Windows Warning Message

[Prudie]

For the last couple of days I keep getting a warning pop-up titled 'This computer is not running genuine Windows' then some blurb and a link to rectify online.

I've ignored it of course but what is it? I have run a full MSE scan and free Malware without any detections. It must be fake surely? I'm on Win 7.

[Gizmonster]

I've had something similar but with Win XP - is this something similar ??
My wallpaper goes black and even though I reset it, it always turns back to black .... just wondering if that link would also help my problem ??

[Old_Geezer]

It sounds like you bought copies. MS likes to take its time identifying this, presumably in the hope that the guilty trader can get clean away and the life of the victim be made miserable by MS bullying, and hopefully screw a further payment from them.

[galeck1947]

You may be using a pirated version of Windows . Did you buy your copy of Windows ? Check it out if you didn't then you will have to buy a new license from Microsoft .

[Prudie]

It came installed on a Dell laptop from PC World about 4 years ago. Highly unlikely to have been a pirated or unlicensed copy surely.

[Old_Geezer]

In which case maybe you should complain to them that their installed OS seems to be suspect to MS ?

[bibblebub]

Is it Windows that is displaying the pop-up message or some other program? e.g. what is the exact wording of the title of the pop-up window?

p.s. I don't expect you to install this but Anvir is the one task manager that I have come across that identifies which program is responsible for displaying any given window http://www.anvir.com/

[Prudie]

I will have a look when I'm next at home and it happens bibble. The icon on the task bar at the bottom was not one I've noticed before, it was dark blue with some lighter green and blue hash type pattern (may be a very distorted description from memory).

[Old_Geezer]

I'd have thought that removing the notifications was like removing the symptoms but still having the disease. Maybe it's enough though.

[Prudie]

No Scrivens but that's because I'm at work and this is happening on my home laptop.I'll look later.

[Buenchico]

Please remember that pop-ups telling you that you need to do something (whether that be updating Java, updating Adobe Flash Player or, your case, getting a genuine version of Windows) are often FAKES which are generated by malware on your computer. (Clicking on them will either do something really nasty, like installing Cryptolocker on your computer, or else demand payment for a 'fix' which you don't need).

Please run a malware scan with the free version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware:
https://www.malwarebytes.org/antimalware/

[Prudie]

Chris thanks but I know - you must have missed my bit in OP,I ran both scans yesterday with nothing. It has appeared once this evening. The icon is more of a blue and yellow star on a blue background. I'll try to be more precise next time I see it.

[Buenchico]

Oops,sorry, Prudie!

I really must learn to wait until I've started drinking before posting because I seem to take greater care to actually read posts properly then ;-)

Oh well, at least you've given me an excuse to find the bottle opener . . .

;-)

[Prudie]

Bottoms up!