The Microsoft genuine Windows offer is designed to help customers who unknowingly purchased counterfeit versions of Windows XP by offering those who qualify a complimentary copy or electronic license key for a genuine copy of Windows XP.

To help customers who unknowingly purchased a counterfeit version of Windows XP, Microsoft has created two genuine Windows offers for those who qualify:

• Complimentary offer: Microsoft will make a complimentary copy of Windows XP available to customers who have been sold counterfeit Windows. Customers will be required to submit a proof of purchase, the counterfeit CD, and a counterfeit report with details of their purchase. Only high-quality counterfeit Windows will qualify for the complimentary offer.
• Electronic License Key Offer: Microsoft will offer an alternative for customers who find out via the WGA validation process that they are not running genuine Windows, but do not qualify for, or choose not to take advantage of, the complimentary offer. These customers will be able to license a Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP directly from Microsoft for a special on-line purchase price. The Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP will include a new 25-character Product Key and a Windows Product Key Update tool that will allow customers to convert their counterfeit copy to genuine Windows XP electronically.

Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP is packaged differently and is only distributed by Microsoft directly to customers who qualify for the genuine Windows offer. It is not intended for resale.

Yes.

The offer is open to any person who purchased Microsoft Windows XP (Professional or Home Edition) or Windows XP Operating System pre-installed on a new computer. Windows XP upgrade purchases and purchases made under volume license agreements are not eligible.

No. Only users of counterfeit Windows XP are eligible for the genuine Windows offer.

A counterfeit disc is required in order to be eligible for the complimentary offer. This allows customers to show that a counterfeit transaction occurred. Customers who did not receive a counterfeit disk, but are willing to submit a counterfeit report regarding a fraudulent transaction, are able to qualify for the electronic license key offer.

Microsoft will not bring legal action against the people who participate in the genuine Windows offer.

Because purchase documentation varies widely, we are flexible. Proof of purchase can be a purchase order, the original supplier invoice, or some other store receipt. The proof of purchase must show the supplier's name and address, the date of purchase, and a reference to Windows.

The counterfeit report helps Microsoft identify the reseller and type of counterfeit software transaction that took place. The information that is required on the report is:

• Was the copy of Windows preinstalled?
• Where was it purchased (Web, street vendor, store, etc)?
• What was the reseller's name?
• Did you receive a CD and a Certificate of Authenticity (COA)?
• How much did you pay?
• What was the date of purchase?

Microsoft is collecting information on counterfeit sellers to get information on illegal practices and to work with authorities to enforce anti-piracy policies and laws. The counterfeit report will be treated by Microsoft as confidential. Microsoft devotes substantial time and energy to fighting software counterfeiting, and you can be assured that we will take appropriate action in response to your report.

Microsoft cannot return the documentation you submit, including the counterfeit software.

The genuine Windows offer is limited to one order per machine. For the complimentary offer, small business customers are limited to five copies per shipping address. The offer is subject to availability.

No. Microsoft will pay the shipping and handling costs.

No. The genuine Windows offer is distributed by Microsoft directly to Windows XP customers who have received counterfeit Windows and qualify for the offer. It is not available for resale. However you can go to your reseller to discuss other legalization options, such as the Get Genuine Kit.

No. Only customers who discover through WGA validation that they are running counterfeit Windows will qualify for the genuine Windows offer.

• If you qualify for the complimentary offer, you will receive a Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP in the mail within 4 to 6 weeks of your order. The Windows Genuine Advantage Kit contains a CD with a new 25-character Product Key. You should reinstall Windows and reactivate your PCs using the CD and the new Product Key.
• If you request the electronic license key offer, you will receive via email, upon confirmation of payment, your new 25-character Product Key and instructions on how to download the Windows Product Key Update Tool. You will also receive a Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP installation CD in the mail. When you receive your order confirmation, you can check the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit Order Support page to see when you will receive your CD.

Yes.

The genuine Windows offer is limited to Windows XP at this time.

Once you convert to genuine Windows XP, you are entitled to the support available from Microsoft for genuine Windows XP. Visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/support/default.mspx for details.

• If you receive the complimentary offer, you will be required to reinstall Windows with the CD you receive and activate your PC with the new 25-character Product Key that comes with the CD.
• If you use the electronic key, you will have your Windows system activated automatically by the Windows Product Key Update Tool, provided with the offer.

If you qualify for the complimentary offer, Microsoft will send a kit to you within 4 to 6 weeks of your submission. For the electronic license key offer, Microsoft will send the electronic key and conversion tool upon payment confirmation. Timing varies by country and payment type. The physical media for the electronic license key offer will arrive by post in 4 to 6 weeks.

For contact information to check order status, please refer to your order confirmation email. If you did not receive an email confirmation of your order or your new product key, contact your local Microsoft customer support.

To convert your counterfeit Windows XP software to a genuine copy of Windows XP using the new product key, you will need to download and run the Windows Product Key Update Tool on the same computer you used to purchase the electronic license for Windows XP. Visit http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=45668 to download the Windows Product Key Update Tool. The Windows Product Key Update tool will guide you through the conversion process and convert your counterfeit Windows XP to a genuine copy of Windows XP.

If you pay for the electronic license key, you will receive an email confirmation with a new 25-character Product Key and instructions on where to download the Windows Product Key Update Tool, which will perform a complete scan of your Windows system files. The update tool will perform a scan of the approximately 6,000 files which make up the Windows XP distribution. If the files are unchanged from the original, the scan will pass and the genuine Windows conversion will continue.

Any differences from the original would indicate a potential vulnerability and will cause the scan to fail. If the scan fails, you will not be able to complete the online conversion to genuine Windows. You will be instructed to store your genuine Windows Product Key in a safe place and wait until your genuine Windows XP backup disc arrives via postal mail. You should then use the backup disc, along with your Product Key, to perform a clean installation of Windows XP.

The system scan is necessary because the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit converts a counterfeit Windows XP system to genuine. Microsoft wants to take every precaution possible to ensure that the original Windows XP system files are present and undamaged so that you can have full confidence in your future experience with genuine Windows. The system scan cannot guarantee with absolute certainty that your system is safe. Re-installing your operating system from a CD provided by Microsoft as part of the transaction will provide a higher level of protection against threats associated with counterfeit software.

You will receive the following error:

"One or more Windows files are modified or corrupted. This tool cannot be used to perform an automatic product key update. Please reinstall Windows using the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit CD."

As stated in the error text, you must re-install Windows XP from a new installation CD. When you place an order for a new CD, you can check the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit Order Support page to see when you will receive your CD in the mail.

Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP contains a Microsoft Windows XP End-User License Agreement (EULA) that limits the installation of the software to a single computer, such as a workstation, terminal, or other device ("Workstation Computer").