My computer has Windows XP Professional, I downloaded a couple of programs to help keep my computer clean and safe, Advance Systems Care and CCleaner, had no problems downloading these. I went to download a new anti-virus program which everyone said works good, Microsoft Security Essentials. During the download a box came up and said it couldn't finish installing because some program was missing on my computer, it asked if I wanted to download the missing program and I clicked yes. Microsoft Security never did install but now I have a message that stays on the bottom of my screen that won't come off, it reads: "You may be a victim of software counterfeiting, this copy of windows did not pass genuine windows vilidation". Did I download something wrong? Is there anyway to fix this problem? It has a tab on the bottom that saids "Correct This Problem", I click it and they want to sell me new Windows XP software for $149.00. Also, now everytime I start or re-start my computer I lose my desktop picture, it never did that before either...Any ideas how to get myself out of this problem? Thanks............

That message means that Microsoft has flagged that installation's serial number as invalid or pirated. How did you get this copy of XP? Did you borrow someone else's copy or did you buy it yourself? Did someone stick it on your computer for you or did it come with it? Is your computer name brand (such as compac or dell)? Were you should go from here depends upon whether that copy was put on there legally or illegally.

The computer was used when my son got it, and the brand is a Dell Compac. He had it for over a year and it worked fine, this is the first time we got that message. What do we have to do now? Thanks......

What do we have to do now? Thanks......

You should call Microsoft and talk to them. Do you have the original disks with this computer?

Was the computer fully updated prior to this?

Just a quick point...

If you are downloading anything from Microsoft, you should use MS Internet Explorer, (if your not).

We don't have the original disks for this computer. The computer wasn't fully updated before this problem happen, it is all updated now.

Microsoft might or might not be able to help you. If you don't know the entire system's history since you didn't buy it new then for all you know the last owner might have put a pirated copy of windows on it. My guess is that someone was probably reusing the same serial number and continued to use the same one after you bought it until Microsoft's systems decided that it had been used too many times and red flagged it. After you got MSE you where required to do a validation check to ensure that you're using a genuine copy of windows and MS's servers told XP that it is no longer valid. When you try to activate it again you'll be given a phone number and the people on the other end of the line might help you validate it or might not. If they won't you'll have to get your own copy.