You may find this useful: Description of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)
If there is a possibility that your software may be counterfeit you can send a report to Microsoft who may, at their discretion, replace your software: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/howt...fr/report.aspx
I uninstalled KB971033, did an update and clicked hide KB971033 and now I am
running through the start-up without that nasty blank gray screen or any other
problems. It appears that with KB971033 installed, any disk cloning with Acronis Home
2010 causes KB971033 to trigger as NOT GENUINE. Once that happens I get the
auto validation or whatever that blank gray screen is doing on start-up.
I can't find a valid way to submit a bug to Microsoft so if anyone knows, please tell me.
Please don't make any suggestions you haven't already verified. I ran through GOOGLE
and I see a lot of bad information that doesn't work and is just waste time and effort.
OK, thanks for letting us know.
I'll post this link in the hope it can give you some pointers, but I'm not counting on it. I think what it does prove is we must stop being so blase about the way we which we install updates before checking to see whether we need them.
How to troubleshoot common Windows Update, Microsoft Update, and Windows Server Update Services installation issues
Thank you. I think your info is helpful. I just wish I had an error code to get inside
the Microsoft door. My error is that nasty blank gray screen for 30 to 45 seconds. If I had a code, I am in, I can then report the error in KB971033
I must say, it is difficult to know in advance, whether you need an update or not
because Microsoft doesn't always make "important" clear. We think they know what they are calling important.
Right now, the only way to get to support is to pay for it. No wonder people are frustrated with this OS.
I've got to the stage now of highlighting an update before I install and checking information about it from Microsoft. You should see it on the right of your screen.
That said, the information is not comprehensive and can be somewhat ambiguous.
I haven't ever paid for support and don't see why I should have to. What I have found is that excellent places like this forum provide good advice from some good people.
This forum helped me collect ideas and I would recommend it to anyone who is having a problem.
In my case, I didn't quickly identify the symptom with the update and that may be because there were eight or so updates at one time. Up-daters, BEWARE !
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