Information on WGA Validation Tool (KB892130), WGA Notifications (KB905474) and Office Genuine Advantage (OGA)

Microsoft has launched Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) and Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) to help reducing the piracy issues. What they does is by lauching an ActiveX control to check if the running genuine and non-pirated version of Windows and Office. For genuine Microsoft software users, they can access Genuine Advantage offers and latest updates and features for the software.

Windows Genuine Advantage currently consists of two main components:

Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool which deployed by KB892130 and install an ActiveX control LegitCheckControl.dll, LegitcheckControl.inf and GWFSPIDGen.dll to \Windows\System32 directory. WGA Validation Tool performs a validation check to verify that your copy of Windows is genuine when you try to download a program or software that is marked with the WGA icon from Microsoft Download Center or when you try to access updates on the Microsoft Windows Update Web site. You will be asked to install and complete the validation process if you still do not have KB892130 installed. The client side Windows Validation Assistant component for Windows Server 2003 is 20 KB and for Windows XP is 344 KB.

Microsoft says Windows Validation Assistant does not collect any personal data from the computer, and the following information that is gathered from Windows machine to determine if your Microsoft software is genuine during the validation process:

* Windows product key or product ID
* Windows service pack version
* PC manufacturer and model
* Operating System version
* SKU and Suite Mask
* Security ID
* PID/SID
* BIOS information (manufacturer, model, make, version, date)
* BIOS MD5 Checksum
* User locale (language setting for displaying Windows)
* System locale (language version of the operating system)
* Office product key (if validating Office)
* Hard drive serial number

According to Microsoft, the information collected will be used for three purposes:

• Provides Web page flow, tailoring the pages you see based on your responses.
• Conveys demographics, which help Microsoft to understand regional differences in Windows or Office usage.
• Confirms user input and compared user input against data collected from the PC in order to determine whether to grant a user’s request for additional access.

Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications or WGANotify is deployed by KB905474 which will display notification messages at the frequency that is determined at installation stage, if your computer failed the Windows Genuine Advantage validation process and running a copy of Windows XP that is not genuine. According to Microsoft, the WGA warning messages will appear at the following locations:

1. Logon notification

When you log on to a non-genuine copy of Windows XP, you receive the following logon notification error message:

You may be a victim of software counterfeiting. This copy of Windows is not genuine and is not eligible to receive all updates and product support from Microsoft.

Click Get Genuine now to get more information and resolve this issue.

When receive this message, you’re offered two options:

Get Genuine to start the Get genuine Windows process or,
Resolve Later which will make an icon appears in the notification area that when you double-click on it, will launch the Get genuine Windows process.

2. Balloon notification

After you log on to a non-genuine copy of Windows XP, a balloon notification message is displayed in the notification area reminding you about the validation failure. Click on the balloon notification or the notification area icon will open the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Failure Web page that tells you the specifics of the validation failure and the steps that you can take to make the operating system genuine.

3. Desktop banner text

If you use the Resolve Later option, and manage to logon to a non-genuine Windows OS, the following banner text appears on the locked desktop:

This copy of Windows is not genuine.
You may be the victim of software counterfeiting

KB905474 contains 2 files that’s WgaLogon.dll and WgaTray.exe (it may update LegitCheckControl.dll too) which will be installed automatically by Automatic Updates, although KB905474 itself is (still) an optional update. Which means that you can unselect KB905474 from the list of updates and skip installing it.

WGA Notifications has found to be contact with Microsoft server everytime you boot up and start the Windows PC. According to Microsft, the process is to check whether a newer settings file is available and download the file if one is found. The settings file gives Microsoft the ability to update how often reminders are displayed and to disable the program if necessary, although this scenario not likely. The operation is limited to the download of new settings file and no other system information is sent other than standard server log informatio, unlike validation which sends system information to Microsoft.

Microsoft has completed the pilot phase for WGA Notifications, and officially rolling out the anti-piracy reminders to Windows XP users worldwide as of 28th June 2006 in version 1.5.540.0, with minor changes to the program in response to customer concern regarding its “phone home” functionality. WGA Notifications KB905474 no longer checks a configuration file located on Microsoft’s servers, but the program will still communicate with the company periodically, with the frequency varies depending upon license type, which may typically takes place every 90 days. According to Microsoft, the information sent to Microsoft allows it to update the list of bad product keys, and ensure that newly discovered counterfeits are not proliferating.

Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) meanwhile is an attempt by Microsoft to validate genuine copy of Microsoft Office XP, Office 2003, Office 2007, Office 2010 or newer. By validating the Office, you can access to the latest features, updates, and support, including Office Genuine Advantage offers that contains add-ins, templates, learning tools, Smart Tags and stationery.

OGA Office validation involves downloading of an ActiveX control called Office Genuine Advantage Validation OGACheckControl.dll, previously known as Office Validation Assistant (OVA) which will scan your computer to verify and determine whether your copy of Microsoft Office XP or Microsoft Office 2003 is genuine. You need to access the Genuine Microsoft Software: How To Tell webpage to access it.

Currently, OGA validation is recommended but not mandatory. Although still optional, Microsoft may make Office Validation to be required in future. According to Microsoft, should Office Validation become required in the future, only users of Office suites will likely be required to validate.

As of October 2006, Microsoft has made OGA mandatory required check, and subsequently rolled out Office Genuine Advantage Notifications, which displayed notification message on system running illegal copy of Office much like WGA.

Easily Change Product Key with Windows Product Key Update Tool Free Download

There is a lot of tools and utilities that allow you to change product key or CD key of Windows XP to another product key, possibly genuine, legit and valid, or volume license key (VLK) if you or your company just switch to volume licensing arrangement. However, Microsoft has provided its own tool to change Windows Product Key, which supposedly to be most reliable and won’t mess up your system. The main purpose is to allow customers who purchased Get Genuine Kit to change their product key easily to OEM product key enclosed in certificate of authenticity (COA) label. So, if you’re using cracked or pirated Windows operating system, avoid this Windows Product Key Update Tool at all cost.

According to Windows Product Key Update Tool instructions, Windows Product Key Update Tool will make changes to your Windows installation to update your product key. In addition, the product key update tool will scan a number of key Windows files to determine if they have been tampered with. In other words, the Update Tool actually perform a Genuine Windows Advantage validation on your system, and the information will be sent back to Microsoft, together with the file tampering scan results.

To update your product key by using Windows Product Key Update Tool, follow these steps:

1. Download Windows Product Key Update Tool (KeyUpdateTool.exe) from Microsoft.
2. Select Run when prompted.

   

3. Enter the product key found on your COA where requested, and then click Next to begin the update.

   

4. Once the update is complete, click Finish to restart your computer. When your computer restarts, your computer’s product key will match the COA product key. If this tool fails to change your product key to match your COA, contact Microsoft Support.

   

5. After updating your product key you will be required to activate Windows. Once Windows is activated, you can verify that your copy of Windows is genuine by going to http://www.Microsoft.com/genuine and clicking Validate Window

WinGuggle Free Download to Get Vista Product Key or Change OEM Logo and Performance Index Score

WinGuggle is a small application that can retrienve and get Windows Vista Product Key (also known as CD-Key) easily from the registry. Normally you won’t need WinGuggle, unless you have dislocate or misplace your original Windows Vista DVD disc or its licensed product key, and need to recover and view the product key from the installed Vista for backup.

Other than getting Windows Vista product key back from registry, WinGuggle also can change OEM logo and OEM information, and also Windows Experience Index score in Performance Information and Tools.

Note that OEM manufacturer’s factory installed product key (normally comes with Vista system that is already pre-activated) cannot be used to fresh or clean install Vista. In this case, your personal Vista product key is located on the COA sticker attached on the computer, and using WinGuggle to view OEM product key is useless.

WinGuggle does not require installation. To run WinGuggle, just unpack the archive and execute and application.

Download WinGuggle.

Easily Change Product Key with Windows Product Key Update Tool Free Download

Occassionally some Windows Vista user may need to activate his or her copy of Windows Vista operating system through phone activation, such as in situation where the computer is offline without Internet access. Other possible reason to use phone to activate instead of automatic online activation is failure or facing problem to activate Vista online, and user have to fallback to alternative.

Windows Vista customer normally have to activate all editions of the OS through Microsoft’s activation server, with the exception of preinstalled OEM (recovery) copies of Vista. For OEM version of Windows Vista, Microsoft no longer provides any support. User must contact the OEM to activate the OS, where the contact information should be included in the support documentation that came with your computer or OEM Vista installation CD/DVD package. However, an OEM (retail) version of Windows Vista installation DVD that is bought separately and did not come preinstalled on a OEM computer is still supported by Microsoft.

For most users, activation process normally starts with attempt to activate Vista online. Online activation is simple and effective way to activate the copy of installed Vista, and when it fails or cannot activate successfully, then user can opt to activate by phone. If you want to skip and bypass online activation and go straight to activate Vista by phone (i.e. in the case of offline PC with no Internet connection, do these steps:

1. Click on Start Menu.
2. Type slui.exe 4 into Start Search, and then press Enter.
3. Go to step 10.

Normal activation procedures for Windows Vista, including fallback on phone activation:

1. Click on Start Menu.
2. Right click on Computer and then click Properties, or open the Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> System icon.
3. Scroll down to the Windows activation section and click on the Activate Windows now link.

   

4. Click on Activate Windows online now.

   

   Note: If you have not entered a product key during installation, the wizard will ask for a genuine serial key. If you uncertain of the serial number key used, or want to change the key used, click on Change product key link.

   And, this step must fails in order to go to phone activation.

5. If the online activation process, user can continue to attempt to activate using automated phone system by clicking on Use the automated phone system to activate option.

   

6. Select your location and click on Next button when prompt to find available phone numbers for activation.

   

7. Click Continue if prompted with UAC dialog box, except for those who had disabled UAC.
8. A local phone number or nearest telephone number will be displayed on screen, together with a set of Installation ID (54 numbers in total – 6 numbers in 9 groups) generated by Windows.
9. Call the activation phone number.
10. The call will be answered by automated voice response (AVR) system, that asked caller to speak, or if voice recognition failed, press the phone button to enter the Installation ID listed behind “Step 2″. The numbers needed to enter is a lot (54). If you want simpler way to do it, just speak and enter anything to let automated service fails, and then wait for the call to transfer to activation operator (a real human). Sometimes, if for some reason the Installation ID entered is not accepted by the AVR, your call may be transferred to human operator too.

    

    Note: The human operator may ask for the reason that causes requirement of reactivation or activation of Vista. Just tell the truth, e.g. hardware upgrade, transferring to new PC (for non-OEM edition only) and etc (see activation FAQ).

11. No matter who you talk to (machine or human CSO), a set of Confirmation ID numbers which consists of 48 digits (6 numbers in 8 groups) will be given if Microsoft believes that your copy of Windows Vista is genuine and legitimate.

    Write down the Confirmation ID.

12. Back to Windows Vista, type in the Confirmation ID given by the phone system into the wizard boxes after the “Step 3″, and then click on Next button.
13. The activation should be successfully done with Activation was successful window appears. Click on Close button to quit.

    

View and Retrieve or Change Windows (XP, Vista, 2003, 2000 and more) and Office (XP, 2003, 92) Product Key or CD Key

The Windows computer may come preinstalled with Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Office productivity suite, and the user may not even see or access to the product key or CD key that needed to install Windows OS and Office System, and to make sure that the products are genuine. You may simply want to write down and safekeep the Windows and/or Office product CD key or serial number for future usage or for documentation purpose, as the key is as good as license to use Windows and Office. Or you want to get back the CD key that has been forgotten before reinstalling Windows or Office. There are a few tools and utilities that allows you to easily and quickly retrieve the Windows product key and Office CD key or serial number. Some of them has the ability to change the serial key too, in case you need to modify the product key in Windows due to case like 326904 error “The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid” or incorrect product license key.

Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder

Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware and free download that let users view and retrieve the product Key or CD key used to install Windows and Office from the registry. Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder currently able to support and reveal product CD key from Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista. For Office, it supports retrieval of product key or CD key or serial number for Office 97, Office XP and Office 2003.

Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder can be downloaded here or directly download the current version 1.51 of Keyfinder.

Best of all, Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder also supports changing the Windows Product Key without reinstall Windows to another product key or CD key or COA in Windows 95, 98, ME, and XP.

Windows Product Key Viewer & XP/98 Key Changer (Demoware)

Windows Product Key Viewer/Changer can recover lost product keys on an installed and activated Windows XP including Service Pack 2, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 operating system. It also supports ability to change CD product keys on Windows 98, Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional without reinstalling Windows.

Keyfinder Thing Lite! and KeyFinder Thing 3

Utility to find serial numbers or product key licenses from more than 150 application software.

CD Key Reader

CD Key Reader is a small utility that can be downloaded and run immediately without installation. CD Key Reader can only retrieve product cd keys for modern Microsoft applications such as Windows or Office.

Windows Genuine Advantage Diagnostics Tool

Official tool from Microsoft means for WGA program. However, it can only show the last 15 digits of the Windows CD key. The tool can be downloaded here.

Windows Product Key Update Tool

Another utility from Microsoft that allows Windows users to change or update the product key of Windows OS. However, if you steal or crack somebody else’s CD key or product key, this tool is not recommended, as the Product Key Update Tool will scan a number of key Windows files to determine if they have been tampered with. If tampered files are discovered, the tool will alert you before continuing. And it will also sending the information back to Microsoft about the file tampering scan and Windows validation information. Windows Product Key Update Tool can be downloaded here with more information and usage instructions.

Win9xProdKey

Win9xProdKey from Vic Ferri reveals CD keys for Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me.

ViewKeyXP

ViewKeyXP, also from Vic Ferri, reveals and shows Windows XP CD key and serial number.

RockXP

RockXP is a free multi purpose utility that allows users to get all Microsoft software serial number, retrieve you Internet connection parameters such as passwords, retrieve MSN login and password, recover XP login and HASH password, display system password (LSA) and generate random password. RockXP also has the ability to change the product key or serial for Windows XP, and automatically hack and crack to bypass the Windows XP Product Activation.

To view and change the Windows XP serial or CD key, simply click on “Windows key” tab, and click on Scan to retrieve the installed product key, and key in the new CD key serial to change the product key.

RockXP can be downloaded here or directly download RockXP 4.0.

Key Checker

A small yet unique tool to find Windows Vista and Windows XP product key or serial number from registry periodically according to the timing set, and log the key found to the screen or file.

AC2T KeyViewer

KeyViewer from AC2T is a free tool that will decode the encoded Windows CD key and Office product key or serial in Windows 98 SE (including other Windows 9x), Windows ME Windows W2K and Windows XP that is stored under “DigitalProductId” registry key under “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion” registry branch. It also supports users to input raw key retrieved from the registry themselves for the tool to decode to readable product key.

The raw key decoding feature is useful is you unable to login or logon to the Windows, but you need to retrieve the Windows product key or serial for reinstallation or other purpose. By using a bootable CD with a registry editor such as Offline NT Password & Registry Editor CD Bootdisk, users can then retrieve the raw key found in ProductId or DigitalProductId registry key by booting up on the CD, and input into KeyViewer for decoding into a valid product key serial.

Download AC2T KeyViewer.

Manually Viewing and Get the Product Key or CD Key in Windows 9x from Registry

Windows product key is stored in plain text in the Registry and in the file system.dat. In Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me. To view and retrieve the CD key, launch registry editor (click on Start -> Run, key in regedit and click OK), and navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion” registry branch. Locate the ProductKey in the right pane for Windows 98 and Me, or ProductID for Windows 95 where the Windows CD key serial is stored.

You can also automate the process by creating a batch file with the following commands:

For Windows 98 or Windows Me:

@echo off
start /w regedit /e key.txt HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
type key.txt|find “ProductKey”>mykey.txt
del key.txt

For Windows 95:

@echo off
start /w regedit /e key.txt HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
type key.txt|find “ProductID”>mykey.txt
del key.txt

Recover the Product Key or CD Key in Windows 9x without Go Into Windows

To retrieve the Windows 95 or Windows 98 product key without getting into Windows itself, download the key.zip for Vic Ferri, and copy the extracted batch file to a bootable floopy disk. Boot up and computer with the startup floopy disk, and simply run the key.bat (by typing key or key.bat and press Enter) to get the product key. For Windows 95, edit the batch file and replace the word ProductKey with ProductID.

The batch file contains the following commands to retrieve the product serial from system.dat:

@echo off
find “ProductKey” c:\windows\system.dat

If you’re using Windows 95, make sure the lines look like the following:

@echo off
find “ProductID” c:\windows\system.dat

Manual Retrieve Product Key for Windows XP and Windows 2000 from $WINNT$.INF file

$WINNT$.INF located in \Windows\System32 folder is the file that used by Windows installer to perform unattended or automated installs of Windows NT, 2000 or XP. If the file exists, and you have the administrative rights to access the file, the Windows product key can be found and viewed under the section [User Data] (usually at the top), under the name of ProductKey or ProductID.

Serial Change script for XP and XP SP1 or greater

Download save the Serial Change script for XP (XPChangeSerial.vbs) or Serial Change script for XP w/sp1 or greater (XPChangeSerialSP1.vbs). Then execute the vbs script from the command line (you have to go to the location or folder that you save the script in order to run the script) with the syntax:

XPChangeSerial.vbs xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

or

XPChangeSerialSP1.vbs xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

Change Volume Licensing product key for Windows XP SP1 or later with Activation Wizard or ChangeVLKeySP1.vbs/ChangeVLKey2600.vbs WMI script

Microsoft provides a detailed instructions and step by step guides on how to change the Windows XP VLK product key or serial key by using Activation Wizard, or by using WMI script.

Belarc Advisor

Belarc Advisor is the personal computer audit tool that details profile of your installed software and hardware, missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, CIS (Center for Internet Security) benchmarks, and etc. Information shown include the Windows product key.

Everest

Everest from Lavalys is a automated network audit, system change tracking, network monitoring solution, system diagnostics and benchmarking solution that will display the Windows product key, among others.

XPPID Windows XP Product Key Modifier

A small application that allows users to easily change Windows XP product key number by entering new valid XP product key into the field provided and the just press the ‘Change Key’ button. Then the application will run the patched activation process so that the Windows is fully activated after reboot.

Download XPPID.

How to Update and Change Windows XP Product Key Manually

Although there are plenty of software applications that can change the product key installed in Windows XP automatically, but some users may prefer to manually change the product key by themselves. Changing or modifying Windows XP product key is not a common practice after installation, especially so if already activated, and that explains why Microsoft didn’t have built-in mechanism to edit the product key used in Windows XP.

However, for some reason such as the need to change the product key to newly purchased genuine product key, especially when the existing installation of OS is pirated or illegal. The situation also happens in big corporations which have volume licensing (VL) agreemnts with Microsoft, which tends to use a same VLK (Volume License Key) or leaked product key to activate all computers. To enter and make use of the new product key does not really require whole fresh re-installation of Windows XP. Follow the hacking guide below to remove and delete current product key used to activate existing copy of Windows XP, and force the OS to prompt user to enter new product key for activation.

1. Click on Start and then Run.
2. In the Open text box, type regedit and click OK to run Registry Editor program.
3. In the left pane, locate and then click the following registry key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents

4. In the right pane, right-click OOBETimer, and then click Modify.
5. Change at least one digit of this value in the Value Data to deactivate Windows.
6. Click Start, and then click Run.
7. In the Open box, type the following command, and then click OK:

   %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

8. When the Windows Product Activation window appears, click Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows, and then click Next.
9. Click Change Product key.
10. Type the new product key in the New key boxes, and then click Update.

    If you are returned to the previous window, click Remind me later, and then restart the computer.

11. For user using OEM system or volume license product key (VLK), repeat steps 6 and 7 to verify that Windows is activated. User should receive the following message:
    

    Windows is already activated. Click OK to exit.

    For retail Windows XP users, a 30 days registration for activation reminder will appear. User will have to connect to Internet for online registration and activation, or call the local Microsoft activation hotline for phone activation.

Easy Way to Determine If CPU Supports Windows 7 Virtual PC (XP Mode)

Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode (XPM, previously known as Virtual Windows XP or VXP) are two new optional components for specific editions of Windows 7 operating system. Windows Virtual PC is the Virtual PC (VPC) for Windows 7 which allows user to run virtual machines for virtualization with additional features, such as Windows XP Mode, which allows user to access and run applications installed in virtualized instance of Windows XP on Windows 7 host desktop for backward compatibility.

With much improved functionalities, Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode must be tempting many Windows 7 users. However, Windows Virtual PC system requirements (Windows XP Mode is actually just a virtual machine running pre-activated Windows XP which utilizes features of Windows Virtual PC) have been much different from Virtual PC 2007 SP1. The most significant change is the requirement of hardware-assisted virtualization technology (VT) support.

Hardware virtualization technology or VT is built-in natively by CPU processors. In Intel chip, the VT is called Intel VT, while AMD calls it AMD-V. The VT capability in the processor on the computer is built onto the the tiny piece of chip, and cannot be added or removed using any manual process. And even if the CPU features VT, it must be enabled in BIOS.

Most newer CPU includes VT operation by default. However, some older or even current processors available for purchase for DIY or operating on OEM computer may not support VT. When there is no VT support, Windows Virtual PC may fail to install or cannot be powered up and started virtual machine with following error message:

Cannot Windows Virtual PC host process. Check the System event log for more details.

Windows Virtual PC requires hardware-assisted virtualization. There is no hardware-assisted virtualization support in the system.

Instead of browsing through the long list of Intel processor’s feature list or AMD CPU’s feature to confirm the existence or non-existence of VT support, there is an easier way to quickly determine whether there is hardware virtualization system on the system. That’s by using SecurAble, a small utility that display status of CPU maximum bit length, DEP and virtualization support.

Just download and run SecurAble (no installation required). The status of hardware virtualization feature on the CPU processor is quickly display on screen. If it’s a “Yes” or “Locked On”, the Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode can be used properly. If it’s a “No”, then you’re out of luck. However, there is another possibility that the result may display as “Locked Off”, which means the VT support is currently disabled by BIOS. In this case, just restart the computer and access the BIOS configuration to enable and turn on hardware virtualization support. Else you face the following error when try to launch Windows Virtual PC 7 virtual machine.

Virtual machine could not be started because hardware-assisted virtualization is disabled. Please enable hardware virtualization in the BIOS settings and try again.

Another tool that can be used to detect hardware virtualization support on CPU is HAV Tool from Microsoft.