Re: Genuine Advantage problem after restore of hard drive

That got me in to see the updates. I did download a couple of updates to
make sure it would work. There were no critical updates required, so I
selected one for the modem and another for the NIC. After the download and
attempted install, it came back with the error: "Updates were unable to be
successfully installed" for both items. That is the same behavior I
experienced with the WGA tool except now it no longer prompts me for that
update.

The following are restore methods that I've tried:
1. ASR - That didn't work at all. It wouldn't even boot when I was done.
Took extensive repair using the install method to get it to run.
2. Since I have a VLA, I sliptreamed the disk with SP2 and did another ASR.
That worked, but I had the registration problem.
3. This last one I did a minimal install followed by a full restore.
However, I get a pretty good size error log with entries such as
Reason: Cannot create a file when that file already exists.
Warning: Unable to set the short 8.3 name for ......

I've with these I've tried variations such as:
1. "Low level" formatting the drive. (Fill with zeros to check for errors)
2. Tried a different drive after low level formatting it.
*Some of the restores had registry rights errors that it could not change
it. (That may be what I got with the ASR restores.) I looked at the MS TID
that says to go to that key, and to change its rights to the administrators
group. I tried that. It won't allow you do that, even as a member of the
administrators group.

The failure to install made me wonder if I could install any software that
used the Windows installer, so I tried a re-install/repair of Outlook 2003.
That went fine.

I've done successful recoveries on this same computer several times in the
past with no problems. I have a good, clean, ASR backup, that will put the
system back together, but it will no longer allow the installation of
updates from the web.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated,
Jack

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" <cnfrisch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23VFOQRBWGHA.4952@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Try the following workaround:

The WGA diagnostic tool has been updated to correct
this problem seen by some users.
Please download and execute it from:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

After running the tool, please return to Windows Update and try it again.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­----------------

"Jack T." wrote:

| The hard drive on my laptop crashed. I had done an ASR backup just
hours
| before. However, after the restore, the Genuine Advantage thing no
longer
| works. I've gone through two other hard drives with the same laptop,
and
| didn't have this problem when I restored it, but they were before
Genuine
| Advantage. Failing the ASR, I simply did a mininal install from the CD,
and
| it took the Genuine Advantage with no problem and downloaded updates.
Then
| I did a full restore so I could bring the laptop back to normal. After
it
| rebooted after the restore, it tried to update again, and it said I
needed
| the Genuine Advantage thing again, but it didn't work again. I repeated
| variations of the above two scenarios 5 times, each taking about 10-11
hours
| with format and ASR restore off a 4mm tape or manual install plus full
| restore. No luck.
|
| The version is XP Professional VLA. Has anyone here had this problem,
and
| if you found a way out of it? I'd be grateful to know how you got past
it.
|
| Thanks,
| Jack



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Genuine Advantage problem after restore of hard drive
    ... ASR would be bootable. ... There were no critical updates required, ... Took extensive repair using the install method to get it to run. ... This last one I did a minimal install followed by a full restore. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Disaster Restore SBS2003
    ... If you had the server set to download updates automatically (never ... then install any service packs to return the server to the same service pack ... have the correct version of NTBackup prior to the restore. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: windows update corrupts my kernel
    ... NEVER use System Restore to "undo" updates!!!! ... If you have Vista configured to automatically _Download and Install_ updates ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: pc hangs at winxp boot logo
    ... and spysweeper 3.5 all with respective updates. ... which updates were downloaded and installed), but i chose not to install the ... from recovery console, i disabled agp440.sys. ... restore point made during the spybot scan - but still no luck. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Restore Question....
    ... In Start, Control Panel, Automatic Updates uncheck Automatic and check ... "Notify me but don't automatically download or install". ... computer up-to-date with Windows Update and opt for a Custom install. ... About three weeks ago I tried to use the System Restore feature ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)