This copy of Windows is not Genuine ....

Hello everyone!

A new development about this same matter, on which I hope there is a satisfactory solution?

Mod edit [From this thread http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?p=292839#post292839]


TO RECAP: The guy who a couple of months ago or so "fixed" my computer when it had stopped functioning, had told me instead of fixing, to upgrade to winXP (from win98). I consented and he just COPIED it, and on transferring all my stuff to it my 3 Identities' files and folders got all mixed up and I asked him to come again and fix them which he did...but he could clear only a few. He hadn't backed them up before doing that. I paid him up front $150 cash plus gave him my $80 brand new Linksys firewall-router (which a past techi made me buy and I didn't want to use)... So actually all he did for the price was copying winXP and transferring the stuff, and didn't even give me the CD...

NOW: Each time I open and close my computer I'm slapped with 2 large messages (I believe from Microsoft) saying something like:

<<THIS COPY OF WINDOWS IS NOT GENUINE. YOU MAY BE A VICTIM OF SOFTWARE COUNTERFEITING>>

And they want me to buy it, again! These perpetual messages make me feel like a delinquent plus wasting my time closing them so I can work.

MY QUESTION: Is the only solution to buy it again? Even if I wanted (at this point) to report him, all I have from him is his name and his cell phone number... But would reporting him spare me from having to buy it again???

Thanks so much for any suggestions. (It seems this problem from the beginning just doesn't want to leave)... Adela

 

I would definitely report him to Microsoft. He deserves to be punished, not only for his installing an illegal copy, but for doing such a lousy job. You were overcharged for inadequate services. Demand a refund.

 

Thanks PeteC and Whiskeyman for explaining and suggestions.

Pete, I understand why you made a new thread of this post. I didn't think about it being so worried about the new problem...but for a split second, when I saw the new subject line, I thought MS was stalking me even here... LOL!

I think I'll call the techi that the forums suggested I report him unless he either re-installs a legal winXP with CD, or, refunds the money including the Linksys Firewall (I'd rather give it to someone who deserves it). But I wonder if, by my telling him this and he not making good on this problem, he'll change his cell phone number so that MS can't find him?

Yes, the system seems to be working despite these messages, with some restrictions on updates, etc. as I read within their messages...but, yes, they are disturbing to me and I'm going to have to resolve this in one way or another.

What hurts me most of all is not being smart enough to choose the right techis as he's not the first one who "takes me for a ride "...and my savings keep going down because of them...

Thanks again. Adela

 

I would call him up and have him come over because you need another "problem fixed ". I would have some friends present and either get his full name and/or license number of his car. You can also contact the police and tell them this guy ripped you off.

 

Thank you again guys. I'm gathering courage to call him tonight though I hate confrontations! If he does consent to re-install it legitimately, is there a way I can tell that it is the real thing before hand?

Pete, I'm afraid that if I report him first, and then he consents to either of my demands...I won't be able to take back the report...(though I seriously doubt he'll consent).

Whiskeyman, the idea is good but he can give me the wrong license plate number to get me off his back and buy time...

I'm afraid the bad guy always wins, doesn't it look like it??? Sigh!

Decisions, decisions! I'll give it a little more thought...and then charge in full steam!

I'm so grateful for your help! Adela

 

Hello again, I needed to gather as much info as I could on this techi, and now I can threaten with reporting him if he doesnt reimburse the money and the Linksys (I remembered where he works, and I also have his email addy at work). As to his cell phone, I got this result from the net, does it mean it's also on the company's name?:

"This phone number is based in New York, NY and the registered carrier is Omnipoint Communications. However, due to number portability, some numbers have been transferred to a new service provider other than the registered carrier. "

Meantime I searched for winXP SP2 home edition (don't need pro which he installed) and found 2 places, both around $80:

(1) http://www.edirectsoftware.com/product.php?product_id=16135: offering 100% guaranteed genuine policy; full version CD set with activation key for licence

(2) http://www.royaldiscount.com/wixphoedsp2f.html: offering guaranteed 100% genuine; full version OEM

Which one should I get: full version; OEM; upgrade; retail box, CD only; license only??? I wonder whether "surrendering" to MS I could just buy the license and would it be cheaper? Especially easier so I won't have to transfer my files again?

I wonder why prices jump from $80 to over $200??? I'm inclined to buy the lowest price but...I'm afraid to buy the wrong thing or the illegal thing!

Can someone help? And please forgive my complicated post? Thanks ever so much! Adela

 

Adela, the way I see it, you are the victim not the perpetrator. I would speak to someone at Microsoft personally. I think it should be MS's job to investigate, not your's.

Microsoft want to eliminate this problem, let them do it.

If you approached MS and explained the situation, if they want want to retain a valued customer, they should overcome the problem without this worry to you. Members of the public should be valued customers to MS (if you have problems use the term "in good faith ").

My suggestion, talk with MS, don't trouble YOURSELF.

Matt

 

Might want to start with the "Learn how" link in the "Reporting Piracy" section on Microsoft's "Piracy" home page: microsoft.com/piracy

 

Do you have a CD for windows 95 or Windows 98 or Windows ME or can borrow one? if yes, then a XP Home Upgrade CD will be enough. The only differnce between "Upgrade" and any retail CD is that in the installation process, XP asks you to insert the 98 CD into the ROM just to verify that you have a previous Windows version. Then you take the 98 CD out, and XP continues to install.

License only still leaves you without a CD.

A fresh legal install is the best way I think.

Regards - Charles

 

Adela

Ibought from edirect for $80.

What I got was a Dell OEM pre SP1 Win XP Pro.

I sent them an email and complained that they had not bothered to advertize the pre SP1 part. They were not apoligetic and sent me an email that told me how to get SP2.
(smart aleck $#%@&^'s)

I slipstreamed SP2 to it ---after a long search on how to slipstream a Dell OEM--- and all is well now.

I went through this only because Vista is comming soon and didn't want to put out the bucks for a retail version.

 

I rely on NewEgg selling legit Windows XP for a reasonable price. The version below will work fine for you and will not require a previous operating system CD.

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102059

As long as you know that *cough* tech's address and email this should be enough to give Microsoft. They very well may help you with obtaining a legit CD and key. If you are in the NYC area it may be frustrating attempting to exact justice on this creep. If he has an established business you could report him the the BBB.

 

Thank you ALL for your advices!!! I figure I'll call the techi tonight and if he refunds the money to me, I'll buy the legal CD with instructions etc. and forget the rest as this is taking the best of me. If he refuses...I'll report him imediately.

Whiskeyman: He works for a large carpet company and I have the info.

Bmoore1129: What is a "pre SP1" Win XP Pro. and "slipstreamed ".

TonyT: Great idea, I will call MS if techi doesn't cooperate and hopefully, as you suggest, they'll reimburse me with a legit copy after I report him.

Charlesvar: This is interesting. My Dell computer (bought directly from them) didn't come with a win98se CD; it came with a "MS Windows98se Boot Disk" (the small square disk) and a "win98 startup boot disk." neither of which I ever used! I hope I won't find problems if/when MS consents to help? Maybe I could borrow a win98 CD, maybe...I like the idea of a "fresh legal install ", but this would require to transfer all my files and folders and after the fiasco I just had...

SpywareDr: Thanks for the link and I hope I'll be able to make the comparisons between a legit one and an illegal one when I purchase it...

mattman: I agree with you, but I took all that time to get the techi's personal info because I figure by the time MS starts its investigation...he'll probably be away on a slow boat to China! LOL!!!

LATEST: Well I just called him and he made the decision for me - he refused to refund the money so I'm reporting him, and will talk to MS per TonyT's suggestion of: "At one time they had a program whereby if a user discovered he had an illegal copy of XP then MS would reimburse you with a legit copy provided you turn in the person who used the illegal copy. "

Thanks ever so much to everyone for everything! Adela

 

Adela:

Some swords have two edges. If I understand this situation correctly, your Windows 98 machine was having problems when you called someone (aka "techie ") for assistance. He suggested that an XP installation may be the smarter way to go and you consented and he did the work, charging you $150. Understanding that the best price one might expect to find anywhere for an OEM version of XP pro is in the $130+ range, it strikes me as suspicious that you thought you were getting the "real deal ". OK, lets assume you didn't know that Microsoft charged top dollar for their Operating System Software and this guy pulled a fast one - my guess is he spent the better part of 2+ hours and you felt this was quite reasonable at the time - So reasonable that it was like you were getting a free operating system and your computer was getting fixed at the same time. OK, hold it - lets error on the side of caution once more and assume again that this thought never crossed your mind. Now what happens? Although this individual can expect some repurcussions, so can you. It is my understanding that one must submit their "counterfeit CD" to Microsoft and if its a really good fake, they will supply you with a legitimate replacement free of charge. Anything short of that and you get to buy a genuine CD directly from them for the discounted price of (yup, you guessed it) $150. It seems the prevailing thought process here is that most users would have known what they were getting when they got it - be it the "real deal" or a "cheap copy ". Now Adela, I'm not saying that you personally would have or should have known any better but we'll all be interested to hear what Microsoft has to say - after all, thats the voice that matters.

 

Your calculations are close enough, Rockster2U, thank you, but the $150 the techie charged me is not commensurate with his work as he lost me some files and folders, including my long list of Favorites! And...he never did a backp before so badly transferring the stuff! Also files and folders in my 3 OE identities are all mixed up, so he discovered a way to straighten them out but it was slow and complicated and fixed only some and didn't want to come back to do them all. Also, he didn't give me a CD or a manual or equivalent (and as I understand it now, a key license or something which would make it legit). Also, I gave him a brand new Linksys firewall-router for which I paid $80 at Circuit City in NYC and gave him my receipt too, making the fee $230 (without counting tax and shipping)...all of which I gave him just after he installed the OS but BEFORE any of his blunders happened. Yes, I recognize this was SO unsmart of me!!!

In thinking back I realize that all he did was taking a CD from the carpet company where he works and just copied it. And since that company apparently uses only the pro version, he installed this one when I only needed a home version. I searched the net and a home version can be gotten - A GENUINE ONE - for around $80...plus some other discounts, etc!

I called MS and they immediately wanted to know the personal info of the techi which I didn't give until I'd get some compensation...(I guess I got greedy! ) but was explained that the only cases where they replace the non-genuine with a legitimate one is when techies DUPLICATE the CDs, since this isn't my case, no free replacement. Was also told I can buy from MS the home version at a discount for around $99!!! And I'm not sure whether it would be the full version or not... In view of this, I thought I'd spare myself more waste of time and aggravation by buying it for around $80 at one of the legitimate internet stores.

I did try going to their site...and oh what a jungle of explanations and options! I saw their forum too and 100% of posts showed the same problem so here too I decided they'll never help with a replacement or a significant discount so I quit! Let this serve as a lesson to me and others.

Adela

 

You made the right decision.

And I'm not sure whether it would be the full version or not...

For your FYI and everyone else's, an OS disc is an OS disc, there isn't a full or less than full version. There are "Retail" versions - "Ugrade" versions per my explanation - "OEM" versions per Whiskyman. All the same as far as the operating system goes.

Regards - Charles

 

Adela:

I'm truly sorry to learn that you didn't get the relief you sought from Microsoft. Its an unfortunate circumstance that you are now faced with. As a word of caution, I am not sure that you can do a repair install using XP Home on top of XP Pro - I've never tried this and I don't know anyone else who has - yes, I just made a couple of inquiries. If this does prove to be the case then you are faced with backing up all of your stuff and doing a clean installation of not just XP, but all of your other software too. For ths reson alone, you might want to reconsider the purchase of XP Pro over XP home.

 

Oh no, Rockster2U! But it makes sense what you say and I thank you so much for alerting me and investigating on my behalf...either choice is like a bad medicine though! And yet, I wonder if I could just ignore the one I have and install the home version as if it were an additional OS? Sometimes while searching answers to a problem (I'm embarrassed to bother this forum for ALL my puter misbehavings), I see people having several OS's, as i.e. win95 & win98, or some other combinations. Could this be a solution? Otherwise it seems my nightmare is resisting an end...

And thank you, charlesvar! The decision to quit made me feel much better. I was thinking that CDs come in different packages, with or without a manual, with or without a box (to show it's intact from the factory), etc. But yes, you're right - I guess a disk is a disk is a disk...

Adela