Microsoft genuine validation tool says software 'not genuine'

alwynfolk

Have never posted anything but a letter before - but here goes! I bought a computer from PC World 3 years ago pre-loaded with software (few retailers give us the original disks anymore). A recent and routine update from Microsoft (Genuine Advantage Tool) decided my copy of Office 2003 was 'not genuine' ie pirate. I am a small business and a new copy of Outlook and Word would cost me £399. Not good news.

After many lost work-days of ringing 0800 numbers and working my way though menus I managed to get through a person in both organisations. No joy from either. PCWorld said their software is not pre-loaded and they always supply disks (?) and Microsoft told me to go to PCWorld and buy new software as the one I have is registered to PCWorld as a business - and if I do not work for PCWorld I should not have access to it.

Every time I click on these programmes I am warned it is not genuine. I have heard that it eventually cuts out and I can't use them - thereby loosing information. Do I have to bite the bullet and go and buy something I have already bought? Has anyone else heard of this?

Babu

Did you by any chance buy a demonstration PC rather than a new boxed PC?

enigma52

get open office, its free from openoffice.org it will work with your existing office files without any problems and get another email programme such as Thunderbird again free

asininity

Contact citizens advice or someone like it, alternatively you could write into a magazine like computeractive who help out people in this sort of situation. Otherwise OpenOffice is your friend.

Money_Grabber13579

Hmmm... could be a whole minefield of stuff here.

If the PC was sold as new, you may have a case against PC World, as it obviously wasn't since the software was pre-installed and activated. If it was a demonstration product, and the software was activated as sold, and essentially sold as seen, then they should be sorting the issue out for you free of charge. I wouldn't be forking out any money for a hash up like that!

aerostar

The following is what information is around on the net, try it at your own risk.

A search about uninstalling WGA shows that this seems to be the one to use, as there is no WGA uninstall in the add/remove system.

http://download.softpedia.com/dl/ad956cbb11426742741396fc1e4a24a9/4ac504b2/100042782/software/tweak/RemoveWGA.exe

set your windows updates to inform you and not download automatically, and when advised choose custom, and do not allow wga to be downloaded when it is next offered.

Alternatively you could do a search for files in your computer with WGA in the name, (you may have to tell your system to show hidden and system files) renaming them with an X in front, and restarting your computer, if you get problems you can then re-instate the original file names by renaming them without the X in front.

davb

I would be surprised if MS Office 2003 was included FOC with a new PC. Manufacturers such as Dell and HP used to do it a good few years ago (when MS gave it to them for pennies), but were nailed for unfair competition, and were forced to pay the going rate - which in turn was passed on to customers. The recent trend has been to supply MS Works, or a trial version of Office (which allows 50 startups or 3 months) This sounds more like a cracked version though.

As to OP says, it's common not to be supplied with disks - although there is sometimes a preinstalled utility on the PC which allows you to create your own - usually once only.

The important thing to have is the COA (Certificate of Authenticity) which should have the licence key printed on it. It works like Windows - If you don't have the COA you are not licenced - no matter if it is installed or not.

The only other thing that may help, is that sometimes the receipt will list the supplied software. Also, did you install the PC yourself, or did someone else do it, as its not uncommon for people to install these sort of things when setting up.

James123_2

I have the exact same problem. I will watch and read with interest!

System

I had the very same problem a couple of weeks ago. I now use Microsoft Works. Mine came from PC World too.

usignuolo

Certainly sounds like ex demo model. I haven't bought a fully configured PC from PC World, my last one came from Dell. With Dell you get a detailed list of all the hardware and software supplied, whether it is free or paid for. As you are a business, do you still have a copy of the PC World invoice? Was it itemised? If so, what did it say, did it say it was being sold with Office installed? It would be quite unusual to get it free, as others have said you usually get MS Works.

MrsBartolozzi

It's really easy to get rid of vga tray (my son worked this one out!). Bring up the task manager (ctrl alt del). highlight the vga tray file so you can see exactly where it is.
Use the search function to find the vga .exe file and try to delete it (it won't work).
This bit might take a couple of goes as you need to work quickly, you have to right click the vga tray in the task manager and select end process. It will go away, but only for a second as windows starts it up again so quickly right click the .exe in the windows folder and delete it.
As I say it might take a couple of goes to do it quickly, but if you move the windows closer together it will help.

This won't help with your problem with PC world but lets you get rid of the annoying messages without downloading any other stuff.

Edited - this seems to be a common problem with PC world pcs. My MIL's partner had the same prob a couple of years ago - M$ saying the windows was fake, but it was bought from pc world already installed and with no disk. AFAIK he had no luck from pcw, but I don't know how hard he pushed.