Confusion.. Need help..

[.: L' arc :.]

-= It was just a while ago when I saw this "Windows activation" dialog box at the log-on screen asking me if I want to activate my copy of windows.. I don't know why it asked for it because my Windows has already been activated so I just click Yes.. Then, my desktop appeared [with no icons] and a blue window appeared [it was the windows for msoobe.exe/ activation].. The dialog simply says that my copy is already activated then I click OK.. It logged off then I log in.. Everything was normal but upon next restart, same occurs..

-= Is this some fault of a malware..?

-= Any idea will be highly appreciated..

[CharleyO]

***

Check to see if your copy of mcoobe.exe is one of the below and that it is in the default location.

All Versions :

File               Version                   Description                                  Publisher
msoobe.exe    5.1.2600.0             Microsoft Out of Box Experience          Microsoft
msoobe.exe    5.2.3790.0             Microsoft Out of Box Experience          Microsoft
msoobe.exe    6.0.6000.16386      Windows Machine OOBE                     Microsoft

Default Location:   c:\windows\system32\dllcache\msoobe.exe


***

[Lisandro]

I suggest a full scanning with avast and visit the Windows update site to get any available update.

[bob3160]

Where was your copy of Windows purchased

[DavidR]

There has I believe been an occurrence of this by malware trying to trick a user into taking an action that isn't actually windows activation, so you need to check it out as CharleyO mentioned.

You shouldn't have to reactivate unless you did say a repair install or reinstall off the OS. I believe there is also something like if you essentially change multiple elements of your system within a time period, like add a hard drive, change motherboard, etc.

[Lisandro]

You can also send mcoobe.exe file to www.virustotal.com and check.

[.: L' arc :.]

Where was your copy of Windows purchased

-= Yes, I just bought a Windows XP SP2 CD.. It was orange, sorta glossy and has a box.. So I guess I'm not fooled for buying a fake..

[Lisandro]

-= Yes, I just bought a Windows XP SP2 CD.. It was orange, sorta glossy and has a box.. So I guess I'm not fooled for buying a fake..

In my country, XP Professional was sold in blue boxes and Home version in green ones. Orange (light one) was Office Standard...

[bob3160]

It's probably more a question of where you bought it.
It's not the wrapper that counts but the integrity of the place that sold it. 

[.: L' arc :.]

-= I didn't bought it myself.. Just asked a friend to buy a "trustworthy one".. Apparently, it appears he didn't buy the "trustworthy one"..

-= Maybe I just have to wait for the 5 days grace period to end before I call a technician to do the job on reinstalling XP..

-= All ideas are really useful.. Thank you very much..

[YoKenny]

A friend do mine purchased a system at a store that was recommended by a friend of hers and now has a system that constantly pops up messages that the XP Pro system is not valid and to purchase a license for $200.00 or so and she does not have the money.

There are friends that like to get a bit of easy money especially in these hard financial times.

The next horrible thing is the system is a bit old and she has high speed Internet connection with an ISP that requires Norton Full Protection and takes about 10 minutes to boot up even after I removed several auto start applications that she does not use.

[Lisandro]

An ISP that requires Norton Full Protection

I can't believe an ISP should say what should I use as protection...

[bob3160]

The next horrible thing is the system is a bit old and she has high speed Internet connection with an ISP that requires Norton Full Protection and takes about 10 minutes to boot up even after I removed several auto start applications that she does not use.

Which ISP ?
Mine (Comcast) offers for free a full version of McAfee.  (Thanks but NO THANKS)

[YoKenny]

The next horrible thing is the system is a bit old and she has high speed Internet connection with an ISP that requires Norton Full Protection and takes about 10 minutes to boot up even after I removed several auto start applications that she does not use.

Which ISP ?
Mine (Comcast) offers for free a full version of McAfee.  (Thanks but NO THANKS)

Rogers high speed.

If you don't install Norton then they won't provide support.

[.: L' arc :.]

-= That was a royal pain in the head.. Norton is a really big bottleneck in startups.. They claimed it as light but actually, "light" for those state-of-the-art computers..