it recently updated my windows (without telling me ) and now every time i start my computer up i get the mesage:

This copy of Windows is not genuine

You may be a victim of software counterfeiting. The Windows product key installed on this computer is not genuine.

and also there is something on the systray telling me the same thing. Yea i know it is not a "genuine" copy but is there any way to get rid of this or just removing it so it doesn't display anything about it.

buy windows or you are going to be Microsoft's victim
your files are gonna be all over the world...

Grivier

PS: allways turn of auto update

In My Humble Opinion:
you are always a victim of Micro$ozz (slang italian term for Microsoft sucks).

You need an original serial number for your "illegal" copy of Windows.
The term "illegal copy" probably trigger a thread flame

I have used my original number for both copies on my Desktop PC and laptop PC and works well.
But don't say it to Uncle Bill, or I'll go in jail

can you post your key so we all can have illegal copy registered...
and after that attack on Bill resistence is futile
you are gonna be assimilated!

Grivier

i wasn't the one to install windows on this PC but the reason i believe it is "illegal" is because when i had it there was this file on the desktop: Unattended XP Setup DVD.txt .

Ok found a nice little "way out" .
I have uploaded it incase anyone else is having this problem.

http://www.filelodge.com/files/room15/384965/MS1.Win.Update.WGA.Check.zip

there are billion wga bypass ways. however, don't bother just use linux.

and never use autoupdate, it used to be a feature only found in trojanhorses...

even more easy do this format c: and then get a copy of FreeBSD operating system you will never to worry about that type of messages!!!

Ok, since this topic has changed from

"Windows Update...." to "Windows Alternative...."

I would like to suggest the Windows-based Open Source operating system: ReactOS or the xhtml version of the hp http://www.reactos.org/.

i've been following the reactos project too, for a while now, looking very promising. however
a tried a few versions and it has yet to win me over ..