New Vista user, failed validation, can't access control panel

I just bought my laptop yesterday, and installed AIM, and Mozilla Firefox on
it (have gotten used to using Firefox over IE6/7). I constantly get these
messages that my Vista version may be a rip off. I downloaded the validation
software, but still no luck. Could this be due to me using Mozilla? I
currently can't even access the Control Panel. It pops up for a second but
disappears instantaneously, so I can't even remove Mozilla in order to see if
that's really the problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Kevin,

It's doesn't sound to me like Mozilla is your problem, however here is an
alternative program I use to uninstall programs.

MyUninstaller
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/index.html#desktop_utils

Just unzip it, place the files in a folder you create and run the
"myuninst.exe" file, no install required.

Is this a brand name Laptop?
If it were me then I'd take it back right away and find out why you are
getting these messages about Vista being a rip off.

--
All the best,
SG
How to Write a Newsgroup Post:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet
Need your OEM Restore Disk?
http://restoredisks.com/


"Kevin" <Kevin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:203F77C4-1AC7-4B38-A1FC-2FDD47351061@microsoft.com...
>I just bought my laptop yesterday, and installed AIM, and Mozilla Firefox
>on
> it (have gotten used to using Firefox over IE6/7). I constantly get these
> messages that my Vista version may be a rip off. I downloaded the
> validation
> software, but still no luck. Could this be due to me using Mozilla? I
> currently can't even access the Control Panel. It pops up for a second
> but
> disappears instantaneously, so I can't even remove Mozilla in order to see
> if
> that's really the problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

"Kevin" <Kevin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:203F77C4-1AC7-4B38-A1FC-2FDD47351061@microsoft.com...
>I just bought my laptop yesterday, and installed AIM, and Mozilla Firefox
>on
> it (have gotten used to using Firefox over IE6/7). I constantly get these
> messages that my Vista version may be a rip off. I downloaded the
> validation
> software, but still no luck. Could this be due to me using Mozilla? I
> currently can't even access the Control Panel. It pops up for a second
> but
> disappears instantaneously, so I can't even remove Mozilla in order to see
> if
> that's really the problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

No, it not due to what you think. The computer and its software are under
warrantee with the computer manufacture that built the computer and
installed the operating system. You should get on the phone with the
computer vendor's tech support to find out what is happening with your
supposed valid copy of the O/S that you paid for with your purchase.

However, this is assuming you registered the O/S with MS in the first place.

Visit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/ and click "Validate Windows"
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Kevin" <Kevin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:203F77C4-1AC7-4B38-A1FC-2FDD47351061@microsoft.com...
>I just bought my laptop yesterday, and installed AIM, and Mozilla Firefox
>on
> it (have gotten used to using Firefox over IE6/7). I constantly get these
> messages that my Vista version may be a rip off. I downloaded the
> validation
> software, but still no luck. Could this be due to me using Mozilla? I
> currently can't even access the Control Panel. It pops up for a second
> but
> disappears instantaneously, so I can't even remove Mozilla in order to see
> if
> that's really the problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hi, Yes, it's a brand name laptop (Hewlett Packard G6000). I'm currently
living in Germany, so I bought it from a local department store. I was
finally able to uninstall everything I'd originally installed, but it didn't
help. Funny thing is, when I try to reset my computer's settings it tells me
I can't due to a corrupted file, yet when I do disk clean-up and anti-virus
scans, nothign shows up. (I have already done the whole EULA thing when doing
the first boot of the computer.. so I really don't know what's going on at
all) However, I do get a "data is corrupted" message when AIM starts up.

I may just go back to the department store on Monday and ask what is going
on. Or maybe just try to re-load windows vista with the disk given?

Kevin

"SG" wrote:

> Kevin,
>
> It's doesn't sound to me like Mozilla is your problem, however here is an
> alternative program I use to uninstall programs.
>
> MyUninstaller
> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/index.html#desktop_utils
>
> Just unzip it, place the files in a folder you create and run the
> "myuninst.exe" file, no install required.
>
> Is this a brand name Laptop?
> If it were me then I'd take it back right away and find out why you are
> getting these messages about Vista being a rip off.
>
> --
> All the best,
> SG
> How to Write a Newsgroup Post:
> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet
> Need your OEM Restore Disk?
> http://restoredisks.com/
>
>
> "Kevin" <Kevin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:203F77C4-1AC7-4B38-A1FC-2FDD47351061@microsoft.com...
> >I just bought my laptop yesterday, and installed AIM, and Mozilla Firefox
> >on
> > it (have gotten used to using Firefox over IE6/7). I constantly get these
> > messages that my Vista version may be a rip off. I downloaded the
> > validation
> > software, but still no luck. Could this be due to me using Mozilla? I
> > currently can't even access the Control Panel. It pops up for a second
> > but
> > disappears instantaneously, so I can't even remove Mozilla in order to see
> > if
> > that's really the problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
>
>
>