blonde poker forum

So the misses used the PC today she assures me she did nothing out of the ordinary at got no firewall messages but she did download a windows update (automatic feature) - now when I start the PC I have a new icon in the system tray that claims my copy of Windows is not genuine - has failed validation and the product key installed on my machine is not genuine.  I also get the odd message saying I might have been the victim of software counterfitting.

When I go to the Microsoft website it states that my 'Key' is not genuine, offers me to buy a legit one.  It does not say this will harm my computer or my security.

Should I be worried ?
Anything I can do ?
Anything I have to do ?
What does all this mean ?

My PC was shop bought and I believe the software to be legit - I live to far away from where I bought it to take it back.

I have the same thing on my laptop, mainly because my laptop has an illegal copy of windowns on it......the same is true of your pc version i imagine

So I can happily ignore it then ?

And I can't blame the misses ?

Just ignore it.

If you have firewall, then you can block the whole thing in that and it won't say it again.

You can also disable it in Tools, Manage Add Ons I think it's the Windows has ADDED drop down that you need - click on Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool and then select disable.

As part of the latest updates your computer will automatically have installed the "windows genuine advantage notification", which as you have found out tells you whether your windows license is genuine or not. Simple way to tell, is if your PC has a hologrammed windows sticker on it with a product key. If it does, then you are genuine, if not, then the shop has pulled a fast one .

Thanks for info you three.

I can see no windows sticker but can't be arsed to dig my tower out - will check back of it tomorrow.

Not happy it looks like they sold me a moody copy - words will be had.

Thanks again.

Still failed through Firefox - will try with IE tomorrow.

But looks like it counterfit.

Thanks for link.

If you have no license sticker on your machine then i'd agree.

A lot of smaller shops who build units themselves will sometimes provide a "demonstration" version of the software as a favour, as it saves at least £60 on the overall cost. But if they have done this they should spell it out to the customer to avoid any misunderstanding.  If you have a genuine licence there should be a sticker somewhere on the unit (we used to put them inside the case to stop people pulling them off). You would also have product materials like a booklet and a set-up or recovery CD.  Any paid for software should also be itemised on the receipt.

 Ac

Just download a windows validation crack, google is your friend ;)

Microsoft have recently fiddled with the Genuine Advantage Tool and last I looked the cracks were either a nightmare to perform or didn't work anymore.

You have a dodgy copy of windows

Bill gates needs your money....lol

what happens is you wont recieve any more security updates......however i am very suspicious that in the future ol Bill will screw up those that dont have a genuine copy in his quest for world domination...Dr.Evil styleee


what you could do is backdate your pc till a time before these notices happened and turn auto updates off,,thus ol Bill cant get to look into your pc..

Actually you can still receive updates through the auto update thing, just not through windows update...

Basically because MS would have been slated by everyone if they cut people off from updates.

I was "offered" this tool in my last update and declined as it clearly provided me with no value.  If my copy is dodgy it's worked for 2 years - so I don't care.   

i cant believe you posted this on a public forum

Aye, this would be an OEM version...but even so the windows software should not show up as being illegal unless it is a pirated copy. If it is a pirated copy and the shop sold oyu it then you can sue them. Check it is pirated then go see the CAB

I think you've got the wrong end of the stick there mate (about "demonstration" = OEM)

Im curious about something here.. In general I only buy original software (in fact only had one "fake" item fo software which was 'nero' a while back, no longer on my system as I have a newer computer) although am very aware that most items can be downloaded for free. But, it is clear that many people (alledgedly) do on here.  I would guess that this is pretty representative of society. Now, as most people on here are poker players, what are the risks involved that someone *may* have hacked in to the "copy" software and put key loggers etc within it. I mean it was only a week or so ago that the "rake calculator" was found to have this sort of thing in it? High risk? Low risk?...
The next thing is this: I said that I used to have an illegal version of Nero that I downlaoded. So, I went to the Nero site and was curious if it would let me pay to updgrade. It connected to the interent, told me that the copy that I had was not original however, what it would do is let me have a highly discounted version if I now purchased it. Now, fast forward six months... I want the new Nero 7 now. I would be stupid to NOT download this illegally, go to the website and regsiter, get the same message and buy it for half the price. Legally....... discuss....

Can you not upgrade legally for less than the cost of the illegal job? Most people get nero free with their CD writer anyway...

You don't have to download it to get an illegal copy of windows - you could borrow a mates (official) CD and then use a dodgy key. You're right that people could hack them, but it would be a lot harder to do, a lot more visible (more AV companies checking it routinely, checks in windows itself). You're right to consider it a risk though.

I think in the not so distant future we're going to have more choice in the OS field and less of a lock in to windows (OSX on intel and linux improvements, virtualization), maybe then we'll see less people using/pirating windows?

The OS software most commonly used in this senario is the Volume Licence Key version of Windows XP Professional  using a leaked or manufactured number as this does not require any product activation. But these numbers are now detected as such by the Windows Genuine Advantage procedure though.  These usually fall in the range xxxxx-640 to xxxxx-650

The point I was making was that a lot of small system builders do this as favour to the customer to try and keep the price down, ie the unit is sold officially without software but happens to have a working version of Windows XP (and other software) for test purposes that they forgot to remove.

If however you were sold the unit as having properly licenced software that turns out to be bogus you would have case for legal redress.  I think you need to first contact the vendor and clarify the situation with them.

The Microsoft website provides advice: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/piracy/report/faq/default.mspx

 Ac