Licensing - MSAD Tech Training (Windows®)

Windows New Hire Training
Licensing
Overview
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02/2011
Overview
Overview
This module provides a discussion of Windows licensing and activation technologies.
Goals
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
Demonstrate steps to activate Windows.
Discuss key concepts related to Windows licensing and activation.
Demonstrate troubleshooting for common activation support issues.
Describe the purpose and function of the Genuine Advantage program.
Describe the WGA validation process.
Discuss options for troubleshooting software validation failures.
Describe the Genuine Advantage Notifications Program.
Describe genuine and non-genuine tray Genuine Advantage Notification details.
Expected Time for this Module

This module takes approximately 5.5 hours to complete.
Labs in this module take an additional 2.25 hours to complete.
The assessment for this module takes an additional 30 minutes to complete.
Lesson: Licensing
This lesson provides a basic overview of Windows license types and concepts.
Goals
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
Overview
List license types used by Windows.
Discuss license terms and their impact on consumer usage.
Expected Time for this Lesson

This lesson takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Overview
Licensing Overview
Windows is sold to customers as installation media and a license to use Windows. This
license is an agreement that gives you the use of Windows based on a set of license
terms.
Windows License
Retail Purchase: If you buy a boxed copy of Windows in a store, or an electronic

version from Microsoft online, you have likely purchased a retail license. This
comes in two forms:
o
Full Install: This is the normal Windows license. You can install it as an
upgrade or a clean install.
Upgrade: This is a license that requires you to have a qualifying previous

Windows product license. As a result it is designed for use to upgrade
these previous OS versions. This is not intended to be used for clean
installation.
Windows Anytime Upgrade: This is a special type of upgrade license

which permits a specific edition-to-edition upgrade path. It does not
support a change of Windows version, so you cannot use this license to
upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7, for example.
OEM/System Builder Certificate of Authenticity (COA): This is a type of

Windows license you receive with a new PC that ships with Windows preinstalled.
You may also see OEM versions of Windows for sale with PC components that
qualify for such a license.
OEM System Locked Preinstall (SLP): This is a special OEM license that you
receive when purchasing a Windows PC from larger OEMs. This type of license is
tied to the manufacturers PCs, and is designed to eliminate the need for the
customer to activate their installation.
Volume License (VLK): If you are using Windows at a business, there is a good
chance your Windows license was purchased as part of a volume license
agreement. This is a method for purchasers of multiple Windows licenses to
avoid the hassles of managing individual boxes, keys and licenses.
The license types you will encounter most are Retail and OEM. One of the key
differences between these licenses is how Windows is supported. Microsoft provides
warranty support for Windows retail licenses, but the OEM is responsible for supporting
OEM licensed Windows. As a result you will typically encounter OEM licenses only for
paid support incidents.
Overview
License Terms
A key part of the license is the agreement between Microsoft and the licensee. This is
called the End User License Agreement (EULA) or the license terms. You can read the
terms for your Windows and other Microsoft product licenses here:
http://www.microsoft.com/About/Legal/EN/US/IntellectualProperty/UseTerms/Default.aspx
Some key points in the Windows license that can cause confusion:
Number of PCs: Retail and OEM Windows licenses typically limit you to
installation on a single PC. Some other products have been licensed for use on
more than one PC in the past, but Windows has been limited to one.
Number of Connections: The license terms limit the number of connections

that can be made to a Windows PC. This is for services like file sharing, where
other PCs or devices can connect to Windows to use services on the OS. The
exact number of connections varies by OS version and edition. Check the license
terms for your product to be sure of your limit.
Activation is Required: As part of the license terms, customers agree to

activate Windows.
Review the license terms for a complete look at the agreement involved in licensing
Windows.
Downgrade License
One special licensing scenario that you may face is the Downgrade license. This is an
OEM-specific scenario.
When you purchase a new PC with Windows preinstalled, your license may permit a
downgrade to a previous version of Windows. This is provided as an option so that
someone who is not yet ready for the new Windows version is able to use an older
version with a new PC.
You are responsible for obtaining the previous version installation media and a valid
product key in order to exercise this right.
This causes confusion at times, as customers may contact their OEM to obtain the
previous product, or they may contact Microsoft for new media. New media should not
be required as long as the customer has a copy of the previous Windows version and a
key, they should be able to install.
For more information on downgrade rights, see:
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/downgrade_rights.aspx
Overview
Lesson: Activation
This lesson provides an overview of Windows licensing, activation, and a discussion of
the steps you take to activate Windows.
Goals
Outline steps needed to activate Windows.
Discuss the elements involved in validating a Windows installation for activation.

Labs in this lesson take an additional 30 minutes to complete.
Overview
Activation Overview
Microsoft Product Activation is an Anti-piracy technology designed to verify that the
software has been legitimately licensed. Activation is implemented in Windows and
Office. This lesson focuses on the Windows Activation technologies. In order to
understand Activation, we start with a brief look at the Windows license.
Windows Product Activation

Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and that it has not been
used on more computers than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. In this way,
activation helps prevent software counterfeiting. With an activated copy of Windows,
youll be able to use every feature of Windows.
You have 30 days after installing Windows to activate it online or by telephone. This is
called the grace period. If this 30-day period expires before you activate Windows, you
will not be able to use every feature of Windows. You can regain full use of your
computer by activating Windows.
For more information on Windows Activation, see the FAQ here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Activating-Windows-7-frequently-askedquestions
Checking Activation State

A quick way to see the activation state of a customer's machine is to have them open
System properties. This shows whether Windows is Genuine (which means activated,
and verified by Windows Genuine Advantage components).
Demo: Windows Activation

Open System Properties and check the activation status of your PC.
Overview
Activating Windows
The choices for how Windows 7 will be activated begin with an option for Automatic
Activation during Setup. After that, the options for Activation are generally accessed
from Computer Properties.
Note: The steps for activating Windows Vista are similar to steps shown in this section
for Windows 7.
Activation Option during Setup

Setup includes one configuration option related to activation. This option is
Automatically activate Windows when Im online. It is displayed at the step of setup
where you can enter your product key. This is shown.
Figure 1: Activation in Setup
This is shown during the Windows Welcome steps at the end of setup. Enabling this
option (the default is enabled) causes Windows to attempt activation partway through
the grace period without the need for user action.
Note: See the Automatic Activation section later in this lesson for more details on this
option.
If you have installed Windows 7 without entering a product key you will only see
notifications of the activation grace period remaining. Activation will not be automatic,
as a product key is needed before you can activate.
Overview
Activation Steps
You can find your current activation status at the bottom of the System control panel.
Figure 2: Activation in System Properties
10
Overview
When you click Activate Windows now, the slui.exe program is started. This is the user
interface for Windows Activation. If you have entered a product key during setup, you
will see the choices shown below.
Figure 3: Windows Activation
Choosing Activate Windows online now above proceeds with an attempt to activate,
unless Windows was installed without entering a product key. If you performed a keyless
installation, the Type your product key step is next, as shown below.
Figure 4: Type your product key
11
Overview
If you dont enter a key, or enter an invalid key and then click Next, you will see the
error:
You must enter a valid product key before activating online. Check your product key, and type
it again.
Once you enter a key, or if you have previously entered a valid key, the next step is
Activating Windows with a progress indicator.
Figure 5: Activating Windows
12
Overview
If successful, the activation wizard ends with the Activation was successful step shown
below.
Figure 6: Activation was successful
13
Overview
Other Ways to Activate

If you are unable to activate Windows online, you can choose to activate by phone or
modem. This is important for a machine not connected to the Internet .This is also the
method you should use if you are trying to re-activate Windows, and online activation
fails.
Figure 7: Other Activation Methods
Phone-based activation is commonly used when online activation has failed due to one
of these reported problems:
The Product key you typed cannot be used to activate Windows on this computer
The Windows 7 <edition> product key you typed is invalid for activation
Phone activation is also the best choice when a connection to the Internet is
unavailable.
Reactivation
You might need to activate Windows again if one of the following happens:
Change PCs: You uninstall Windows on one computer and install it on another.
During installation, enter the product key that came with your copy of Windows.
If automatic activation fails, follow the instructions that walk you through
14
Overview
activating Windows by phone. You will have 30 days to activate your copy of
Windows.
Change Hardware: You make a significant hardware change to your computer,

such as upgrading the hard disk and memory at the same time. If a major
hardware change requires activating Windows again, you will be notified and will
have three days to activate your copy of Windows.
Format your Hard Drive: You reformat your hard disk and clean install
Windows. Reformatting erases your activation status. In this case, youll have 30
days to activate Windows again.
Malware Infection: A virus infects your computer and deletes your activation
status.
If you have to activate Windows again, you don't need to buy a new product key. You
should try to activate online. If this fails, use the steps to activate Windows by phone.
15
Overview
Activation Details
The sections that follow provide a glimpse at some of the details behind Windows
activation.
Activation Methods
The notification actions for Manual and Automatic activation are detailed below.
Manual Activation
Manual activation is a notification driven event based on time from the first boot into
Windows, at which time a 30 day grace period begins.
If a valid retail product key was entered and the Automatically activate Windows
when Im online option was not selected (unchecked) during Setup, the following
actions take place after Setup completes:
Table 1: Manual Activation Notifications
Event
Day 1-3
Activity
There are no notifications for the first 3 days, allowing time to perform
hardware configuration, update device drivers, and set up online
connectivity.
Day 4-26 Until 3 days remaining one notification is displayed per day. If notifications
are disabled, the activation icon appears in the system tray.
Day 27-28 At the 27th day, with 3 to 2 days remaining in the grace period, one
notification is displayed per day, and the notification icon is shown in the
system tray. If notifications are disabled, the Activation Wizard is opened
once per day, and stays on the screen until it is closed, used to complete
activation, or replaced with the notification or wizard from the next time
interval.
Day 29
With one day remaining a notification is displayed every 4 hours. Phone
activation is first presented as a choice when one day is remaining.
Day 30
At 0 days remaining, the license state switches to an OOG state.
Automatic Activation
If a valid retail product key was entered and the Automatically activate Windows
when Im online option was selected during Setup, Windows activation is transparent
to you.
Table 2: Automatic Activation Actions
Event
Day 1-3
Activity
For the first 3 days, no attempts at automatic activation are made,
allowing time to perform hardware configuration, update device drivers,
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Overview
Day 4-26
Day 27-28
Day 29
Day 30
and set up online connectivity.

After 3 days, whenever an active Internet connection is detected and the
Microsoft Activation Service is reachable, Windows attempts to activate
every 4 hours using HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) to
communicate with the activation server.
At the 27th day, the automatic activation path switches to the same
actions as the manual activation method. No further attempts at
automatic activation are made.
With 3 to 2 days remaining in the grace period one notification is
displayed per day, and the notification icon is shown in the system tray. If
notifications are disabled, the Activation Wizard is opened once per day,
and stays on the screen until it is closed, used to complete activation, or
replaced with the notification or wizard from the next time interval.
With one day remaining a notification is displayed every 4 hours. Phone
activation is first presented as a choice when one day is remaining.
At 0 days remaining, the license state switches to an OOG state.
Automatic Activation Attempt Details

On each attempt the application tries to ping the Microsoft Activation Service URL. If the
ping is successful automated activation is attempted and either succeeds or resets the 4
hour time interval. If the attempt fails, a ping is attempted again every 15 minutes.
If you are using a dial-up connection for Internet access, automatic activation does not
ask you to dial their Internet Service Provider (ISP). Activation is attempted only when
you are connected to the dial-up ISP.
License States
Windows 7 can be in one of several license states. The following table shows a
description for the License Status entries you may see when using slmgr.vbs -dlv to
view your license status.
Table 3: Activation States
Status
Licensed
Initial Grace Period
Notification
Description
This is the status you should see when you have
completed a successful activation. This is also the state
you are in when System Properties shows that Windows
is Genuine.
This is the state you are in after installing Windows 7,
before you have activated. This state has a countdown,
during which you will be reminded to activate, or
Windows will attempt to activate automatically (if that
option was selected during setup).
Once the grace period expires, you are required to
17
Overview
Additional Grace
Period
Non-Genuine Grace
Period
Unknown
Unlicensed
activate Windows 7. You will see messages to the effect

that activation is required.
Windows Activation checks for hardware changes to the
system that could be associated with moving the
installation to different hardware. If a threshold of change
is crossed, you will be prompted to reactivate Windows.
This is done to protect against the use of a single
activated installation of Windows on multiple computers.
You may enter this state after making a number of
changes to uniquely identifiable hardware, such as
processors and network adapters. In some cases a driver
reinstallation may also be interpreted as a change in the
device, such as if the device is identified differently after
a driver update.
This is the state you enter after Windows Genuine
Advantage determines that your computer is not
genuine.
This can indicate a problem with the licensing
components.
This appears for license types not currently in use on
your machine, which you can see using slmgr.vbs -dlv
all
You can view these and other text messages returned by slmgr.vbs by reviewing the
slmgr.ini file in \Windows\System32\slmgr\<language ID>.
Product Key and PID

Understanding activation key types and Product Identifier (PID) types is important in
order to determine the appropriate support steps for activation issues.
Product Keys
When installing Windows 7, you provide a product key. This key, and the media it is used
with, determines the kind of activation experience you will have. The main consumer
key types are:
Retail key: This is the key that comes with a full-install, retail boxed or download
copy of Windows 7. It can be used for clean installation, for upgrade or for WAU.
Retail Upgrade key: This is a type of retail key that comes with a reduced-price
version of Windows 7 and is to be used for upgrade only. Windows 7 provides for
the use of this key type for a clean installation as well, if you have a Windows
installation currently on the PC.
Retail Windows Anytime Upgrade key: This is a type of key that offers a reducedprice upgrade from one edition of Windows to a higher edition of the same
Windows version. This key cannot be used to perform a clean install of Windows,
18
Overview
but it can be used to perform an in-place upgrade to repair a problem in
Windows.
OEM SLP key: This is a key used for OEM systems that use BIOS-locked activation,
a choice common among larger manufacturers. This type of activation verifies
that the license is being used on a system from the correct manufacturer by
checking for an identifier in the BIOS.
OEM COA Non-SLP key: This is a normal OEM key without the special BIOS check.
This type of key is provided with copies of Windows marked for purchase with a
new PC only.
The keys listed above are generally supported for use with retail or OEM installation
media. This means that you can reinstall Windows 7 from alternate media if needed, and
still retain the activation experience determined by your product key type.
In addition to these there are several types of volume licensing keys. These keys may
come in a set, for use in activating individual machines (MAK keys), or they may be
related to enterprise-based licensing for many machines (KMS keys). These key types
are beyond the scope of this document, and are out of scope for consumer Windows
support.
Where to Find your Key?

If you lose your Product Key, it cannot be retrieved using the Windows user interface.
Windows does not show your key so that it cannot be discovered and used by someone
else on your computer. You can find your product key in these locations:
Retail Windows: Your key is provided on a sticker in the packaging from your
Windows installation media.
o
Online Purchase: If you purchased Windows from Microsoft online, you

should have received your product key in email. You can also sign-in to
your account on the Microsoft Store online site to retrieve purchase
history information.
Windows Anytime Upgrade: If you purchased a Windows Anytime

Upgrade license, the key was provided to you in email. If you purchased
this license from Microsoft online, you can sign-in to your account on the
Microsoft Store online site to retrieve purchase history information.
OEM Windows: Your key is provided on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA)

sticker on your PC, or with the installation media.
To see examples of Windows COA stickers, visit the How To Tell site on Microsoft.com.
This is the main information resource for determining if you have Genuine Microsoft
software.
http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?displaylang=en&pg=coa
19
Overview
Product ID
Once you have installed Windows, your installation is assigned a Product ID (PID). This
created in part from your product key. The PID is a number identifying your Windows
installation.
The PID for Windows is needed when you obtain support from Microsoft it is used to
identify your Windows installation so that your support entitlement can be determined.
Where to find your PID?

Your product ID is provided in the Activation information in System Properties, as shown
below.
Figure 8: Product ID in System Properties
Installation ID
Windows is activated based on an evaluation of your installation ID. The Installation ID
is specifically designed to guarantee anonymity and is only used by Microsoft to deter
piracy. The Installation ID is comprised of two different pieces of information:
Product ID: This is the identifier shown above.
Hardware hash value: This is a number that the software licensing

components use to determine if your hardware has changed.
These values are combined to produce the Installation ID, which Microsoft uses to
evaluate your configuration to determine if your Windows installation is genuine.
20
Overview
Hash Value Details

The hardware hash value is an eight byte value that is created by running ten different
pieces of information from the computers hardware components through a one-way
mathematical transformation a hashing function. This means that the resultant hash
value cannot be backwards calculated to determine the original values. Further, only a
portion of the resulting hash value is used in the hardware hash in order to ensure
complete anonymity.
Example: A processor serial number is 96 bits in length. When hashed, the resultant
one-way hash is 128 bits in length. Microsoft uses only six bits from that resultant hash
in activations hardware hash. Due to the nature of the hashing algorithm, those six bits
cannot be backwards calculated to determine anything at all about the original
processor serial number.
Moreover, six bits represent 64 (2^6) different values. There were over 100 million PCs
sold last year worldwide. From those 100 million PCs sold, only 64 different hardware
hash values could be created as part of activation.
Microsoft developed the hardware hash in this way in order to maintain the users
privacy.
21
Overview
Lab: Windows Activation

This lab provides hands-on experience evaluating the current activation status of
Windows 7 on your computer.
Expected Time for this Lab

This lab takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Requirements
To perform this lab you will need the following:
A PC with Windows 7 installed
Exercise: Examining Windows Activation Status

1. Check the current activation status in System Properties.
2. If Windows is not yet activated and this was a keyless installation:
a. How many days do you have remaining in the grace period?
b. What is the first step shown in the Windows Activation wizard when you are
not yet activated in this scenario? Use the Activate Windows now link in
System Properties.
3. If Windows is not yet activated but you entered a valid key during setup:
a. How many days do you have remaining in the grace period?
b. What is the first step shown in the Windows Activation wizard when you are
not yet activated in this scenario? Use the Activate Windows now link in
System Properties.
4. Check to see if your PC has a COA sticker. If it does have a COA, what Windows
version is licensed to the PC based on the sticker?
5. Discuss your results with the class.
Lesson: Activation Troubleshooting

There are a variety of root causes associated with activation issues on Windows. This
lesson outlines general troubleshooting for any activation issue, as well as
recommendations for specific errors that are more commonly encountered.
22
Overview
Goals
Discuss troubleshooting recommendations for Windows activation issues.
Demonstrate standard troubleshooting for activation errors.
Discuss resources available for activation troubleshooting

23
Overview
Troubleshooting Resources
Your resources for troubleshooting activation issues are summarized below.
Logging
Activation events are logged to the Application Event Log from Source Security-SPP.
In Windows Vista the source is Security-Licensing-SLC.
Automated Troubleshooting Tools

The primary automated troubleshooting tools available for Activation issues are MSDT
Troubleshooters. Several issue-specific troubleshooters provide efficient resolutions to
top issues. When available these should be used first!
Resources for Manual Troubleshooting

In addition to these automated tools, there are resources available for manual
troubleshooting. These include:
Table 4: Troubleshooting Resources
Resource
Online Documentation
Key and PID verification tools
Diagnostic Data Collection MSDT

Troubleshooter
Description
As with many other areas, the Knowledge Base
provides articles on a number of top activation
issues.
Special to activation, each error typically includes
a link to a web page providing more information. It
can be helpful to obtain the URL for this page from
your customer, as it can give you background on
what has been tried already, along with the exact
error code you are troubleshooting.
It is important in many cases to verify that the key
in use should activate successfully on the
customers installation. We can use key or PID
verification tools to make this determination.
If you need more diagnostic data from the PC to
troubleshoot deeper, consider using the MGADiag
tool, which is provided in an MSDT manifest. This
collects a variety of diagnostic information related
to activation.
These tools are discussed in the context of troubleshooting in the pages that follow.
24
Overview
Verifying Product and Key

One of the main tasks you need to perform when troubleshooting an activation issue is
to make sure the product and key match. This involves checking the source of each.
Some questions you might ask include:
Is this the key that was printed on the label with the retail media?
Was the OS reinstalled from a different source than
If this is a newly purchased copy of Windows, what was the purchase source?
If there is doubt about either the product or the key, you can verify each.
Key Verification
You can verify a Product Key or Product ID using the Key Information Tool (KIT). KIT is
located here:
https://keyinfotool.partners.extranet.microsoft.com/KIT/aspx/Default.aspx
This tool provides information about the key or PID, including:
Table 5: KIT Verification Output
Output
Validity
Product
Edition
Channel
Activation
Status
Description
Is it a valid key or PID? If not, verify the key or PID and try typing
it again.
Windows 7, Windows Vista, etc.
Home Premium, Professional, etc.
Retail or OEM
This includes information such as:
Activations: This is the number of times this key has been

used for activating the product.
RIT: Reissue In Tolerance. This is the number of activations

you can do on a single PC, in the event that activation is
required.
RIT Count: Number of RIT activations that have been done

using this key in the past.
ROT: Reissue Out of Tolerance. This is the number of

activations supported on a different PC.
This is a small set of the data available for a key or PID in KIT, but
it covers a significant part of the information you might need to
decide if a key should be working to activate Windows.
For more information on data returned by KIT, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
document here:
https://keyinfotool.partners.extranet.microsoft.com/KIT/Documents/KITTrainingDocument
.ppsx\Key Information Tool FAQ.mht
25
Overview
KIT Training
Review the KIT Training materials at the following location:
.ppsx
Product Status
In addition to the support tool above, you can use an in-box Windows tool to check the
licensing state of the Windows installation. To do this, simply run the following
command:
slmgr.vbs -dlv
This should show you the current activation state, as well as the last 5 characters of the
product key, among other information. This data can be very useful to check whether
the customer may have used the same key on another PC, or pinpoint the exact
activation state on this PC.
The example below was taken from a Windows 7 PC that is past its 30 day grace period.
Note the status (Notification) and reason (grace timer expired).
Figure 9: SLMGR.VBS DLV
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Overview
Standard Troubleshooting Steps

Standard troubleshooting for activation issues consists of the following main steps:
1. Use the Error Code: Use the error code to check for known issues or issuespecific troubleshooting.
a. Note the error code.
b. Check for specific solutions to the customers error Knowledge Base
articles, MSDT troubleshooters, etc.
2. Verify the key: This step is done to determine exactly what type of key the
customer is using for activation.
a. Ask the customer for their key source. Was this key used during setup?
b. Validate key using the recommended support tool for key validation.
i. Is the key valid? Does it have remaining activations?
ii. If not, the customer needs to obtain a new product key.
iii. If so, there may be a problem with the installation, proceed with
the steps below.
3. Verify the installed product: Check the version, edition and channel for this
Windows installation. This can be compared with the key validation results.
a. Run the following command:
slmgr.vbs -dlv
b. You can also obtain a list of all the activation types supported for this
Windows installation:
slmgr.vbs -dlv all
c. If the key and product are compatible, there may be a problem with the
Activation components in Windows causing a problem with key
evaluation.
4. Repair Activation components: The steps below reinstall licensing
components and generate a new tokens.dat file. Run the following commands in
an Administrator command prompt:
net stop sppsvc
Cd %windir
%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Softwa
reProtectionPlatform
Ren tokens.dat tokens.old
cd %windir%\system32
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Overview
net start sppsvc
slmgr.vbs -rilc
5. When finished with these steps, re-try the activation.
When you find that these steps are unable to resolve an issue, there may be a more
serious problem in the OS. You could consider performing more aggressive
troubleshooting, such as using SFC and possibly reinstalling Windows.
You may also consider collecting diagnostic data using MGADiag. This tool can be sent to
a customer via an MSDT manifest. You can also run directly if needed, from this page:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help/genuine/submit-request?
displaylang=en
Note: The steps above are for Windows 7. Steps for Windows Vista differ due to
changes in the folder name and service name for the licensing components. See the KB
article 978305 for commands that work on Windows Vista.
Demo: Standard Troubleshooting Steps

Demonstrate the standard troubleshooting steps listed above on the instructor PC.
Include the use of a key verification tool, if applicable.
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Overview
Classifying Error Codes

If the activation of Windows fails, it is often possible to determine whether the error was
returned from the server end (the Microsoft Activation servers on the Internet) or the
client side (components in the Windows OS or the entered key). You can do this by
examining the error code.
This is useful as it could tell you how to focus your troubleshooting.
Server Errors
The following is the range of error codes which are the type reported back to Windows
by the activation servers:
0xC004Bxxx and 0xC004Cxxx
When you encounter an error in this range, you should focus troubleshooting on key and
product verification. It is less common for this range of errors to relate to problems with
the activation and licensing components in .
Connectivity Problems
In cases where the client is not able to reach the server due to some connectivity issues,
expect error codes in the following range:
0x80072Exx and 0x80072Fxx
In addition, the event logs will include an event with Event ID 8200 that contains
detailed information about the failure. Use these event log entries to target your
troubleshooting.
Note: Incorrect time or date settings on your computer can also cause these types of
connectivity errors.
Other Codes
For error codes not in the ranges listed above, use troubleshooting specific to the error,
if available, or standard troubleshooting as outlined above.
29
Overview
Troubleshooting Specific Activation Errors

The following pages list a few activation errors you may encounter. These are provided
to help familiarize you with the types of issues you may face while supporting Windows.
Activation Error 0xC004C003

This error is displayed as follows:
The activation server determined that the specific product key is in use: 0xC004C003
This error is typically related to re-using a key that has already been used to activate
Windows. Check the key to be sure you are using the correct key. If you are, it would be
best to start with Windows Activation support for assistance.
Activation Error 0xC004F050

The following failure occurred while trying to use the product key:
0xC004F050
The Software Licensing Service reported that the product key is invalid
Troubleshooting for this issue is provided in the following Knowledge Base article:
950756 Error message when you try to activate a copy of Windows by using the
Windows Activation wizard: "The Software Licensing Service reported that the product
key is invalid: 0xC004F050"
This issue may also be resolved using the standard troubleshooting steps provided
above, as the cause for the key error could be damaged software licensing files.
Activation Error 0xC004F061

The following failure occurred while trying to use the product key:
0xC004F061
The Software Licensing Service determined that this specified product key can only be used for
upgrading, not for clean installations.
This error is encountered when you perform a clean installation of Windows without
entering a product key, and then provide a Retail Upgrade key during the Activation
wizard.
This path is blocked to prevent the use of the reduced-cost upgrade key for clean install
usage.
You can work around this issue if the customer does qualify for an upgrade license. An
example of a qualifying scenario is if they had upgraded previously but more recently
30
Overview
performed a clean install to resolve a problem. In this situation you could provide
assistance using MSDT to work around the activation error.
An Unauthorized Change was made to Windows

This message is shown when changes are made that place Windows Activation out of
tolerance. This maps to the Additional Grace Period state shown earlier in this module.
Figure 10: Activation Error: An unauthorized change was made to Windows
The customer is redirected to this page for more information:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=89429&OSV=%s&RFM=
%d&LegitCheckError=83&GenuineInfo=%08X
The URL provided to the customer in the warning message contains the error code and
details on the type of tampering event that was detected. This is done so that the page
can provide specific guidance to assist with the problem.
If your customer is seeing this behavior, it is best to:
1. Obtain the exact URL for the page linked from the message.
2. Have them follow the instructions on the page.
3. Recommend following the steps on that site for customer service assistance
with Windows Genuine Advantage.
Online Activation of OEM Computer Fails

If you reinstall Windows and try to activate online using the key on the Certificate of
Authenticity (COA), this activation may fail. Prompts indicate that you must activate by
phone. This is because the product key included on the OEM COA labels associated with
SLP products cannot be activated online.
To resolve this issue, perform the following steps:
1. Retype the product key located on the COA sticker.
2. Follow the onscreen steps to activate Windows via the telephone. Online
activation will not be available if the computer is using SLP.
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Overview
Note: For OEM and system builder machines not using SLP activation, product
activation is similar to the retail activation procedure, with one exception. During Setup
on an OEM machine, when you are prompted for the product key an image of the OEM
COA sticker is displayed rather than an image of the standard 5x5 product key sticker.
32
Overview
Lab: Activation Troubleshooting

This lab provides hands-on experience with key Activation troubleshooting tools and
methods.

Requirements
A PC with Windows 7 installed
An Internet connection
Exercise: Using Activation Troubleshooting Tool

1. Run slmgr.vbs -dlv and examine the results to answer the following questions:
a. Is this an evaluation copy of Windows 7? If so, when does the evaluation
period end?
b. Has the licensing status been rearmed on this installation?
c. What is the Windows license type currently in use on the system?
d. Take a screenshot of this UI using the Snipping Tool. Save the image to your
desktop.
2. Run slmgr.vbs -dlv all and examine the results. This shows all licenses supported
by this installation of Windows 7.
a. Based on the output, could you use an OEM key to activate this installation of
Windows 7?
3. Run slmgr.vbs -rilc to reinstall the license files. Then answer the following
questions:
a. Did this change the grace period, if you were not yet activated?
b. Was there any change to the partial product key?
c. Was there any change to the Installation ID?
4. Locate steps in the Knowledge Base to recreate tokens.dat. Follow the steps on your
PC.
a. Did this change the grace period, if you were not yet activated?
b. Was there any change to the partial product key?
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Overview
c. Was there any change to the Installation ID?
5. If you have access to a Key/PID verification tool, use it to verify your PID.
a. What is the product shown for this PID?
b. Does your current key support activation, or do you need to enter a different
product key?
c. Has this key been used to activate previously?
6. MGADiag Information:
a. Run the MGADiag tool, either via MSDT or from the web:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help/genuine/submit-request?
displaylang=en
b. Examine the resulting information. How does this compare with the detail you
have seen above?
7. Discuss your results with the class.
Lesson: Genuine Advantage Program

Microsoft Genuine Advantage programs, including Windows Genuine Advantage, help
you determine whether or not your copy of Windows is genuine. Genuine Windows
software is published by Microsoft, properly licensed, and supported by Microsoft or an
authorized partner, giving you full capabilities, access to all the latest updates, and
confidence that you are getting the experience you expect. The Genuine Microsoft
Software program is referred to as Windows Genuine Advantage in Windows XP and
Windows Activation Technologies in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Goals
Describe the purpose and function of the Genuine Advantage program.
Describe the Genuine Online Kit (GGOK) , the Windows Genuine Advantage (KIT)
Kit and Complimentary kit
Describe the benefits of using genuine Microsoft software.
Define the data that the GA program collects during the validation process, and
how the data is used.
Describe the Genuine Advantage privacy statement.
34
Overview

35
Overview
Genuine Advantage Program Overview

The Genuine Advantage program is an anti-piracy program created by Microsoft to help
customers determine whether they are running a correctly licensed copy of Microsoft
software. The Genuine Advantage program consists of the following:
Why Was Genuine Advantage Implemented?

The Genuine Advantage program is part of the ongoing effort by Microsoft to protect its
customers and partners from counterfeit software and to increase customer awareness
of the value of genuine Microsoft software.
Through its Genuine Software Initiative (GSI), Microsoft works with government, law
enforcement, and industry to improve intellectual property (IP) protection and promote
genuine software. The Microsoft Genuine Advantage program addresses both industry
and customer problems that occur when software is not genuine.
What are the key components to the Genuine Microsoft

Software program?
Validation, which determines whether you are running a properly licensed copy of
Microsoft software. Validation will detect and may disable "activation exploits," which is
software that circumvents or bypasses Microsoft product activation, validation, or
licensing components. The presence of activation exploits indicates that a software or
hardware vendor may have tampered with genuine Microsoft software to enable the sale
of counterfeit software. Activation exploits may interfere with the normal operation of
your software.
Notifications, which display periodic reminders such as whether there is a problem with
your Windows license components or whether a more recent service pack is available
for your Windows software. At this time, the Notifications component is offered on
Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, and in select countries, on Office XP, Office
2003 and Office 2007.
The Windows Activation Exploit Detection Update for Windows Vista and the Update to
Activation Technologies for Windows 7 are used to detect activation exploits. These
updates check your computer for known activation exploits and notify you if any
activation exploits are found.
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Overview
Genuine Advantage Features

Microsoft wants customers to understand that unlicensed and pirated software
threatens not only the whole software industry but also other industries that create
products that are built on intellectual property. Most important, Microsoft wants
customers to realize the benefits of using genuine Windows software.
Get Genuine Online Kit (GGOK) and WGA Kit

Customers have the option of buying genuine Windows through online or Retail. If a
customer accesses downloads on the Microsoft Download Center or on the Microsoft
Windows Update Web site, they may be prompted to complete the Windows activation
technology validation check process. The Windows activation technology performs a
validation check to verify the copy of Windows is genuine. If the copy of Windows does
not pass the validation check, the customer receives a message that states why it
failed, information about other steps to try, and how they can obtain a genuine copy of
Windows: either Get Genuine Kit (GGOK) / Windows Genuine Advantage kit (WGA kit).
The GGOK offer will be for the same edition of Windows 7 that failed validation. The only
GGOK the customer can buy will be for that same edition. The customer cannot "step
up" their Windows 7 edition through the GGOK.
Similarly, Windows XP and Windows Vista customers who fail validation will not be
offered a Windows 7 GGOK
For additional details on how a customer can obtain genuine Windows Software, please
refer to the internal KB article KB 942398
Note: Customers who have counterfeit Windows software can access only critical
security updates through Windows automatic updating. This also assumes they are
currently running Windows XP SP2 or higher since Security Updates are no longer
supported for Windows XP RTM or SP1.
Windows Complimentary Kit

The complimentary kit is also available to customers with qualifying high-quality
counterfeit media and proof of purchase.
Customer Benefits
Benefits of Genuine Microsoft Software are as follows:
Access to all Microsoft updates
Confidence that their computers are up to date
Software protection from security risks that include viruses and spyware
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Overview
Support to help troubleshoot problems
Additional Customer Benefits in Windows

The following programs and features have reduced functionality or are disabled for nongenuine Windows systems:
Table 6 List of Windows programs and features with reduced functionality or disabled
Programs or
Features
Windows Update
and Optional
Updates (Not
Available)
Windows
ReadyBoost
(Disabled)
Windows Aero
(Disabled)
Defender (reduced
functionality)
Genuine
Downloads (Not
available)
Descriptions
Applies to
Windows Update keeps your computer upto-date and more secure by automatically
providing the latest improvements to
Windows.
Windows XP
Note: Regardless of genuine status,

customers will still be able to get critical
security updates via Automatic Updates.
With Windows ReadyBoost, you can use a
flash memory device, like a universal
serial bus (USB) flash drive or secure
digital (SD) memory card, to improve your
computer's system performance without
having to add additional memory.
Windows Aero is the premium visual
experience of Windows Vista and Windows
7. It features a translucent glass design
with subtle window animations and new
window colors.
Windows Defender is a free program that
helps you stay productive by protecting
your computer against pop-ups, slow
performance and security threats caused
by spyware and other potentially
unwanted software
Only genuine Windows customers can
receive certain product downloads. These
can include software such as Microsoft
Windows Defender (XP), Microsoft
Security Essentials
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Tips for Supporting Customers

Important: We never want to accuse a customer of piracy.
Listen to your customers concerns as if the customer is a victim of piracy.
38
Overview
Seek to understand your customers issues.
Determine the Genuine Advantage scenario.
Provide background or context to explain the customer issue and appropriate

resolution options.
Refer customers to online resources, or redirect customers to help them obtain

genuine software when it is suitable.
39
Overview
Lab: Genuine Advantage Benefits

Recall, research and list the benefits to customers who have genuine Windows Software.
To find your answers and additional details, visit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/ and
use the information in the Genuine Windows section.

Requirements
Internet access
Exercise: List Genuine Benefits

In the space provided, list all the benefits that customers receive when they have
genuine Windows software.
40
Overview
Genuine Advantage Privacy Statement

To help validate software, the Genuine Advantage program collects some configuration
information from the customers computer. Genuine Advantage does not collect name,
address, e-mail address, or any other information that can be used to identify or contact
the customer.
What data is collected?

The Genuine Advantage program collects information such as the following:
Computer make and model
Version information for the operating system and software
Region and language settings
A unique number assigned to your computer by the tools (Globally Unique

Identifier or GUID)
Product Key (hashed) and Product ID
BIOS name, revision number, and revision date
Hard drive volume serial number (hashed)
Whether the installation was successful if one was performed
The result of the validation check, including error codes and information about
any activation exploits and any related malicious or unauthorized software found
or disabled, including:
The activation exploits identifier
The activation exploit's current state, such as cleaned or quarantined
Original equipment manufacturer identification
The activation exploits file name and hash of the file, as well as a hash of
related software components that may indicate the presence of an
activation exploit
The name and a hash of the contents of the computer's start-up instructions file
(commonly called the boot file) to help us discover activation exploits that
modify this file.
As standard procedure, your IP address is temporarily logged when your computer

connects to a GA Web site or server. These logs are routinely deleted.
If a system is identified as not genuine, the Genuine Advantage program may send
additional information to Microsoft to understand better why the system failed
41
Overview
validation. This information can include error codes and the names and paths of files
that compromise the integrity of that system.
Software piracy is a worldwide problem. To help spot possible systematic abuse of
product licenses, certain information about the software that is being validated is
derived from its IP address. This information includes the geographical location, ISP
(Internet service provider), and domain name. The smallest geographical unit that can
be resolved is a city. This resolution is performed by using data that is provided by a
third party. Any collected data that could identify a customer is not used to contact the
customer. This data may be retained for the sales life cycle of the product in question.
How is this data used?

The information is used to do the following:
Help prevent incorrectly licensed use of the software
Improve our software and services
Develop aggregate statistics
We may also share aggregate data with other companies, such as hardware and
software vendors and volume licensees, to help protect their license keys.
Changes to the Privacy Statement

The privacy statement is sometimes updated. The "last updated" date at the top of the
privacy statement is revised when a change occurs.
If a customer has any questions about this privacy statement, direct the customer to
contact Microsoft by using our Web form at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?
LinkId=83260 or by writing directly to the following address:
Microsoft Privacy
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Lesson: Windows Genuine Advantage Validation

This lesson describes the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) validation process. The
lesson also shows the customer validation steps, and describes the three main
categories of WGA validation errors.
42
Overview
Goals
Describe the WGA validation process.
Discuss options for troubleshooting software validation failures.

43
Overview
WGA Validation Overview

Validation is an online process that lets the customer verify that their copy of Windows is
genuine. Validation might be required for their copy of Windows before they can get
downloads and some updates from Microsoft, which are reserved for PCs running
genuine Windows.
Currently, online validation is supported by all editions of Windows 7 and Windows Vista
as well as the following Windows XP editions: Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP
Professional (excluding Windows XP Professional x64 Edition), Windows XP Starter
Edition, and Windows XP Media Center Edition.
Note: The Automatic Updates feature is not affected by the WGA validation check.
Therefore, the customer can use the Automatic Updates feature to make sure that they
receive critical Windows updates.
WGA Validation Process

The Windows genuine validation check is performed on the customers computer by
using either an ActiveX control (Internet Explorer Add-on), an .exe file that can be
downloaded from the Internet, or a plug-in for browsers that do not support ActiveX
controls.
The ActiveX control that WGA installs is the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation
Tool. The following table shows the files that are associated with the WGA Validation
Tool.
Table 1: WGA Windows XP Files
File name
LegitCheckControl.dll
LicWMI.dll (Windows XP
Only)
LicDLL.dll (Windows XP
Only)
Location
C:\WINDOWS\System32
C:\WINDOWS\System32
C:\WINDOWS\System32
The ActiveX control first checks the operating system and makes sure that it is Windows
XP. Then, the ActiveX control collects the product key, the product ID (PID), and
hardware information. The control then encrypts this information and sends it to the
Microsoft clearing house server for validation. The server sends back the encrypted
validation license, and the control caches the license data on the system.
As soon as the license data is cached, the control uses the locally cached validation
data. If the system is offline, the control will return the validation status as genuine.
During the next validation check, the ActiveX Control will try to obtain a license from the
clearing house server.
Note: The ActiveX validation tool cannot be disabled or uninstalled with the Internet
Explorer Add-on management feature.
44
Overview
Important: If the server is unavailable, the customers system will pass validation with
a temporary license.
Validation Events
Windows Genuine Advantage validation occurs on several Web sites as described here.
Download Center Web site: Validation checks occur before downloading

certain packages. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads
Microsoft/Windows Update Web site: Validation checks occur while Windows

XP updates are downloaded. http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
Genuine Web site: Customers can validate their software on the Genuine Web
site, and they can download WGA offers if their software is genuine.
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine.
Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic site: Customers can use this site
to perform checks and make sure that the system is configured correctly to run
the validation check for Windows and Microsoft Office.
http://www.microsoft.com/Genuine/diag/RunDiags.aspx?displayLang=en
The diagnostic site helps customers make sure that the settings in Internet Explorer
6.01 or later versions are configured correctly to view images, run scripts, and let
ActiveX controls download and run.
45
Overview
Customers move through troubleshooting processes step by step. If configuration
settings are incorrect, the customer receives suggestions to resolve the problem. If the
problem persists, the customer receives information about how to obtain additional
assistance.
Figure 7: WGA Diagnostic Site
There is other WGA-enforced software that performs genuine validation during the
install routine. These include software such as Windows Media Player, language
interface packs (LIP), and Windows Defender.
What Kinds of Windows Licenses Are Validated?

The following license types that follow are validated:
Retail
OEM (System builder/COA)
OEM-System Locked Preinstall (SLP)
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Overview
Volume License Key (VLK)
The following table shows current WGA validation Windows XP SKUs for each kind of
license.
Table 2: WGA Validation Windows XP SKUs
Windows XP
Only
Pro
Hom
e
Table
t
Retail
OEM - System
Builder
Volume
Licensing Key
OEM - SLP
Medi
a
Cent
er
Start
er
XPN
(Europe
Only)
Note: The WGA legalization SKU and the WGA Kit that customers can order supports
only Windows XP Pro and Home.
The following table shows the validation requirement for Windows XP versions by SKU.
Table 3: Validation Requirements by Windows XP SKU
SKU
Requirement
Windows Retail
Has Windows been

activated?
Enter data from
Human Interface
Prompt (HIP)
Enter data from
Human Interface
Prompt (HIP)
Valid product ID (PID)
OEM
(System Builder)
OEM Royalty
(SLP)
Windows VLK
(Volume License
Key)
Pass
Validation
Activated
Fail Validation
Yes
Not applicable
Yes
Not applicable
PID is not
included on
block list
PID is included on
block list
Not activated
Note: OEM SKUs must be activated. If these SKUs are not activated, validation will fail.
47
Overview
WGA Validation Steps

This section describes the customers experience during the first visit to the Microsoft
Update site (Windows XP Only) and the Microsoft Download Center site.
First Visit to the Microsoft Update Site

Note: WGA Validation via the Windows Update or Microsoft Update site only applies to
Windows XP.
When a customer visits the Windows Update or Microsoft Update site
(http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) for the first time, the WGA ActiveX control is
installed. This occurs after the customer clicks Express or Custom Installation. The
ActiveX control is required to continue to install updates.
Figure 2: First Visit to Microsoft Update site
After a customer reads about the WGA control, the customer must choose to download
and install the control. No additional customer intervention is required, and the ActiveX
control can initialize without restarting the computer.
After the ActiveX control is installed, the customer sees a list of updates that are
available to install. On later visits to the Microsoft Update site, the customer will not see
the WGA mandatory update again because the update was already successfully
installed. The only exceptions to this are as follows:
After an update to the WGA ActiveX control
If the WGA ActiveX control has been removed from the customers computer
48
Overview
If the WGA ActiveX control has become corrupted
First Visit to the Microsoft Download Center with WGA

The Microsoft Download Center contains some download files that use WGA for
validation before the customer can download them. These files may be marked for Optin WGA or Mandatory WGA. Opt-in WGA recommends WGA to customers. Mandatory
WGA requires customers to complete WGA before they can download the file. WGA
downloads can be identified by the Genuine star icon next to the download name.
Note: Customers can also validate Windows from the http://www.microsoft.com/genuine
home page by clicking the Validate Windows button.
Demonstration: First Visit to the Microsoft Download

Center
Demonstrate a customers experience with Windows Genuine Advantage during the first
visit to the Microsoft Download Center.
Tools and Resources for this Demonstration
Access to the Internet
Internet Explorer
Windows Vista or Windows 7
Demonstration Directions
Important: If Windows has recently been validated, step 4 and 5 will been skipped due
to the stored genuine status. To reset the genuine status, you can simply rename the
LegitCheckControl.dll file from C:\WINDOWS\System32.
1. Open the Microsoft Download Center Web site at
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Search.aspx?displaylang=en.
2. In the search box, type KB933928.
3. Click on Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB933928)
from the search result. Look for the Genuine star icon next to the download
name.
4. Next, click Continue.
5. When you are prompted to install the ActiveX control, click Yes.
6. Click Install.
7. Click Download to download the software.
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Overview
Some downloads at the Microsoft Download Center use WGA for validation prior to
download. These may be marked for Opt-in WGA which recommends WGA to the
customer, or Mandatory WGA, which requires that the customer complete WGA before
the file can be downloaded. WGA downloads can be identified by the icon to the right of
its name as shown below.
Note: If the customer previously validated Windows by using the Windows Update or
Microsoft Update site, she will not be prompted to validate again when she accesses the
Microsoft Download Center and vice versa.
WGA Validation Checks

WGA uses the results from the Genuine Advantage checks to determine whether the
computer is running a legitimate installation of Windows. These checks are automatic.
The customer does not see them if the system is successfully validated. In this case, the
customer is sent directly to the scan results page to continue installing updates.
The following table contains more detail about each of these checks.
Table 4: WGA Validation Checks
Check
Windows Version
Check
Blocked Volume
License Key (VLK)
used to install
Windows
Windows Activation
Status
Description
This validation checks if the version (SKU) of Windows
requires validation. For example, WGA does not validate
Windows XP Professional x64.
This validation checks for the presence of a blocked
volume license key that was used to install Windows. If
Windows was installed by using one of these blocked
keys, more information is provided to the customer so
that he can contact the internal corporate IT department if
he is an enterprise customer. If the customer is not an
enterprise customer, he will receive more information so
that he can search for how to resolve the problem.
If WGA determines that a VLK was used to install Windows
and the VLK is not blocked, validation succeeds. No
additional checks are performed.
If the system was installed by using a key that requires
product activation and that is not yet activated, the
customer will see the WGA Activation Required page. This
informs the customer that she must first activate Windows
to access Windows Update and to download files from the
Windows Download Center. When the customer has
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Overview
activated Windows, she can return to the Update site to
continue.
For the Microsoft Update site, the customer can also
choose to continue to review non-Windows XP updates
and content without activating Windows. This lets the
customer install Office updates and other non-Windows
updates immediately.
License from Earlier

WGA Validation
If WGA determines that the Windows version that is being

used requires activation and the installation is activated
correctly, validation succeeds. WGA performs no
additional checks.
When WGA validates a computer that is using the
certificate of authenticity (COA) or the WGA Exception
Process as discussed in the following sections, WGA stores
a WGA license locally on the computer. WGA uses this
license to perform validation more quickly in the future.
If WGA finds a valid WGA license on the computer,
validation succeeds. WGA performs no additional checks.
WGA Alternate Validation Method

Customers who fail the validation process because of technical issues, such as an
inability to install the WGA ActiveX control, will see the alternate validation method. In
addition, customer is using a 3rd party browser, they will also see the alternate validation
method.
The alternate validation method automatically collects some system information during
this process. However, it collects no personally identifiable information, and the data
that WGA collects cannot be used to identify a specific customer.
Note: For information about the specific data that is collected, see the WGA FAQ here:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/FAQ.aspx
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Overview
How to Use the WGA Alternate Validation Method

To use the WGA alternate validation method, follow these steps:
Step 1: Download the GenuineCheck.exe file as shown in this topic. This utility collects
the system information that was discussed earlier.
Figure 3: Alternate Validation GenuineCheck.exe
Step 2: To complete the validation process, enter the validation code into the Web page
form.
The final step is to paste the validation code into the web page form to complete the
validation process.
Figure 4: Alternante Validation Code
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Overview
Alternate Validation Failure

If the system cannot be validated by using the alternate validation method, the
customer is redirected to another page to download additional Windows Validation
component (WindowsActivationUpdate.exe).
Figure 5: Additional Validation Component Download
Alternate Validation Success

If the system is validated with the alternate validation method, a WGA license is added
to the license store for future validation. When the validation is successful, the customer
is notified of the Windows Genuine status and then resumes using Windows Update,
Microsoft Update, or Microsoft Download Center.
Validation Failures
The validation failure experience is different in Windows Vista and Windows 7 when
compared to Windows 7. The section below provides a description of the different user
experiences.
Important: If a customer cannot validate the Windows installation, he can still enable
Automatic Updates to make sure that he receives critical Windows updates.
53
Overview
Validation Failure Experience for Windows XP

If a Windows XP system fails validation, the customer is given more information to help
determine whether the Windows installation is genuine (www.microsoft.com/howtotell).
Figure 6: Alternate Method Failure
Validation Failure Experience for Windows Vista and Windows 7

If validation fails, the customer is prompted with a message that they may be a victim of
software counterfeiting. The message includes a link to go online in order to resolve the
problem.
At this point, the customer can choose to continue to use Windows by clicking on the
Close button. However, the customer will not be able use certain feature as mentioned
in the previous module.
Important: If a customer cannot validate the Windows installation, he can still enable
Automatic Updates to make sure that he receives critical Windows updates.
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Overview
Figure 7: Victim of software counterfeiting message
In addition, customers who have systems that are running a non-genuine copy of
Windows Vista or Windows 7 will experience the following:
They will be notified that Windows is not genuine as shown below.
Figure 8: Windows is not genuine notification
In the lower-right section of their screen, they will see a persistent message that
reads, This copy of Windows is not genuine. This persistent message is called a
wordmark or tattoo.
Figure 9: This copy of Windows is not genuine wordmark
55
Overview
Validation Troubleshooting
The WGA ActiveX control installs other ActiveX controls. If the WGA ActiveX control
cannot be installed, confirm that other ActiveX controls are working. Remove the WGA
ActiveX control and let it reinstall during the next visit to the Windows Update site, the
Microsoft Update site, or the Microsoft Download Center.
Validation Errors
Errors that WGA validation returns are in three main categories:
Invalid PID: These are errors that are related to the PID errors that the WGA
control returns. This includes Windows Update PID checks.
Activation: These are errors that are related to Windows Product Activation that
the WGA control returns.
Other: These are any other legitimate error codes that the WGA control returns.
When you encounter a WGA validation error, its important to capture the error code.
The error code may be useful with the Microsoft Knowledge base.
For Windows XP, errors messages appear as shown in the following figure. The error
message is prominent, and the error code (error number) appears less prominently.
Figure 6: WGA Error in Windows XP
56
Overview
Note: The Windows XP error code now appears in the lower-left corner of the pane
For Windows Vista and Windows 7, the error appears as shown in the following figure
when the customer clicks on the balloon notification as previously shown. The error
message also includes an error code in the lower-left corner of the window.
Figure 7: WGA Error in Windows Vista and Windows 7
Lesson: Genuine Advantage Notifications for Windows

XP
This lesson defines the Genuine Advantage Notifications program for Windows XP.
Goals
Describe the Genuine Advantage Notifications Program.
Describe genuine and non-genuine tray Genuine Advantage Notification details.
57
Overview
Anticipated Time for this Lesson

58
Overview
Genuine Advantage Notifications Program

Overview
The Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications program notifies customers when their
copy of Microsoft Windows XP is not genuine. The notification messages appear only on
computers that fail the Windows Genuine Advantage validation process. Customers
running a validated, genuine copy of Windows XP will not receive notification messages.
Important: This program is for Windows XP only. Later versions of Windows provide
built-in notification capabilities.
Windows Genuine Advantage Notification Installation

Customers using Windows Update or Microsoft Update on a computer that is running
Microsoft Windows XP, will be offered Windows Genuine Advantage Notification. When
installing Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications, the Software Update Installation
Wizard runs the next time that the customer logs on to Windows.
After the wizard starts, the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation tool verifies that the
customers copy of Windows is genuine. When the wizard finishes, the results of the
process appear for the customer to review.
If the copy of Windows is genuine, the customer can continue to access Microsoft
downloads
If the copy of Windows does not pass the validation check, customers receive a
message that describes the failure
59
Overview
Application Delivery
The notifications application (KB 905474) is an opt in program distributed by
Automatic Update (AU) and Windows Update (WU) as a critical update with high priority.
The notifications update installs the following files:
WgaLogon.dll - This file performs all of the actions before logon occurs.
WgaTray.exe WgaTray.exe starts after login by WgaLogon.dll. This executable

acquires configuration updates and maintains the LegitCheck status.
Figure 11: Windows Genuine Advantage Notification Installation Wizard
Supported Windows Operating Systems

As for March 2009, version 1.9 of the WGA Notification program will be delivered only to
Windows XP Professional users.
Logon Interrupt Dialog Box

If a copy of Windows XP fails validation, the customer will have a pre-logon message
also known as the Logon Interrupt dialog box. The dialog box contains text that
apprises customers of their non-genuine status. There are two distinct versions of this
text:
60
Overview
Non-Genuine Mode: 0-14 Days

o
You may be a victim of software counterfeiting. Click Resolve Now to get

help with this problem.
Buy Now Mode: > 14 Days

o
This copy of Windows is did not pass genuine Windows validation and you
have not yet resolved the problem. This copy of Windows is no longer eligible
to receive the full range of upgrade and product support available from
Microsoft.
Figure 12: Logon Interrupt dialog box in Non-Genuine Mode
Persistent Desktop Notification

Customers who are notified that their copy of Windows XP may not be genuine will also
see a persistent desktop notification is similar to a watermark. A translucent image as
shown below appears over the system tray and is non-interactive. In other words, the
user can not click on it or do anything to it.
61
Overview
Figure 13: Persistent Desktop Notification.
The persistent desktop notification is based on different states as shown in the table
below.
Table 8 Persistent Desktop Notification Messaging
State
Green
Green
Red
Variation
Genuine, Sp2+
Genuine RTM or SP1
Non-genuine, first 14
days
Red
Validation
incomplete
Non-genuine, after 14
days: non-genuine
Buy Now
NOT ACTIVATED, 0- 30
days
Not
activated
NOT ACTIVATED, 30+

days
Validation
incomplete
Due to some reason

other than activation
Persistent Desktop Notification

N/A
N/A
No persistent desktop notification shown
Notification Area
If Windows fails validation, you will see a WGA (star) icon at the system notification
area. The customer can also click on the WGA icon located in the system notification
area. By clicking on the WGA icon, the following options are shown below
62
Overview
Figure 14: Options in the notification area
The customer can open the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Failure Web page.
This web page gives the customer the specifics of the validation failure and the steps
that they can take to make the operating system genuine.
Desktop Background Change

If Windows fails validation, the desktop will also be set to a plain black background. The
customer may reset the background to wallpaper or to another background color, but
the desktop will be reset to a plain black color every 60 minutes, until their copy of
Windows passes validation. The plain black background is to emphasize this persistent
desktop notification.
63
Overview
Installation Results
At the end of the installation routine, the customer may experience the following
outcomes:
Validation Incomplete Dialog Box

The Validation Incomplete dialog box appears when WGA validation is unable to
complete.
Figure 15: Validation Incomplete
64
Overview
Validation Complete (Genuine) Dialog Box

The Validation Complete dialog box appears when WGA validation has completed.
Figure 16: Validation Complete (Genuine) Link
Validation Complete (Not Genuine) Screen

The Validation Complete dialog box appears when WGA validation was successfully
completed.
Figure 17: Validation Complete (Not Genuine)
65
Overview
Lesson: Genuine Advantage Troubleshooting

This lesson provides basic troubleshooting steps for helping a customer who has
Genuine Advantage issues, describes how to use the re-arm switch, and describes how
to issue a customer a new product key.
Note: Non-genuine Microsoft software is also known as counterfeit. However, the
preferred term is non-genuine.
Goals
Demonstrate standard troubleshooting for Genuine Advantage issues.
Use the Microsoft Genuine Advantage site to confirm that Internet Explorer and
Windows are configured to run the validation process.
Discuss resources available for Genuine Advantage troubleshooting.
Discuss recommendations for a non-genuine customer scenario.
Convert a customers product key using the Product Key Update.

66
Overview
Validation Troubleshooting Key Points
Always consider the customer as a victim of any possible non-genuine software

or piracy issues. Avoid accusing or implying that the customer knowingly
committed piracy or is in any way involved in non-genuine software.
Capturing diagnostic data and asking the relevant question is key to resolving
Genuine Advantage issues.
No validation issue will ever go unresolved as long as the customer is willing to

work with support. Resolved issues are issues that meet one or more of the
following conditions:
o
The customer has a known issue as defined in this module.
It is confirmed that the customer has a non-genuine copy of Windows.

Additionally, the customer will return to the reseller to address the issue,
or the customer will purchase a retail copy of Windows.
Technical support assisted the customer in changing the product key and
confirmed that the issue was resolved.
Always give the customer the benefit of the doubt and issue a new
product key when all processes are followed and the customer is adamant
about fixing the issue immediately.
Standard Troubleshooting Steps

Troubleshooting Genuine Advantage issues consists of following a set of questioning
steps to determine the authenticity of the Windows installation. The following
questions will also help determine the recommendations to resolve a Genuine
Advantage issue.
Step 1: Ask the customer to explain what they did and what
happened
Ask the customer to explain in detail what he was doing when the issue occurred and
what he did after experiencing the issue. The context in which the customer
experienced the problem helps you understand the cause.
Scenarios
The customer says: "I tried to download something from the Microsoft Download
Center, and it took me to this Web site." To determine the issue, obtain the URL
that the customer sees to make an assessment. From this Web site, you can
determine the exact message that the customer receives and any applicable
error codes.
67
Overview
The customer says: "Warning messages appear in the lower-right corner of my

screen when I use my computer. The messages tell me that I may be the victim
of non-genuine software." This means that the customer's installation of Windows
did not pass validation. This may be caused by recently installed software,
hardware, or hardware drivers on the customers computer.
Step 2: Ask the customer for the error or notification message

The wording of the exact error message or dialog box that is displayed helps narrow the
scope of the issue that the customer is experiencing. Some possible error messages that
the customer may receive are as follows:
"You may be the victim of software counterfeiting."
"This copy of Microsoft Windows is not genuine."
During the validation process, an error code should be displayed in the lower-left corner
of the validation failure Web site. Here are some examples:
0xC004C4A2
0xC004C4A9
0xC004C4A8
0xC004C4A4
0xC004C4A5
Check for specific solutions to the customers error Knowledge Base articles, MSDT
troubleshooters, etc.
Step 3: Determine whether the issue is related to product activation

If Windows is not activated within the grace period (30 days), the customer may see a
notification indicating that their copy Windows is not genuine.
The following scenarios currently exist that may cause the computer to prompt the
customer to reactivate:
The customer uninstalls Windows on one computer and then installs Windows on
another computer.
The customer upgrades the Windows edition.
The customer makes a significant hardware change, such as upgrading the hard
disk drive and the memory at the same time or replacing the motherboard in an
OEM computer. If a major hardware change requires reactivating Windows, a
notification is displayed that states that Windows must be reactivated.
The customer reinstalls Windows.
68
Overview
A virus infects and corrupts the activation status data.
If the issue is related to product activation, please refer to the Activation

Troubleshooting lesson early in this module for troubleshooting techniques.
Step 4: Determine whether the customer's issue is a known issue

There are several known issues that can cause validation or activation errors. It is very
important that we confirm or deny current known issues as the cause of the customers
issue. Known issues are discussed in the Genuine Advantage Known Issues module.
Check whether the customer is experiencing one of these known issues before you
continue.
Step 5: Ask the customer how they obtained the copy of the
Microsoft software
This information is important in determining non-genuine software. There are several
scenarios that could call into question the authenticity of the customers media or the
installed version of the Microsoft software. If you are not sure about the authenticity
because of where the customer obtained the copy of the Microsoft software, educate
and help the customer in using the following How to Tell Web site (English):
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/default.aspx?displaylang=en
The global How to Tell sites are listed at the following Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/content.aspx?
displaylang=en&pg=worldwide
The Office How to Tell site is located at the following Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/office/default.aspx?displaylang=en
The following web site outlines the items that a customer should expect when
purchasing Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?displaylang=en&pg=prepurchase
Step 6: Ask the customer if he already ran self-help diagnostics

The following diagnostics Web site is one of the self-help options available to customers:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/diag
69
Overview
This Web site helps customers diagnose common GA issues. Figure 2 displays the items
that are checked when a customer runs the diagnostics.
Figure 18 Items that are checked on a computer when a customer runs the self-help
diagnostics
The image below shows a successful diagnostics result.
Figure 19 Diagnostics results
If any check fails during the diagnostics, the customer is provided instructions for
resolving the failed check areas. In some error scenarios, the diagnostic tries a selfrepair.
70
Overview
Step 7: Use the MGADiag tool

If you determine that you need more information to resolve a validation issue, send the
following URL to the customer together with instructions to download and run the
MGADiag tool:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012
The MGADiag output can be used with the Key Information Tool (KIT) to evaluate the
authenticity of a customers Windows installation.
Note: Information on the WGA troubleshooting tools are discussed in the next lesson.
Step 8: Ask the customer if they ever had the computer repaired
One common scenario with Windows XP validation occurs when a repair shop reformats
the customers computer by using a non-genuine product key. This usually occurs
without the customer's knowledge and causes the system to become non-genuine.
Step 9: Use the last 15 characters of the product key from the
MGADiag output, and search the Internet
The last 15 digits from the MGADiag output of a customers computer provide enough
information to do a search on the product key that is currently installed on a customers
computer. By searching the Internet by using those characters, you can determine
whether the product key is compromised. For example, the product key may be posted
on many Web sites. Use this information to educate the customer that he may have
been victimized and should seek assistance from the original reseller of the software.
You can also use the full product key, as provided by the customer according to the
Certificate of Authenticity (COA), to do an Internet search. The product key may not
actually be the product key that is used on the customers current installation. Use the
MGADiag output to confirm or deny that this product key is the product key that is used
on the computer.
The results of the Internet search will either provide many hits on the product key or no
hits at all. The results can help you educate the customer that the product key was
compromised in one way or another. Give the customer the URL of the search results.
The search results may also display hits from Microsoft Forums. This can provide you
more information about a particular product key that was already addressed by
Microsoft support personnel.
Step 10: Use the KIT to determine the validity of the customer's
product key
The Key Information Tool is discussed in the Genuine Advantage Resources and Tools
module of the Genuine Advantage curriculum.
71
Overview
WGA Troubleshooting Tools

This section explores how to use various WGA troubleshooting tools to resolve Genuine
Advantage related issues.
Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Web Site

The MGADiag site (http://microsoft.com/genuine/diag) checks to confirm that Internet
Explorer and Windows are configured properly to run the validation process. The
MGADiag site displays a list of configuration settings and known errors that affect the
validation process. As each item is checked, a statement of Passed or Failed displays. If
an item fails, a Resolve Now link is provided to the customer. If the customer clicks the
Resolve Now button, the customer will be redirected to a help page with instructions on
how to properly enable to option, correctly set the system time/date, and/or download
and install ActiveX controls.
Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool

(MGAdiag.exe)
The Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool is an application used on a customers
computer to detect and report a large amount of system information, settings, error
codes, logs and other information. The purpose of the tool is to help customers and
support professionals diagnose validation and activation issue.
How to use MGADiag

Instruct the customer to follow these steps to download the MGADiag tool.
1. Navigate to http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012
2. In the File Download Security Warning dialog box, click Run
3. Confirm the file should be run by again clicking Run in the File Download
Security Warning dialog box
4. Click Continue
5. In the Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool dialog box, click Continue
6. Click Copy
7. Paste the output into Notepad or another text editor. The output can also be
pasted into the Key Information Tool. Details about the Key Information Tools are
found in the next section.
Note: The Copy button will appear on every tab of the MGAdiag window.
By clicking on the Copy button in any of the tabs will output the same results.
72
Overview
The Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool provides the following information that
can assist you with troubleshooting:
Table 9 Important MGADiag Output
Output
Validation Status (XP only)
Validation Code
Product Key
Product ID
Product Name
Product ID Type
TTS Error
Licensing (tab)
LegitcheckControl
Description
A text description of the validation status.
Example: Validation Control not Installed
The numeric value of the code represents the validation
status of the installation. A description of each code is
explained in the next table.
Partial product key used to install Windows
Product Installation ID
Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Ultimate, etc.
Retail, OEM SLP, etc.
Tamper Time Stamp is the date/time that most recent
tamper event occurred
The content of the Licensing tab screen is the results
from executing slmgr /dlv. Therefore, If the operating
system is Windows XP, licensing information will not be
able to be displayed.
Current version of legitcheckcontrol.dll registered.
Example: Registered, 1.9.42.0
Note: The fields and their content may vary depending on the operating system.
Table 10 Description Validate Code
Code
Validation
Description
Validation Status (XP

Only)
Applies To
Windows Genuine
Genuine
Inactivated
Unable to Perform
Validation
Windows XP
Windows XP
Blocked VLK
Not Genuine
Unable to Perform
Validation
Unable to Perform
validation
Windows XP
Windows XP
Missing PID
Bad PID
Windows Unsupported OS
N/A
Keygen
Not Genuine
Too many activations

(ROT)
Not Genuine
10
Time out of sync
Unable to Perform
Validation
Windows XP
11
Lost or stolen key
Not Genuine
12
License store access error
Unable to Perform
Validation
Windows XP
Windows XP
13
Geo block
Not Genuine
50
Vista - Invalid license
Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows Vista,
73
Overview
51
Vista -Tampered binary
Windows 7
Windows Vista,
Windows 7
Resolving Validation errors with the MGAdiag

Depending on the issue, the customer may have the option to resolve an issue on the
lower left of the tool as shown in the figure below. The MGAdiag tool can resolve the
common issues:
Cryptographic Errors Detected: Steps stated in KB813442 will be executed
Not Activated (for OEM/SLP machine): Read-only attribute removed from

WPA.DBL
Validation Control Not installed: Clicking resolve will take the customer to the
Microsoft Genuine Advantage website to install the control and subsequently be
validated. http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate/
Figure 20 Validation Control Not Installed and Resolve Button.
Depending on the diagnostic results of the WGAdiag tool, troubleshooting steps may
include the following steps:
Check for cryptographic error. If the tool does not fix the fix the cryptographic
error, follow the steps in the follow Knowledge Base article:
822798 You cannot install some updates or programs
74
Overview
Check the system time and to make sure that the system is configured correctly.
If the system time changes on every reboot, the BIOS system time may also be
configured incorrectly.
Check for if the issue is related to product activation. For example, you may
need to repair activation components. If the issue relates to product activation,
apply standard Product Activation standard troubleshooting steps
Identifying and Resolving Tampered Files and Activation Exploits

with MGAdiag
Activation exploits are of software that can replace authentic Windows components or
disable product activation. Activation exploits can also cause system file tampering.
Therefore, the security and the privacy of the computer are at risk.
The MGAdiag tool is capable of detecting the presence of tampered files and or
activation exploits. The following is a snippet of a sample MGAdiag log demonstrating
the presence of tampered files:
Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x8004FE22
HrOnline: N/A
HealthStatus: 0x0000000000002800
Event Time Stamp: 1:15:2011 13:43
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\slui.exe|slui.exe.mui|COM Registration
Tampered File: %systemroot%\system32\sppcomapi.dll|sppcomapi.dll.mui
Troubleshooting an activation exploit and a tampered files issue includes the following
recommendations:
Download and Install the latest Service Pack and important updates via Windows
Update or Automatic Update. Certain service packs and important updates can
address exploits. These service packs and updates have the ability to target and
disable activation exploits.
Use the Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe)
Malware scan and remove.
Re-install or perform an in-place upgrade (repair) of Windows.
Check for disk failure
Uninstall incompatible 3rd party application. If the customer recently installed

any software, help the customer remove this software. Then, reactivate or
validate the computer.
This issue may also be resolved using the troubleshooting steps provided in the
following Knowledge Base article:
75
Overview
948253 How to remove the "OEM driver" activation exploit and the "grace timer"
activation exploit from a Windows Vista-based computer
Key Information Tool (KIT)

You can verify a Product Key or Product ID using the Key Information Tool (KIT). KIT is
located here:
https://keyinfotool.partners.extranet.microsoft.com/KIT/aspx/Default.aspx
This tool provides information about the key or PID, including:
Table 11 KIT Verification Output
Output
Validity
Product
Edition
Channel
Activation
Status
Description
Is it a valid key or PID? If not, verify the key or PID
and try typing it again.
Windows 7, Windows Vista, etc.
Home Premium, Professional, etc.
Retail or OEM
This includes information such as:
Activations: This is the number of times this key has
been used for activating the product.
RIT: Reissue In Tolerance. This is the number of
activations you can do on a single PC, in the event
that activation is required.
RIT Count: Number of RIT activations that have
been done using this key in the past.
ROT: Reissue Out of Tolerance. This is the number
of activations supported on a different PC.
This is a small set of the data available for a key or
PID in KIT, but it covers a significant part of the
information you might need to decide if a key
should be working to activate Windows.
For more information on data returned by KIT, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
document here:
.ppsx\Key Information Tool FAQ.mht
KIT Training
Review the KIT Training materials at the following location:
.ppsx
76
Overview
Windows Genuine Advantage Known Issues

This section reviews common scenarios that a Windows Genuine Advantage customer
may experience.
Blocked Volume Licensing Key (VLK)

Applies to: Windows XP Only
Scenario
A customer tries to download a Genuine Advantage application but fails the validation
process. The customer runs the MGA Diagnostics tool, and the results indicate a blocked
VLK.
Recommendations
The cause may vary. For example, a customer takes the system together with all the
software to a repair facility to resolve problems. The repair facility uses a blocked VLK or
a key-generated product key on the customers computer instead of using the
customers software.
The resolution varies, depending on the cause. Some examples are as follows:
Advise customers to purchase a Get Genuine Kit from a local reseller or to

contact customer service in their country to order a kit over the telephone by
using a credit card.
Recommend that customers contact their system manufacturers technical

support section and order the recovery media for their particular make and
model of system.
Work with the vendor who installed or built the system originally, and request
that the genuine software is provided.
ActiveX Control Issue

Applies to: Windows XP, Vista, 7
Scenario
A customer experiences complications authorizing or loading the ActiveX control that
starts validations for Windows Genuine Advantage. Hence, the customer cannot
validate their installation of Windows.
77
Overview
Recommendations
This issue occurs if ActiveX Controls are prevented from running on the computer. If the
customer is experiencing this problem, it is best to direct the customer to the Microsoft
Genuine Advantage Diagnostic web site to for troubleshooting guidance, and a possible
automated solution.
905226 The Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) validation check process does not
complete when you try to validate your copy of Windows Vista, Windows XP, or Windows
2000 Professional.
If the customer is using a personal firewall program, make a special rule that allows the
executable file for the utility to have full Internet access. Some antivirus programs have
basic firewalls built in, and many have settings to block malicious scripts. You may have
to set the antivirus software to allow the updater utility to work.
Incompatible 3rd party application causing validation

failure
Applies to: Windows Vista
Scenario
When the customer uses Windows Vista, they receive the following error message:
"An unauthorized change was made to your license."
Recommendations
Scenarios that may lead to this issue include but are not limited to following:
A hard disk error occurred.
A program that is incompatible with Windows Vista is installed. Examples of

these applications include the following. (Other applications may also be
incompatible with Windows Vista.)
Blumentals Software iNET Protector (all versions)
PC Tools Spyware Doctor (versions earlier than 4.0)
PC Tools Firewall Plus (versions earlier then 3.0.0.52)
Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security (versions earlier than 14.56)
Trend Micro OfficeScan (versions earlier than 8.0)
TuneUp Utilities (versions released earlier than 2007)
78
Overview
931699 Error message when you use Windows Vista: "An unauthorized change was
made to your license"
Cannot detect product ID (PID)

Applies to: Windows XP
Scenario
The Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) validation process does not validate a copy of
Microsoft Windows XP as expected. During the validation process, the customer is
notified with the following error message:
Unsupported Operating System for WGA
In addition, The WGAdiag tool provides the following error message in the output log:
Cannot detect product ID (PID)
Or
Invalid product ID
Recommendations
This problem is commonly caused by a system state that prevents WGA from accessing
the product ID (PID). This issue may be resolved using the troubleshooting steps
provided in the following Knowledge Base article:
916247 Error message when you use Windows Vista: "An unauthorized change was
made to your license"
79
Overview
Lab: Troubleshooting Genuine Advantage

Many different problems can be encountered with Genuine Advantage because of a
problem in activation, a problem in logon, or another general problem condition. In this
activity, you will collect more information about a software licensing error, and discuss
recommendations.

Requirements
Internet access
Access to KIT (Key Information Tool)
Exercise: Genuine Advantage Troubleshooting Scenario

In this scenario, the instructor is your customer. They are experiencing a Genuine
Advantage validation problem. Work as a group to investigate and resolve the problem.
80
Overview
Using the Product Key Update Tool

The Product Key Update Tool will scan approximately 6,000 critical system files which
make up the original Windows XP distribution. If the tool/scanner detects any differences
from the original would indicate a potential vulnerability, it will cause the scan to fail,
and will show the following error:
"One or more Windows files are modified or corrupted. The tool cannot update
the product key automatically. Please reinstall Windows using the Windows
Genuine Advantage Kit CD. [Error: 0x80004005]
Additional information on how the Windows Product Key Update tool works is
located here: http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/purchase/SystemScan.aspx?
displayLang=en
For troubleshooting purposes files that have failed the scan can be renamed and the
conversion tried again. If this fails the customer will need to re-install Windows using
their WGA Kit CD. Using a repair install should retain all the customer data and most
application compatibility. As a precaution we need to ensure our customers have a backup of their critical data and the software to re-install any applications that may fail. This
CD will install Windows XP SP2.
Changing a Windows XP Product Key

The Windows Product Key Update tool is used to change Windows XP product keys . The
tool will ask for a valid product key before the conversion.
Note: The Windows Product Key Update tool only supports Windows XP
To change a product key, the customer should:
1. Navigate to http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/pkuinstructions.aspx
2. Select a version of Windows.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen to convert the product key
The Product Key Update Tool will only work when changing the key on the same edition
of windows (Example: Home to Home and Professional to Professional). If a key of the
wrong edition is attempted (Example: Home to Professional), the customer will get the
error This product Key is invalid.
What License Conversion Types does the Key Update Tool

Support?
Key Update tool now supports following license conversions:
Table 12 Update License Conversions
No. Source LicenseKey Type Used

Retail
Retail
Target License
Retail
81
Overview
VLK
OEM System
Builder
OEM SLP
Retail
VLK
OEM System
Builder
OEM SLP
Retail
Retail
Retail
Retail
Retail
OEM System
Builder
OEM System
Builder
OEM System
Builder
OEM System
Builder
Retail
OEM System Builder
OEM System Builder
OEM System Builder
OEM System Builder
Module Review
This lesson has covered the following main topics.
Windows License Types
Windows License Terms
Activation
Activation Troubleshooting
Windows Genuine Advantage
Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications
Troubleshooting Genuine Advantage Validation
82

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Demonstrate steps to activate Windows.

Discuss key concepts related to Windows licensing and activation.

Demonstrate troubleshooting for common activation support issues.

Describe the purpose and function of the Genuine Advantage program.

Describe the WGA validation process.

Discuss options for troubleshooting software validation failures.

Describe the Genuine Advantage Notifications Program.

Describe genuine and non-genuine tray Genuine Advantage Notification details.

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List license types used by Windows.

Discuss license terms and their impact on consumer usage.

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Retail Purchase: If you buy a boxed copy of Windows in a store, or an electronic

Upgrade: This is a license that requires you to have a qualifying previous

Windows Anytime Upgrade: This is a special type of upgrade license

OEM/System Builder Certificate of Authenticity (COA): This is a type of

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Number of Connections: The license terms limit the number of connections

Activation is Required: As part of the license terms, customers agree to

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Outline steps needed to activate Windows.

Discuss the elements involved in validating a Windows installation for activation.

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Windows Product Activation

Checking Activation State

Demo: Windows Activation

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Activation Option during Setup

Figure 1: Activation in Setup

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Figure 2: Activation in System Properties

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Figure 3: Windows Activation

Figure 4: Type your product key

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Figure 5: Activating Windows

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Figure 6: Activation was successful

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Other Ways to Activate

Figure 7: Other Activation Methods

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Change Hardware: You make a significant hardware change to your computer,

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and set up online connectivity.

Automatic Activation Attempt Details

Initial Grace Period

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activate Windows 7. You will see messages to the effect

Product Key and PID

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Where to Find your Key?

Online Purchase: If you purchased Windows from Microsoft online, you

Windows Anytime Upgrade: If you purchased a Windows Anytime

OEM Windows: Your key is provided on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA)

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