Windows.

[Noddy]

I have been using my computer for about 2.5 years now without any problems but today I get a notice from microsoft that my version of xp pro could be a conterfiet. It was asking me to connect to their site and fix the problem. I don't know if mine is a good copy or not and have clicked on the connect later option. What to do

 

[cookie]

nag screen on boot & shut down + a blue star in the system tray you can't get rid of?

it's "Windows Genuine Advantage". you almost certainly downloaded it as part of a recent update and you almost certainly have a pirated copy of windows.

more

 

[markrich]

You will not be able to get many of the more recent updates if your copy of XP is was not bought. M$ have said that only critcal updates will be available free because they don't want those non-legal copies of Windows infecting the legal ones with worms etc.

 

[needlongerlegs]

I have been using my computer for about 2.5 years now without any problems but today I get a notice from microsoft that my version of xp pro could be a conterfiet. It was asking me to connect to their site and fix the problem. I don't know if mine is a good copy or not and have clicked on the connect later option. What to do

Did your XP come with your machine do you have a little sticker on the side of your machine with liecense number? If so just go for it and it will down load small file to your machine and bobs your uncle if its a iffy copy it will just block you geting any more updates.

g..

 

[cookie]

Did your XP come with your machine do you have a little sticker on the side of your machine with liecense number? If so just go for it and it will down load small file to your machine and bobs your uncle if its a iffy copy it will just block you geting any more updates.

g..

i think he's got the auto downloaded update from windows update, not the old validation routine* that MS ask for to get certain non critical updates, WMP etc.

if your machine is on auto update you will still get the critical updates anyway, you just can't get them manually if you try it that way.

*asks for a number generated by MS to get to next stage. were you or a friend to have another genuine windows PC, what's to stop you getting the number on that one & cut and paste it tothe hooky one?

i dare say a quick google will reveal several ways round the whole thing. MS bolloxed up the security of early VLA editions of XP by issuing them without product activation. there must be tens of thousands of PCs running a variation of that install out there

 

[Allroad]

there is a fix available if you need it pm me

 

[Rob Farmer]

there is a fix available if you need it pm me

Probably something like this?

If you haven't already installed it, choose the Advanced option and de-select the checkbox next to "Windows Genuine Advantage Tool". Choose the option to never be notified of that update, and it won't automatically install. You can continue to use Microsoft's automatic updates without worrying about the Genuine Advantage installing.

If it is already installed, restart Windows XP in safe mode. Log in as the local Administrator. Now delete the following files if you see them:

Delete WgaTray.exe from \windows\system32
Delete WgaTray.exe from \windows\system32\dllcache
Delete WgaLogon.dll from \windows\system32\
Delete LegitCheckControl.dll from \windows\system32\

Restart your computer normally. The update will try to download again -- just disable the install as noted above and it will never bother you again.


I'm a bit confused. I bought my PC from a work colleague and it came with a genuine XP disk. I've just run the autoupdate and got the counterfeight message.

 

[cookie]

I'm a bit confused. I bought my PC from a work colleague and it came with a genuine XP disk. I've just run the autoupdate and got the counterfeight message.

there are quite a few false positives from what i've read.

are you sure it's genuine? 3D hologram disc?

you could get onto MS and see if they can sort it out.

on the other hand, i know of a few pc owners with genuine discs who actually have counterfeit installs done by 3rd parties who presumably couldn't be arsed to find the correct cd