Illegal Copy of Microsoft Windows

[katiesue]

Accidentally left my laptop on over night. This morning I get up to turn it off before going to work and a bubble pops up and tells me I'm running an illegal copy of windows.

Ummm, I've had the computer for 4 years and windows came loaded on the computer. I've never had this issue before.

Last night it said I was low on disc space so it ran disk cleanup. I also un-installed software that was for my daughters yearbook I worked on last year.

This morning it looked as if the computer had been re-booted. The programs that I was running last night were all closed. Only yahoo messenger was running, which is the only program I have set to auto log in.

Any ideas, suggestions?

[scaeagles]

Were you connected to the internet while the laptop was on?

[katiesue]

Yes - through my wireless network.

[scaeagles]

What kind of firewall/security do you have on it?

[katiesue]

I have a firewall on the computer - McAffe.

[Andrew]

Accidentally left my laptop on over night. This morning I get up to turn it off before going to work and a bubble pops up and tells me I'm running an illegal copy of windows.

Ummm, I've had the computer for 4 years and windows came loaded on the computer. I've never had this issue before.
You have been nailed by "Windows Genuine Advantage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage)", which checks your computer every day to see if you are running a legally licensed version (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/whyValidate.aspx) of Windows. Aren't you happy?

This likely happened last night because yesterday was "Patch Tuesday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_Tuesday)" where Microsoft pushes security updates down to your computer.

There should be a link somewhere in the warning message to contact Microsoft and tell them that in fact you do have a legally licensed copy. If you have your original Windows CD or if there's a holographic label on your computer that shows your Windows license key, that will be very helpful. Even if you don't, they can take care of it. Most importantly, do not allow them to convince you that your Windows installation is not licensed. You know it is, and they are very aware that WGA has more false positives (http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2006/7/21/4722) than "Genuine" matches.

If Microsoft won't resolve the problem for you, there are ways to kill WGA dead dead dead (http://home19.inet.tele.dk/jys05000/) so it won't bother you anymore.

[katiesue]

Yay - thank you Andrew!

[Tramspotter]

now don't you feel advantaged.

Don't take it for granted either cause it's genuine.