"you may be victim of software counterfeiting" this appears on my PC and i cannot set desktop background on it?

After the most recent Microsoft Windows update, people who are not running legal copies of Windows will see this message. As time goes by, the messages will get more irritating. See this for an explanation:

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000597.h...

I answered this type of question asked by RS S about 2 weeks ago. I am just repeating that again. please do not downgrade me for that.

This happens when you are using a illegal copy of windows. Disable and delete Windows Genuine Advantage Verification(WGA) Programme to get rid of that irritating pop ups.

Use following methods to solve your problem:

First Method:

1. Launch Windows Task Manager.

2. End wgatray.exe process in Task Manager.

3. Restart Windows XP in Safe Mode.

4. Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32.

5. Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32\dllcache.

6. Launch RegEdit.

7. Browse to the following location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\

Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon\ Notify

8. Delete the folder ‘WgaLogon’ and all its contents

9. Reboot Windows XP.

Note: With this method, you may be prompted to install WGA Notifications.

So set the automatic updates to "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them" and unselect this time.

Second Method:

Download cracked and patched version of LegitCheckControl.dll

google it.

Third Method:

Another alternative suggest that three files are installed Windows XP System Folder for WGA:

c:\ Windows\ System32\ WgaLogon.dll

c:\ Windows\ System32\ WgaTray.exe

c:\ Windows\ System32\ LegitCheckControl.dll

The wgatray.exe process makes the check for genuine windows software. If WgaLogon.dll is denied execution right, that WinLogon is unable to call it to check on Windows validity and display notification package at boot, and since WgaLogon is also responsible for running and maintaining WgaTray.exe, no more tray popups either.

To change and disable the execute bit of WgaLogon.dll:

1. Turn off Simple File Sharing in Tools -> Folder Options -> View tab.

2. Right click WgaLogon.dll in Windows Explorer and open the Security Tab.

3. Click Advanced button.

4. Uncheck the Inherit box at the bottom.

5. Click the Copy button.

6. Click OK.

7. Go through each listed user/group and remove the “Read & Execute” permission for WgaLogon.dll, leaving the “Read” permission as-is.

8. Click OK to apply the permission changes.

9. Close the file properties dialog.

10. Restart the computer.

11. Turn “Use simple file sharing” on (optional).

But if you willing to pay for a new key check microsoft website.

<Always leave as much info as possible>

You do not have a legal copy of Windows. This message your getting means your product key has been black listed. Get a legal copy and this message will go away. and you won't have ne background issues.

The key the copy of Windows is using is blacklisted and has been blocked by MS. And this is what the validation process checks.