PC says my copy of windows is not genuine but it is!

[babyboo1and2]

laptop is about three years old, it has Norton 2013 internet security put on it last month and suddenly it has started to show a message saying our copy of windows isn't genuine (it is - I got it from PC world when I bought the laptop). Now the background of the desktop has gone from an orange colour to black. Everything is working ok. Am currently running a scan on the laptop with the Norton security. Has anyone any idea why this has happened. Was thinking of taking it to pc world for a cleaning ?

I seem to recall something like this happened to us a while ago, but I can't remember how we rectified it (no help at all, sorry).

You could try googling the error message and seeing if anyone else has the same problem, and if so, how they sorted it.

Did you ever have the operating system reinstalled by a friend or anyone else?

If you are sure you have a legit copy then follow the instructions to reactivate. My Dell PC had similar issues and I just clicked through the check and eventually it confirmed I was legit. Sometimes this message comes up if you've had new hardware fitted/replaced.

If after it checks it still comes up with the message then come back to us.

Personally I wouldn't trust the monkeys at PCWorld with an Etch-a-sketch, let alone a PC but that's just my own opinion.

Sometimes viruses do things like this, looking like a genuine Microsoft message.

Thanks for replies. Looked on google as suggested by LMB and lots on there about this issue. Decided to try to key in activation code but when I got box it was for Microsoft office, I don't think that is the same as windows is it? Haven't had any new hardware fitted/replaced NG2 and now worried it may be as PN suggests - a virus. Pc working fine but worried this will affect it longer term. Help!

Run some other virus and malware checkers. Panda activescan, trendmicro housecall, malwarebytes anti malware... See if any pick something up.

Windows code is usually on a sticker on the machine. No, not the same as the MS Office code.

If you've recently done a windows update, it's probably worth going back and removing it. That happened to all our windows 7 machines, a while back.

Babyboo, what make is your laptop? The big manufacturers such as Dell/Acer/Sony etc will have a special bit of code in the BIOS (memory) and the copy of Windows should look for this.

So if you have a big brand laptop like that then you should be able to just go through the reactivation process. Sometimes it messes up because of an update and the fact that some hacking tools try to fool Windows by messing with the code.

Your laptop should have a sticker on it like the one you have for MS Office. Turn the laptop over, it is usually underneath it.

Perhaps a bit too late by now, but for anyone who is buying a laptop - make a note of any of the information (serial numbers, licence keys) on stickers, particularly ones underneath the laptop /notebook /netbook because with constant handling, the numbers get finger marks, smudges, coffee, coke (or other soft drinks!) and other stains, and after a while cannot be read easily, if at all.

Thanks for all the replies. NG2 the laptop is Hewlett Packard. Thanks for the advice about the windows no - found it under the machine. Spent hours trying to sort this out at the weekend but didn't feel confident enough to actually try anything in case it wrecked the laptop as dh uses it for iTunes and ds using it for gcse work. NN I did a full scan with norton which picked up 20 tracking cookies with low risk and 1 high risk admal (I think) thingy, norton said they had all been dealt with but the black screen and windows message is still there. I am not at work on Thursday so will get ds and HD to to back up all their stuff and then input the windows code while i have time and house to myself and see what happens - don't think I can cope with my work and stress of lost music/exam work at the same time! Thanks again for taking the time to post on here.

I did some googling ...and it looked like a problem which might be specific to Norton?

I'd be tempted to uninstall Norton and put another AV program on there, to see what happens. It's interesting you've only recently put Norton on, and now the problem occurs (though could be a complete red herring).