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peter richards
08-01-07, 08:54
hi guys turned on the pc this morning and a blue star is at the bottom of the screen.
it says i may be a victim of software counterfiting , any ideas what it is
thanks peter

michael
08-01-07, 09:01
Windows Genuine Advantage nonsense?

http://www.ongoingsolutions.com/support/wga-notify-index_files/image004.jpg

Dodgy copy of Windows on your machine?

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/AboutNotifications.mspx?displaylang=en

Whitesupraboy2
08-01-07, 09:01
this thread will help, read it all first is probably best

http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=67696

michael
08-01-07, 09:03
If you are dodgy and don't plan to buy a valid copy of the OS you can remove the notifications that will now attempt to drive you insane, lots of info on the internet but for starters:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=disable+Windows+Genuine+Advantage+Notifications&meta=

edd_t
08-01-07, 09:06
sounds a bit dodgy to me, cant think of any software with a blue star.

run spybot, adaware or hijackthis (all easily found through google) and they should let you know whats going on with ya pc :)

peter richards
08-01-07, 10:40
this thread will help, read it all first is probably best

http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=67696
ok read it all now what do i do , ive tried reading chinese in the past similar result lol

Mike
08-01-07, 10:44
My machine was slow on Friday.. when I switched it off I got the polite 'would you like to install updates?' and now I have this Language selector thing on my tool bar....?! useful?! :complain:

Pete
08-01-07, 10:50
now I have this Language selector thing on my tool bar....?! useful?! :complain:


The language selector is annoying.
Try - Removing the Language Toolbar in Windows XP

1. Click the Start Button.
2. Select Control Panel option.
3. Double-Click the Regional and Language Options icon.
4. Click on the Languages tab.
5. Click the Details button.
6. Click the Language Bar button.
7. Remove the checkmark from the Show Language Bar option.
8. Click OK.

If not then there's a reg hack to get rid.

peter richards
08-01-07, 10:52
ok

Pete
08-01-07, 10:56
ok

The language bar removal won't help you much. There's various ways around the Genuine Advantage program but it'll keep coming back to you when you do the updates. Eventually you won't be able to download security updates etc.
Wiki entry here about it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage

Most MS apps from now on will require a check to ensure you've not circumvented this system - IE7, MediaPlayer 11 for example. Again, there are ways around this, but it's all a PITA.

peter richards
08-01-07, 10:58
i just phoned the guy that sold me the pc , he assures me it is a genuine xp

Pete
08-01-07, 11:01
i just phoned the guy that sold me the pc , he assures me it is a genuine xp
You can tell by doing this - http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/uk/windows/default.mspx

If not then it must be something else then. Does it tell you anything else when you click the bubble?

peter richards
08-01-07, 11:08
ok pete did that , it said the product key is valid , but i havnt got a coa label

Pete
08-01-07, 11:40
ok pete did that , it said the product key is valid , but i havnt got a coa label
The main thing is that you're validated. It must be something else then.
Blue star..Hmmm....No one here has heard of anything else generating a blue star..but there have apparently been reports of the WGA program not working correctly and disabling genuine copies! You should be able to click through whatever process it sends you down to get a number to call. If it's genuine then there's no problem.

johnnyknox
08-01-07, 11:56
hi guys turned on the pc this morning and a blue star is at the bottom of the screen.
it says i may be a victim of software counterfiting , any ideas what it is
thanks peter

Make sure your PC has been set to the right time. If the time is out it can cause this.

RedM
08-01-07, 12:03
Have you tried turning it off and then on again?

johnnyknox
08-01-07, 12:05
Have you tried turning it off and then on again?

You must work in IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :p

peter richards
08-01-07, 12:24
ok guys thanks for your help , the time is correct , pete when i say a blue star thats just how it appears at the bottom of my screen , its the same icon as in the post michael added

garetheves
08-01-07, 12:27
My guess, and its only a guess, would be spyware of some sort. Try downloading and installing Spybot and see what it finds.

michael
08-01-07, 12:29
its the same icon as in the post michael added

Ah, I was beginning to think that my input was being ignored.

Pete
08-01-07, 12:41
pete when i say a blue star thats just how it appears at the bottom of my screen , its the same icon as in the post michael added
That's not blue, it's transparent! :D You mean your task bar is blue then.

In that case it seems to have wrongly identified you. You may need to call MS. Do you have an activate Windows button anywhere in your startup? If you can get it to activate you should be ok.
Ah, I was beginning to think that my input was being ignored.
You run the same desktop colours as me.

johnnyknox
08-01-07, 12:42
ok guys thanks for your help , the time is correct , pete when i say a blue star thats just how it appears at the bottom of my screen , its the same icon as in the post michael added

Date is correct too mate?

peter richards
08-01-07, 12:43
sorry michael , would i do that to you lol.
how you guys can do this for a living i dont know , horses for courses i supose

yep date ok as well

michael
08-01-07, 12:49
You run the same desktop colours as me.

I have a similar config but I borrowed that pic from the Internet :)

johnnyknox
08-01-07, 12:55
sorry michael , would i do that to you lol.
how you guys can do this for a living i dont know , horses for courses i supose

yep date ok as well

hmm, I am now scratching my chin......

Is is a bootleg or and original version of Windows then?:innocent:

peter richards
08-01-07, 12:58
hmm, I am now scratching my chin......

Is is a bootleg or and original version of Windows then?:innocent:im scratching more than my chin , it is a proper version .
cant find anything in the start up thingy pete

Charlotte
08-01-07, 13:00
I keep seeing this and thinking it's something to do with a Blue Peter star appearing.

Ermm anyway...

johnnyknox
08-01-07, 13:04
download and run this:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=69498

Its from Microsoft so you can trust it.

peter richards
08-01-07, 13:06
lol char i could start swearing it would be blue peter then

peter richards
08-01-07, 13:10
download and run this:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=69498

Its from Microsoft so you can trust it.
thank you just did this and the star has gone

Pete
08-01-07, 13:14
Details of this download here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474
This should've been installed as part of the auto updates. I'll make a note of this.

peter richards
08-01-07, 13:19
thanks pete , michael , johny , charlotte ,whitey , edd, sonic and anyone else who knows me

johnnyknox
08-01-07, 13:21
Details of this download here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474
This should've been installed as part of the auto updates. I'll make a note of this.

Pete are you a geek like me? :)

Pete
08-01-07, 13:25
Pete are you a geek like me? :)

www.midlandcomputers.com

johnnyknox
08-01-07, 13:28
www.midlandcomputers.com

hehe, yes then ;)


I work for these
http://www.catlogistics.com/

Pete
08-01-07, 13:30
hehe, yes then ;)


I work for these
http://www.catlogistics.com/

Now THAT'S a warehouse!

johnnyknox
08-01-07, 13:36
Now THAT'S a warehouse!

Indeed 265 acres, largest in Europe I believe.

We also store parts for MG/Rover, hold about 5 years worth at present, so don't worry about getting parts.

Pete
08-01-07, 14:32
Indeed 265 acres, largest in Europe I believe.

We also store parts for MG/Rover, hold about 5 years worth at present, so don't worry about getting parts.

:D
Need for the missus ZR.