BleepingComputer.com: Problems With "pirated" Windows Vista.?

I bought my Acer Travelmate 3040 laptop from the tertiary institute where i currently study at. It comes with Windows Vista Business. After almost a year of usage, one fine day, I was trying to do the regular Windows Update. And suddenly, there began to have system popups saying "You have been a victim of software piracy", something of that nature. It claims that my copy of Windows Vista is pirated, while i bought it from the school! It is definitely the original thing, so i was wondering what happened. Then, i managed to find some information about this, and realised that this problem had affected many others. After i tried to do the Windows Update, my computer screwed up and I found out i couldn't enter the OS. I could only go to Safe Mode, or Safe Mode with Networking. It was crazy, but somehow later it regained itself.

So, i'm wondering who has experienced this problem? What happened to your computer? And how did you manage to solve it?

Hi; is this happening AFTER you had this HJT log checked out ??

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/ind...=169569&hl=

Did You receive an actual CD or did they just install it on your drive? Either way, a quick call to Microsoft should clear up the problem. When the window pops up, it should give a number to call

Recently there were changes made to WGA - but they were directed at XP (so that it's activation would be more like Vista's). I dunno if there was a related Vista update (didn't see one on my system).

Go to Start...Control Panel (Classic View)...System. At the bottom of the screen there will be a section for Windows Activation. What does yours say? If it's not activated, there should be a link to get help from Microsoft in activating it.