What Causes WGA Failure?

by ComputerBob

August 25, 2006

Yesterday, I received the following email message regarding WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) product activation:

Hi, ComputerBob,

I am currently engaged in a [heated] debate on another forum over the MS WGA issue. The point being debated is whether on not hardware changes will cause XP to fail WGA. My stance is that if several components are changed XP will fail WGA. The opposing faction says the only hardware change that will cause XP to fail WGA is if the motherboard is changed. I provided a link to a webpage that states " when XP is installed a file is created with a "string" made from gathering information from several components and every time a computer is booted it checks the components against that file and records any changes.If changes are found the computer will fail WGA". The opposing side is arguing that MS has no way of knowing what the original file contained and WGA only checks the bios and product key and as long as the motherboard isn't changed WGA won't be affected. I have searched [Google and MS] several different ways and can not find anything [other then the one webpage] that support either side of the debate.

I would like your input.

If I am mistaken I don't mind admitting it.

Basically I'd like to know if I'm "whipping a dead horse".

Here is what I wrote in reply:

"The opposing faction" is wrong. Although changing your computer's motherboard is a sure-fire way to fail WGA, several other actions can cause your computer to fail WGA. The problem is that, although WGA can fail due to a hardware OR SOFTWARE change, as far as I know, Microsoft has never revealed the secrets of what combinations of hardware and/or software changes will cause WGA to fail.

For evidence, please see
http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2006/7/24/8477/16185
which says:

At least the reader did pick up some interesting tidbits about XP activation from Microsoft along the way. "I've been getting conflicting stories from Microsoft about what would constitute grounds for having to go through reactivation again," the reader wrote. "A Mr. Rajiv Malhotra with Microsoft's New Delhi office told me that installing software -- any software -- can trigger the activation process all over again. And that condition extends to third party software. A Mike Russell, also with Microsoft and somewhere in Eastern Europe, I think, confirmed that Microsoft may choose to require reactivation at any time, for any reason - and that installing third-party applications from companies like Adobe could very well trigger reactivation."

Later in the day, I received the following follow-up message:

Thank you for your reply.

I have read how Windows product activation works and all I could find about WGA and the only logical conclusion I could come to is that I was correct that changing hardware after XP is installed would cause WGA failure.

Here is what I wrote in reply:

To be perfectly correct, changing hardware CAN cause WGA failure. And changing software CAN cause WGA failure. But neither one of those things ALWAYS causes WGA failure. For example, I recently upgraded my PC's RAM from 512MB to 1GB, and WGA didn't have a problem with that. Several months ago, I also added a second hard drive for backup purposes, and WGA didn't have a problem with that, either, but I've read about other people doing those same things and then failing WGA.

The important point is that you are right that changing a motherboard isn't the only thing that can cause WGA to fail. Anyone who thinks otherwise either hasn't had much WGA experience, or hasn't read much about other people's WGA experiences.