1. Return to your reseller and ask for genuine Microsoft software, using the report provided during the validation session for support. The report explains why your system was unable to validate and provides instructions for further follow-up.

  2. Anonymously purchase a genuine copy of Office or Windows software online from the links below or from your local reseller.

    - Buy genuine Office here
    - Buy genuine Windows here

  3. Report suspected piracy.

  4. For those who qualify, Microsoft has created three genuine software offers to help customers who have unknowingly purchased a counterfeit version of Office or Windows software:

    • Complimentary offer: Microsoft will make a complimentary copy of Office, Windows Vista or Windows XP, available to customers who have been sold counterfeit copies. 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 will qualify for the complimentary offer.

    • Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) Kit: For those customers who have failed Office validation and do not qualify for, or choose not to take advantage of the complimentary offer, Microsoft will provide an Office Genuine Advantage Kit. The OGA Kit can be purchased online. To purchase the OGA kit you will need to go back to the validation tool and go through the validation process. Upon failure you will be offered the purchase of an OGA Kit.

    • Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Kit: For those customers who have failed Windows validation and do not qualify for, or choose not to take advantage of the complimentary offer, Microsoft will provide a Windows Genuine Advantage Kit. The WGA Kit can be purchased online. To purchase the WGA kit you will need to go back to the validation tool and go through the validation process. Upon failure you will be offered the purchase of a WGA Kit.

    Note: To take advantage of these online offers you will need to go back to the validation tool and go through the validation process.

  5. Visit the How to Tell page and learn what to look for. You can also view the counterfeit gallery and learn how to recognise genuine Microsoft software.