Tools for Windows Genuine Advantage
Recently I spent three long hours on the telephone with a Microsoft support person regarding an issue replacing a Windows XP product key (also known as a CD key). I want to share with you some things I learned to make it easier for you in case it happens to you!
Over a year ago I had done a staff purchase of Windows XP from the local university. It was brand new, fully shrink-wrapped. Over time I had been using the computer only occasionally for business accounting. In early April 2006, I decided to switch from Windows Update to Microsoft Update, and as a matter of course, Microsoft tests your computer during this process to see if you are using a genuine copy of Windows XP. Surprisingly, the validation failed and reported that I had a locked Volume License Key (VLK). Microsoft locked my product key (rendering it useless) because someone somewhere had used the product key on another computer.
Of course I had not used it on another computer nor lent it to anyone, I have always been conscious of and compliant with software licensing. So I brought XP and my receipt back to the university, and they gave me a fresh copy. When I arrived home I called Microsoft's technical support and he had me attempt to change the product key by changing a Windows registry value, but it didn't work. Three hours later, the defeated support technicial conceded that the only thing left was to reformat my hard drive!
This did not sit well with me. I did not believe that there was nothing else that could be done. So I called back, spoke to a different support technician, who promptly agreed and solved my problem for me. In the end, I used the Windows Product Key Update Tool from Microsoft to change the key, and it worked.
Product Key Tools
There are a few names that Microsoft uses that refer directly or indirectly to the authenticity of your Microsoft software: Windows Genuine Advantage, WGA, Genuine Microsoft Software, Genuine Software Initiative, GSI, COA and others. The goal is to make sure that the copy of Windows that you are running is legitimate. There are some useful utilities that can help diagnose and fix Windows product key problems which I've listed below.
Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder - When you need to know what your existing product key is, this is the tool that most people use (including Microsoft tech support).
Windows Activation - To start Windows Activation, the easiest way is just to run the application on your own system. The program is called msoobe.exe, which incidentally stands for "Microsoft Out of Box Experience". To use this, go to Start, Run, and type %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a and click Ok.
Windows Product Key Update Tool - This application is what is used to actually change the product key in the registry without having to run regedit.exe and change it yourself, which could be dangerous if you make a mistake.
Regedit.exe - You should be relatively familiar with regedit and what damage it can do to your system before you start playing with it. I recommend that unless you are a professional, don't touch it! Start, Run, and type regedit and click Ok. You can manually deactivate Windows and cause it to re-activate by changing a key as described in this MS support article.
Over a year ago I had done a staff purchase of Windows XP from the local university. It was brand new, fully shrink-wrapped. Over time I had been using the computer only occasionally for business accounting. In early April 2006, I decided to switch from Windows Update to Microsoft Update, and as a matter of course, Microsoft tests your computer during this process to see if you are using a genuine copy of Windows XP. Surprisingly, the validation failed and reported that I had a locked Volume License Key (VLK). Microsoft locked my product key (rendering it useless) because someone somewhere had used the product key on another computer.
Of course I had not used it on another computer nor lent it to anyone, I have always been conscious of and compliant with software licensing. So I brought XP and my receipt back to the university, and they gave me a fresh copy. When I arrived home I called Microsoft's technical support and he had me attempt to change the product key by changing a Windows registry value, but it didn't work. Three hours later, the defeated support technicial conceded that the only thing left was to reformat my hard drive!
This did not sit well with me. I did not believe that there was nothing else that could be done. So I called back, spoke to a different support technician, who promptly agreed and solved my problem for me. In the end, I used the Windows Product Key Update Tool from Microsoft to change the key, and it worked.
Product Key Tools
There are a few names that Microsoft uses that refer directly or indirectly to the authenticity of your Microsoft software: Windows Genuine Advantage, WGA, Genuine Microsoft Software, Genuine Software Initiative, GSI, COA and others. The goal is to make sure that the copy of Windows that you are running is legitimate. There are some useful utilities that can help diagnose and fix Windows product key problems which I've listed below.
Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder - When you need to know what your existing product key is, this is the tool that most people use (including Microsoft tech support).
Windows Activation - To start Windows Activation, the easiest way is just to run the application on your own system. The program is called msoobe.exe, which incidentally stands for "Microsoft Out of Box Experience". To use this, go to Start, Run, and type %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a and click Ok.
Windows Product Key Update Tool - This application is what is used to actually change the product key in the registry without having to run regedit.exe and change it yourself, which could be dangerous if you make a mistake.
Regedit.exe - You should be relatively familiar with regedit and what damage it can do to your system before you start playing with it. I recommend that unless you are a professional, don't touch it! Start, Run, and type regedit and click Ok. You can manually deactivate Windows and cause it to re-activate by changing a key as described in this MS support article.
posted by Peter at
9:38 AM
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