I Need Computer Help!

[Christine]

I hope someone is awake!!!

I've got two things going on that happened at separate times and I can't fix either one. I'm blaming my DD for this and as soon as she gets up she's going to be interrogated.

On Thursday, shortly after I used the computer and it was OKAY , DD and her two friends were on the computer for about 30 minutes. They left and later that evening I got on. On my start up screen I have a little object imbedded now that says something like: You are not running a genuine copy of Windows. You may be a victim of counterfeiting." If I shut down and restart, I get a little icon from Windows asking me if I want to get a genuine copy or to resolve later. I clicked to get a genuine copy but nothing happens. I don't know what all this is but it has a Microsoft Windows logo associated with it. Now, I bought this computer 2 years ago from an authorized dealer and it had Windows XP installed. I have a serial number, registration, everything. So, what IS this?

The second problem is my printing. Last night, I ran my company's payroll and everything worked fine. DD comes home last night, uses the computer to upload some of her beach pictures, IMs for awhile. This morning, nothing prints but illegible characters whether it be from my own personal Word documents or from the internet.

Can anyone tell me what is going on and what I can do?

 

[Straycat]

Sounds like spyware. ugh. I would just restore back to a couple days ago, should fix your problems (assuming you have a version of windows that has a system restore feature).

 

[lynxstch]

or ad aware hijacking your computer?...since you have windows xp ..and this problem just started..maybe system restore would help..go to start, programs, accessories, system tools, then system restore..and pick a date that is before the problem started..it should bring your computer back to the point that you are at now..it 'might' help..but it won't hurt anything (that I know of)..then I would find a spybot or adaware program and run it to see if you are infected with something!..never heard of a 'counterfeit warning on windows'..but anything is possible on a computer now I guess...hope this helps..let us know..good luck!