XP Pro SP2: Validation Failure?! What the...?!?

[Rl'Halsinor]

In May 2006 I built my 939 rig and installed an OEM version of XP Pro SP2 that is fully validated with key purchased from a reputable dealer. Anytime I needed to update it went right through. Windows servers recognized my copy as valid everytime but...

I had a BSOD 30 minutes ago and when I re-booted my Sunbelt firewall attempted to create a crash report and then upload (I need to find a new firewall because Sunbelt has caused BSODs before but without the current issue occuring). At the same time Windows popped up with a notice of a serious failure and wanted me to send the Error Report. I made the mistake of sending and I got...

Validation Failure and now they want me to try and get a "valid copy" because mine is pirated or so they say and telling me I need to get a genuine license. This is not a pirated copy.

Any ideas because this has never happened before?

 

[TwistedBishop]

Is this the same error you get from a failed product activation? Because usually you can just call up Microsoft, explain the situation, and they'll fix it.

 

[Rl'Halsinor]

Is this the same error you get from a failed product activation? Because usually you can just call up Microsoft, explain the situation, and they'll fix it.

Honestly I don't know because I never had a failed product activation and I never had my current issue before. I made sure I backed up all my important files and documents just in case.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I've seen it happen when a bad crash caused something screwey with the plug and play stuff. For some reason, it sees a hardware change when none occurred.

Another possibility, and one that I've seen more often, is that the vendor (even legit ones) re-use an OEM key when building machines, either because they can't find the real key right that second, or they imaged a machine, etc. Sometimes the OEM keys get blacklisted, too, if they pop up too often.

You can run it without validating, but it's going to prevent you from getting certain updates (eg IE7). If it won't validate over the net, you're pretty much stuck calling MS. Play stupid and it's usually pretty painless. I've had to do it a bunch of times.

 

[Rl'Halsinor]

I've seen it happen when a bad crash caused something screwey with the plug and play stuff. For some reason, it sees a hardware change when none occurred.

Another possibility, and one that I've seen more often, is that the vendor (even legit ones) re-use an OEM key when building machines, either because they can't find the real key right that second, or they imaged a machine, etc. Sometimes the OEM keys get blacklisted, too, if they pop up too often.

You can run it without validating, but it's going to prevent you from getting certain updates (eg IE7). If it won't validate over the net, you're pretty much stuck calling MS. Play stupid and it's usually pretty painless. I've had to do it a bunch of times.

Rodrigo, glad you jumped in because you've given me good advice before. I figured my crash caused it but I don't know why it caused such a problem now and not before. I built this rig with a friend so there was no vendor involved other than buying the parts which were all brand new from NewEgg and ZipZoomfly. The OS was bought from SoftwareOutlet.com with said Product Key and Microsoft recognized/accepted all this time.

How would you go about rectifying this matter before having to call M$ and can you recommend another firewall for me. I am sick of Sunbelt's dreck. Thanks.

 

[dpmcalister]

I've got the same problem with my desktop PC. It was running, legally, Windows XP Pro SP2 when suddenly (I'm not sure of the details I was away and my wife told me about it) it wouldn't validate.

Microsoft aren't helpful at all. I tried calling their UK office only to be told that their validation software works perfectly and that I must be using an illegal copy of WinXP Pro (or words to that effect). They didn't go as far as to call me a liar though (they got out of that one by suggesting that I was duped by a good fake!)

Their "solution" was for me to go out and buy the software again! Or wait for Vista!

I've just left it running as it is. The desktop doesn't get anymore updates which is a pain, but not unbearable. If it wasn't for the other software that I run on that machine, I'd format and install one of the Linux OSs!

I'd be interested in any solution you can find though.

Oh, in terms of firewall software, I use Zone Alarm (the free version). Never had any problems with it.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Microsoft's validation setup has been known to do this. You pretty much have to call them, if they won't revalidate it, which they most likely will do without much hassle, I'd take that as a sign that your computing needs would probably be better served on a different platform.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Yeah, your only option, really, is to call them or live with it. If it's been more than 120 days (I think that's the recycle period) since you last actaivated that copy, it's conceivable that slicking and re-installing from scratch my let it reactivate. That's pretty drastic, though, since if it doesn't, you've only got 15 days to figure out a solution before you have no PC at all.

IME, Microsoft has been pretty good about it when you call them. This doesn't excuse the fact that the whole process is obnoxious and I shouldn't have to do it at all, but I can understand their frustration as well, given how many offices I've seen that thought buying one copy of a piece of software and installing it on dozens of PCs was OK.

One other thing to try -- download a copy of Opera (it may do this with Firefox as well) and try to download IE7 or something that requires validation. The control won't work in Opera, but it will let you download a seperate program that you can run to validate the computer and get a # to enter into the website to get the download or whatever. If that works, it probably means the key is good, just that something else is glitched that might be fixed with a re-install.

 

[Rl'Halsinor]

Thanks everyone for your time and help. It is much appreciated. As for calling MS, this will be my first need ever, how hard is it to get through to a live person? What hours should I avoid? Are they 24/7 at all? Thanks again.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I had to do this a couple years back and it was fairly easy. The hardest thing was communicating with the guy on the phone.