Microsoft KB Archive/917050

= You receive a &quot;Product Key Inaccessible&quot; error message or a &quot;0x80080212&quot;error message when you try to validate a Windows XP-based computer by using Windows Genuine Advantage =

Article ID: 917050

Article Last Modified on 6/26/2007

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional

-



SUMMARY
When you try to use Windows Genuine Advantage in Microsoft Windows XP, you receive error messages. This article contains step-by-step instructions that you can use to try to resolve this problem and to use the Windows Genuine Advantage validation process.

This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.

You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.



Symptoms of the problem
When you try to use Windows Genuine Advantage validation on a Windows XP-based computer, the validation process is unsuccessful. Additionally, you receive one or more of the following error messages:

Error message 1

Product Key Inaccessible

Error message 2

0x80080212



Steps to resolve the problem
This problem occurs if you do not have the correct permissions to run Windows Genuine Advantage. To resolve this problem, follow these steps.

Step 1: Restart in safe mode
 Restart the computer. When the startup screen is displayed, press F8. Use the arrow keys to select a safe mode option for your Windows XP installation, and then press ENTER.

Step 2: Adjust Windows Genuine Advantage permissions for users
 After the computer is restarted, click Start, click Run, type the following command, and then click OK:

%systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage

 In the Windows Genuine Advantage folder window, right-click the Data folder, and then click Properties. In the Data Properties dialog box, click the Security tab, and then click Users (Computername\Users) in the Group or user names section.</li> In the Permissions for Users section, make sure that each check box in the Allow column is selected for the following permissions: <ul> Read & Execute</li> List Folder Contents</li> Read</li></ul> </li> Click OK.</li></ol>

Step 3: Try Windows Genuine Advantage validation again
For more information about Windows Genuine Advantage and to start the Windows Genuine Advantage validation process, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/whyValidate.aspx

Keywords: kbtshoot kbexpertisebeginner kbinfo kbceip kbvalidation kbprb kberrmsg KB917050

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.