[Moolahoops]

"You may be a victim of software counterfeiting"

My ex received this message on her WIN XP PC a few days ago. Seems her copy of XP is not the real deal. She is not very computer literate and the PC was a hand-me-down from her nephew. Needless to say this scared the @#!!@ out of her and she is convinced the PC police are on the way to her door.

I have a legit copy of XP Home that I no longer use or need and can give it to her when I see her in about a weeks time. But until then my concerns/questions are . . .

Is she on some sort of counter that might prevent her from using the PC before I can get there and install the legit copy of XP that I have?

Is there any way I can input the key from my legit copy and avoid reinstalling XP? I can't spend much time there.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[wacor]

There are others here that probably are better able to answer but I am wondering exactly what the message stated and what she was doing when it popped up

I could be wrong but suspect the key for your legit copy would not work. Better to install your legit copy but I would try to figure out for certain if her copy was pirated or is legit first. Depending upon the exact message I wonder if it could be some scam to install something that would cause problems as a result of an infection

anyway for what it is worth that is my 2 cents worth in the event nobody else chimed in here.

[downinfront]

yeah, it could be some crazy popup ad. Was it a new install and windows was trying to activate? New installs of xp give a 30 day period to activate windows.

[engti]

Think it's the new update from microsoft that runs a validation check against your key to see if it's genuine or not. if not, it displays the message on your login screen plus some other places.

read here http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f...eSoftware.mspx

there are ways to disable those messages. search for it if you want to.

[downinfront]

I knew they were cracking down on office, but the os too, that is going to cause some havok

[engti]

lol

[Rich-M]

If the version of XP is the same and it is not an Oem pc, you might be able to input your key, but the best way to do it is clean install by booting to cd.

[Moolahoops]

Thanks everyone.

Upon further investigation it appears that my ex has XP Pro so I will definitely have to do a re-install as the legit software I have for her is XP Home.

[wacor]

I would still find out just what the messages said.

It could be a problem due to an illegal OS but could be a pop up due to an infection

Would not give up yet

[drmc]

i get this message too - but am unable to find a place to enter my key. so maybe its a popup ad?

[engti]

Does the warning pop-up on the login screen itself?

[kitman78]

This message comes up on the screen after installing the new microsoft advantage validation update, there was a work around for the original one but now that they (M$) have updated the validation checker and if it believes that you have an illegal copy of windows it tells you about it. It will appear as a little star in your system tray and keep popping up to remind you every now and then

[PaperShield]

Sorry people, but I don't have enough time to read the recent posts. I have done an Windows update and there is a message when you start up Windows and it says "your copy of Windows is not genuine" when I try to log in it makes me wait, thier is a button with "resolve now" or "resolve later" (which makes you wait.) Also when you are in Windows there is a hollow purple star on the bottom right hand corner, it states "you may be a victim of software conterfeiting". All I want, is to know how to fix it, meaning remove it, delete it. A reply whould be appreciated. The update number is "KB905474".

Than You...

[jagsthecat]

Originally Posted by PaperShield

Sorry people, but I don't have enough time to read the recent posts. I have done an Windows update and there is a message when you start up Windows and it says "your copy of Windows is not genuine" when I try to log in it makes me wait, thier is a button with "resolve now" or "resolve later" (which makes you wait.) Also when you are in Windows there is a hollow purple star on the bottom right hand corner, it states "you may be a victim of software conterfeiting". All I want, is to know how to fix it, meaning remove it, delete it. A reply whould be appreciated. The update number is "KB905474".

Than You...

You cant delete it , the onlyway to remove it is to use/buy a legitimate edition of windows

[ozrom1e]

This program will verify whether or not Windows XP Home/Pro is legal or not Legal.
Please download this from Microsoft and run it on your computer
Filename = WGADiag2.exe
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012
Press "Copy to clipboard" and post the results here

From Microsoft MVP.

Change your Product Key without a Reinstall to match your
genuine Product Key or COA:

First, please verify if your COA sticker or product key: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/h...ll/en/coa.mspx
matches your Product Key being used on your system. You can
view your product key with the Genuine Advantage diagnostics tool
(at least the last 15 digits) located here:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

From a legal Microsoft document

1.1 Installation and use. You may install, use, access, display and run one copy of the Software on a single computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device ("Workstation Computer"). The Software may not be used by more than one processor at any one time on any single Workstation Computer.
13. SOFTWARE TRANSFER. Internal. You may move the Software to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer, you must completely remove the Software from the former Workstation Computer. Transfer to Third Party. The initial user of the Software may make a one-time permanent transfer of this EULA and Software to another end user, provided the initial user retains no copies of the Software. This transfer must include all of the Software (including all component parts, the media and printed materials, any upgrades, this EULA, and, if applicable, the Certificate of Authenticity). The transfer may not be an indirect transfer, such as a consignment. Prior to the transfer, the end user receiving the Software must agree to all the EULA terms.