I recently installed a fresh copy of Windows XP onto an old machine, and I’m going through the endless cycles of Windows Update trying to get it secure enough to be used (after the most important first step, installing Firefox). I turned on automatic updates, which installed 18 or 19 patches, but didn’t do any service packs.
So I went to the Windows Update web site to see if I could get SP2 installed there, but first it promtped me to do the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) check to make sure I was running a real copy of Windows. By the way, what a stupid name: genuine advantage. If it means jumping through hoops like this, as opposed to illegal copies that would just skip all of this, where’s the advantage? But I click through, figuring it’s no big deal.
But instead of giving me a success message like usual, I get this:
Validation Incomplete: Unable to Perform Validation
Why didn’t my machine complete validation?
You have encountered an unknown error. Please contact your local product support team for further assistance with this issue.
And it gave an error code of [0x80080299] at the top of the screen. Googling for that error text didn’t turn up anything, and googling for the error code turned up a lot of posts from people who never posted solutions. Finally I found a fix, which was an alternate URL to go to that would let you complete the verification process for real:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/validate.aspx
When I went there, Internet Explorer prompted me to install the Microsoft Genuine Advantage ActiveX control, which didn’t happen using the usual route of just going to Windows Update. That looked promising. And, sure enough, I then received a “Validation Complete!” message, and I “may now access resources for genuine Windows users.” How exciting. And, even more thrilling, it’s installing XP Service Pack 2 right now. Thank you, Microsoft, for letting me fix your huge security holes.
I don’t know what the problem was with the WGA validation process going through Windows Update, but it sure was annoying. It led to me looking up ways of getting around WGA, since that seemed like it would be easier than trying to convince Microsoft that this was a legitimate copy of Windows. I found that workaround link before going that far, but not before I found a web site that offers a Firefox plug-in to provide Windows updates to you without dealing with Microsoft and errors like this.
And if this is the direction they’re moving for Vista (and it sure looks that way) it sounds like one headache after another coming our way in the near future just to prove to Microsoft time after time that yes, we really paid for that piece of software.
It is 3 a.m. I am leaving on vacation tomorrow morning and trying to get my machine updated for the trip. Your solution worked just fine. Thanks for getting me past this hurdle. Gloria
Thank you! I came to visit my parents for the holiday, and while I was here found out that their computers(2) were both riddled with malware. It was horrible. So I said “Screw this,” uploaded the files they wanted to keep onto my server(after, of course, ensuring that they were malware-free) and reformatted. As it turns out, the Installation Disc I used for the first computer(this one) was defunct – it would hang after loading mup.sys, and apparently this is a common problem with CDs which include SP2 installations.
So I came back today with my own trusty installation disc. It’s an older one, and it’s what I built the image I use from. I came back today, and reinstalled windows on both computers. So, finally I got around to updating. Well, I got to Validation and it crapped out and threw a fit, with the exact same error. I googled said Error and found this blog.
Just validated this computer, now about to do the other.
And it worked!
Again, THANK YOU! If you don’t mind, I’m going to post this on my own website when I get it up and running.
Mark
Thank you for posting this! I was getting ready to tear my hair out over this problem. Friggin’ Microsoft. To have to do this at all is just annoying, but for it to work this crappily is just inexcusable.
This was a big help to me as I was experiencing the same problem. Thanks.
Worked for me too. Trying to fix a co-workers computer that was full of spyware with no SP2 !!
Thanks
I really appreciate the tip! I was getting pretty aggrevated… Thanks…
Awesome… quick and easy fix.
Great tip! Got me right through reinstalling XP on my laptop after malware fried it. Had to use my install CD from work which I’m covered under the liscence as an employee.
Thanks, worked for me!
First, I owe you an apology. Let me explain. As I read “…and googling for the error code turned up a lot of posts from people who never posted solutions.” I thought “and i doubt you have the solution either which means your just as useless” but i kept reading and alas, THE SOLUTION! THANK YOU!
Thanks so much! It’s so hard to get an answer to these questions
Thanks for this! Googling that error code brang me here, thanks for making it easier for others! =)
Hi,
After a new install of winxp, i got this Problem with the same Error number. Thx Google, who brought to this site. But it doesnt function with my xp, its a original .
But thx for those peoples who the others with his problems…
It works!!! Thank you very much..i’v been trying everything….and your way worked…again, thank you.
Thank you! worked great! thanks for providing this for everyones use ^^.
Thanks for this fix! I have two old genuine copies of Windows XP and they both gave the same cryptic ‘Unknown error’. This link just saved me from hours of headaches trying to update.
Anyway, my new Mac arrives in a couple of days so I won’t have to worry about this Microsoft crap for much longer.
Thanks for that. Took me long enough to find this page!
stupid Microsoft should’ve put a link on that page when I encountered that problem.
Good work. Saved me hours of head scratching.
Thanks for the url to repair this problem. Worked perfectly. Totally insane that this was even needed. ARGHHHHH…
- John
Very helpful post. Thank you thank you!
Thanks for posting this. Saved me a whole bunch of woes!
Hey.
the solution also worked for me.
i was googling for “genuine 80080299″ and found your site.
thanks
I’ve had a bit of trouble with my re-install. Store bought xp pro full version 5.0 I’ve had to validate windows several times with “3rd party software”. Finally got to sp2 though. I went through the few links prior on google and it was all complicated mess. Registry editing, blah blah blah. This Works! Genius! Kudos to you my good friend..
I tried this, but after it says it passes validation, when I go to windowsupdate, it insists on running the validation its way, and I get the unknown error again and it will not continue.
Anyone got any clues?
Thank you so much for making my day so much easier by allowing me to fix this issue. It’s a shame Microsoft have to rely on kind 3rd parties like yourself instead of fixing their own issues.
that link worked the funny thing was working on a computer and talking with the tech support that I won’t say for there purpase of being idiots they gave me all kinds of things to try and I tried them before finding this website and so I tried the link above and it worked with no promblem.
Thanks for the fix. I’ve been trying to get Windows validated for a couple days now, and this worked great! I even got it to work through IE embedded in Firefox.
Worked great! Thank you!
Peter Harrison, what sp are you installing? Are you using a validation “tool” ? You want to install xp, register your copy, then validate. I’ve been successful on 3 machines so far with this process.
Awesome. Thanks for fixing the microsoft blunders. I think its time for me to get a Mac.
THANKS!!! saved me heeps of time looking for a workaround. Well done!
thanks for posting this! i was having the same problem. i knew i did the wga check and it said it was validated successfully, so i had no idea what was going wrong, but then i thought maybe i did it in firefox and didn’t realize it, so i did it in ie and then went back to install updates and all was well.
Thank you, this solution also worked for me as well. Thank you again! cheers!
Absolutely freakin’ cool! Found this solution on the FIRST hit in google! Its so nice to find solutions so fast! Thanks!!!!!!! Appreciate it!
Thanks for posting this blog
Thx! You saved my day! MS sucks!
THANKS! It’s annoying that I just purchased this on ebay for 2.00 and then googled your site, I was so pissed when I tried to install my legal copy of XP and it left me wide open to spyware et al. way to go MS.
Thank you very much for this solution, it worked for my Italian copy of XP too!
Thank you! It worked for me too! Great help!
[...] English at 2006-07-04 16:05 Categories: Code, Technology, Microsoft, Productivity TRACKBACK Trackback From Monkeyless » Windows Genuine Advantage Error0×80080299 [...]
Thanks so much for taking the time to post this. I have an orginal (pre sp-1) legal CD and did a reinstall recently and got the same error. Your solution works!
Many thanks…take care.
Worked amazingly. Many thanks!
Got sent to your site by HP after I restored my system with HP supplied backup disks. It worked on my Pavilion 7975. Thanks.
Really appreciate your one-step solution. Incredible!
Ran into this just now while rebuilding my mom’s machine. Thank you thank you thank you!!!
WTF….. I used the same ( I thought ) URL by clicking around the Microsoft web site. The 3 times I used the MS URL IE hung forever.
I finally typed the Monkeyless’s URL in by hand and my system passed inspection in 10 seconds.
Thanks for fixing yet another Microsoft Nightmare – lowered my stress levels for today thats for sure.
Thank you! Was about to reinstall OS again….
I agree with you… my laptop was more expensive because of it! it was “included” and could not be removed! this gets me crazy!
good luck you all! and thanks!
Rui
Please count me as one more person in your fan club, your site popped up #1 on Google when I was looking for help, and it fixed the problem immediately. Why Dell doesn’t ship laptops with verified Windows software I will never understand…. but at least this fixed the problem!