Microsoft delivered the first update to Internet Explorer 7 in approximately a year since the version of the browser was initially made available for Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003. Along with some minor tweaks to the graphical user interface and a revamped first-run experience and overview, on top of a redesigned online tour and updated how-tos, the new version of Internet Explorer 7 brings a major modification to the table. Both the download and the installation of IE7 build 7.0.5730.13 are no longer connected in any way to the Windows Genuine Advantage mechanism.

Prior to the update, users that wanted to access IE7 from Windows XP had to go through two stages of WGA validation. Once their operating system was labeled as genuine beyond any doubt, the users could enjoy Internet Explorer 7. And because IE7 is essentially designed as a replacement of IE6, Windows XP users had to go through the hassles of the WGA mechanism every time they wanted to deploy and install the browser, even though their operating system had already been validated and re-validated as genuine. (more…)

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Further investigation by our WGA team has brought to light more information on the WGA validation issue affecting users this past weekend.  Alex Kochis on the WGA blog breaks down the events of the weekend that caused the validation failure, how it was identified and what was done to fix it, and changes we’ve made to WGA as a result.  The upshot is that we’re working to improve WGA, having learned much from this failure, and the team, with Alex in the lead, is taking the matter and its impact very seriously.< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Among the points that Alex calls out, one is that around 12,000 customers were affected worldwide.  While I stated on Saturday that “very few customers” were affected — a poor choice of words, I will be the first to admit –, this by no means was meant to downplay the experience endured by those customers.  As Alex puts it, “one bad customer experience is one too many,” and I completely agree.  That’s the most important point and cannot be overstated.  My apologies to anyone who felt slighted by interpreting that MS’ stance was less than responsive

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Further investigation by our WGA team has brought to light more information on the WGA validation issue affecting users this past weekend. Alex Kochis on the WGA blog breaks down the events of the weekend that caused the validation failure, how it was Read More……(read more)

Earlier today (25 August) we began receiving reports of Windows Vista customers running genuine systems but experiencing failures when attempting a Windows Genuine Advantage validation. This situation has since been resolved and validations are now being Read More……(read more)

Earlier today (25 August) we began receiving reports of Windows Vista customers running genuine systems but experiencing failures when attempting a Windows Genuine Advantage validation.  This situation has since been resolved and validations are now being processed successfully.  

We’ve since learned that very few customers were affected.  Sr. Product Manager Alex Kochis and a team of engineers have been working on the issue and has blogged about it to keep customers up-to-date.  Customers who received an incorrect validation response can fix their system by revalidating.  I’d encourage anyone who received a validation failure since Friday evening to visit this site now; after successfully revalidating, any affected system should be rebooted to ensure that genuine-only features are restored.

Alex will be updating his blog with information as more information comes to light.

Unlike Windows XP, which was sent barefoot into the world, Windows Vista comes in the context of a mature anti-piracy infrastructure courtesy of the Windows Genuine Advantage mechanism, and with the Reduced Functionality Mode limitations. Reduced Functionality Mode in Vista is delivered in two distinct flavors: out-of-grace and non-genuine. The first is associated with operating systems that have not been activated in the initial 30 days grace period while the second is a result of the detection of a potentially pirated copy of the platform.

“Windows Vista may enter reduced functionality mode if one of the following conditions is true: you do not activate Windows Vista within the specified activation period; (more…)

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