windows office: Ever since I installed a pirate copy of windows office I have been experiencing some problems with Explorer. Not sure if there is a connection.|||Yes! Microsoft has a new WGA security thing, which it gets into your computer by automatic updates. The thing seems kind of like a virus. It keeps popping up and saying that you have a counterfeit copy of Windows. You can still go on using it like you normally do, but it's annoying as hell. It was recently discovered that this new security thing also DOES report back to Microsoft to give the Microsoft people some information. Microsoft is most likely not going to do anything even if it finds out that you have an illegal copy of Windows.|||if you register? i would advise not publicizing your unlicensed software. and don't try getting updates for it either, anything w/ and online connection.|||I don't think this is the issue ... try to upgrade your internet explorer|||I don't think so, they only register the licensed stuff and if for some reason it does... then any day now i'm screwed lol|||Yeah, they are aware that you have a "pirated" copy and won't consequently allow you to upgrade your Explorer. Try Mozilla or Netscape.|||Yep, once you type in that product key, and connect to Windows Update they try to install the validation tool. Once that's installed, they can find out if that product key is on the list of invalid ones.|||Yes it let's them know that you have an unlicensed copy and it should patch the office copies. It doesn't damage you computer. You have other problems.|||dunno does it to me the cheeky ****|||yes they will know. ul miss out the advantage of updating all the security patches|||YES! you better watch out, a friend of a cousin's neighbour's teacher's boyfriend's sister's husband's aunt's step son's old high school's janitor is in prison (for life) for using and distributing copied software, (Mr Gates has upgraded the guy's windows and given him bars instead!) I think that's him, unless I've mistaken him for the serial killer they caught who lives next to the guy i get my unlicensed software from.|||i'm using a pirated copy too, and same with most friends i knew. got no problem with that.|||Yes if you log onto microsoft.com and update your copy you will get an addional peice of software called WINDOWS GENUINE AUTHENTICATION tool or WGA as it is known in the trade each time you boot up your system a yellow box will appear directing you to microsoft to authenticate your copy microsoft also install a counter on your system which if not reset in 30days can disable the operating system. Hope this has resolved your question|||no