Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library Error

Still worth giving them a ring, they may ask to be connected to your computer so they can look it over to verify it. Just tell them all you now know as it is possible that the repair install may have wiped the original install date.
If that can still be found though it gives an idea of original time and date of purchase.
Otherwise I am afraid that it may be as DSTM suggested to get you back up and running trouble free.
Edit to add, please also take note of what DSTM just posted as well.
Nev.

 

No you would be wrong. I started this thread a week ago, and I like I said I have had a legit copy of win7 for 3 or 4 years. This comp was built by a friend in 2008 and win7 beta was the OS he installed with it. Once the full version of win7 became available a few months later, I purchased it online from Microsoft and downloaded it from them. Those are the only 2 operating systems I have EVER had on this comp (win7 beta, and the win7 I purchased). I have never had an non genuine OS on my computer. I have no idea why my product key is 20 digits instead of 25. I also don't know why it is given in the format of xxxxx-xxx-xxxxxxx-xxxxx instead of the format xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.

 

Ok, thanks guys. I'll try to narrow it down, but the only thing I know for sure is I purchased it sometime in 2009. I'll see if I can go back that far with my online banking, but I'll probably have to request the statements like you said.

 

You said you had a legit copy installed sinse around 2009, till this latest install from Digital River.
When an OS is installed Microsoft register the Motherboard of your computer.
So ring Microsoft and they will check their records and if what you say is correct, then they will gladly validate the latest install for you over the phone.
Microsoft have done that for me and they were very co operative.

 

The 20 digit product ID that you mention is not the product key. It will however identify the copy as legitimate if and when you speak to Microsoft. That being said, are the 3 characters in the second grouping OEM? If that is the case it would probably mean that it was preactivated to a specific manufacturer for bulk installation and may help you in your conversation. On the other hand if I remember correctly this was custom built for you. That may be problematic if the person who built it was not entitled to use the OEM license that came with the system.

Please don't accept this as the last word on the licensing issue there are others who may have different ideas but it is clear that you need to obtain a product key which is encrypted in your registry. There is software that will help you find it but I am not at all sure which is best.

 

There are no letters in my 20 digit key, only numbers. So no, it doesn't say OEM anywhere in it. Also, the original OS he put on here was Win7 beta, which I assume was free for anyone to try.
I'm going to try calling Microsoft. Think they're accepting calls on Sunday morning?
Hopefully the 20 digit key will identify my copy as legitimate as you say, or they can verify my motherboard as DSTM said.

 

Just got off the phone with 1-800-Microsoft.
They said they can't validate using my 20 digit product key because they don't keep records of product keys.
He asked for the email address I used when I purchased win7 and my billing address.
Then came back and said he couldn't find a record of either but referred me to another call center (which isn't open right now) and said they may be able to find a record of my purchase.
He also asked if I purchased it under a 'steal deal' promotion. I told him I had no idea what that was.
Before I hung up I asked if they had a record of my motherboard from when I installed the first time and he said something to the effect of "Thats getting into confidential business practices and I cannot comment on that, but I told you we don't keep records of product IDs so that should give you an indication of what information we do and don't collect from our customers." Um... ok?
Gonna call the other number later.

 

Best of luck, maybe during normal working hours there will be staff on hand who can give better help. It sounds as if the person you spoke to is only there as part of a weekend skeleton staff, possibly there more for emergencies than anything else.

Nev.

 

Ok, where to begin...
Downloaded Belarc Advisor, long story short it gave me the new generic product key and not my original one so that didn't work. But thanks for the idea! It got me thinking. Surely I would have made a note of my product key somewhere on my computer 3 years ago, right? Well I actually thought of this yesterday, but assumed it would be in a word document. When I didn't find it I gave up. Then after running Belarc I decided to do a 'start' search for 'product key'. Turns out I had it buried in an excel file! Did the activation, got my genuine status back!

Shame on you DSTM for doubting me! (I kid I kid )

Also, the .NET Framework notification FINALLY resolved itself and said the computer needed to restart.
So everything's fixed and I'm good to go....
...Until I do the restart and the Microsoft Visual C++ error message pops up again!
Are you &$#*&@! kidding me?!?! All this just to have the original problem show back up! Clearly my Printer Spooler has a mind of its own. The Belarc Advisor report showed HP 8600 Pro as still being installed! I uninstalled it a week ago and have been trying ever since then to remove every trace. I don't know why my comp still thinks its installed.
Is my only option to reformat at this point?

 

Hi Evol. I ask questions because I don't know you from Adam. I never accuse just ask.That's my job to try and get to the bottom of issues as quickly as possible.
You notice I am always polite.
Yes I would reformat and reinstall. It will solve your issues IMO.
Before doing that I would make sure you have all the correct motherboard drivers on a Flash Drive first.
That's if you haven't a Driver Disc.

 

I know DSTM, I was just messing with you.
So here's an update.
I decided before I did a reformat I would call Microsoft customer support and see if they could do anything. I explained that every time I restart my comp I get an 'Interactive Services Detection' error message that says the print spooler has requested to shut down in an unusual way. I explained everything I have explained to you guys and the lady kept saying "So your problem is your printer won't work?" I said no, that was a problem but I uninstalled it. I can't reinstall it because this error message keeps canceling the installation (I had already explained all of this to her moments before). Then she say "So your problem is you can't install your printer?" At this point I'm slightly agitated. I said no, while that is a problem, the underlying issue here is something is wrong with the print spooler and it keeps shutting down and giving me the 'Interactive Services Detection' message (Again, I've explained all of this to her twice now). Then she says "Ok, Interactive Service... what now?" She works for Microsoft, its a Microsoft service, she had no idea what I was talking about. I get transferred to a 'tech support specialist' who says "Ok so you're having problems with your new printer?" I said no I'm having problems with YOUR software. So I re-explained everything to him. Without offering any solution he says "Well Sir we can assign someone to fix that for you but its gonna cost $99." Now I'm mad. I've never called any customer support line for ANY product and been asked to pay money to fix my problem. I told him there was no way that was happening and that I thought it was ridiculous that he would even ask. He said "Well, ok, we can email you some things for free that you can try on your own that may fix your problem." I said yeah lets do option two. The option where I do your job for you and don't pay you $99.
So I'm waiting on the email now...

 

I admit that I have not been reading all of this but the bottom line seems to be that you need to do a reinstall because something is corrupt in your system. The problem with that is that you have no product key only a product ID. I don't know if you asked the person who built it since it would have been installed with his/her license but if you can't find the key you are going to have to get a new one. I don't see any way around that.

You need to do a serious search for that key there is software that can help you retrieve it (Ablesoft My Keyfinder) comes to mind. You the need to get a disk that is compatible with that key (same version) microsoft can help you with that if you have the key.

If the key that you retrieve is from the pre release beta version that will probably do you no good.

I am surprised that Belarc did not find it but this is beginning to sound like the original install may not have been legitimate. That may not be of your doing but, if that is the case, it is you who will pay the price. You should have been able to do a repair install.

 

MeeCeeBee,
A couple of posts up I posted that I ended up finding my product key buried in an old excel file.
The one Belarc found was one that came with the repair install download because it had a created date of a couple of days ago. I tried it first and I was told it was a generic key and would't work.
So the issue of the product key has been solved. The only issue that remains is the Print Spool.
I don't know why the repair install wouldn't work either, but it looks like you're right and I will have to do a full reinstall.

Just a quick note. I posted earlier how UNhelpful the people at Microsoft were (even after I gave them my legitimate product key). Well that being said I called HP and talked to an extremely nice and helpful lady named Jessica. She tried for nearly 4 hours to fix my issue! She even said "this is more of a Microsoft problem but I'm going to try my best to help you." I said "Thanks because the people at Microsoft wanted $99 to help, and none of them seemed to know what I was talking about in the first place." In the end she was unsuccessful but it wasn't for lack of trying!
So in summary, big fan of HP support right now. And I don't know how my experience with Microsoft could have been any worse.

 

The only "product key" you mentioned was a 20 figure key. As I said before that is not a product key but a product ID number. I have no idea what a generic key is. Microsoft product keys are very specific and there is no such thing as a legitimate generic product key. If you did get a 25 digit key and it did not work then it is clearly not for that system, perhaps it is the beta key.

I gave you a software recommendation above.

 

Download "Speccy" free and click on "Operating System"
It gives you your product Key.

http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download

If that doesn't validate go buy a Legitimate copy of Windows.

I am about to close this thread.It is going nowhere.

You were advised to reinstall and you chose not to listen to our advice.

 

This is the post I was referring to. I had the 25 digit key written down in an excel file. So the product key issue is solved. Sorry for any confusion. But the one Belarc found would was different from mine and would not work. The pop up message I got when I tried to use it first was something to the effect of it being a 'generic key'. Maybe they didn't use those exact words, but it gave me the impression that it had came with the repair install file I downloaded, put on a disc, and ran. Because the Belarc report showed it had been created a few days ago. Again, I don't really understand all of this, but I'm assuming when I ran the repair install it replaced my product key with a generic one to use temporarily until I activated using my genuine one. Which I have now done, so again, product key problem solved. Thanks for your help.

 

DSTM,

Thanks for all your help. You can close the thread. I know I need to reinstall and I am going to do that as soon as I back up all my files. My external hard drive isn't big enough to do this, so I have to purchase a bigger one. It will be a few days before I can do a reinstall.

But again, thanks to everyone for your help!

 

Evol, you may have noticed that this thread has been locked. What you need to do is follow up on the reinstall and take note of any problems that may persist. While I did not lock the thread I agree that it is going off on far too many tangents for there to be any constructive conclusion.

Once that is sorted out you are free to post a new thread setting forth any new or continuing issues. Please start from scratch rather than make reference to this thread which has become far too complicated to sort out.

Closing this thread was the only way to go.