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Windows Genuine Advantage
In 2006, Windows created a somewhat controversial tool that was installed on many Windows XP PCs as part of regular updates. This tool, known as the Windows Genuine Advantage, was released to help thwart piracy. It is estimated that possibly millions of PCs are running illegal copies of Windows XP Operating System. The tool's aim is to significantly reduce this number.
What Windows Genuine Advantage Does
One the Genuine tool is installed on a PC, it checks the PC's XP license information (the serial number in particular). This information reveals whether or not the copy of XP is a legitimate one or an illegal copy. If the copy is legitimate, the tool will pop up stating that the copy has been validated.
What if my Copy isn't Validated?
Unfortunately, not every PC has a legitimate copy of Windows XP on it. If this is the case, after the Genuine tool has run, it will alert you that your copy is illegal. This information will be sent back to Microsoft, although most people with illegitimate copies of XP installed do not get into huge trouble for it. They simply are stuck with a validation icon on the toolbar which states that validation has failed. They also cannot download Windows updates.
If you believe that you do have a legitimate copy of XP, and the tool states that your copy is not legitimate, you should contact Microsoft immediately. Since no tool is perfect, there are occasionally false positives such as this one.
What Can I Do?
If you have an illegal copy of XP installed on your PC, in order to get rid of it, you must install a legal copy of XP. These can be bought at any Computer store. Please be aware that when you install an OS, you lose all information, so when you install a legitimate copy of XP, please back up all important data first. If you are not comfortable installing operating systems, you can always have the job done by a professional.
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