XP Is Saying I Have to Re-Activate Possible Malware the cause?

[Mark Test]

Hey all, I have an interesting situation. My computer got hit
with some spyware or malware a few days ago. It placed a big
coupon type add on my desktop, and I was unable to remove it,
several restarts, power off's etc., The "add" insisted I was in danger
and I needed to activate windows. The wife clicked on the add and
then windows stated that I must activate.

I ended up doing a sys restore and the annoying add is gone from
my desktop now, but XP still says I must activate windows (2 days left).

My concern is what if this is a scam to hit me with a worse virus?
I go to activate XP and get taken to a malicious site.

Anyone hear of anything like this before?

BTW my PC is running a valid XP OS, no copy. I want to be
sure before following "blindly" what my PC is telling me to do,
I've never heard of XP maing you "re-activate".

Mark

 

[Tasslehoff]

Tried ringing up microsoft yet?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Choose the option to Activate by phone and call the displayed number,
done in about 5 minutes.

 

[Mark Test]

Sure did and had no problems reactivating. Just never
seen anything like this before.

Mark