Yes Mini, I've just read the link and that is exactly what's happened to me!There's a little star thing on my desktop and I think it appeared after an update. The updates are all set on automatic as I havent got a clue what I'm doing with them. So much for a friend of a friend and my £800 then It looks like I'll just have to bite the bullet and pay up again then. But, that's the last business I'm going to give to that particulat computer engineer. Will it be okay to just ignore for a while do you think as I'm absolutely stint after the holiday and of course I will need the money for my puppy in a few weeks time.

Thanks, Kath X

You beat me to saying do not pay anyone anything...this sounds like a big hoax to me. If it really was Microsoft wanting to know how you got the software trust me it wouldn't come in the form of a pop up!!

Try looking here:
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html

There are a few other sites that would be able to help you but I can't think what they are now...I will try to remember and post them here. If this pop up appears again, note down exactly what it says and then post it back on here!

It might be worth downloading the free version of Ad Aware too from this site:
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
It will find any spyware that has been installed without your knowledge and get rid of it!

Steve if I pay up again and download whatever from them, will it be difficult. I won't need to do anything like wipe off my computer 1st will I, or I may never get it started again, plus I don't want to loose all the other things on it.
Sorry but I really am a computer novice and out here in the sticks I have no-one to ask if I'm not going back to that computer engineer again.

Thanks, Kath X

Im not saying pay the peeps who have invaded your PC Kath,but to get a proper authorised copy of Windows installed-perhaps by a reputable shop.This 'star' maybe genuine and from Microsoft,but it also could be someone scamming.Personally-i think its a scam cause Windows XP in PC World etc is around £200 so £90 is under value.

Thanks Steve, Mini and everyone I think I'll leave well alone for now and then take it somewhere as you suggest Steve when I've saved up. I am flipping mad though if it is proved to be not genuine.

Thanks again, Kath X

Hi Minnie don't think this is not a hoax, see the article I posted above from Znet magazine ...the popups were from Microsoft.

Kath I am not paying to update Windows, my PC is old and it is not worth spending money on it...if there is a problem with patches I can cope

I think personally,this blue star is nothing to do with Microsoft so it wont do any harm to do a scan.
Let these peeps scan your pc and if theres anything there-they should be able to remove it.

http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/hom...dex_virus.html

Symantec are probably the worlds largest antivirus bods so no worries there!

If I click on the desktop star thingy to "rectify" the problem this is the page it takes me to the following page but I daren't click any further do you think it's genuine???

Quick Links | Home | Worldwide


Search Microsoft.com for:




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This copy of Windows is not genuine[0x80080203]
You may be a victim of software counterfeiting. The Windows product key installed on this computer is not genuine.
The product key is a unique identifier assigned by Microsoft only to genuine Windows software. If this key is missing or incorrect, it may indicate the presence of counterfeit software and your system may be at risk.


The Windows product key installed on this computer is a Volume License Key (VLK) that has been blocked. A VLK is typically licensed to organizations that want to use multiple copies of Windows. However, if a VLK is reported as stolen or leaked, it is blocked from passing validation and is not considered genuine.


If you received a computer with a VLK, and you do not have a Volume License Agreement with Microsoft, you may be a victim of software counterfeiting. If this has happened to you, learn how to get genuine below.
If you do have a Volume License Agreement with Microsoft, you believe you are using the appropriate VLK assigned to your organization, and your VLK has not been reported as stolen or lost, contact your system administrator, Large Account Reseller (LAR), or Enterprise Software Advisor (ESA) to report the problem.




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If you click on the blue icon this is the message you get..

Edited to remove the link .

Copied the address as follows;http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/pur...3-c5cc59669325

So dare i purchase from here then anyone ???

Thanks again.