software conterfeiting?

[tigerthecat]

When I started my pc a popup came up saying my copy of windows may be conterfeit and to contact microsoft to get a lisence. I have no idea whether this is true or not (I bought it second hand) what are my courses of action and outcomes? Thank-you.

[Oneeyedvic]

Well, do you have a coa - Certificate of Authenticity for your copy of Windows XP? If you don't then your copy is pretty certain to be illegal.

Options:

1) Get a genuine copy

2) Surf the net (including this site) for 'fixes' to get rid of this message.

[spaced]

...or you will have to pay the �90 (approx) charge from Microsoft to have the copy made legal. This subject has popped on here alot in the last couple of months. Happended to a friend of min, who has had to pay the charge and have his copy made legal. Without this, you will not beable to download updates.

[kepla]

Two points: Firstly, the Microsoft End-User License is NOT transferreable. If you buy a PC second-hand then you own the hardware, but NOT a license to use the software. Secondly, you have another option - don't use Microsoft Windows. There are many alternatives out there which are easy to use, fast, reliable, fantastic value-for-money, and don't suffer from virus attacks.

[Mattk]

put up with it.as long as you are running firewall and anti-virus software you will be safe.

i am going legal next year when vista comes out so there is no way im shelling out �90 for less than 1 year.if ms priced it sensibly at say �20 then id do it.

[woodchopper]

I found it better not to install the windows verification update in the first place. I did the first time round and then formatted the hard disk to get rid and never downloaded it again but still get the critical updates.

[tigerthecat]

thank-you all for your advice :-)