Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Professional

Microsoft to tweak WGA Notifications on Windows XP | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:06:19 GMT

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Microsoft updates WGA Notifications in XP to match experience in Vista

SuperSite Blog — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:04:09 GMT

From Microsoft: Microsoft will be releasing an update to WGA Notifications in Windows XP. The worldwide

Microsoft tweaks anti-piracy check for Windows XP

infoworld.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:06:03 GMT

Microsoft has updated software that verifies whether a copy of Windows is genuine in its Windows XP Professional

Microsoft to tweak WGA Notifications on Windows XP

Aviran's Place — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:00:12 GMT

Microsoft is to tweak WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) Notifications on Windows XP to make it behave more like WGA on Vista.

Regular readers of this blog will know that I have written about WGA before, but for those new here, here’s a refresher. WGA i..

Got a pirated copy of XP? Expect to be nagged

TechBlog — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:52:39 GMT

When Windows Vista was first introduced, it came with a powerful defense against pirating. In fact, it was so powerful that paying customers complained when it malfunctioned, and Microsoft wound up making some big changes. Unless Vista was properly activated,..

re: Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Professional

Will — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:05:53 GMT

Still pretty much a joke I'm afraid. A 2 minute search (or less) on google and WGA is gone for good and Microsoft thinks your running a genuine copy of windows.

WGA does not effect the pirates at all. They simply remove the entire thing or never install WGA in the first place.

You really only effect (more like drive insane) a small % of pirates (more like idiots) and all the genuine users.

So why bother, really?

This is another reason I don't use Windows as my primary OS

spiritusdraco — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:59:46 GMT

I've been using Linux for a good many years now. Not long after Windows ME came out I chose to switch to it as my main operating system. I admit I have tried XP Professional and Vista Home Premium and this is one of many reasons I don't use it, and don't recommend it. My girlfriend finds Linux to be easier, my mother, my sister, my father, my friends, my five year old niece all find Linux to be easier. I don't have to prove I have a valid copy of my operating system, I don't get treated like I am a pirate if some validation software makes a mistake. I don't have to answer to a company to use a fully functioning operating system. I don't get nagged, hassled, annoyed, pestered, poked, prodded, or just plain messed with by any software making business. I don't deal with my background being changed, or watermark on my desktop, or a 30 day period I can use software before being deactivated, I also don't have to register my copy, or activate it. I don't have problems with updates to my system that might make a mistake and decide that my copy isn't genuine software (not that this update will do that but I don't like running the risk). For that matter I don't have to worry about my software not being genuine. I am 100% legal and I can do just about anything I want. I will remain 100% legal and genuine by not using Microsoft products. One day you may win me back, but so far I cannot even see that with a very big telescope even remotely peaking up over the horizon. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Windows, I just see it as less usable and harder unless it is all you have used all your life, and this has the potential to add to that mess. Thank you Microsoft for not nagging me, but I guess you can't. :)

Pirated XP would see black screen of hell

shabbirbhimani — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:16:21 GMT

Microsoft to detect pirated and non-genuine installations of Windows but as all Microsoft product it also has a problem which is while it’s been good at detecting non-genuine installs of Windows, it can sometimes incorrectly flag a genuine install as non-genuine and sorting this out can be tedious and time consuming.

re: Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Professional

dave- — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:14:00 GMT

I find the wording of this announcement disingenuous in the extreme. I *know* my copy of Windows is genuine, and therefore WGA notification has no value for me. In fact, it has negative value, since it's Yet Another Piece of Software that needs updating.

Formulations such as this one miss the point.

"I'm excited about how this release balances our goals of providing a great experience to those who have genuine Windows and at the same time creating a compelling experience for those who have non-genuine copies to get genuine Windows."

I have genuine Windows. This utility does nothing to 'improve' my experience of genuine Windows. The absolute best that one could hope for is that this release is totally invisible if installed.

The tactic here, and I don't know whether it's deliberate or merely due to that phenomenon known as 'smoking your own exhaust', is to confuse the advantages of running genuine Windows (and since I'm an MVP, you may assume I concur in the existence of such advantages) with the advantages of running some program to disable my system if I happen to not be running genuine Windows.

And I suppose I should also mention the horrific mangling of the English language: "changed the installation experience". "Draw on the notifications experience". "Provide a great experience". "Creating a compelling experience". Do they really talk that way up in Redmond?

Look, I get it. I understand that Microsoft has a big problem with software piracy. I like intellectual property rights; as a developer of software that's sold for actual money, how could I not? I see that you have to do something to stop your product from being ripped off.

But please stop pretending that it's somehow to the advantage of us customers to have you constantly checking up on us. We laugh at such attempts.

XP validation was unwelcome but ultimately acceptable because it didn't come with any pretence: you're going to have to prove you paid for this. OK, we can live with that. Re-validation at Windows Update time is ok, too. But my research shows that the mealy-mouthed Windows Genuine Advantage program does nothing except expose Microsoft's increasing alienation from Windows Genuine Customers. Can't you just be honest and straightforward?

I hope you'll take this as a criticism from a customer that actually cares about Windows.

905474 - Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications (1.8.31.9) - 23.09.08

patch-info.de — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:21:51 GMT

Kurzbeschreibung: (Noch) optionales Update, welches die "Legalität" der installierten Windows-Version überprüft. Wird die Windows-Version bzw. dessen Produktschlüssel als illegal erkannt, erscheint nach der Anmeldung ein Popup/Balloon-Fenster im Infotr

re: Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Professional

waternhole — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:13:49 GMT

Thanks a lot for causing me more problems. I have a legitimate copy of Windows XP Professional. It was purchased from Sams Club 5 years ago. It was validated when it was installed. Now the WGA update KB905474 says it is an invallid pirated copy. What am I to do except do a system restore and block the installation of the update? Now I will never be able to update my software again.

re: Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Professional

waternhole — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:20:18 GMT

This problem with invalidating legal copies of Windows XP Professional has some legal ramifications. I would strongly suggest fixing this before some smart ass lawyer files a class action law suit. Oh, that is what your legal staff gets paid for. Gotta keep them gainfully employed. Who cares about disenfranchising good customers. Linex, here I come.

re: Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Professional

waternhole — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:58:29 GMT

Figured you wouldn't post my comments. Anything critical to help some one else is not your goal. You in your golden towers built buy us poor slobs dishing out 2-3 hundred dollars every time you promise us another better Windows mean nothing to you.

Hello Linux here I come.

re: Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Professional

alexkoc — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:56:20 GMT

Watern' sorry I didn't get the comments approved faster. I do not intend to censor any opinion in any comments left as long as the comments are respectful and appropriate. I need to moderate the comments left because of some inappropriate commenting that happened in the past.

As to your description of what happened to you there are a number of reasons why your copy of Windows might not have passed our validation process. You are welcome to use our online self help tools or see other options for support on this page: http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/Support.aspx.

Lastly, having a copy of Windows that does not pass the validation process does not mean that it can't be updated. Windows XP systems will not be able to use the WindowsUpdate.com website to scann or install updates however you can obtain all imporant security updates by turning on Automatic Updates and those updates can also be obtained individually on the Microsoft Download Center.

Hope this helps,

Alex

905474 - Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (1.9.40.0) - 24.03.09

patch-info.de — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:24:33 GMT

Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Pro

Windows Genuine Advantage — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:12:54 GMT

Starting this week, we will begin deployment of the latest version of WGA Notifications for Windows XP.

re: Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Professional

BarryS — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:22:14 GMT

I have just had this appear on my XP machine. Initially I pressed cancel and although I can still logon to my PC, it is now very slow to the point of walking away and making a cup of tea.

I am unable:

a) surf the net

b) open any business documents via explorer or MS Office

By the way, I have a genuine XP copy through an expired MSDN subscription for which I paid nearly £2000!!!

Now whilst I'm more than happy to validate my copy, since it is valid, I am extremely dissapointed...nay annoyed...nay fuming in fact that this has caused such a performance issue with my pc in that it has become unusable. I trust that MS tested this release against old copies of XP.

Any suggestions to fix this ASAP would be very much appreciated.

re: Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Professional

Zer — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:34:16 GMT

BarryS's comment is exactly why I feel so hesitant about things like Activation. Any screwup on Microsoft's part leaves legitimate programs broken.

I was actually considering Linux + Wine for the next server I set up (I have VB6 components I must run). "Never attribute to malice what you can attribute to stupidity," perhaps, but it's unacceptable for a Microsoft mistake to break things.

I'm glad the current activation just gives annoying popups. For any business where time is worth money that is sufficient to induce purchasing a genuine copy if their version is pirated, so good there. On the other hand, if you screwed up it can still operate. That's good.

re: Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Professional

Zer — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:43:19 GMT

Also, I agree with dave-, Microsoft has got to stop using the word 'experience'. It sounds absolutely ridiculous and I see it all over the place as of late.

No, a setup program is not an 'experience'. Clicking the Start button is not an 'experience'. If you've made anything mundane that I have to do an 'experience', you've fouled it up.