Stupid "Illegal Windows" messages?

[Mini-Me]

Hi.

On a client's machine I recently re-installed with XP(NOT the laptop in the other thread about the Acer laptop), I keep getting the following messages:

http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/4012/xpinvalid2pl6.gif

http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/3590/xpinvalid3vq5.gif

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8063/xpinvalid1iv2.gif

The machine is a Dell Insperon 1501 series laptop, originally with Vista, now downgraded to XP Pro.

The CD the guy gave me, was an UNOPENED copy of XP PRO(full) OEM, so it is very unlikely that this copy has EVER been installed on another machine due to the fact that the CD was still sealed with the OEM book in plastic...

How can this be?
:confused:

When I rang MS to ask them, after following a few instructions, they INSIST that this copy has been installed on another machine somewhere. When I told them this copy was still sealed in plastic, so that is impossible, they said the same thing - this copy has been installed somewhere else - sorry - buy another license, upgrade to Vista or get lost - not very helpful OR friendly.

If I can just turn the messages off, that would be OK, but if you follow the instructions in the little blue-star icon on the taskbar, it directs you either to a MS site which insists on installing extra spying "Authentication" applications, which I denied - I think there has been enough spying already in this case...

If I right-click the blue-icon in the taskbar, and select CHANGE NOTIFICATION OPTIONS(or something of similar wording), this directs you to a MS site which allows you to turn off the notifications, but only for 30 days, after which, the notifications will return, so what the hell is the point of offering that "Option" at all in the first place?!??!!(rhetorical)
:mad:

Does anyone know what the hell is going on?

ADDITIONAL: I have found an incredible amount of information on this "Windows Genuine Advantage" P.O.S. on the net - it would seem I am not alone.

Wikipedia states that:

False positive rate

The WGA program can produce false positives (incorrectly identifying a genuine copy of Windows as "not genuine"). This can happen for any number of reasons. Microsoft has established a forum to help users encountering problems.

This seems to be what is happening here - but MS's phone help was not(helpful).
I'll be damned if I'm gonna sign up to their forums to try to get this fixed...

My research continues...

[Rick]

It's not the disk
It's the reg number that may have been used before

Not sure how the packaging is on that copy
But I have seen this before from OEM systems

One case in point
The shop uses one disk for all systems it builds and the enters the reg from that systems disks

Then If the system is returned the unopened disk ends up back on the inventory and may be reused

Take the disk back to where it was purchased and get another

[mjc]

There is a simple way to prevent the use of numbers that way...put the number on a sticker inside the CD case...but no, MS doesn't do it that way.

[Rick]

There is a simple way to prevent the use of numbers that way...put the number on a sticker inside the CD case...but no, MS doesn't do it that way.

This is the exact reason many companies put the sticker on the machine itself

IF removed the sticker is unreadable

[mjc]

Right...but even on the case can cause problems...I've seen a number of systems, laptops, especially, on ebay where you could read the sticker...

Yes, the darn thing has to be convenient, but don't complain when it so convenient that it is actually worthless as the 'control' measure it was intended to be.

[Mini-Me]

I think I have found a solution - a program which manually removes the WGA from the system, to stop the nag screens.(NOT the RemoveWGA.exe file!)

According to what I can find, this is an application which removes the DLL's in the way that MS actually suggest for problems like this, so it is not breaking the law or anything - it is just automating the process to make it easy for non-geeks to get rid of the WGA nag screens.

I HAVE NOT POSTED A LINK TO IT HERE, as I need a mod to read this and approve it, as although it is automating the official MS removal method, I did not want to post the link without permission, as it might be seen by some as a hack or crack.(which it is not - no hacked or cracked DLL files in this fix)

As I say - the link is NOT to the RemoveWGA.exe file, which seems to have cracked DLL files in it to replace the official MS DLL's(which would seem to have got MS's blood-pressure up, if scanning the net is anything to go by), it is to a batch-file and batch-in-exe file, that simply runs a batch script to get rid of WGA, essentially using the MS method. The batch code is freely available for download so you can see what the batch-in-exe file is actually doing.

If approved, I will post the link for others having this problem.

Mods chime in here please...

PS: Oh and Rick - I could take the copy back, but why the hell should I have to?(rhetorical). It was brand new, sealed in plastic. Why should I have to exchange it for another copy where the same thing might happen again, and all the while, I have lost time on the deal. Thanks for the idea, though! :)

[YODA74]

IF removed the sticker is unreadable

Not quite.. :) I have six stickers here all came off messed up computers and are very readable.. matter of fact almost like brand new. I take them off machines that are trashed and when I get enough I email M$ and give them the numbers and then send the coa's to them...


PS: Oh and Rick - I could take the copy back, but why the hell should I have to?(rhetorical). It was brand new, sealed in plastic. Why should I have to exchange it for another copy where the same thing might happen again, and all the while, I have lost time on the deal. Thanks for the idea, though!

Well because anyone could have used that coa # it is visable you know!( things can be re-packaged) You need to stress to the people you buy it from that piracy is rampid and you will not put up with it and the next one you buy from them better be legit or you will take them to court!!

[Budfred]

Even if you plan to use it for a legit copy, the same program can be used for bootleg copies and that makes it inappropriate to post here...

As for why to take it back, it is possible that the computer will not be able to download and install security updates without a legit copy recognized by Windows... That means the computer will not be secure and that is reason enough in my mind to get a legal copy...

I would also look for how to move it up the chain at MS to get someone who is not so bound by the policy... It is possible that this number could be cleared and the software used...

[Mini-Me]

Even if you plan to use it for a legit copy, the same program can be used for bootleg copies and that makes it inappropriate to post here...

Acknowledged - Link will not be posted.