A couple of months ago I was given an old Acer Aspire m1641 with Vista Home Premium. The owner didn't want to spend money on repairs for such an old machine. With the help of this forum and installing a motherboard, I was able to get the computer in an excellent operating condition.
Now, a month or so later, I just got a notice that Microsoft Security Essentials would no longer be operational because I was running a copy of Windows that was not genuine. Indeed MSE stopped working.
I went to Computer>System Properties. There, it stated that Windows was activated. Next, I got a notice that an update for MSE was available. I allowed the installation. Now, MSE is working, again. However, I now have a notice on my desktop stating that this copy of Windows is not genuine. It is not a pirated copy. It is a genuine copy.
I have two questions.
1. As long as I can continue to install security updates from Microsoft, should I even be concerned about this mistake Microsoft is making?
2. I don't know a lot about computers. I was concerned about replacing the motherboard because I read somewhere that the product key was tied into the motherboard. Does that mean that I now have a replacement motherboard along with the original product key, and they don't match; and is that why all of a sudden I'm getting a notice that my copy of Windows is not genuine?
Now, a month or so later, I just got a notice that Microsoft Security Essentials would no longer be operational because I was running a copy of Windows that was not genuine. Indeed MSE stopped working.
I went to Computer>System Properties. There, it stated that Windows was activated. Next, I got a notice that an update for MSE was available. I allowed the installation. Now, MSE is working, again. However, I now have a notice on my desktop stating that this copy of Windows is not genuine. It is not a pirated copy. It is a genuine copy.
I have two questions.
1. As long as I can continue to install security updates from Microsoft, should I even be concerned about this mistake Microsoft is making?
2. I don't know a lot about computers. I was concerned about replacing the motherboard because I read somewhere that the product key was tied into the motherboard. Does that mean that I now have a replacement motherboard along with the original product key, and they don't match; and is that why all of a sudden I'm getting a notice that my copy of Windows is not genuine?