MAJOR Microsoft ISSUE - WGA servers down; Windows XP and Vista installs being marked as counterfeit (Updated)

[The Highlander]

Microsoft WGA servers down; Windows XP and Vista installs being marked as counterfeit

 

Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage servers all failed sometime earlier today.

 

The result? Every single Windows XP and Vista installation -- except possibly those with volume license keys -- is being marked as counterfeit when it tries to check in. Installations which are flagged as counterfeit switch to a "reduced functionality mode" which results in features like Aero and DirectX being disabled.

 

So far, the only public response from Microsoft has been indirectly via their technical support forums, where a user has posted the following snippet from an email he received from MS's technical support address:

 

Thank you for your response. I’m sorry to inform you that the Windows Genuine server might be down for few days. I have escalate the issue to our Genuine team, kindly try to validate again on Tuesday 28 Aug 2007. Thank you for contacting Microsoft Technical Support.

It is highly recommended to avoid WGA if at all possible for the moment.

 

Update: Phil Liu, WGA Project Manager, says that he won't sleep until the problem is fixed. (via Ars Technica)

 

Update 2: As noted by Phil Liu:

Please go to www.microsoft.com/genuine and click VALIDATE WINDOWS to resolve this issue immediately.

 

Additionally, I know you all are looking for an explanation/root-cause. microsoft will post that ASAP. they are aware it is a server-side issue - the cause is unknown at this current time.

 

Read it here: http://www.winbeta.org/comments.php?shownews=9485

[lynn98109]

Happily, the Beast (WinXP) is turned off until the next time I get around to AV and MS updates.

 

I'm VERY happy with W2K.

 

Lynn

[REDWAGON]

I would guess that all those that have had their OS installed and already validated probably won't have to worry. It's just all thsoe that are installing for the first (or other times) that are being upset.

 

Frank...

[lynn98109]

Sorry, Frank, it keeps asking.

 

I hadn't had the Beast on for about 5 weeks, and when I went for the update I had to go thru the certification all over again.

 

Until told otherwise, I think it wants to know every two weeks if you have a genuine copy.

 

Lynn

[golinux]

In another thread, grandpabruce mentioned that he stopped doing MS Updates a few months ago. Since I'm rarely in Winblows these days, I'm considering that option too.

 

Has anyone else here decided to "just say no!"?

[The Highlander]

i dont use the online updates i use Autopatcher, and i chose what and were i want it, the rest of MS's stuff can go in the bin.

 

http://www.autopatcher.com/downloads/

[REDWAGON]

In another thread, grandpabruce mentioned that he stopped doing MS Updates a few months ago. Since I'm rarely in Winblows these days, I'm considering that option too.

 

Has anyone else here decided to "just say no!"?

I've said NO from the beginning !!

 

Frank...

[lynn98109]

I have always used the option for manual updates - "custom" is below "express" - and since I like the taskbar at the bottom of my screen to know what's going on, that means I have to use PgDn to find it <sneaky!> but it gives control to ME, not MS.

 

If I boot and don't get the warning auto-updates are turned off (MS is sneaky), I turn it back on.

 

Lynn

[Brendon]

Has anyone else here decided to "just say no!"?

Yup, until I get mublinder installed

 

This is the very reason I won't install their WGA spyware on my genuine XP or Vista.

[tbrewst]

I would guess that all those that have had their OS installed and already validated probably won't have to worry. It's just all thsoe that are installing for the first (or other times) that are being upset.

 

Frank...

 

If it works like it always has Frank then anytime you use Windows Update it'll try and validate.

[REDWAGON]

If it works like it always has Frank then anytime you use Windows Update it'll try and validate.

 

Yeah, you're right Terry. A long time ago (way back when MS snuck in the IE7 caper) I decided to turn all of the MS updates off. And because I have a good security system working very well, I have all the MS security stuff turned off as well. On the computers I have running XP, I haven't had to worry about that since then.

 

IMO, I think MS and it's "security Updates" are not all that important. But as usual, they had to get into the security game like they have a lot of other default programs they have on their OS's, instead of leaving it up to the other professionals companies.

 

Frank...

[jeanrosenfeld]

Apparently fixed now.

 

http://blogs.msdn.com/wga/archive/2007/08/...-issue-fix.aspx

[gi7omy]

The really strange thing is that XP Pro 64 bit doesn't HAVE all that garbage - no WGA or anything

 

Maybe it's because it's such a problem getting things to run on it (not to mention finding drivers and apps that will actually WORK)

 

Mustn't be enough people installing it to make it worthwhile to have it authenticated