HELP FILE

Q The "Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications" program that Microsoft put on my computer says my copy of XP isn't legitimate. What do I do to make this program stop nagging me about that?

AIf you thought you were buying a legitimate copy of Windows XP and that copy came installed on a new computer, you have a few possible solutions.

Microsoft says you should first contact the company that sold you the computer with the bogus XP onboard. Print out the failure report that the "WGA" program will generate, show that to the vendor and ask for a legitimate version of XP.

If the seller won't do that, you can put in a claim for a complimentary copy of Windows -- under three conditions. You must provide a receipt or other proof of purchase, send in the CD itself (which has to be a "high quality" copy, presumably meaning something better than a disc with a handwritten label), and submit a report identifying the seller and the details of the purchase. If you didn't get a Windows CD with the computer, you're out of luck. You're also out of luck if you bought that copy of XP by itself.

Microsoft may not tell you about this complimentary-copy possibility; one reader wrote that he was simply told to buy a new license for XP when he called for help. When you contact Microsoft to explain your situation (via piracy@microsoft.com or 800-785-3448), ask about this option if it isn't mentioned.

If you're sure that your copy of XP is legitimate -- say, because it's the one that a name-brand manufacturer put on the machine for you -- you'll have to persuade Microsoft that the program made a mistake. And that may take some sustained lobbying. Microsoft says its WGA software has been wrong only in a tiny minority of cases; if yours is among that number, I'd like to hear about it.

-- Rob Pegoraro

Rob Pegoraro attempts to untangle computing conundrums and errant electronics each week. Send questions to The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 orrobp@washpost.com.