You must be running a validated version of Windows to install Microsoft Security Essentials. If your version of the Windows operating system is not genuine, or if there are issues with validation, you cannot install Security Essentials.

Symptoms

You receive an error message prompting you to validate your copy of Windows.

Cause

Your copy of Windows was not validated as genuine.

Solution

You must validate your copy of Windows as genuine.

To validate your copy of Windows as genuine

  1. Follow the steps at the Genuine Microsoft Software (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=196187) site.

  2. If you encounter validation issues, Submit a technical support request (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=196188) on the Genuine Microsoft Software site.