Validation Failure

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shazel

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when i download microsoft intispyware i recive follwing errer mesage,
"Validation Failure: Invalid Product Key
Why did it not validate?
Windows has been installed on your machine with an invalid product key. The type of key found on your system is typically licensed by organizations who want to use multiple copies of windows. If you do not have a Volume License Agreement with Microsoft, then you may be a victim of software piracy."
please help me.
 
This usually means that your Windows validation key is either not genuine Microsoft (counterfeit) or it has been validated on another PC. If you have installed this version of Windows on another PC and used the same key, then that would cause this problem. Your hardware profile does not match the hardware profile used to validate this Windows key previously. For example: Let say you installed Windows XP on a machine that you built and then validated the key on the Microsoft website. A couple months later, that mother board burns up and you start from scratch with a new motherboard/processer and load XP from scratch, you could run into this problem. The hardware profile changed and does not match the one MS has on file for that Windows key. The other more sinister scenario would be that whoever you purchased your machine from or your copy of Windows from, used the key on another machine and it was validated elsewhere. I think a call to Microsoft or to your retailer who sold you the machine/Windows would be in order here. Always keep your receips for your stuff even if it goes out of warranty. It is all that you have to prove that you purchased it.
 
so say i have a pc on windows xp home edition ... and im building another soon ...i cant use that copy of windows on my new machine ??? and cant use the cd key ?? DAMN !

please tell mr if im wrongg ... and please confirm it if i am right lol :)
 
G~MAN said:
so say i have a pc on windows xp home edition ... and im building another soon ...i cant use that copy of windows on my new machine ??? and cant use the cd key ?? DAMN !

please tell mr if im wrongg ... and please confirm it if i am right lol :)
Click to expand...

your licence is for your copy to be used on only one system, you cant have the same copy on more than one system at the same time
 
but i wont use the other system anymore i doubt ...

if i do cant i use the xp home disk i have ?? that sucks if i cant! could i try and see if it works ?
 
If you disable your old system, you can use your OS on a new computer, but you have to ring Microsoft and get it activated.
 
how do you disable it then ?

can i install it and when i have to activate it then i will disable my old one ... because you have 14 days or something ... so could i copy all my files over and then disable it on my old one and then activate xp again on my new computer ?
 
Yes. I think you can do that. When you validate after installation, you may want to choose to activate over the phone so that they can make sure that your CD key will not be associated with the last Windows. Be prepared to go through the Second Spanish Inquisition and exlain what you are doing. Expect more of this over the next year as Microsoft gears up for the release of Vista. I love Microsofts products but they do make it difficult on advanced users who do not keep the same system configuration all of the time.
 
o few! so that is some money saved :D

do you think i could get away with using two computers with the same cd key? it is only for my home and both computers will probably be in the same room!! lol if not i will put windows 98 on the older one i suppose
 
You can always try but be warned that it had a good chance of not working or it may break later when you need to download and update. Eventually, MS will not allow you to download security updates unless you have a valid copy of Windows. That can leave you open to the next blaster virus. If cost is the big issue, one thing that you can do on the cheap is to install Windows 98 an then purchase a Windows XP home upgrade pack. You will be given an opportunity to load XP home from scratch so that it is not just on top of a 98 installation. An upgrade pack is running about $99 US as opposed to the full version being $149 US.
 
you cant download updates unless you validate your copy of windows from the begining of this month
 
You can get the updates but you have to search for them yourself - this involves knowing what you already have and don't have.
 
cant you just go on microsofts website though and they search through your browser??

do you think my bestoption is just to get a new windows xp then and not use my old one ??

i'll call or email microsoft
 
o kk ... well il try and get away with my other copy but if all fails ... i shall just have to get a new OS :(

another cost i could do without ... but owell !
 
I don't know for sure - I haven't tried it yet, but I am told that if you turn your Automatic Updates on it will update for you anyway.
 
Stevecook said:
I don't know for sure - I haven't tried it yet, but I am told that if you turn your Automatic Updates on it will update for you anyway.
Click to expand...


Yes that is true. Critical security updates are still available. It is part of Microsoft's commitment to internet health and security.
 
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