GenuineCheck & MSDN software

NTDEV
1

Hi,

has anybody in here experienced problems with Microsoft’s GenuineCheck (the tool to prove that an XP version is “genuine MS” and that updates are allowed)?

On my XP Pro, it displays a pop up saying that error 80040265 occurred. I reported this to Microsoft but made the mistake to tell them that this OS is Part of my MDSN subscription, which was reason enough for them to immediately stop any further support, saying that a) MSDN software was not their business, and b) that the error probably resulted from a “special” MSDN version of the OS - which probably is nonsense, but I’d like to ask in here anyhow.

TIA

Manfred

2

Yeah that is nonsense. The MSDN distribution of released OS’s is not a
special release. The only thing special about it is the license - which of
course may be the problem. Why not call again and just not mention the msdn
part?

=====================
Mark Roddy DDK MVP
Windows 2003/XP/2000 Consulting
Hollis Technology Solutions 603-321-1032
www.hollistech.com

-----Original Message-----
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Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 4:37 AM
To: Windows System Software Devs Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] GenuineCheck & MSDN software

Hi,

has anybody in here experienced problems with Microsoft’s
GenuineCheck (the tool to prove that an XP version is
“genuine MS” and that updates are allowed)?

On my XP Pro, it displays a pop up saying that error 80040265
occurred. I reported this to Microsoft but made the mistake
to tell them that this OS is Part of my MDSN subscription,
which was reason enough for them to immediately stop any
further support, saying that a) MSDN software was not their
business, and b) that the error probably resulted from a
“special” MSDN version of the OS - which probably is
nonsense, but I’d like to ask in here anyhow.

TIA

Manfred

Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256

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3

Why didn’t you call MSDN tech support? You get free support calls with the
subscription, at least 5 the last time I checked, and you don’t get bull
shit answers. Well, in my experience I didn’t get scatologicaly bovine
nonsense.

Gary

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of
xxxxx@spammotel.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 3:37 AM
To: Windows System Software Devs Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] GenuineCheck & MSDN software

Hi,

has anybody in here experienced problems with Microsoft’s GenuineCheck (the
tool to prove that an XP version is “genuine MS” and that updates are
allowed)?

On my XP Pro, it displays a pop up saying that error 80040265 occurred. I
reported this to Microsoft but made the mistake to tell them that this OS is
Part of my MDSN subscription, which was reason enough for them to
immediately stop any further support, saying that a) MSDN software was not
their business, and b) that the error probably resulted from a “special”
MSDN version of the OS - which probably is nonsense, but I’d like to ask in
here anyhow.

TIA

Manfred

Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256

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4

I can verify that GenuineCheck can and does work with MSDN version of XP
Professional. In the event you run into a problem, try using the support
calls that come with MSDN. If you’re experiencing a problem that is a
bug or caused in some way by the MSDN environment, the usual practice,
in my experience, is for the support to not count against the
subscription support calls. That’s not a guarantee, but for that’s the
way it has worked for me.

Remember, you (or someone) paid a lot more than the usual OEM cost for
this particular copy of the OS. In cases like the one you mention, make
sure that you also get the name and ID of the person who refused to
support you. I’ve never had this kind of thing happen to me.

Sam Robinson

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of
xxxxx@spammotel.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 4:37 AM
To: Windows System Software Devs Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] GenuineCheck & MSDN software

Hi,

has anybody in here experienced problems with Microsoft’s GenuineCheck
(the tool to prove that an XP version is “genuine MS” and that updates
are allowed)?

On my XP Pro, it displays a pop up saying that error 80040265 occurred.
I reported this to Microsoft but made the mistake to tell them that this
OS is Part of my MDSN subscription, which was reason enough for them to
immediately stop any further support, saying that a) MSDN software was
not their business, and b) that the error probably resulted from a
“special” MSDN version of the OS - which probably is nonsense, but I’d
like to ask in here anyhow.

TIA

Manfred

Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256

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5

Mark, Gary, Sam,

thanks a lot for your replies.

I should have mentioned that for the very moment, I have *no* MSDN subscription running, so the MSDN support folks won’t care much about me either .

However, it helps to know that GenuineCheck does run on XP from MSDN CD’s. If just someone at MS was willing to ask their developers what GenuineCheck wants to tell me with its error code of 80040265…

Thanks again.

Manfred

6

Uh, hmmm… I don’t quite know how to say this. Well here goes. If you
don’t have an MSDN subscription I’m not sure you have legitimate access
to those installed versions of the OS. Kind of a grey area. The license
is for test installations of the OS, plus one or maybe two (I forget)
development systems. But I think the license may not be valid if the
subscription is not valid. Perhaps GenuineCheck is performing as
specified?

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of
xxxxx@spammotel.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 9:28 AM
To: Windows System Software Devs Interest List
Subject: Re:[ntdev] GenuineCheck & MSDN software

Mark, Gary, Sam,

thanks a lot for your replies.

I should have mentioned that for the very moment, I have *no* MSDN
subscription running, so the MSDN support folks won’t care much about me
either .

However, it helps to know that GenuineCheck does run on XP from MSDN
CD’s. If just someone at MS was willing to ask their developers what
GenuineCheck wants to tell me with its error code of 80040265…

Thanks again.

Manfred

—
Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256

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7

Mark,

If you don’t have an MSDN subscription I’m not sure you have legitimate access
to those installed versions of the OS.

Well, maybe I’m wrong, but I think I have. I just re-read the EULA, and did not find a time limit for the usage of the development platform mentioned in there. Anyhow, I can’t imagine a way for GenuineCheck to know whether I have continued my subscription or not - do you?

Manfred

8

Actually, this is addressed in the MSDN FAQ.
http:
Take a look under “When a subscription expires, do the licenses
terminate or are they still valid?” it’s the second item listed. If you
check out the rest of the FAQ, this does not necessarilly remove the
need for a valid retail license.

Sam Robinson

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of
xxxxx@spammotel.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 12:36 PM
To: Windows System Software Devs Interest List
Subject: Re:[ntdev] GenuineCheck & MSDN software

Mark,

>If you don’t have an MSDN subscription I’m not sure you have legitimate
access
>to those installed versions of the OS.

Well, maybe I’m wrong, but I think I have. I just re-read the EULA, and
did not find a time limit for the usage of the development platform
mentioned in there. Anyhow, I can’t imagine a way for GenuineCheck to
know whether I have continued my subscription or not - do you?

Manfred

—
Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256

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9

Interop with some other software maybe.

Maxim Shatskih, Windows DDK MVP
StorageCraft Corporation
xxxxx@storagecraft.com
http://www.storagecraft.com

----- Original Message -----
From:
To: “Windows System Software Devs Interest List”
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 5:27 PM
Subject: Re:[ntdev] GenuineCheck & MSDN software

> Mark, Gary, Sam,
>
> thanks a lot for your replies.
>
> I should have mentioned that for the very moment, I have no MSDN
subscription running, so the MSDN support folks won’t care much about me either
.
>
> However, it helps to know that GenuineCheck does run on XP from MSDN CD’s. If
just someone at MS was willing to ask their developers what GenuineCheck wants
to tell me with its error code of 80040265…
>
> Thanks again.
>
>
> Manfred
>
>
>
>
> —
> Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256
>
> You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@storagecraft.com
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com

10

On Tue, 16 Aug 2005 18:36:24 +0200, xxxxx@spammotel.com wrote:

Mark,

>If you don’t have an MSDN subscription I’m not sure you have legitimate access
>to those installed versions of the OS.

Well, maybe I’m wrong, but I think I have. I just re-read the EULA, and did not find a time limit for the usage of the development platform mentioned in there. Anyhow, I can’t imagine a way for GenuineCheck to know whether I have continued my subscription or not - do you?

An expired MSDN subscription is not your problem.

11

>An expired MSDN subscription is not your problem.

But you don’t happen to know what else may be my problem?

12

Sam,

Actually, this is addressed in the MSDN FAQ.
http:
>Take a look under “When a subscription expires, do the licenses
>terminate or are they still valid?”

Thank you for pointing me there. And since MS gives the answer: “MSDN Subscriptions have a perpetual license, so subscribers can still use the products received with their MSDN Subscription after their subscription has expired”, I’m obviously not violating their EULA (nor with the issues that follow in their FAQ list). So it’s very nasty of GenuineCheck to tell me that my OS is not legal, or whatever else it wants to tell me with error 80040265. Maxim may be right with that some other Software interferes, but does MS expect me to search for it? Grrrr.

Manfred</http:>

13

On Wed, 17 Aug 2005 10:47:45 +0200, xxxxx@spammotel.com wrote:

>An expired MSDN subscription is not your problem.

But you don’t happen to know what else may be my problem?

No, I don’t. I’m sorry I can’t help more.

14

>

>>An expired MSDN subscription is not your problem.
>
> But you don’t happen to know what else may be my problem?

No, I don’t. I’m sorry I can’t help more.

An old, expired license number is likely the problem. MS provides new ones from time to time because of not “so unclear” reasons
…

C.

Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256

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15

Try starting up in safe mode (or diagnostic mode using msconfig) and
then running the check - see if the problem “goes away”. If it does,
then the problem is a 3rd party component. If it does not, then call MS
back and don’t distract them with the “this is an MSDN version” comment.

Google turns up some interesting associations with that error value, but
seemingly associated with media player.

But yes, bottom line Microsoft does expect you to solve this issue.
They are certainly aware that some number of legitimate versions will
fail the check. They’ve tried to minimize this, but there’s no
reasonable way to completely eliminate it - and ensuring proper
licensing is another way to ensure the company continues to meet its
financial obligations/requirements. Very few other companies just give
you major upgrades (“service packs”) without charging for them; while it
is annoying we can’t blame Microsoft for at least asking that you paid
them for the copy you are now updating.

Regards,

Tony

Tony Mason
Consulting Partner
OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
http://www.osr.com

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of
xxxxx@spammotel.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 4:48 AM
To: ntdev redirect
Subject: Re:[ntdev] GenuineCheck & MSDN software

Sam,

Actually, this is addressed in the MSDN FAQ.
http:
>Take a look under “When a subscription expires, do the licenses
>terminate or are they still valid?”

Thank you for pointing me there. And since MS gives the answer: “MSDN
Subscriptions have a perpetual license, so subscribers can still use the
products received with their MSDN Subscription after their subscription
has expired”, I’m obviously not violating their EULA (nor with the
issues that follow in their FAQ list). So it’s very nasty of
GenuineCheck to tell me that my OS is not legal, or whatever else it
wants to tell me with error 80040265. Maxim may be right with that some
other Software interferes, but does MS expect me to search for it?
Grrrr.

Manfred

—
Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256

You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@osr.com
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16

You could also try posting your question to microsoft.public.msdn.general

17

Tony,

Try starting up in safe mode
…
Google turns up some interesting associations with that error value,

Sorry that I didn’t mention it, but of course I already tried these two things. What I did not try till today: How the ActiveX version of the genuine tool behaves - and voilà, it regards my system as legal.

some number of legitimate versions will fail the check.

All this is getting more weird: I yesterday tried GenuineCheck on two other systems, both with “normal”, non-MSDN XP’s, both legal and registered (at least that’s what their owners told me). GenuineCheck fails in both cases in the same manner. This should be the last proof that this is really not a MSDN-related problem - thus I have even more to thank everybody who took the time to help me.

we can’t blame Microsoft for at least asking that you paid them for the copy you are now updating.

No, I don’t blame them for this. I blame them for “asking” using a tool that’s obviously faulty.

Manfred

18

Bob,

You could also try posting your question to microsoft.public.msdn.general

I’ll give it a try.