hard drive.
"Robin Walker [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:eBt%...
> IBeBev <> wrote:
>
> > This is a store bought copy of XP Pro. It gave me no prob during
> > installation and even let me download a small update but on the next
> > go round Windows Update wouldn't pass it as "genuine Windows" and
> > told me to contact my local support.
>
> OK - if it is a retail version of XP, then your primary support comes from
> Microsoft, not Dell.
>
> If you used the Product Key that came with your retail version CD-ROM (and
> not the key that came with the Dell), then you should not be getting
> validation failures.
>
> You could try raising a support incident with Microsoft, which ought to be
> free of charge since the problem arose from Windows Update.
>
> Or you can seek support from the "WGA Validation Problems" forum at
> http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/...=442&SiteID=25
> where Microsoft WGA staff may respond. Microsoft Passport required (if
you
> use MSN Messenger, you already have one).
>
> Here are some self-help steps that might get you back on the road:
>
> Send Internet Explorer to:
> http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/diag/
> and click "Start Diagnostics" and follow through the instructions. When
you
> get to the end, click "Windows Validation" to refresh your WGA software.
>
> Restart Windows and check whether your problems are fixed.
>
> If not, please download and re-install the WGA software again manually:
>
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=69498
>
> Then re-boot Windows. Does this solve your problem?
>
> If not, please download and run the MGA Diagnostic tool:
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012
> then click the "Copy to Clipboard" button and paste the results into a
> follow-up in this thread (or into your first post at the WGA forum
referred
> to above).
>
> Another thing that occurs to me in your case is that you have installed a
> generic retail Windows XP onto a Dell PC, and your system might be missing
> special Dell drivers for any custom Dell hardware. You can check for Dell
> driver updates at the Dell support site. This ought not to provoke a
> validation problem, but we don't live in a perfect world.
>
> --
> Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
>
>
>

Robin,
Thanks for all the info. I will follow all of it up and let you know if what
works. I really appreciate all your help.

"Robin Walker [MVP]" wrote:

> IBeBev <> wrote:
>
> > This is a store bought copy of XP Pro. It gave me no prob during
> > installation and even let me download a small update but on the next
> > go round Windows Update wouldn't pass it as "genuine Windows" and
> > told me to contact my local support.
>
> OK - if it is a retail version of XP, then your primary support comes from
> Microsoft, not Dell.
>
> If you used the Product Key that came with your retail version CD-ROM (and
> not the key that came with the Dell), then you should not be getting
> validation failures.
>
> You could try raising a support incident with Microsoft, which ought to be
> free of charge since the problem arose from Windows Update.
>
> Or you can seek support from the "WGA Validation Problems" forum at
> http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/...=442&SiteID=25
> where Microsoft WGA staff may respond. Microsoft Passport required (if you
> use MSN Messenger, you already have one).
>
> Here are some self-help steps that might get you back on the road:
>
> Send Internet Explorer to:
> http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/diag/
> and click "Start Diagnostics" and follow through the instructions. When you
> get to the end, click "Windows Validation" to refresh your WGA software.
>
> Restart Windows and check whether your problems are fixed.
>
> If not, please download and re-install the WGA software again manually:
>
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=69498
>
> Then re-boot Windows. Does this solve your problem?
>
> If not, please download and run the MGA Diagnostic tool:
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012
> then click the "Copy to Clipboard" button and paste the results into a
> follow-up in this thread (or into your first post at the WGA forum referred
> to above).
>
> Another thing that occurs to me in your case is that you have installed a
> generic retail Windows XP onto a Dell PC, and your system might be missing
> special Dell drivers for any custom Dell hardware. You can check for Dell
> driver updates at the Dell support site. This ought not to provoke a
> validation problem, but we don't live in a perfect world.
>
> --
> Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
>
>
>
>