Dell Business Computer -- Windows 7 Not Genuine

[mrwsf]

Wow. After using this new Dell business computer (Vostro 270) for 2 weeks, to suddenly have that message appear in the lower-right corner was awful. Running a check utility from Microsoft brought me to a page that said to pay up $149. I called Dell and they said oh, we've seen this with some Microsoft updates -- be careful with those. So I used a System Restore point, and got rid of that Windows 7 Not Genuine message. (I ran complete system scans with Microsoft's System Essentials and Malwarebytes, and no virus was found.) I've used Windows since release 3.1 (pre-Windows 95), and have always scoffed at the Mac fans. No longer. I am a programmer by profession. The integration of this system with my XP computers was a nightmare. File permissions has been a nightmare. And now this. For business purposes I still need a few Windows machines, but for everything else I'm switching to Mac. This machine has wasted so much of my time to set up. Bitter? You bet.

 

[Jack King]

I'm totally agree with you Mrwsf, i bought an loptop with window 7 Pro like 7/8 months ago. I bought cause it's not costly as much Mac is but $600 on this window 7 it was waste i guess cause now i am having so many problem you can't even think about it. Good thing is i still have my Mac Pro.

 

[NoelDP]

To properly analyse and solve problems with Activation and Validation, we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool
(download and save to desktop - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 )
Once saved, run the tool.
Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
To copy the report to your response, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.
- **in your own thread**, please

Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine (or inside the battery compartment), but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
How to Tell

 

[mrwsf]

Thanks for your response. "- **in your own thread**, please" Well, I started this one, so I assume it is appropriate to post the result of the MGADiag tool here. The version at issue is Windows 7 Pro x64. Keep in mind that, as previously mentioned, I used a restore point created just prior to installing the 40 updates Microsoft had waiting, many of which were listed as "critical." The problem appeared after those updates. The restore point removed the "Not genuine" warning on the lower-right portion of the screen.

Here is what I find perplexing: On the COA tag attached to the Dell, the Product Key on the COA does NOT match the product key listed in the MGADiag tool report. The last five entries on the COA Product Key on the computer are listed as "Q77CP" and I am unable to find that in the report.

I'm also surprised to see Firefox 15 portable listed, as I deleted it from the system a week ago. One of the major hassles I've had with this system is getting Sandboxie installed, as I'm not comfortable using a browser without it. I was unable to get Sandboxie to install properly, so I deleted Firefox Portable, and used Online Armor to run Internet Explorer in the "Run Safer" (reduced rights) mode.

Here is the MGADiag tool report:

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
-----------------------------------------
Windows Validation Data-->

Validation Code: 0
Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-M3DJT-4J3WC-733WD
Windows Product Key Hash: xo+ajVSpae7/4VoZjS7m6JL0f3A=
Windows Product ID: 00371-OEM-8992671-00524
Windows Product ID Type: 2
Windows License Type: OEM SLP
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048
ID: {15FF7962-18F3-4221-9EEF-769BE1F9A111}(1)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Professional
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.120503-2030
TTS Error:
Validation Diagnostic:
Resolution Status: N/A

Vista WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

Windows XP Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
File Exists: No
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Data-->
Office Status: 100 Genuine
Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 - 100 Genuine
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3_E2AD56EA-765-d003_E2AD56EA-766-0_E2AD56EA-134-80004005

Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Firefox Portable 15\FirefoxPortable\App\Firefox\firefox.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed

File Scan Data-->

Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{15FF7962-18F3-4221-9EEF-769BE1F9A111}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-733WD</PKey><PID>00371-OEM-8992671-00524</PID><PIDType>2</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-481846320-99068332-765678547</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Model>Vostro 270 </Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>A03</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="7"/><Date>20120420000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>E2403907018400FE</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time(GMT-05:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>DELL </OEMID><OEMTableID>WN09 </OEMTableID></OEM><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>100</Result><Products><Product GUID="{90110409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0150048383C9}"><LegitResult>100</LegitResult><Name>Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003</Name><Ver>11</Ver><Val>A68A7AC507B7500</Val><Hash>zNP5aoovJ0ZBDDUX6iXTfGMSKTU=</Hash><Pid>73931-640-0660943-57987</Pid><PidType>14</PidType></Product></Products><Applications><App Id="15" Version="11" Result="100"/><App Id="16" Version="11" Result="100"/><App Id="18" Version="11" Result="100"/><App Id="19" Version="11" Result="100"/><App Id="1A" Version="11" Result="100"/><App Id="1B" Version="11" Result="100"/><App Id="44" Version="11" Result="100"/></Applications></Office></Software></GenuineResults>

Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002

Licensing Data-->
Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514

Name: Windows(R) 7, Professional edition
Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, OEM_SLP channel
Activation ID: 50e329f7-a5fa-46b2-85fd-f224e5da7764
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 00371-00178-926-700524-02-1033-7601.0000-2722012
Installation ID: 001836266546899996206676181362210201755034777135637363
Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338
Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339
Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341
Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340
Partial Product Key: 733WD
License Status: Licensed
Remaining Windows rearm count: 2
Trusted time: 10/18/2012 8:04:36 PM

Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x00000000
HrOnline: N/A
HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000
Event Time Stamp: N/A
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:


HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: LAAAAAEAAQABAAEAAAABAAAAAgABAAEA6GGYnfr4tOtMh8xfkilkGg77lmM=

OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A

OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes
Windows marker version: 0x20001
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes
BIOS Information:
ACPI Table Name OEMID Value OEMTableID Value
APIC DELL WN09
FACP DELL WN09
HPET DELL WN09
MCFG DELL WN09
FPDT DELL WN09
SLIC DELL WN09
SSDT SataRe SataTabl
SSDT SataRe SataTabl
SSDT SataRe SataTabl
ASF! INTEL HCG
BGRT DELL WN09

 

[mrwsf]

Apologies for the Firefox remarks. I had deleted it, but it was reinstated by the System Restore. I'm still discovering stuff from the restore -- it was a huge event.

 

[NoelDP]

System restore can spring a few surprises
There's no current problem with activation or validation in your report - although you may want to check validation at www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate to be sure.
You didn't say what you'd been doing prior to the system declaring itself non-genuine?
One of the classsic resons for this is 'tuning' the PC by disabling services - two critical ones for this being the Software Protection Service, and the SPPUINotify service.
On occasion, overly aggresssive anti-virus programs can also cause similar but temporary problems, as they fight for resources with the licensing protocols.
Keep an eye on the system for a few days - if it shows the non-genuine notification again, run MGADiag while th enotification is still showing, and post the report. It may show where the problem lies, or may fix it.

 

[mrwsf]

Thanks again for your help.

"There's no current problem with activation or validation in your report." Am I wrong that the keys don't match? The end of my key on the COA is Q77CP and I don't see that in the report.

The only activity that occured prior to the Not Genuine notice was the installation of 40 critical updates from Microsoft.

As far as turning services off, my view is that because processors are so powerful these days, it's silly to tweak services, and I would only do so if it were critical, so in the 14 days or so I've had the computer I haven't done a thing with services. But check this out: you mentioned Software Protection Service -- it was set to start automatically (delayed start), but was not on; I turned it on. And SPPNotify service was set to manual and also was not running -- I set it to Automatic delayed start and started it.

My question is this: this is an OEM installation from Dell; it's not like I went out and bought Windows 7 and did a fresh install. Why in the world would Dell set Software Protection so that it wasn't running and SPPNotify (that's how it's listed under services on my machine) to not be running at all? (I know you're not Dell, but I'm asking anyhow to see if you might know.)

It seems if those 2 services weren't on, and I then installed 40 critical Microsoft updates, it could cause the Not Genuine error. What do you think?

Finally, this is off topic, but my greatest problem, by far, has been file permissions. With all previous Microsoft releases that was always a very minor problem, but with 7 it has been a huge, huge hassle for me. And I discovered that the design of the GUI for control of permissions is awful. I discovered in random thread reading last night that you're the expert's expert when it comes to command line permissions modification, but now I can't find the thread (should have bookmarked it!) where you give extremely clear instructions on command line permissions control. If you happen to know which of your responses contains those instructions, that would be great.

 

[NoelDP]

Computers that come pre-installed with Windows from large manufacturers usually come with two Product Keys.

OEM SLP: This is the key that came in Windows (from the factory). It works by connecting to a BIOS flag (the SLIC table) found only on computers from that Manufacturer. It also checks for the existence of proper matching licenses in the OS itself. Once it sees both, it self-activates every time the machine is rebooted.

COA SLP: This is the key seen on the sticker located on the side, bottom or in the battery compartment of your machine. This key is for use if the OEM SLP self-activation stops working for whatever reason.


File permissions - get used to it.
In all Windows versions above XP, normal access to system files is heavily restricted with good reason.
In XP, it was all too easy for a web site to gain control of a small part of the system, and from there escalate to the point where the user no longer had control.
UAC in Vista/Win7/Win8 reduces that risk very significantly, at the cost of a few more clicks.

Take my advice, and do NOT attempt to reduce the impact of UAC permissions - you will regret it in the long run, since many malware tools rely on user laziness to gain access to systems.

The number of extra steps required in a Win7 scenario are very much less than in Vista - and I *almost* don't notice them now.
The time to worry is when you DON'T notice them - as it means that you're either not paying attention, or something has already got around them!

The leap from XP SP1 to SP2 was large - the leap from XPSP2 to Vista was huge.
The jump from Vista to Wn7 was realitvely minor, and had too many benefits to be not worth a question.
If you've come from XP to Win7, you missed the deep learning experience that was Vista - and are getting 'the best of all possible worlds' as a current OS, unless you're using touch-screen tecnology.