Windows Xp - Counterfeit software message

D-!

I bought a pc 3 years ago in pc world I took out an extended warranty for two years a short time efter it expired my pc got sick and the I.T. guy in work said if I reinstalled windows it should be fixed I borrowed a copy of XP and installed it everything went ok.
Almost 14 months later after the problem occured and after numerous updates I have a message on the system tray since a week ago saying I am the victim of "Software Counterfeiting" and to resolve the issue click here it directs me to Microsoft and a page to buy a new license key for £92 sterling!!!! I got no XP disc when i bought the computer even though I have the Xp license key on the side of my towercase. I dont know wether to go to pc world or get in touch with microsoft. The message has become more threatning now saying something like my system is at risk bla bla bla
Has anyone got any ideas what to do?
Thanks in advance

BigEejit

If you have a XP COA then ring Microshaft .... most likely whats happened is that you were sold MS XP Home but your mate gave you XP Pro ... if that is the case you are using an illegal copy like it says

D-!

Microshaft lol! It was Xp pro he gave me and it was Xp home on the pc when I bought it Whats COA? So am I Fecked or wha?

KdjaCL

You have a licence for Home but not for Pro.

To make it go away you need to install Home or get a Pro cd key.


kdjac

sceptre

D-! wrote:

Whats COA?

Certificate of Authenticity. The key word is the last one.

cormie

sounds like spyware trying to get you to give CC details to me

SouperComputer

cormie wrote:

sounds like spyware trying to get you to give CC details to me

Nope. MS have gotten heavier with this of late. It needs to be vailidated. Either install home again, or buy a Pro licence.

seamus

This message is the result of a recent MS Patch. You can uninstall the patch to prevent the message from coming up.

cormie

Is copying an install disc illegal if you have a valid license for it? All he needs is XP home, right? Although a re-install is a bit of a painus in the anus. Would system restore do it for him before he updated the patch?

danniemcq

i'm gettin the same running XP home just put in a ned HDD and DVDRW drive and i got a message sayin i had 3 days to sort everything, no idea where my code or disk is i moved house 3 times since install

subway

danniemcq
just re-activate.
more than likely the hardware change has caused your actvation to expire.
call the activation hotline, tell em your situation.
theyll provide a new product key, tell you how to enter it and youll be sorted.

danniemcq

nice one sorted cheers subway

subway

if you need your key when calling,
use this software to view it -

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Sam Vimes

subway wrote:

if you need your key when calling,
use this software to view it -

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

its written on the side of his case. he said so above. that's a good program though

subway

danniemcq wrote:

i'm gettin the same running XP home just put in a ned HDD and DVDRW drive and i got a message sayin i had 3 days to sort everything, no idea where my code or disk is i moved house 3 times since install

he said he couldnt find it??

OP have a read of this ....
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/06/08/ms_wga_phones_home/

mad m

seamus wrote:

This message is the result of a recent MS Patch. You can uninstall the patch to prevent the message from coming up.

Afaik there is no uninstall with this patch.

WizZard

No "official" uninstall

mad m

WizZard wrote:

No "official" uninstall

Hehe,yeah thats what I meant,and no offical patch to patch the patch either...:)

Sparky

Most new MS software, ie: Office, win MP 11 etc, wont work unless you have passed WGA.
For the sake of eighty euros
http://www.studentoptions.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayPage&Locale=en_IE&id=ProductDetailsPage&SiteID=msftie&productID=10755600

They give you a key after you purchase it, so even if you do have a pirated version of windows, you can use the new key on it.