Vista - Not a "Genuine Copy", and an "Invalid Activation Key" from Gateway

Why does the copy of Windows Vista Home Premium on my new Gateway computer
show as being not a geniune copy with an invalid Activation Key?
I bought this computer in Sept/07. It has been back and between me and
Gateway many times.It's been back for about a month and just when things look
like they might have setteled down, I get a message saying my activation key
is invalid. It shuts down and when I startup I have to re-enter the
activation code that came with the computer. It starts up and everything is
up and agaian but now I have a message in the lower right coner of my screen
that say's:

Windows Vista (TM)
Build 6001
This copy of Windows is not genuine

So did Gateway screw me, or is this a bug and there's a fix. I came across
an Activation Exploit Repair Process (SL07-001) but I don't know if that is
the right fix.

Call Gateway.

"karlano" <karlano@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:FBD1AC87-979E-4EA4-B84A-7A0363FE750C@xxxxxx

You will need to contact Gateway; they are responsible for ensuring that
your software is legal, and if it isn't, remedying the situation.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


"karlano" <karlano@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:FBD1AC87-979E-4EA4-B84A-7A0363FE750C@xxxxxx

In response to both of you. I did contact Gateway before I posted this
Question/Rant. I just finished talking with them and the official answer is
to do a Full Restoration of the OS and run updates. So I loose everything on
it. My ability to back up my info is presently limited. but I'll do what I
can. But I don't believe this is the only, or even a solution. I believe it
will only put it off from happening again for 30 days. Which is the length of
time for a trial period of windows vista. This computer has been sent to
Gateway 3 time for problems and every time this has shown up. Even after I
ran a complete update run (no more updates available, your computer is up to
date). And they wouldn't even look at anything other than doing a Full System
Restore. I have found an article in the Windows database about an activation
key exploit. Could this be the culprit? and how do I look for it before I
rule it out.

"John Barnett MVP" wrote:

> But I don't believe this is the only, or even a solution. I believe it Why do you say the above. Do you have a Trial version installed ? Maybe that is the reason for your issue which then would make it normal for the course

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"karlano" <karlano@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:B0938EB6-E4DB-47BD-8593-D25528D8B38B@xxxxxx

Installing SP1 changes the underlying code that pirates use to counterfeit
the Windows Vista DVD. If this is the problem then the original copy of
Vista could be suspect as a 'pirated' version. However, this is were it gets
complicated. Microsoft supplies two main types of operating system software,
retail and OEM. OEM (original equipment manufacturer) is the type that
Gateway would use to install the operating system on your computer. A retail
copy is one that you have purchased yourself from a store and will cost more
than an OEM (even though you can buy OEM's from stores too.)

OEM copies, regardless of whether Gateway purchased it or you bought it
yourself come with no Microsoft support; sadly those are the rules, that is
why OEM are less expensive that retail copies. Therefore, regardless of what
goes wrong the onus fro redress lies firmly at the door of the system
builder (in your case Gateway). If you had built the system yourself and
installed an OEM copy you would have to provide the necessary support. In
the case of retail versions all support is provided by Microsoft.

Don't think anyone here is trying to fob you off, because we are not but,
basically, it is up to Gateway to put this matter right, they are legally
responsible it is there mess, so they should sort it out. I know it doesn't
solve your immediate problem, but Gateway need to sort this problem out and
if they won't, then I would be looking at contacting your local trading
standards office.

My suggestion is to do as Gateway have suggested and re-install the
operating system. If the problem still continues start talking tough and
demand some answers. For that matter it is nothing to them to supply you
with another copy of Vista, but that's left up to them.

Good Luck


--

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


"karlano" <karlano@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:B0938EB6-E4DB-47BD-8593-D25528D8B38B@xxxxxx

WGA has proven troublesome on random computers. So, don't jump on the
"pirated" copy train just yet. WGA doesn't like tampering with particular
files and sometimes gets confused even when it is nothing more than a
Microsoft update. So, first try to find what is causing the error. If that
fails, force it to start over. (Confirmation would be good.) There are no
pirated copies, only pirated product keys and activation hacks. If you
bought it new from Gateway, this is highly unlikely.

1. Have you tried this tool?
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012
It will create a text file that contains information used for diagnosing why
Vista thinks it is not genuine. That will come in handy if the following
doesn't fix the problem.

2. It maybe a hard disk issue. Yes, it's a new computer, but you may simply
have a bad spot on it.


Check the hard disk

=====================

a. Click "Start", and click "Computer".

b. Right-click the hard disk drive that you want to check, and then click
"Properties".

c. Click the "Tools" tab, and then, under "Error-checking", click "Check"
Now. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type
the password or provide confirmation.

Note: Check for both file errors and physical errors, by selecting both
"Automatically fix file system errors" and "Scan for and attempt recovery of
bad sectors".

d. Click "Start".

Then, please access http://www.microsoft.com/genuine to validate the system
again.


3. You may need to restart Software Licensing Service:
Below are the steps to reset the Software Licensing Service to start at
every Vista boot.



a. Click on the Start button and in the Start Search box type in:
services.msc

b. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.

c. The Services window should now open.

d. Scroll down to Software Licensing, then right-click on it and select
Properties.

e. Under the General tab, click on the Stop button.

f. Set the Startup Type to Automatic, then click Apply.

g. Next, click on the Start button under Service Status.

h. Last, restart your computer.

4. Reset your license:
We will first regenerate the Licensing files, and if that doesn't work, we
will force Vista to ask for your Produt key again and then re-activate,
which will reset the Licensing systems.





Please follow the steps below. If the first set of steps does not resolve,
move on to the next set of steps.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------

Step set #1



1) Open Internet Explorer

2) A Browser will open, type: %windir%\system32 into the address field

3) Find the file cmd.exe

4) Right Click on the cmd.exe and select Run as Administrator

5) Type: cscript slmgr.vbs -rilc (It may take a long time for this to
complete, please be patient)

6) Hit the Enter key

7) Reboot 2 times



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------

Step set #2 (Only if Step #1 fails, read the NOTEs below)



1) Open Internet Browser

2) Type %windir%\system32 into the browser address bar.

3) Find the file CMD.exe

4) Right-Click on CMD.exe and select Run as Administrator

5) Type: net stop slsvc (it may ask you if you are sure, select yes)

6) Type: cd
%windir%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareLi
censing

7) Type: rename tokens.dat to tokens.bar

8) Type: cd %windir%\system32

9) Type net start slsvc

10) Reboot Twice

11) Vista will require you to enter a Product Key and Activate. Use the
Activate by Phone method outlined below



Activate by Phone steps:



a) If you have access to the Start button: Click the Start button, and type
in "slui.exe 4" in the search field and then press the "Enter" key. This
will bring up the Activate by Phone dialog window. Follow the steps provided
by the window. The phone activation process should only take about 6
minutes.


b) If you do not have access to the Start button: Reboot and login to Vista,
a dialog window will come up. In that window, click the option "Access
computer with reduced functionality". Once you do that, Internet Explorer or
Firefox browser will open. In the address bar type
"c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe" press enter, a new window will come up, type:
slui 4 and hit enter and follow steps to Activate over the Phone.


NOTE 1: The key to this process is that you need to talk to a Live
Activation Rep! When you first call, you will be interacting with an
Automated Voice, either select the option to talk to a Live Rep or if there
is no option, do not enter any numbers. This should force the automated
voice to transfer you to a Live Rep.

NOTE 2: Your product is most likely OEM, based on the post, so you will need
to explain to the Live Rep that this is a new computer and you were told to
reactivate the Product key found on the bottom of your computer due to a bad
sector on the hard drive causing a WGA problem. When asked, tell them you
have a Gateway computer. _IF_ the Live Rep refuses to work with you, you
will have to contact Gateway to procede which will probably result in yet
another "full" restoration and not fix your problem.


5. And, of course, posting in the right area will get much better support:
http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/...1004&SiteID=25


"karlano" <karlano@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:FBD1AC87-979E-4EA4-B84A-7A0363FE750C@xxxxxxlookkeyisscreenis