I agree with Raven here, I would not be taking a Celeron computer in for repair. That might well cost half the price of a new computer. You don't have a friend, neighbour or relative who might loan you their Windows XP CD? Explain to them that you do not need the license number as your license sticker on the side of the computer case is the one you would enter as you install XP. That sticker number is tied to the motherboard in your computer. (I suspect that if you have XP Home then you would need an XP Home CD) Recovery disks are bought at the time of the computer purchase. Or this is more often just a separate partition on your hard drive and the buyer should create a set of recovery disks. This includes all the 'free' extras the computer maker adds on. The XP CD is just that, a copy of Windows XP with nothing added As a side note you may want to suggest to Dad that he creates a set of recovery disks for his machine in case he runs into problems too at some future point.

That happened to me, when my hard drive started failing. Mine failed from constant use of Starforce copy protection, screwing up my drivers. When I called Microsoft, they even had it on a taped message: 'if this is in relation to your Windows validation press #?' They had so many problems with their new Validation tool, they had to train a whole new group of off shore representatives to help with the problem. The Validation tool doesn't distinguish between problems and/or missing data and Genuineness. It was their number one headache until IE 7. Reserve a day. Have your Windows Product key number available. You will need it within seven hours after talking to them. First Microsoft told me I had to work it out with Toshiba, because the computer came with XP installed, Toshiba installed it and they must have done it wrong. Then I call Toshiba, of course they say "what?" Microsoft is blaming us for their Validation tool not working properly...18 months after we installed XP? I call Microsoft back...they say its Toshiba's fault that its not genuine...again. I call Toshiba, who looks up my call from ten minutes earlier, then they tell me to call their nearest service center. The service center at Toshiba then stated that Microsoft was out of their mind to blame them for the copy of Windows not being genuine, after 18 months of claiming it was fine. They further stated they don't service Windows software. That was Microsoft's problem, no matter who installed it. I call Microsoft back again, and demand to talk to a supervisor and I'm transferred to a disconnected number. I call back again, this time swearing at them, and I finally get connected to the message about the validation tool problems. Then I get A service rep, first she looks my product key code (which takes an hour), and my Windows is indeed Genuine, even though their new validation tool claims it not to be. They want me to burn a CD, except I can't because Windows won't let me, thinking Windows is not genuine. Then I'm told to run down to the local library and burn a disc (from the address they had me write down on a piece of paper). You've got to be kidding me, I asked them if they have ever noticed the actual number of working computers at a public library. I talk to another supervisor he swears that I don't have a hard drive problem, that everything I'm experiencing is fairly common. The disc I'm burning is supposed to override the Validation Tool. An hour later ...I'm buying a new hard drive, and that was the problem. Almost 12 hours with Microsoft for nothing. It was terrible. Good luck, may you have a better experience. marf

Oh, thank you, Owbist, but I found Windows Live Essentials listed in Add/Remove and told it to "repair" itself, but the messages on startup have not gone away, and in fact, I did not see anything like Search Enhancement or Choice Guard in the list of elements in WLE that was displayed after the repair job, so it seems as if there is some other program I need to install. If only Microsoft would TELL us the name of whatever program needs to be installed in cases like this! In a cruel twist of fate (lol), this morning I found to my dismay that in my attempts to remedy my problem, I have somehow added the Windows Messenger sign-in box to all the other junk that I have to click and remove every time I start my computer. I suppose, since I once before managed to get rid of that, I will find a way to do it again, but I am beginning to think I am fighting a losing battle with Windows Live.

I have donotcall and the phone rings once and then stops. If it rings more than once I look at caller ID and if I don't recognize the number or name, it goes to voice mail. We were expecting a call from Apple almost two years ago and coincidentally got one of these scammers. Thankfully nothing happened but not because my husband was smart. As he talked with this guy with an accent and started doing stuff on the computer I googled the number. Guess what?.. Nigeria. I've only gotten one call since then and I let him have it.