Turned out, I think what is happening is Microsoft put a travel advertisement button to the pre-login screen which is usually where the login submit button is. So when he clicks it and then logs in, he sees a browser loading.
You'd think Windows would be free with all the advertising throughout the operating system. Imagine looking down at you wrist watch and having to watch a 10s advertisement before knowing what the time was... this is the hell that is Windows.
Windows is free (as in beer) as long as you accept the message in the lower right corner 'blah blah activate windows blah blah'
where?
they're all either sold out entirely or hugely marked up near me.