This computer is not running genuine windows.

PrincessPlaty

I bought my laptop from Currys back in October 2010. Running on Windows 7 Home Premium.

No problems with it at all until tonight when I got a pop up appear.

Where by it tells me that the computer is not running genuine windows and to resolve this issue i need to click http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate/?hrOffline=0x8004fe21

It then asks me to purchase the Get Genuine Online kit. Costing £79!!


How could Windows files have been modified, removed or disabled?

You may have:

Downloaded software that attempts to bypass Windows activation, commonly called an activation exploit
Downloaded malware that has infected your PC and modified, removed, or disabled essential Windows files
Inadvertently purchased counterfeit Windows from an unreliable source (how can I tell?)
To fix this, install genuine Windows and activate with a valid product key.

How do I install genuine Windows?
If you have a genuine Windows DVD along with a valid product key, you just need to install and activate Windows. However, if you do not have genuine Windows already (for instance, if you inadvertently acquired counterfeit software, or you do not have a valid product key), you will need to purchase genuine Windows first. Click on the “Buy genuine Windows” tab to view offers from Microsoft. Once you have purchased genuine Windows, you can use the instructions below to install it.

To perform a clean installation of Windows 7, follow these steps:

(Important note: In a clean installation, existing data on your computer is deleted. This data includes personal data, settings, hardware driver information, and software programs. After you install the operating system, you must also reinstall all programs. Make sure that you back up personal data to disks or other external storage devices before you perform a clean installation.)

Start the computer and make sure that Windows has started.
Insert the genuine Windows 7 DVD into the DVD drive and then close the drive tray. Wait a moment for the Setup program to start automatically.
If the Setup program does not start automatically, follow these steps:
Click Start and then click Run.
Type Drive:\setup.exe and then click OK. Note: Drive is the drive letter of the computer's DVD drive.
When the Setup program starts and the Install now screen appears, click Install now.
When the Which type of installation do you want? screen appears, click Custom (advanced). Then follow the instructions to install Windows 7.
During installation, you will be prompted to activate Windows with your product key. Follow the instructions to activate Windows.
None of these suggestions have worked. What else can I try?
If you do not have a product key, then you need to buy genuine Windows. Click on the “Buy genuine Windows” tab to view offers from Microsoft.
If you need additional support, we are here to help. Get in touch with a local support professional.
Click here for support.

Now the laptop didn't come with any discs but the validation key is stuck to the bottom of the laptop.
Nothing has been removed from it (I am the only user of the laptop), I have run malware bytes which gave me nothing.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.50.1.1100
https://www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 5635

Windows 6.1.7600
Internet Explorer 8.0.7600.16385

29/01/2011 21:30:22
mbam-log-2011-01-29 (21-30-22).txt

Scan type: Full scan (C:\|)
Objects scanned: 228176
Time elapsed: 25 minute(s), 19 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Any ideas?

wornoutmumoftwo

You don't have to pay for anything. Sounds like you've downloaded something onto the pc (or someone has got it on there somehow).
Have you run anti-virus etc etc?

PrincessPlaty

Anti virus has been run and it is showing nothing (running avira).

Only thing that has been downloaded and installed since having the laptop is avira, malware bytes, bbc iplayer and windows updates.

davb

What make of laptop is it? Usually vendors install an OEM version of windows with their own general product key - not the one on the bottom. These tend to be BIOS locked, and so a Dell key will only work on a Dell etc.
You should though be able to re-activate with your own key (from the COA sticker). Start >Contol Panel >System >Windows Activation >Change Product Key.

gaming_guy

....................

PrincessPlaty

Its an Advent machine.
Through cpanel it states that windows is activated and has the genuine windows logo there also which i guess is what threw me!

I haven't tried rebooting the machine yet only turned it on about half an hour ago and got that message come up so have been trying to figure it out since! Didn't want to reboot and lose the message without at least having it written down somewhere first :rotfl:

Will reboot now!

davb

If it shows activated there then hopefully it should be ok with no changes. I think it checks the activation validity on every boot, and if ok displays that logo. Maybe it just got confused, and then corrected itself later - after throwing the messages at you!

PrincessPlaty

Blinkin technology eh? :rotfl: Well that one threw me totally!

Seems fine after rebooting!

Thanks for your help

PrincessPlaty

It has happened another 3 times today

Any other ideas?

davb

If it is continuing to happen, then it may be worth putting in your own product key as I mentioned in post #4. This will be a genuine key, and not the OEM key that is on there at the moment from the factory build - assuming of course you didn't have to enter the key when you fist set the laptop up.
It may be worth extracting the current key before you do it with something like produkey just in case you need to backtrack.

Coveredinbees!!!!

take it back to the shop?