When I boot up my Dell desk top, the screen is black and I get a message that "This copy of Windows did not pass genuine validation. The product key found on this computer is not valid for use in your region." Windows was loaded on my computer when I bought it two years ago and always worked until now. I have tried to reenter the product key number unsuccessfully. Can anyone help?If you purchased the system from Dell with Vista installed I'd suggest a call to either Dell or Microsoft.can you get to windows at all? because sounds to me there is an error in a recent up date that is going arround. ive seen this happen twice this week. if you can get into windows do a system resore on your comp to the LAST date it was not showing that and then manually INSTALL the latest windows updates!!!Do you have the ORIGINAL RESTORE disk?

If so, insert your Restore disk, Right Click your CD rom, Explore and SEARCH for a file called WINNT.SIF. Open this file in Notepad and it should contain your Product Key from the original disk.stupid paranoid microsoft
do you have the windows install disk?[Moderated Message: Removed. Please read the forum rules.]