Counterfeit OS?

Hi there

My boyfriend bought a second hand computer a while ago and within the past few weeks he has been getting the following message:

'You may be a victim of software counterfeiting. This copy of Windows did not pass genuine Windows validation.'

It then asks if to resolve now or later. He did choose resolve now but still gets the same message. Any ideas on what this might mean?

Thanks

 

The computer has a pirated (illegally downloaded) installation of Windows on it. You'll have to buy a new OS.

 

I was afraid of that. Thank you.

 

What part of the world are you in, and did the computer have the operating system on when you got it ?

The reason I ask is that in certain countries, for example the UK, a person using a pirated operating system which was already installed on the computer when they got is not actually committing an offence, and according to civil law, they are not party to any comtract with the developer of the original software. As such, this theoretical second hand computer buyer would be free to continue to use the computer and operating system without fear of prosecution.

 

and without updates/software requiring WGA.

 

We are in Grenada, West Indies and he bought the PC 'as is'. But he only started getting that message recently, like within the last few weeks.