A Conversation for Ask h2g2
windows xp a strange one
flubber Started conversation Dec 2, 2006
Hi 
this one is 
i use windows xp but 2 days ago a warning message popped up when i booted up the pc saying that my version of xp is not genuine 
it is 
and its appeared as an icon bottom right of my desktop 
ive tried avg,norton etc. "they" cant find a problem could it be a trojan ??
windows xp a strange one
winnoch2 - Impostair Syndromair Extraordinaire Posted Dec 3, 2006
Sounds like 'Windoze genuine advantage'. For whatever reason Micro$oft has decided that you have a copy of Windoze, not a purchased original. It seems to have happened to lots of folk.
I typed " windows genuine advantage error" into Google and it came up with lots of stuff. Have a look.
Someone more knowlegable will be along shortly to be more specific
windows xp a strange one
airscotia-back by popular demand Posted Dec 3, 2006
I know someone else this has happened too, and it can be caused by an attack on your computer which uses a weakness in windows. The vunerability has been rectified by a couple of emergency patches, but you can't download these until you've got rid of the error message/attack.
If you ring the free Windows helpline they will verify your windows version is genuine(I'm assuming it is) and a VERY helpful chap will talk you through the process of resetting your computer. In the case i dealt with, this meant getting a new number for your version of windoze.
windows xp a strange one
taliesin Posted Dec 3, 2006
Go here: http://www.pchell.com/support/windowsgenuineadvantage.shtml
*refrains from mentioning Linux, FreeBSD, OpenSolaris etc..*
*realizes just did* 
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windows xp a strange one
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