[werm82]

For unknown reasons, every time I restart my computer I get the error message "An unauthorized change was made to your license. To keep your system stable, you must go online and validate that your system is genuine." When I click the "Validate online" button, it says that I'm not connected to the internet. I have to go to a restore point just to run my computer. And when I try to use IE to validate, the ActiveX warning won't pop up for me to allow it to run. And when I try to use FireFox to validate, it won't run either. Help! I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions!

[Adrift]

Had you done anything recently to get the message? Installed new hardware for instance? Are you able to surf the internet at all?

[werm82]

I installed a new printer, which I can't uninstall since the only way Windows can run is if I use a restore point. I can get on the internet just fine, after a restore.

[Rollin' Rog]

System Restore would effectively uninstall the printer software -- but you will also have to physically disconnect it.

Have you seen this MS article?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931699

[werm82]

Yes, I have seen that article and tried all those fixes, yet none have worked. The printer has been disconnected since before this problem has started. When I go to the printers folder, the printer in question is not installed. The system restore works until I restart or shut down my machine. Then I get the same validation message upon reboot.

[kama64]

Is this a new system you got?

Was it pre-installed with vista or did you install a copy?

[werm82]

Sorry, I guess that was all info that I should have divulged earlier. It is a newer system (about a month old) that came pre-installed with Vista. As for the printer, it's not actually the printer I own (needed to print something at the parents house), so it isn't a part of my system.

[Rollin' Rog]

There is a forum here for Vista validation issues:

http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/...1004&SiteID=25

And you should probably see if you can open an email support request here:

https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...509&gprid=9860

Does the validation link you are having problems with in Firefox allow you to download a file to the desktop and run it offline?

[werm82]

I was able to download the WGA Validation tool, but it could not validate my copy of Vista, and I'm still stuck in the same place. Here is the log from the diagnostic tool, if this would help anyone in the diagnostic process.
Diagnostic Report (1.7.0012.0):
-----------------------------------------
WGA Data-->
Validation Status: Validation Control not Installed
Detailed Status: 0x1
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-F4GJK-KG77H-B9HD2
Windows Product Key Hash: iJAth4TbScMi8HdcPurlASXdEkw=
Windows Product ID: 89578-OEM-7332157-00204
Windows Product ID Type: 2
Windows License Type: OEM SLP
Windows OS version: 6.0.6000.2.00010300.0.0.003
ID: 2da80591-4206-45ac-8b04-b4667d707bfc
Is Admin: Yes
AutoDial: Yes
Registry: 0x0
WGA Version: Failed to retrieve file version. - 0x80070006
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium
Architecture: 0x00000000
Build lab: 6000.vista_rtm.061101-2205
TTS Error: M:20070616143755978-
Validation Diagnostic:
Resolution Status: N/A

Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A
File Exists: No
Version: N/A
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Data-->
Office Status: 102
OGA Version: Failed to retrieve file version. - 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: FCEE394C-3178-80070002_025D1FF3-138-80041010_025D1FF3-324-80040154_025D1FF3-269-80040154_025D1FF3-273-80070002

Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed

File Scan Data-->

Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>2da80591-4206-45ac-8b04-b4667d707bfc</UGUID><Version>1.7.0012.0</Version><OS>6.0.6000.2.00010300.0.0.003</OS><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-B9HD2</PKey><PID>89578-OEM-7332157-00204</PID><PIDType>2</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-3775668201-2978625765-2808549617</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Model>MM061 </Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>Dell Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>A14</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="4"/><Date>20070402000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>DF313507018400EE</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time(GMT-05:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>DELL </OEMID><OEMTableID>M07 </OEMTableID></OEM></MachineData> <Software><Office><Result>102</Result><Products><Product GUID="{91120000-0012-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}"><LegitResult>100</LegitResult><Name>Microsoft Office Standard 2007</Name><Ver>12</Ver><Val>95763D8C86C4260</Val><Hash>FkgUyW+F3CfKIzg5Jt6qPZIWH78=</Hash><Pid>81607-304-7020577-64411</Pid><PidType>10</PidType></Product></Products></Office></Software></GenuineResults>

[Rollin' Rog]

I don't know what the resolution for this is. I'd say you have a couple of options -- try contacting either Dell or MS (you can also try a thread in that forum I linked to) -- or do a reinstall of the operating system following whatever procedures Dell gives you for that.

[werm82]

Yeah, I think my options are limited. I think I'll reinstall (since Dell makes you pay for tech support and Microsoft hasn't given me any options either). Thanks for all your help!

[Rollin' Rog]

It's a good idea to just try a simple over-the-top reinstall. I would be hopeful that that would replace whatever licensing files or registry entries have changed with the defaults. You won't lose any data that way -- and there won't be much to reinstall in terms of updates.