today when I powered down laptop, windows started to configure updates (there were 10 but it never got past the first one as it crashed

when rebooted I got a message that an unautherised program had tried to alter protected files I was also informed that my windows key had been altered and I had to revalidate windows, which failed
now every time I log on I get a prompt to enter My windows key which I don't have, and also my destop background colour is now black! I can change it but it reverts back to black on boot up
I also have the "not genuine" message bottom left of screen



now the thing is I have a recovery partition that should restore the laptop back to the original condition, but doing it will be a pain (backups etc)

so is this a failed update or a virus? and what is going to be the best option to sort it?

Cheers
Matt

If it is genuine Windows 7 software the sticker with the key will probably be under the battery.

Cheers Dave but sorted now
made some back ups then when I powered down it started to reapply the 10 updates again
when windows rebooted it validated itself

so it must have been something to do with the failed update earlier

Matt