mattpant Posted September 12, 2006 Posted September 12, 2006 Hi Guys, Has anybody else experienced this problem from a recent MS Update? We have a number of Tablet PCs, they were bought from RM Computers and have a LEGAL version of Windows XP Tablet Edition Installed on them. Following from a recent Microsoft Update, a number of the Tablets prompt the user with a messgae box and a countdown timer (To select the ok button) just after logging on stating that "You may be a victim of software counterfeiting" and once logged into the system a little "clog" type icon appears by the clock randomly popping up with the message "You may be a victim of software counterfeiting" double clicking on the icon takes you to the microsoft page regarding purchasing legal copies of windows! It looks as though when RM produce the Tablets PC's they roll them out from a singal image file which seems to have a Volume License Key installed, not all the Tablet PCs throw out this error. It looks bad on the school when they are being used with Projectors as the Kids see the messgae popping up and think we're using "dodgy" copies, and I also think that there is something crafty in this little annoyence that slows down the computer. Any thoughts? Regards, Matt
Norphy Posted September 12, 2006 Posted September 12, 2006 Chances are that the key RM used to activate the copy of Windows got leaked and MS cancelled it. Presumably there is a COA attached to the bottom of the tablet? You could try to reactivate Windows using the key on that COA. Failing that, contact RM and shout at them.
StewartKnight Posted September 12, 2006 Posted September 12, 2006 I've been having the same problem with.... Dell laptops! Typical Micro$haft, they won't believe you when you try to get it sorted. The cheapest and best solution was "ahem", we bought from eBay, a WGA removal tool. Some might say that was naughty, but in my defence, all our copies of Windows are legal. It used to be "innocent until proven guilty", but microsoft believe in "guilty, because we say so"!!
MkII Posted September 12, 2006 Posted September 12, 2006 That's disgusting. Compo claim from RM I recon. Hassle a lot at least!
tominyork Posted September 12, 2006 Posted September 12, 2006 We have had this issue, after contacting Microsoft I found out that you get this message if you are a schools license customer and don't install Windows XP Home before installing XP Pro. We though under the terms of the license you just had to own the original XP Home license , not actually upgrade from it every time you rebuild a machine. Unfortunatly all our laptop images are straight XP Pro.. d'oh!
Geoff Posted September 12, 2006 Posted September 12, 2006 If your updating your PC's using WSUS, the WGA checker doesn't get installed.
mattpant Posted September 12, 2006 Author Posted September 12, 2006 hmmm, well I glad it's not just us then having this problem! @tominyork - That does seem a little crazy doesn't it!!! But going by what you say Microsoft have told you, I wonder why it happens on the factory installed RM Machines?!?
tominyork Posted September 12, 2006 Posted September 12, 2006 Yeah it does seem a bit over the top! It seems that WGA does check for lots of different scenarios though - so your RM tablet incident could be linked to using a leaked installation product key - but whatever it is, contactng RM should be a priority in getting this sorted out..
apeo Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 We've had a similar problem here when one of us logs in but if another user (say me) logs in it gets rid of it. Really odd.
plexer Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 Am I right in thinking then according to one of the posts above that if you are subscribing to the m$ schools agreement then every client must have a version of windows licencsed to it then you can upgrade them to current windows under the agreement? or can you just buy bare metal machines and install XP Pro on them? Ben
Guest Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 Had this problem with some HP laptops which are imaged via a ghost image with a VLK. Just deleted the WGA folder and went to microsofts website to re authenticate and all is well.
Roberto Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 Am I right in thinking then according to one of the posts above that if you are subscribing to the m$ schools agreement then every client must have a version of windows licencsed to it then you can upgrade them to current windows under the agreement? Yes. You must be upgrading an existing licence. or can you just buy bare metal machines and install XP Pro on them? Ben No. And I don't believe Linux counts for the competetive upgrade.
CyberNerd Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 lol in the US MS actually publish the names of those their sueing! http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/partners/alerts.mspx (knowing we owe at least 4K in subscription, I informed SMT, which is ok because its bosses jailtime not mine
john Posted September 15, 2006 Posted September 15, 2006 How strange, touching lots of wood, mines are all ok, but they better stay that way!
Geoff Posted September 16, 2006 Posted September 16, 2006 or can you just buy bare metal machines and install XP Pro on them? Ben No. And I don't believe Linux counts for the competetive upgrade. Dell/IBM/Lenevo sell machines with FreeDos if you know the magic word. The other option is to not agree to the MS EULA and ask for your refund once you/ve returned your software.
Roberto Posted September 16, 2006 Posted September 16, 2006 Dell/IBM/Lenevo sell machines with FreeDos if you know the magic word. The other option is to not agree to the MS EULA and ask for your refund once you/ve returned your software. Does Freedos count for a competetive upgrade for Windows licences then? I really don't see how returning the software, with or without a refund, helps tho.
RobC Posted September 17, 2006 Posted September 17, 2006 YAY, time for Windows Volume Licensing 101. Standard OEM and FPP (Full Packaged Product) licenses apply to bare-metal systems and also to upgrade situations so you can build a system from scratch or upgrade an older system using these versions. Upgrade versions of the FPP license generally apply to upgrading older systems, but you can also apply them to bare-metal systems if you have the original install media - this will be asked for during the install process. Volume licensing versions of XP Professional (no XP Home volume license exists) are upgrade versions only so there is no such thing as a full install version of XP volume license, however in this situation you aren't actually entitled to install it on a base-metal system as you are with an FPP upgrade license - it has to be an actual upgrade of a currently installed OS. Unfortunately, due to the joys of XP install media, you CAN physically install XP Pro using volume licensing media onto a bare-metal system. The wonderful side-effect of this is that if you do a bare-metal install using a VLK, WGA Notification will potentially see this as a non-legally licenced copy. Don't you just love M$ Licensing...
GrumbleDook Posted September 17, 2006 Posted September 17, 2006 "Please choose one question from section 1 of the exam, two questions from section 2 and 1 question from section 3... unless you have opted for the higher tier, in which case choose one question from section 1 of the exam, 1 question from section 2 and two questions from section 3. If you have previously sat any module of this exam you will not receive section 2 of the exam, so you must choose two questions from section 1 of the exam and two questions from section 3... unless you are on the higher tier in which case you must choose one question from section 1 and three questions from section 3. If this exam is a resit you may only choose questions from sections 2 and 3, even though you will still receive the questions from section 1. If you answer any questions from section 1 and you are resitting the exam then no answers will be marked from sections 1 or 2. Should you be resitting this exam and also have already completed some modules then you will not received section 2 but will receive section 1. You must not answer any questions from section 1 but choose four from section 3. If you are taking the higher tier and are resitting this exam and have already completed some modules then you may select four questions from section 3 and and additional question from section 2. You will not receive the questions from section 2 and must ask for these, quoting the relevant part of these instructions which allow you to receive section 2. If you are unsure whether you should receive section 2 and you have not received it then you may answer two questions from section one instead as long as you answer four questions from section 3. Failure to abie bide these instruction may mean losing marks and dropping grades. Each section contains 3 questions." Yep ... as clear as mud!
sidewinder Posted September 17, 2006 Posted September 17, 2006 . Volume licensing versions of XP Professional (no XP Home volume license exists) are upgrade versions only so there is no such thing as a full install version of XP volume license, however in this situation you aren't actually entitled to install it on a base-metal system as you are with an FPP upgrade license - it has to be an actual upgrade of a currently installed OS. Unfortunately, due to the joys of XP install media, you CAN physically install XP Pro using volume licensing media onto a bare-metal system. The wonderful side-effect of this is that if you do a bare-metal install using a VLK, WGA Notification will potentially see this as a non-legally licenced copy. Does this apply to the schools agreement too? Because although Ive always known you needed a licence for each machine and technically you were only supposed to do an upgrade, I always thought having the licence for that machine and doing a bare metal install of XP was acceptable?? I hope it is because every single one of our PC's is done like that. Mainly because they all come with Xp Home and its easier to do a fresh install (plus can you even do an upgrade from home to pro?)
GrumbleDook Posted September 17, 2006 Posted September 17, 2006 If you are on Schools Agreement and have an XP Pro machine (licensed when bought under OEM or FPP) then you can 'upgrade' it to XP Pro from VLK. Since *every* machine is licensed under the Schools Agreement (you pay per machine after all) then this is possible. If you buy a bare-metal machine then you *cannot* stick XP Pro from VLK directly on it ... go to ebay and pick up any 3.1, 3.11, 9x licenses you can.
MkII Posted September 17, 2006 Posted September 17, 2006 erm... ..so if you buy XP Pro OEM on your machines you can stick XP Pro VLK onto them yes?! [even if you don't have a schools agreement] How do people justify the schools agreement? Seems a hell of a lot of money compared to what WE need for example:- O/S and Office.
john Posted September 17, 2006 Posted September 17, 2006 All my machines get XP Pro with them (OEM) but I don't use the OEM media for installs, i use the VLK media as it doesn't require activating, but I know I have genuine licences for each machine, so am I bad guy or a semi-bad guy or a good guy. I was told once by a MSFT employee that so long as I can prove I have the rights to use XP Pro on a machine I can re-install it using any appropriate media, which the VL CD is as I have licences for that. Just think if you use RIS, how would that go down with OEM / VL mixed setups etc? As Tony has said, its as clear as mud.
eejit Posted September 19, 2006 Posted September 19, 2006 We started getting this problem on our new admin network yesterday - very frustrating. After speaking to MS for 2 hours, deleting registry keys, re-registring dlls etc., etc. We found the only solution was to add the users to the local admins. This solution was perfectly adequate to the Microsoft guy. Anyway, this morning it is happening with users who are local admins too (but not the actual administrator). Just speaking to MS again. I wonder if it is something stored in the mandatory profile that gets copied to all machines.
Guest Posted September 19, 2006 Posted September 19, 2006 Have you tried deleting the follwoing folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage From the workstation and / or mandatory profile and and re authenticating via the M$ website?
eejit Posted September 19, 2006 Posted September 19, 2006 Thanks Sysman, that didn't work unfortunately. The weird thing is that WGA works for the administrator. Microsoft are giving it to higher level support who will supposedly call me back. This is a major pain
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