Is this a Microsoft Scam?

[nick106b]

Today I got a Pop-up supposedly from Microsoft saying I had up-dates due...
Normally these happen at shut-down, but I took a look anyway.
Right away I got a warning that I was using "Unauthorised" software, and should proceed to thier site to get "Authorisation". This was going to require me to BUY this "Authorisation" so I closed it right away.
This smells funny to me. Has anyone else had this? Or is it just some plan by MS to weed out those who have copied systems - even if its copied from our own previous Pc's?
I ain't paying twice!!!
One final question; this pops up at every boot now... has anyone got any idea how I can get rid of it - Please?
Nick. :mad:

[areidmtm]

Yeah, that's a scam.

What kind of pop-up is it? Is it a web browser pop-up or like the little balloon pop-up that comes up by the clock?

[KenJackson]

The first thing I would do in such a situation is run regedit and look at this key:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run \
Whatever is there gets run during bootup. If you don't recognize it, it may be the culprit.

This website lists a huge number of other launch points, which I find amazing:
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_launchpoints.html

[nick106b]

Thanks guys. I'll run regedit in the morning.:o

[Early Out]

If you're running a copy of Windows XP that was licensed for your old PC, and have since installed it on a newer PC, you are, by MS's definition, running "pirated" software. WinXP is, in effect, licensed to the CPU, not to the user.

Until now, having an "unauthorized" copy would just prevent you from getting certain updates, but recently, they've pumped out an update that checks for an unauthorized copy of WinXP, and gives you a popup warning about it.

This may be what you're running into. Google for Genuine Advantage Notification, and you'll find various discussions of it, including this explanation (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=905474) from Microsoft.

[nick106b]

Thanks all...
Looks like MS are out to make a few extra bucks out of us, again! I just wish I was able to figure out Linux...
Nick.

[areidmtm]

Yeah, I just looked into that, and it does look that microsoft is cracking down on all the might be pirated software. That's seams pretty dumb the way the are doing it, but I guess if you were Bill Gates, you'd probably do the same. I know I would :)

[Objective]

Sorry to say that there is a scam here but it isn't MSoft who is in the wrong.

I had an issue with a box of mine using XP - same warning. Turned out that it had bootleg OS -- right out of the store, new machine.. unbelievably someone in the big box store where I bought had bootlegged a copy of XP onto my box.

I reported to MS (not a very useful exercise) and raised heck with the store until I got a replacement vendor-cool copy.

MS has put in their Genuine Microsoft Advantage checker to validate and revalidate (and revalidate...) the authenticity of the product on each machine that uses online website baseed updates.

The check does not apply to the regular scheduled updater. At least all critical updates are available even if your copy is bad.

What you should have according to MS for a legal copy is the Disk, the book and the sticker. All 3 or it isn't legit. a lot of vendors cheat on this and you pay the price... hope you got your machine cheap, because this is one reason the price should have been low.

PS: MS will not fix this for you. It is between you and whoever sold you the box. If you are reinstalling and it is legit you can appeal, but the license (not that anyone reads it) is actually a machine license, so you aren't really allowed to just plunk it on any new machine you get ! It is a machine lease only, you don't really own it.

[areidmtm]

So this is weird. I am now getting this error at work on several computers. All computers there have a corporate version of XP. It is a valid license, but I'm still getting it. And the other computers that have the same installation are not getting the error.

[duesouth]

Thanks all...
Looks like MS are out to make a few extra bucks out of us, again! I just wish I was able to figure out Linux...
Nick.
You can get a nice OS here http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=xandros
I use it on my computer and it is more or less like windose but is tiny and compact. It installs itself and you don't need a ramed out cpu megamonster to run it.

[GageEndal]

Easy rule to follow.

If it pops up and you didn't specificaly ask for it, it's a Scam/Virus/Spyware.

I personaly have cookies on prompt. All that does is when a cookie comes towards my computer, it asks me if I want it or not. 95% of the time I say no, but to sites that I know have forums or something that I really want the cookie for (hotmail, google, geocities, etc...) I will say yes. This saves me a lot of hastle and the big bonus is that I haven't had any spyware on my computer in over a year now.

Another nice tip is to not accept automatic downloads. There should be a radial in your advanced options that will let you select this. Anything that's automatic is almost always a virus. Otherwise there will be a button that says "click here to download" which is always much safer.

Give it a try if you are bored enough and have the patience to figure out which cookies are good and which are bad. It takes a bit of practice but once you get it down you will be at 100%. I don't even have spyware / virus protection anymore. They just slow me down and I need all the speed I can get.