I feel a little over-validated

[John Aldred]

When I installed Microsoft Security Essentials I knew that part of the
agreement was that my copy of Windows should be checked to ensure that it
was genuine. Fair enough.

About a month ago I received a message to say that my copy of Windows may
not be genuine. I re-validated it. OK. No more messages.

Today I had a similar message on my screen, and a pop-up from the taskbar
to tell me that Security Essentials would stop working in 30 days unless I
validated Windows.

There was a link to click to go online to look for a solution. I had to
download the new validation tool ( I've not been offered it yet by Windows
Update). I downloaded and ran the validation tool. Everything was OK.
Windows passed the test.

However Security Essentials was still showing an amber warning, and
presented me with a Validate button on it's main console. So I did as asked
and validated for a second time. Pass, OK.

I have 3 more machines (two XP and one Win7) running Security Essentials.
I can see that I have a fun evening ahead. ;-)

 

[Slap]

When I installed Microsoft Security Essentials I knew that part of the
agreement was that my copy of Windows should be checked to ensure that it
was genuine. Fair enough.

About a month ago I received a message to say that my copy of Windows may
not be genuine. I re-validated it. OK. No more messages.

Today I had a similar message on my screen, and a pop-up from the taskbar
to tell me that Security Essentials would stop working in 30 days unless I
validated Windows.

There was a link to click to go online to look for a solution. I had to
download the new validation tool ( I've not been offered it yet by Windows
Update). I downloaded and ran the validation tool. Everything was OK.
Windows passed the test.

However Security Essentials was still showing an amber warning, and
presented me with a Validate button on it's main console. So I did as
asked
and validated for a second time. Pass, OK.

I have 3 more machines (two XP and one Win7) running Security Essentials.
I can see that I have a fun evening ahead. ;-)

John Aldred

Weird. I don't have that problem. Also use MSE. Maybe just something
about your machine and your other ones won't do that.
--

 

[ray]

When I installed Microsoft Security Essentials I knew that part of the
agreement was that my copy of Windows should be checked to ensure that
it was genuine. Fair enough.

About a month ago I received a message to say that my copy of Windows
may not be genuine. I re-validated it. OK. No more messages.

Today I had a similar message on my screen, and a pop-up from the
taskbar to tell me that Security Essentials would stop working in 30
days unless I validated Windows.

There was a link to click to go online to look for a solution. I had to
download the new validation tool ( I've not been offered it yet by
Windows Update). I downloaded and ran the validation tool. Everything
was OK. Windows passed the test.

However Security Essentials was still showing an amber warning, and
presented me with a Validate button on it's main console. So I did as
asked and validated for a second time. Pass, OK.

I have 3 more machines (two XP and one Win7) running Security
Essentials. I can see that I have a fun evening ahead. ;-)

Don't you just love MS? I've never had to 'validate' a Linux install.

 

[Spanky de Monkey, ESQ]

And more evenings ahead when MS comes out with a new version of WAT.
Personally, this was one of the reasons I started using Ubuntu. I figure,
for some strange reason, that MY CASH should be enough for these cretins.

You enjoy spending your cash for Microsoft products. You have Vista and you
love Microsoft so much, you decided to help support the company buy
purchasing Windows 7. A quality OS that will allow you to to real work if
you had any real work to do.

On the other hand, you can tinker with that INFERIOR Ubuntu that is free and
most reject as garbage. There is no activation with Ubuntu because it's
worth exactly what you pay for it: NOTHING.

 

[Spanky de Monkey, ESQ]

Don't you just love MS? I've never had to 'validate' a Linux install.

You should never have to validate a Linux install. Nobody gives a rats ass
what you do with it because it's worthless.

 

[Spanky de Monkey, ESQ]

First you have to activate. Then you have to become "genuine" and then you
have to validate over and over and over and over and over again. The
pathetic thing is that morons like Frank think this is "normal computing".

Microsoft is trying to protect their property from thieves who think it's OK
to rip off others. Kinda like yourself.

I don't blame them. If I worked on a software project and poured millions
or billions into development, I would do whatever I could to prevent low
life's like yourself from stealing my work.

 

[Spanky de Monkey, ESQ]

I wonder how you justify living with yourself after posting lies about
Linux every single day.

Linux is free. They give it away. Most don't want it. Live with it. You
have blinders on. Ubuntu is just a TOY OS written by geeks so others have
something to do when they are socially inept.

 

[John Aldred]

Weird. I don't have that problem. Also use MSE. Maybe just something
about your machine and your other ones won't do that.
--

Well I downloaded an upgrade to the MSE client yesterday. It could be that
this now checks to see if the new validation tool is installed. In my case
it wasn't because I hadn't been offered it yet by WU.

 

[FiOS-Dave]

Could it be that you are still running a Release Copy or a Beta?
These are currently being "un-validated" (de-validated?) by MSFT.

FiOS-Dave

 

[Joel]

Personally, this was one of the reasons I started using Ubuntu. I
figure, for some strange reason, that MY CASH should be enough for these
cretins.

I know more about Linux than you, and I've never run it day-to-day.

Enjoy the shame, a.win7.gen trollboy.

 

[LD55ZRA]

And more evenings ahead when MS comes out with a new version of WAT.
Personally, this was one of the reasons I started using Ubuntu. I figure,
for some strange reason, that MY CASH should be enough for these cretins.

Is that the reason you are hanging around on Windows 7 newsgroups to get
help with your Ubuntu experience? No problems, Microsoft Valuable Pigs (or
MVPs for short) are always here to help you with your problems!!

 

[LD55ZRA]

Don't you just love MS? I've never had to 'validate' a Linux install.

But you still have to come here to get help with your Linux install!!

 

[Spanky de Monkey, ESQ]

Nope.

Liar. You are here to spread your hate for Microsoft and to try to get
people to switch to that INFERIOR Ubuntu that nobody wants.

 

[John Aldred]

Could it be that you are still running a Release Copy or a Beta?
These are currently being "un-validated" (de-validated?) by MSFT.

No. I have run the beta and the release candidate versions in the past, but
this is definitely the RTM version. I purchased the full version of Home
Premium last October and did a clean install of the 32 bit.

 

[PeeCee]

When I installed Microsoft Security Essentials I knew that part of the
agreement was that my copy of Windows should be checked to ensure that it
was genuine. Fair enough.

About a month ago I received a message to say that my copy of Windows may
not be genuine. I re-validated it. OK. No more messages.

Today I had a similar message on my screen, and a pop-up from the taskbar
to tell me that Security Essentials would stop working in 30 days unless I
validated Windows.

There was a link to click to go online to look for a solution. I had to
download the new validation tool ( I've not been offered it yet by Windows
Update). I downloaded and ran the validation tool. Everything was OK.
Windows passed the test.

However Security Essentials was still showing an amber warning, and
presented me with a Validate button on it's main console. So I did as
asked
and validated for a second time. Pass, OK.

I have 3 more machines (two XP and one Win7) running Security Essentials.
I can see that I have a fun evening ahead. ;-)

John

(if you notice this amongst the MS/Linux flame wars)

Your symptoms suggest your system may have been already compromised by a
nasty (root kit, trojan, worm whatever) before you installed MSE.
I've seen similar validation issues on OS's that have been infested and then
'cleaned up' many times.
Nasties these days go to a lot of trouble to inoculate the OS so any Anti
Virus/Spyware/Rootkit/Trojan... software struggles to eliminate them, if
indeed it even detects them.
From what I can deduce the background activities of these nasties is what
triggers the Validation issues.

In most cases the only really successful remedy has been to back up the
personal data and do a fresh install of Windows.
Not necessarily what you want to do but then sometimes yer gotta do what yer
gotta do.

Best
Paul.

 

[Doum]

Well I downloaded an upgrade to the MSE client yesterday. It could be
that this now checks to see if the new validation tool is installed.
In my case it wasn't because I hadn't been offered it yet by WU.

I would be surprised because when the Windows Activation Technologies (WAT)
update was published a few weeks ago, MS claimed it was optional and when I
went to WU site, it was there but it was not checked for installation
unlike the other security updates published at the same time.

In my case, I didn't install it and I hided it on WU and today, after
reading your post, I wanted to get the KB number of the update to post it
here so I went to WU and clicked to show hidden updates and there was no
hidden updates.

If you don't see it on WU and you really want it, you can get it there
anyway:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971033/en-us

HTH

 

[John Aldred]

PeeCee wrote:

John

(if you notice this amongst the MS/Linux flame wars)

Yes, sorry, I have only just noticed your posting.

Your symptoms suggest your system may have been already compromised by a
nasty (root kit, trojan, worm whatever) before you installed MSE.
I've seen similar validation issues on OS's that have been infested and
then 'cleaned up' many times.
Nasties these days go to a lot of trouble to inoculate the OS so any Anti
Virus/Spyware/Rootkit/Trojan... software struggles to eliminate them, if
indeed it even detects them.
From what I can deduce the background activities of these nasties is what
triggers the Validation issues.

In most cases the only really successful remedy has been to back up the
personal data and do a fresh install of Windows.
Not necessarily what you want to do but then sometimes yer gotta do what
yer gotta do.

I made a disk image (using Acronis True Image) immediately after I had
installed Win7, so it's a simple job to go back to the original.

That is my ultimate option if the problem does no go away.
However, running the Microsoft WAT tool confirmed that my version was OK and
I haven't had any trouble since.

As for Malware - I shouldn't have picked up anything nasty as the system is
not used on-line except for the occasional newscast from the BBC.
But as you say, there could be something nasty lurking in the machine.

Thanks for the advice.