I tried to do a Windows Update but it said my copy of Windows was not "Genuine", is that a problem?

Quite often when you buy a computer for a small amount of money, usually from a computer savvy friend they install an illegal copy of Windows on the computer to help keep the price down.

Windows XP Home to buy when building a new computer is around $130. To reduce the cost of the computer most backyard computer builders will install a pirated version of Windows.

When ever I work on a computer and make sure it is working as it should I always make sure to check for any Windows Updates. When a computer that has an illegal copy of Windows tries to do a Windows Update it is stopped and you are then told you should buy a legal copy of Windows.

What is Windows Update:

Usually each month Microsoft releases patches to Windows through their Windows Update service. These patches are used to fix problems and flaws that are in Windows that are found that could cause problems or safety issues.

As part of the Windows Update service a couple of years ago, Microsoft started the Windows Genuine Advantage Program, which checks to make sure your copy of Windows is a legal copy. If you copy of Windows fails that test you can not install any updates to improve your computers security. 

Fixing the problem: 

At time of print, late September 2007, when you are told to get a legal copy of Windows through the Microsoft website you are only offered a copy of Windows that is the same as the one you have, either XP Home or XP Pro. With many backyard computer makers putting XP Pro on many computers, Microsoft is currently saying you MUST purchase a legal license for Windows that is the same as the one you are using illegally, over $250 in value.

Later this month or next month, Microsoft plans to allow, over the phone, a purchase of any license of XP to replace the illegal copy you are using. So a computer that has XP Pro illegally installed can get a legal copy of XP Home for around $160 to replace it.

You can check to see if your copy of Windows XP is legal or not at the Microsoft website.