As versões anteriores do Windows, começando com o Vista eo Windows Server 2008, realmente incluem alterações na Experiência do Usuário depois que o período experimental:
If Windows has not been properly activated and is not within its activation grace period, the computer is in the notifications state with the following UX:
- Upon logon, Windows displays a dialog box reminding the user that Windows must be activated. It includes options for activating now or later. If the user does not interact with this dialog box within two minutes, the dialog box closes, and the logon process continues normally.
- In the notifications state, Windows changes the desktop wallpaper to a solid black background, displays taskbar balloon notifications indicating the activation status, and displays dialog boxes showing what action the user needs to take.
- In the notifications state, the computer has the full functionality of the installed version of Windows, except that the following features are disabled:
- A computer configured as a KMS host will respond to KMS client requests with an error stating that KMS has not been activated.
- Windows Update only allows security and critical updates—not optional updates
- Optional downloads requiring online Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) validation—also called genuine-gated downloads—are not available.
Continua apontando:
the desktop still changes the background to a solid, plain black. The user can reset the desktop background to wallpaper or other background color, but every 60 minutes, Windows resets it to black and displays the notification balloon
Portanto, o comportamento que seu amigo está vendo não se deve a um vírus ou malware, como outros afirmaram, mas a uma consequência da execução do software fora do período de tolerância.
Acredito que o Windows 8 no "Estado de notificação" mostrará uma marca d'água de ativação e limitará o acesso a grande parte do recursos de "personalização".