Windows Update claims my legal Win XP is illegal

[General Mortars]

Hello, folks,

I wonder if you could help me out here,

A couple days ago, I had to reinstall Win XP for the first time in this computer.
Instead of taking it to the store, I decided to do it myself.
Everything worked smoothly and I installed ever trinket it used to have, from ffdshow to Photoshop to Open office to Return to Castle Wolfenstein.
Everything went back to just the way it used to be.

The problem happened a couple minutes ago.

When I tried to update Win XP, Microsoft´s license verification website claimed that my Win XP copy was not a legitimate one.

This completely blew me away because it IS a legitimate copy which I purchased especificaly for this computer.


I should have suspected earlier that something was wrong when Windows Media Player kept running on an old, default version.


I have no idea of what to do next.

I suspect that the problem may stem from the fact that I entered different informations on the computer while instaling . I used my childhood nickname when the computer asked for the name of the computer´s owner and I made up a name for the computer (Eeeegor, as in the hunchback guy from Monster of Frankenstein ..

Could it be that these new different names messed up the license verification over at Microsoft´s website? How can I get through this, since I have NO idea of what names the people at the store gave to my computer when I bought it?

Help...

[budz]

Changing names of the computer shouldn't be the reason for the license verification to fail. I just did a reinstall of XP PRO oem on a friends pc which I omitted the "S" at the end of my friends name. Everything updated perfectly with no problems. I didn't change out any hardware as well.

Where did you buy the XP disc from? Is it a retail version of XP? I hope you didn't buy it off of Ebay.

You could try to call MS to find out why your license verification is failing.

[General Mortars]

That´s really strange.
It is an official Win XP copy that I purchased at the store where they assembled my computer.
It used to work perfectly well, with regular win XP updates and all... up til this reinstall I did.

I have no reason to suspect the people at the store, been a customer for over 10 years now -or the copy itself- so it must be something I did while installing.

[Supreme2k]

*channeling ROF*

Stop stealing from Microsoft and you won't have that problem!

*back to self*
I've had that happen too. Store bought system with OEM install disc. It happens. My only conclusion is faulty verification software/system. You could call them and they should be able to clear it up (I know, what a pain.)

[redwudz]

Probably just a hiccup with WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage). It happens occasionally. Just give MS a call and explain it. You may be able to use their automated activation. The process is explained here in this Wikipedia article, along with what hardware changes can trigger it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Product_Activation

[edDV]

I swap disks and display cards alot and this sometimes causes activation issues. I needed to call MSFT a few times. They just give you a new activation code.

[rallynavvie]

I swap disks and display cards alot and this sometimes causes activation issues. I needed to call MSFT a few times. They just give you a new activation code.

Yeah, I've had to jump through those hoops a few times as well. They had me email them proof of ownership, like once they had me put the disc and activation key next to today's paper to prove I was legit. I didn't really have a problem with it, I've got extra copies laying around of all sorts of Windows OS (all OEM copies bought from NewEgg with receipts to prove it) so I just used one of the others until they reset the old activation key. This has also become an issue with the VMs I run since I use licensed versions of XP, 2k3, 2k, and even 95 within those VMs which sometimes go through a few re-installs a day

[General Mortars]

Well, this is........... embarrassing.
I turned on the computer today, decided to try to update Windows Media Player one more time and Microsoft validated my Win XP copy.

Just like that..
No hicups, no fuss.
I don´t know whether to celebrate or to be upset because I still don´t know what happened.


Thank you anyway for all your posts and assistance, you guys are great!

[MOVIEGEEK]

I would save WMP (or any MS software) to disc so you don't have these problems in the future:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/download/download.aspx

[creakndale]

Now that it's activated, updated, and software loaded the way you like, make an image of the hard disc drive/partition. If you ever need to reload XP in the future, use the image file as your starting point.

[jagabo]

I had this problem with my car after replacing the oil filter. I stuck the key in the ignition and all I got was a message saying my license wasn't legit. I had to call the manufacturer and explain that I had just changed the oil filter. They gave me a new license key. I was only half an hour late to work!

[SCDVD]

*channeling ROF*

Stop stealing from Microsoft and you won't have that problem!

*back to self*

That is so funny. I wonder if he has been institutionalized yet or if they found that he was beyond help.

[ViRaL1]

Just buy a new copy of Vista and all is forgiven.

[TimA-C]

You sometimes get this if your Windows ID number is hijacked by somebody - either by them copying the number from the license sticker on the case or by using a KeyGen program - and then activating their computer with your number. I've also seen this if the PC has been running an old version of Java - Yeah, I didn't get that either, but as soon as I updated Java, windows activated fine.

[zoobie]

jagabo's lucky he didn't have to buy a whole new car...

[showtaper]

jagabo's lucky he didn't have to buy a whole new car...

Don't change the wiper blades.......

[RabidDog]

Its a known problem.. Anybody calling their computer "eeegor" has to activate a second time.
Microsoft have a got a hotfix out for this ms18466535 (rev c).

[AlanHK]

I used my childhood nickname when the computer asked for the name of the computer´s owner and I made up a name for the computer (Eeeegor, as in the hunchback guy from Monster of Frankenstein

There's your problem. It's spelled "Igor" or "Ygor".