I am tasked with setting up a new laptop for older relatives, and I'm happy to help them out with this. It's a laptop with 64-bit W7 Pro already installed, ordered directly from Lenovo, so there is no question about the Windows on it being genuine. One of the things I want to put on it is XP Mode (a.k.a. Virtual PC, now a Microsoft product), but this is one of a number of items that requires validation in order to download it. However, the GenuineCheck utility they direct you to download first and run to "qualify" for this does not work, throwing out the error message that it is outdated, and a later version is needed. Apparently, this later version -- IF it exists, and wherever you may need to go to track it down -- is Active-X based. (Some say it wants to "phone home" regularly, and for that reason alone they are very resistant to installing it, as a matter of principle.) I was under the impression that this new WGA-checker might actually be KB971033. There is nothing to hide, so I installed this. Still NO DICE -- can't validate to be able to download the (free) XP Mode product.
The maze-like frustration and chasing one's tail is pretty well covered in this thread I found online:
http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread.php/149131
Some posts in the thread state that you must be using IE, which must be your default browser. The laptop's ultimate users don't like IE, and neither do I. Not willing to do that. Other posts said that validation still won't work, even after doing this.
Such a load of needless BULLSHIT ! MS is doing whatever it can to send customers packing. (Just consider the abysmal market reception to Windows 8.) This has been confirmed to me by a veteran computer consultant, who had one of the highest standings you can attain among the MS elite. In this particular case, I chalk it up to an extreme Sony-like paranoia over piracy, and a Samsung-like disdain for their customers.
Back to XP Mode | VPC. I have little doubt that there are quite a few places to obtain these items besides from Microsoft.Com. Would any of you happen to know if this -- for example -- is the exact same kit ?
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Microsoft-Virtual-PC.shtml
Failing that, MS can go take a flying jump. I'll go with VMWare or Virtualbox instead, if necessary.
The maze-like frustration and chasing one's tail is pretty well covered in this thread I found online:
http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread.php/149131
Some posts in the thread state that you must be using IE, which must be your default browser. The laptop's ultimate users don't like IE, and neither do I. Not willing to do that. Other posts said that validation still won't work, even after doing this.
Such a load of needless BULLSHIT ! MS is doing whatever it can to send customers packing. (Just consider the abysmal market reception to Windows 8.) This has been confirmed to me by a veteran computer consultant, who had one of the highest standings you can attain among the MS elite. In this particular case, I chalk it up to an extreme Sony-like paranoia over piracy, and a Samsung-like disdain for their customers.
Back to XP Mode | VPC. I have little doubt that there are quite a few places to obtain these items besides from Microsoft.Com. Would any of you happen to know if this -- for example -- is the exact same kit ?
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Microsoft-Virtual-PC.shtml
Failing that, MS can go take a flying jump. I'll go with VMWare or Virtualbox instead, if necessary.