Can't Use Win Update without Windows Genuine Advantage?

[Berix]

I went to Windows Update today and this showed up. It says that there's a new version of Windows Update and I need to install it to install any updates. However, when I clicked "install" I noticed it began installing Windows Genuine Advantage ("WGA"); I immediatly hit "cancel."

Do I really have to install this? I really don't want it. I know there's two lawsuits in Oregon and California saying that it's spyware. And I just got the trial version WGA off my computer, ZoneAlarm kept poping up saying it wanted to access the internet EVERY TIME I started the computer.

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/6527/wgawinupdatejh9.png

[dariob]

Yeah, you need it for updates. You could search google for "bypass wga", but who knows if it will work or if it's legal. Since you are using ZoneAlarm, you could install it, allow it access when doing updates, then Deny Always all other times.

[u2slow]

'Windiz' lets you update windows from a non-IE browser. I don't believe it validates your install to do so.

[geofferama]

In Internet Explorer

Tools --> Internet options
Programs tab ---> Manage Add-Ons tab.
You will then see a list of add-ons that are enabled.

Scroll down til you see Windows Genuine Advantage
Click on it and select Disable, then click ok

Close all open browsers, open up a new instance & try Windows Update again.

Step-by-Step w/Pictures
-http://www.youareadopted.com/wga/wga-bypass.html

(of course, for this to work, you have to install WGA first)

[vischo]

Allow "Automatic Updates" in the Control Panel and Windows will..... how do you say.... automatically update....... Legit or otherwise...... :eek:

[nessus]

You can't use Microsoft Update with WGA, but you can use Automatic updates to apply critical and security patches only.

No enhancements.

[Catweazle]

Whilst it may be possible to argue that the Genuine Advantage tool is spyware according to some very technical definition, it is most certainly not a malicious intrusion on your PC, and avoiding its use is rather petty, in my view. The thing merely checks that the Windows installation is a lefitimate one, rather than a pirated installation.

If anybody is avoiding using the Genuine Advantage tool because they have a non-legitimate copy of Windows XP then a good alternative is to go buy an Academic Edition Upgrade version of XP Professional, which costs no more than a new release PC game and which is perfectly legal for non-Commercial use.

[DBZ33]

The link below may help you. Good Luck.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/04/26/disable-and-remove-windows-genuine-advantage-notifications-nag-screen/

[Berix]

The link below may help you. Good Luck.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/04/26/disable-and-remove-windows-genuine-advantage-notifications-nag-screen/
Um.. my version of Win XP is legit. It doesn't give me any pop-ups or anything (I've heard some people with legit copies have had that problem). I just don't like the idea of Windows constantly sending my info over the internet. I think once is more than enough to verify authenticity.

So I guess I either have to enable automatic updates (which I've already done) or install WGA.

[Catweazle]

The revised Genuine Advantage tool doesn't connect at every login like the Beta one did ;)

It won't hurt anything to have it installed.

[GreNME]

It won't hurt unless you have a pirated copy of XP, that is.

I've already allowed WGA to install on hundreds of XP installs with nary a problem. There was only one instance where I thought it was a false-positive, but as soon as I fixed the time on the OS then WGA validated and went away.

Don't believe the hype of the "anti-M$" crowd. All WGA does is the same thing you did when you validated Windows in the first place. There is no difference, no personal information, and hell, nothing in the hash that is validated could even be tracked back to your ISP account, let alone to your computer specifically. Take off the tin foil hat and join the rest of us legal users in the real world.

[Catweazle]

You can strike problems on a fair few OEM pre-built systems. It'll be because the assembler has used image deployemnt to preinstall the OS and software, and the result has been a different CD code referenced in the registry and spitting up Genuine Advantage messages telling you the OS is pirated.

Simple solution. You only need to use a key changer to enter the CD code that's actually on the sticker, rather tthan leaving the original deployment CD code in effect.

It only happens on OEM systems which have never had the Recovery disk.partition used to reinstall the system, though. Ince the Recovery media has been used the correct code is referenced in the registry.

[Gatticus]

In Internet Explorer

Tools --> Internet options
Programs tab ---> Manage Add-Ons tab.
You will then see a list of add-ons that are enabled.

Scroll down til you see Windows Genuine Advantage
Click on it and select Disable, then click ok

Close all open browsers, open up a new instance & try Windows Update again.

Step-by-Step w/Pictures
-http://www.youareadopted.com/wga/wga-bypass.html

(of course, for this to work, you have to install WGA first)

I don't have WGA listed there and I do have it installed but thanks for pointing it out as that allowed me to disable the messenger extension. I don't allow the tool to report invalid XP versions to install when I get updates though. Even though it is listed as a high priority update it is optional. I don't allow it to install because I have read of too many false positives screwing people around. I have had it installed before but on this fresh install of XP it will never be on my PC. And I don't wear a tin foil beanie either. :)

[protias]

The revised Genuine Advantage tool doesn't connect at every login like the Beta one did ;)

It won't hurt anything to have it installed.

ya, it does it once a month now instead of ever single day ;)

[djnes]

It won't hurt unless you have a pirated copy of XP, that is.
Correct, and it would be nice if people would stop bitching about this. You really didn't want to install it because you heard that two states called it spyware? The only people who have any ANY cause for concern are those using a pirated copy of XP, and that have no platform to stand on anyway.

[general]

Not so. Look around forums and you'll see plenty of people who end up with borked installs from WGA telling them they don't have a legit install when they do. WGA offers NO benefit to the end user. It can only be a detriment. It's another way of MS screwing the paying users. Those with non-legit installs can just let the automatic updates update their machine.

[CpuMan]

Correct, and it would be nice if people would stop bitching about this. You really didn't want to install it because you heard that two states called it spyware? The only people who have any ANY cause for concern are those using a pirated copy of XP, and that have no platform to stand on anyway.

I do not agree with your assessment. However you have a right to your opinion. I just do not agree with it.

I have 4 pc's with xp on all of them, all legal. 1 xp pro, 2 xp home oem, 1 xp media edition.

However just like the poster above pointed out, all this does is harass and invade the privacy of those that are running legal copies of windows. It does nothing to stop piracy. Even before wga was deployed windows update did not work for pirated copies of xp. With wga nothing has changed except for the nag (which can be disabled) and more invasion of privacy to legal uses.

Where does it stop. This is getting just like our tax system. Every year a 1% tax hike. Just raise it a little each year so nobody notices. Then in 20 or 30 years we are all paying 20% to 30% more in taxes.

Some could argue that Microsoft is doing the same thing. Statements like "if you have nothing to hide? Then what are you afraid of?" makes me nervous.Just a little more intrusion in the name of stopping piracy. If we keep going down this sort or road, what will we be allowing, or our kids be allowing in 20 years? Fingerprint scanning?,eye scanning? A blood sample?, DNA sample? Just to access my files on my pc? Come on! This is the USA, We have a constitution that defends our right to privacy. I think those that do not like running WGA on the pc's have every right to bitch. Let microsoft find another way to deter piracy with out invading my privacy. Thats how I see it and thats how the founders of this country saw it.

[GreNME]

However just like the poster above pointed out, all this does is harass and invade the privacy of those that are running legal copies of windows. It does nothing to stop piracy. Even before wga was deployed windows update did not work for pirated copies of xp. With wga nothing has changed except for the nag (which can be disabled) and more invasion of privacy to legal uses.
Number one: nag screens are not invasions of privacy (sadly). Number two: if you have ever seen a WGA-flagged OS install, you would understand just how it is a deterrent to casual piracy (as opposed to determined piracy, which I agree it cannot stop).

Where does it stop. This is getting just like our tax system. Every year a 1% tax hike. Just raise it a little each year so nobody notices. Then in 20 or 30 years we are all paying 20% to 30% more in taxes.
You should just stop that line of argument right there. Let me offer you some advice: never use a debate tool that you are not intimately familiar with. I'd try to explain the fundementals of macro-economics to you, but it would take too long and there are loads of places to learn the information (books are your friend, they still love you).

Some could argue that Microsoft is doing the same thing. Statements like "if you have nothing to hide? Then what are you afraid of?" makes me nervous.Just a little more intrusion in the name of stopping piracy. If we keep going down this sort or road, what will we be allowing, or our kids be allowing in 20 years? Fingerprint scanning?,eye scanning? A blood sample?, DNA sample? Just to access my files on my pc? Come on! This is the USA, We have a constitution that defends our right to privacy. I think those that do not like running WGA on the pc's have every right to bitch. Let microsoft find another way to deter piracy with out invading my privacy. Thats how I see it and thats how the founders of this country saw it.
You know, for someone who hates taxes so much, you sure do love you those slippery-slope arguments. So, let's take your slope and turn it around: say Microsoft and other companies cease any more additional anti-piracy methods. This allows for piracy tactics to continue to flourish (and over the last few years they have flourished), and eventually starts costing software developers in profits. Like any typical business, their loss in profits is pushed back on us paying customers in the form of higher prices to run their software legitimately. Eventually, the rising prices cause more assholes to pirate the software, thus causing prices to inevitably rise, causing more assholes to pirate, ad nauseum, et cetera, and so on.

You see, both of our little slippery slopes pose valid concerns, but neither are really within the realm of reality. In the real world, measures are going to continue to be taken to reduce illegitimate software use, especially as more and more of the goods and services we count on are coming to us in digital format. Eventually, the governments (state and local) are going to need to be on board with providing services digitally, and then we start getting into the realm where illegitimate behavior (piracy) begins to fall into the realm of criminal behavior, as it takes away from the availability and affordability of services for the whole (all so some spoiled dick can play Half Life for free). Sure, such a time is well in the future, but why not do two very influential things: support legitimate consumer software, and take advantage of the fact that OSS makes available a heaping large portion of the kinds of software that people normally pirate, and they offer it for no charge.

This isn't a matter of "if you have nothing to hide" being the reason behind the anti-piracy measures. This is a matter of jerk-off software pirates being the single and main cause of every bit of frustration and disgust you have with high costs of software and annoying hoops that need to be jumped through to register software. This isn't the fault of the software companies, this is the fault of the people who don't buy the commercial software they use. Software piracy is not a victimless offense, it's just that the only real victims in this case are those of us who actally pay for the software legitimately. Stop blaming the corporate entities and start cracking down on the asshole cheaters-- they are the reason you paid so much for your expensive software*.



* Exceptions being Adobe, AutoDesk, and Intuit-- they are just greedy,

[TheRapture]

In Internet Explorer

Tools --> Internet options
Programs tab ---> Manage Add-Ons tab.
You will then see a list of add-ons that are enabled.

Scroll down til you see Windows Genuine Advantage
Click on it and select Disable, then click ok

Close all open browsers, open up a new instance & try Windows Update again.

Step-by-Step w/Pictures
-http://www.youareadopted.com/wga/wga-bypass.html

(of course, for this to work, you have to install WGA first)



This does not work on the new version of WGA.....and yes, my copies of XP are legal, I am still using my original I got way back when I got a free copy from MS for being on the Beta team......plus my son's was purchased via a friend....who has good connections with MS, it was a good price. :cool:

[Paul_Johnson]

The only people who have any ANY cause for concern are those using a pirated copy of XP, and that have no platform to stand on anyway.

Or Dell customers. ;)

Like I said last time this came one of those posts on Dell's support if from a coworker trying to straighten out why WGA kept flagging our legit copies of windows as not being so. Sure Dell made a choice that was latter on counter productive but it was WGA that made it an issue for us...us being people(organization) who did not pirate a copy of Windows XP rather bought it preinstalled on an Dell.

[Ocean]

i bought a cheapass dell laptop, and i bought the os cd without all the spyware, the thing would take forever to startup windows xp pro, and it came with the preloaded crap anyway.

so i took the winxp pro and put it on my new self built home computer, and put win2k that was store bought forever ago on the laptop, now i have 2 usable computers.

ive checked the legality with some sites, and what i did was legal. they are both pro versions, i bought them both, etc etc.

anyway genuine advantage says my shit is pirated. dell sells pirated software. they also sell spyware, adware, bloatware, and malware.

but i got %50 off on the laptop.

[Paul_Johnson]

i bought a cheapass dell laptop, and i bought the os cd without all the spyware, the thing would take forever to startup windows xp pro, and it came with the preloaded crap anyway.

so i took the winxp pro and put it on my new self built home computer, and put win2k that was store bought forever ago on the laptop, now i have 2 usable computers.

ive checked the legality with some sites, and what i did was legal. they are both pro versions, i bought them both, etc etc.

anyway genuine advantage says my shit is pirated. dell sells pirated software. they also sell spyware, adware, bloatware, and malware.

but i got %50 off on the laptop.

Actually unless that was a retail copy of XP Pro you got from Dell I believe that violates the licensing ;)

[sirholio]

someone mentioned it before: open firefox and go to http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/

[Ocean]

Actually unless that was a retail copy of XP Pro you got from Dell I believe that violates the licensing ;)


whatever operating system came on the laptop, was definately not the windows that came on the cd, it was loaded with alot of extra shit that made system restore, windows firewall, directx, remote desktop (something i absolutely picked xp pro for!!!) non functional.

the windows that came on the cd was a working version of windows xp pro, i installed this operating system 1 time, broke the seal and everything, on another computer. this oem license lives and dies on one computer.

it is my belief that in it's default state the operating system on the dell was not an actual winxp pro, it lacked defining functional xp pro features, and it lacked the stability of xp pro. therefore, the oem xp license i purchased from dell had never been installed (and i pierced the shrink wrap license too !!!)



oops.

[lithium726]

^Sorry, but that's a bunch of bullshit. You cant say that becuase Dell loaded a bunch of bullshit on your laptop before they sent it to you that XP was never installed and your OEM DELL license of Windows is not tied to that laptop. It IS tied to that laptop and having it installed on another is not legal. Like you said, the OEM license lives and dies with ONE computer, and that one computer, in your case, happens to be that laptop.

[Ocean]

i wasnt saying they didnt put winxp on it, i was saying it was not winxp fucking pro. which i paid an extra $200 for !!!!!

it doesnt say dell or retail or oem anyware on the sleeve. and the license mentions nothing about it being oem software, but it did not come in a retail box.

so wtf did i buy, and why is it $200?

and i paid $200 for it, so i dont even give a damn if it is oem.

[GreNME]

Or Dell customers. ;)

Like I said last time this came one of those posts on Dell's support if from a coworker trying to straighten out why WGA kept flagging our legit copies of windows as not being so. Sure Dell made a choice that was latter on counter productive but it was WGA that made it an issue for us...us being people(organization) who did not pirate a copy of Windows XP rather bought it preinstalled on an Dell.
Someone is lying to you. In just the last two months I have purchased about a dozen Dell computers, mostly for work but two for personal use, and not a single one has had a problem. WGA alerted on one of them, but that was because the system clock was off-- fix the clock, and it validated without a problem (my fault for disregarding the time zone during setup).

Ocean: you need to take a chill pill and answer a couple of questions for us. Did you buy the XP Pro license from Dell? Did you install it on the desktop not long after you installed it on the laptop? If yes for either, then you have your answer right there-- it's your fault. If you break the licensing agreement, which includes installing OEM software (Dell only sells OEM) on a different product than what it's tied to, then you are considered a pirate now. If you moved a retail copy to the desktop and took it off the laptop, then the short time frame between when it validated on the laptop and when it validated on the desktop caused it to be flagged as pirated.

If the situation is neither of those, the do like I did and make sure you syncronize your time with a good NTP server and then reboot. You'll be surprised.

[Ocean]

i never installed the windows xp pro cd on the dell laptop. it went straight to my new computer after i discovered my laptop wasnt working right with the operating system that was on it, less than 3 hours.


and i am beginning to feel cheated by dell, as i look right now, their version of xp pro (not labled as oem, opk, retail, or otherwise) is $160 compared to the average $140 for the oem version, or the average $160 for the retail version, and they offer no more in depth explanation of what the license is.



also, this is from the licencing faq.


What computer component ties the OEM license to the computer?

In the case of a purchase of OEM software from a retail seller, this would be the first motherboard you install the software on, *not* the “hardware” that was bundled with your OEM purchase.

[Paul_Johnson]

Someone is lying to you.

I am sorry you are simply incorrect. Here is the link to my last post when we talked about it:
http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1029673812&postcount=10


Along with pxc having a similiar problem:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1066171

In just the last two months I have purchased about a dozen Dell computers, mostly for work but two for personal use, and not a single one has had a problem. WGA alerted on one of them, but that was because the system clock was off-- fix the clock, and it validated without a problem (my fault for disregarding the time zone during setup).


Good for you. We are dealing with ~2000 systems on site here (equal amount at other campuses) ranging in age from 18 months to 3 years old.

[Paul_Johnson]

whatever operating system came on the laptop, was definately not the windows that came on the cd, it was loaded with alot of extra shit that made system restore, windows firewall, directx, remote desktop (something i absolutely picked xp pro for!!!) non functional.

the windows that came on the cd was a working version of windows xp pro, i installed this operating system 1 time, broke the seal and everything, on another computer. this oem license lives and dies on one computer.

it is my belief that in it's default state the operating system on the dell was not an actual winxp pro, it lacked defining functional xp pro features, and it lacked the stability of xp pro. therefore, the oem xp license i purchased from dell had never been installed (and i pierced the shrink wrap license too !!!)



The preinstalled version of WIndows XP Pro that came with your computer had Dell value aded software....that is SOP for OEM's. The CD that came with the laptop was the version of XP Pro for it incase you reinstalled....using it on another computer violates the license. Plain and simple.

BTW...when Dell preinstalls WIndows that binds you with the license as well.

[Catweazle]

Thoroughly in agreement with Spectre here. The contrary information is, quite simply put, completely incorrect.

[GreNME]

I am sorry you are simply incorrect. Here is the link to my last post when we talked about it:
http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1029673812&postcount=10


Along with pxc having a similiar problem:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1066171



Good for you. We are dealing with ~2000 systems on site here (equal amount at other campuses) ranging in age from 18 months to 3 years old.
Good for you. It isn't difficult to run an NTP server in a domain environment, and if you are running all of those ~2000 systems in a non-domain environment where none have predefined network settings (DNS, MX, NTP, and so on), then that's a YP.

Fix the time on a few incidents that you personally see (and not cherry-picked instances from Dell forums that you are not seeing with your own two eyes). It gets a little old hearing horror stories from someone who heard from someone about a problem they had, that was often the result of a PEBKAC. Why don't you report how many of your ~2000 systems on your campuses have had WGA problems, instead of trying to use third-hand "heard from a friend of a friend" examples as if they were the rule instead of the exception?

I swear, most of the histrionics over WGA are ridiculous.

[Paul_Johnson]

<snip>

We did not have time issues with WGA. So.........

How many had problems.......only ones that I saw were purchased outside of our volume orders (laptops and special orders) and did not have our image installed on them. Total number I don't have access to because it beyond my authorization (personally I saw 6).

As for rule versus exception....all you need are a few exceptions to have a really bad day and when there are enough exceptions there is a problem.

[TechLarry]

What I don't understand is why it has to do it MORE than once.

After that, your install is verified and that should be the end of it.

That's the primary reason I don't fully trust Microsoft on this deal. Even if testing monthly, they must have something else up their sleeves on this.

-Larry

[Catweazle]

Could well be because they're continually identifying more counterfeited keys and adding them to the service. It's possible for the system to pass validation initially, and then fail it later after another key has been added to the check.

[MrGuvernment]

Allow "Automatic Updates" in the Control Panel and Windows will..... how do you say.... automatically update....... Legit or otherwise...... :eek:exactly :)

the validation check is only via IE if you do it that way.

[GreNME]

Spectre: I think that the histrionics of those who experience hiccups is more the problem than the exception to the rule is. As I said, the fixes are often simple and innocuous, and at worst Microsoft is willing to give a new key to someone for whom the simple fixes don't solve the problem. A "bad day" to me is defined as having no options, and there are plenty as far as validation is concerned.

What I don't understand is why it has to do it MORE than once.

After that, your install is verified and that should be the end of it.

That's the primary reason I don't fully trust Microsoft on this deal. Even if testing monthly, they must have something else up their sleeves on this.

-Larry
This is done because of misuse of licenses, like taking an install disk from one computer and installing it on another, thinking no one will notice or be hurt by it. As I stated elsewhere, the people who end up paying the price are those of us who pay for licensing legitimately. People need to get out of the mentality of "I bought the software, so I can do what I want with it" in regard to commercial software licensing, because it doesn't work that way. I agree that once a month is excessive (I think six months is plenty), but the reasoning behind their validating regularly is understandable from an IP perspective.

[djnes]

I'm not trying to take sides here, as I've never had a problem with WGA. However, in the past, when there was a huge debate thread about it, someone kept giving links to various other forums of people having problems with WGA. Each and everytime the poster would give examples, they could easily be dismissed as being caused by other issues. Again, I'm not trying to take sides, but more often than not, it seems WGA problems aren't caused by WGA.

On the other hand, I've heard of many Dell users having their systems fail because of their imaging processes to save them time building the PCs. That's why Microsoft created a key changer tool, which I'll find a link for. If these people changed their key to the one on their sticker, WGA would work fine.

Here it is: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409