One of my blog posts discussing Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) has a ton of comments, from users apparently running allegedly "pirated" copies of Windows XP. I say "allegedly" since I myself have encountered a situation where I lost a restore CD or had a PC that didn't come with a Windows XP CD - instead the CD image was loaded on a hidden partition which I promptly deleted to recover the disk space. With no disk image or CD to reload Windows (a common occurence), I then "borrowed" someone else's Windows XP CD and product key. Do I feel guilty about doing this? Not in the least, since I paid for my copy of Windows XP, therefore I don't consider this "piracy", though the law may say otherwise.
In case you weren't aware, Microsoft has been cracking down on people "sharing" their product keys with their family/friends or downloading a copy on P2P networks. Microsft's latest crack at stopping piracy was to institute WGA notifications, which effectively turned the Microsoft Windows XP operating system into nagware, by displaying "This copy of Windows is not genuine" warning. The Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application checks your Microsoft Windows XP validity and if it deems it not validated, not genuine, counterfeit, unlicensed, pirated, illegal, unauthorised or simply failed the Windows Genuine Advantage validation process, then the notification nag messages will appear.
When you attempt to log on to a non-genuine copy of Windows XP, you'll see this notification error message "This copy of Windows is not genuine..." as seen here:
It also displays this nag message as a yellow balloon tool-tip in the lower-right-hand System Tray taskbar with the nag message, "This copy of Windows is not genuine. Click this balloon to resolve now."
This got me wondering exactly how much Microsoft would charge someone who wants to change their "counterfeit" copy of Windows XP to a legit "genuine" copy. So I went to Microsoft's Get Genuine website and found this:
Read the bold part. "Only high-qualtiy counterfeit Windows will qualify for a complimentary offer." So I guess my cheap-ass burned copy with a Sharpie pen markings on it labelling the product key doesn't count?
I guess this means if you want a "free" copy of Windows XP you'll need to find a high-quality bootleg copy of Windows XP including a forged hologram. I take it Microsoft only wants to offer a "free" copy to those that were "accidentally" taken by counterfeiters. I wonder if NYC has high-quality boot-leg copies or if only the Asian market has the high-quality bootleg CDs?
In any event, if you can't figure out how to bypass the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) nag screen, or if you are simply feeling guilty for not giving Bill Gates his money, you can be "genuine" by sending Microsft $99 for Windows XP Home Edition or $149 for Windows XP Professional - no questions asked, as seen by this offer:
I wonder if Microsoft's stock will shoot up next quarter as a result of this "nagware"? If you are a legit or even non-legit Windows XP user and have a horror story to tell regarding Microsoft's licensing, feel free to post a comment.
In case you weren't aware, Microsoft has been cracking down on people "sharing" their product keys with their family/friends or downloading a copy on P2P networks. Microsft's latest crack at stopping piracy was to institute WGA notifications, which effectively turned the Microsoft Windows XP operating system into nagware, by displaying "This copy of Windows is not genuine" warning. The Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application checks your Microsoft Windows XP validity and if it deems it not validated, not genuine, counterfeit, unlicensed, pirated, illegal, unauthorised or simply failed the Windows Genuine Advantage validation process, then the notification nag messages will appear.
When you attempt to log on to a non-genuine copy of Windows XP, you'll see this notification error message "This copy of Windows is not genuine..." as seen here:
It also displays this nag message as a yellow balloon tool-tip in the lower-right-hand System Tray taskbar with the nag message, "This copy of Windows is not genuine. Click this balloon to resolve now."
This got me wondering exactly how much Microsoft would charge someone who wants to change their "counterfeit" copy of Windows XP to a legit "genuine" copy. So I went to Microsoft's Get Genuine website and found this:
Complimentary offer: Microsoft will make a complimentary copy of Windows XP available to customers who have been sold counterfeit Windows. Customers will be required to submit a proof of purchase, the counterfeit CD, and a counterfeit report with details of their purchase. Only high-quality counterfeit Windows will qualify for the complimentary offer.
Read the bold part. "Only high-qualtiy counterfeit Windows will qualify for a complimentary offer." So I guess my cheap-ass burned copy with a Sharpie pen markings on it labelling the product key doesn't count?
I guess this means if you want a "free" copy of Windows XP you'll need to find a high-quality bootleg copy of Windows XP including a forged hologram. I take it Microsoft only wants to offer a "free" copy to those that were "accidentally" taken by counterfeiters. I wonder if NYC has high-quality boot-leg copies or if only the Asian market has the high-quality bootleg CDs?
In any event, if you can't figure out how to bypass the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) nag screen, or if you are simply feeling guilty for not giving Bill Gates his money, you can be "genuine" by sending Microsft $99 for Windows XP Home Edition or $149 for Windows XP Professional - no questions asked, as seen by this offer:
Electronic License Key Offer: Microsoft will offer an alternative for customers who find out via the WGA validation process that they are not running genuine Windows, but do not qualify for, or choose not to take advantage of, the complimentary offer. These customers will be able to license a Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP online for a price of $99 for Windows XP Home edition or $149 for Windows XP Professional. The Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP will include a new 25-character Product Key and a Windows Product Key Update tool that will allow customers to convert their counterfeit copy to genuine Windows XP electronically.
I wonder if Microsoft's stock will shoot up next quarter as a result of this "nagware"? If you are a legit or even non-legit Windows XP user and have a horror story to tell regarding Microsoft's licensing, feel free to post a comment.
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sir i m a student i like to get microsoft genuine i will assure u that i will not give to others plz send me genuine.
sir i m a student i like to get microsoft genuine i will assure u that i will not give to others plz send me genuine
I experienced an odd false positive. On 6/6/06 WGA notifications turned on, even though this is a legit OEM copy of XP Home that passes online WGA validation tests. But today the WGA notifications are gone.
When you attempt to log on to a non-genuine copy of Windows XP, you'll see this notification error message "This copy of Windows is not genuine..." as seen here windows-wga-not-genuine
It also displays this nag message as a yellow balloon tool-tip in the lower-right-hand System Tray taskbar with the nag message, "This copy of Windows is not genuine. Click this balloon to resolve now
sir i m a student i like to get microsoft genuine i will assure u that i will not give to others plz send me genuine
I think the whole nag screen thing is pretty amusing. I wonder if anyone will take MS up on their offer to replace "high-quality" counterfeits. More importantly, I wonder what MS is going to do with the counterfeit reports that they get.
i look after 300 xp pro systems all preinstalled oem and am getting the nag screen no bloon and they valadate online?
go to sysinternals.com look for a program called autoruns.This program shows all components that start with xp.
ok you have the program open it click the winlogon tab and uncheck wgalogon.dll
reboot into safe mode delete
C:\windows\system32\wgalogon.dll
C:\windows\system32\wgatray.exe
C:\windows\system32\dllcache\wgalogon.dll
that's it
My version of Windows Xp professional is not a genuine one. I would like to update my windows to sp2 and get more updates from microsoft. Could u please tell me as to how to crack the existing xp to get the updates from Microsoft.
Yeah, I'll spend £100 when Vista is due out in 6 months time. Please could I also have a sticker that say's "sucker" for my forehead please. Dicks.
This is incontext to james comment. Microsoft vista is out already.Infact i am using Microsoft Vista on my AMD processor pc from past fortnight only. Yet to explore it as i have not got time from my office windows 2000 professional. Moreever it looks similar to XP and infact degraded version. But i can't comment on it untill i completely go through it.
Visit me at http://voip-phone-service-equipment.blogspot.com/
how to remove this problem..?
am also trapped from this WGA..!!
i just updated and got this problem/message..!! not genuine..!! haha..!!
how clever the bill gates is...even he dont wanna leave me....live god life.
hey friends, can we remove this problem..? and what are the bad effects of this..?
I started getting the WGA nag about three weeks ago. It says my copy of Windows XP Pro is not genuine. I've never had XP Pro. XP Home was loaded by Dell when I got my PC about two years ago. I go to the MS website, and everything validates, but I still get the stupid notice every time I boot. I've exchanged half a dozen e-mails with MS tech support and they're no help at all.
hi my name is samad my geniune cd of windows xp which i have bought from microsoft frenchise in karachi at 15000 rupees.thus i can't buy iot again and therefore im requesting you to plz give me a geniune windows plz im fade up of tihs all matter of pirat cd's.
sir i m a student i like to get microsoft genuine i will assure u that i will not give to others plz send me genuine.
Crack the windows xp
here is how -
rename the two files--
wgatray.exe and wgalogon.dll to "xyz.xxx"
and "abc.aaa" respectively
the work is done.
keeps it up.........
GUYS USE THIS... THIS METHOD WORKS!!
don't dl cracks! they're constantly detected as viruses!
http://www.rfuz.com/windows/crackorhackwindowxpgenuineadvantage.html
hi. i am from Slovakia. i need some help how to get free this Genuine Advantage, because it signs up every time i turn on my computer and i am not so rich that i could purchase it. please help me...thanks
You can install again Windows(Windowsw Media Center 2005).Later,You can install Microsoft Windows Defender (Beta 2),IE(beta2) easy........
my xp doesn't show me the counterfeit sign. but i cant get sp2 for xp.
what must i do
dhiven
i have problem with Genuine Advantage (WGA) nag screen in windows media player 11 and internet explorer 7 please send me solution for this problem
thankyou very much
regarding Wukles and Johnny great info works like a charm. Thanks saves me googling all day.
you can delete the WGA notification by using your boot cd. load your computer with the installation cd and wait for the screen that asks if you want to install windows xp or
"press R to repair". Press "R" to repair. This will take you into the ms dos (non safe-mode) command prompt. From here you simply need to delete four files: (you cannot delete WgaLogon.dll from safe-mode command prompt - access will be denied)
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaLogon.dll
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaTray.exe
\WINDOWS\system32\LegitCheckControl.dll
\Windows\System32\dllcache\WgaTray.exe
the following display appears after pressing "R":
c:\WINDOWS
From here follow these steps:
1. type cd system32
displays: c:\windows\system32
2. type del "WgaLogon.dll"
displays: c:\windows\system32
3. do this for all files listed above. on the last one you just have to change the directory by typing: cd dllcache
the following displays:
c:\windows\system32\dllcache
from here type: del "WgaTray.exe"
4. type: exit
your computer will now restart and you can load from your hard drive. The messages will be gone. Note: This process worked even after i installed the windows product key update tool that scanned my computer for corrupt or damaged files.
Microsoft will recognize your computer as genuine as long as you don't have the WGA software installed. After completing this process you should set your automatic updates to "ask before download or install". when your computer tells you there are updates ready for your computer click on the symbol and a list will appear. uncheck the Windows Genuine Advantage update and install all the rest. the system will then ask you if you want to receive notification again about the updates you did not install. click NO. Your now set. Microsoft will now see your windows as genuine. As proof try downloading windows media player 11.0 Beta.
Note: I do not support Piracy, only use this if you have legitimately purchased a copy of XP but WGA is not recognizing it.
Further to my note above.
it is not necessary to delete legitcheckcontrol.dll. in fact, this file may not be on your computer if you have not downloaded the windows product key update tool.
microsoft's windowsxp registration server wasn't working for a long while. hehehe anyone could get their windowsxp activated. hehehe.
now they have fixed it.
this WGA is their backup to force us to reregister windowsxp.
Lauch Windows Task Manager.
End wgatray.exe process in Task Manager.
Restart Windows XP in Safe Mode.
Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32.
Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32\dllcache.
Lauch RegEdit.
Browse to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify
Delete the folder ‘WgaLogon’ and all its contents
Reboot Windows XP.
Note: With this method, you may be prompted to install WGA
Notifications again which can still be unselected.
2 undo this nag
couldn't i do a restore to a day prior
i have never been able to update for about a year or two
i think with this new invite from micro
they invite everyone, so once again they can check who's who
and when i thought an update was finally going to occur their crap hit MY puter
If you make major hardware or software changes within your system as well (variances from the original OEM install) such as Video card, sound card, additional hard drive + remove certain large Software packages that came with your windows in the first place, the WGA checks against the original hardware settings and farts out the "Windows is not Genuine" garbage as well.
I called MS... they informed me that 7 is the magic number, if the WGA detects 7 major hardware / software changes (partitions included) then you need to contact MS with your original key. They will then validate it and give you another key over the phone to input.
Stupid huh?
The easiest way to fix the problem (get rid of the WGA Nagware and be able to update XP again) is to get the latest Validation Utility. You can get it at http://www.discmaster.info/UK/WGA.htm
or at http://www.diskmaster.info/USA/WGA.htm
I used that Util and it worked great!
Ok if you want to get genuine for $$ FREE $$
all you have to do is open a txt file and copy and paste :
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents]
"OOBETimer"=hex:ff,d5,71,d6,8b,6a,8d,6f,d5,33,93,fd
"LastWPAEventLogged"=hex:d5,07,05,00,06,00,07,00,0f,00,38,00,24,00,fd,02
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
"CurrentBuild"="1.511.1 () (Obsolete data - do not use)"
"InstallDate"=dword:427cdd95
"ProductId"="69831-640-1780577-45389"
"DigitalProductId"=hex:a4,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,36,39,38,33,31,2d,36,34,30,2d,\
31,37,38,30,35,37,37,2d,34,35,33,38,39,00,5a,00,00,00,41,32,32,2d,30,30,30,\
30,31,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,0d,04,89,b2,15,1b,c4,ee,62,4f,e6,64,6f,01,00,\
00,00,00,00,27,ed,85,43,a2,20,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,31,34,35,30,34,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,ce,0e,\
00,00,12,42,15,a0,00,08,00,00,87,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,94,a2,b3,ac
"LicenseInfo"=hex:9e,bf,09,d0,3a,76,a5,27,bb,f2,da,88,58,ce,58,e9,05,6b,0b,82,\
c3,74,ab,42,0d,fb,ee,c3,ea,57,d0,9d,67,a5,3d,6e,42,0d,60,c0,1a,70,24,46,16,\
0a,0a,ce,0d,b8,27,4a,46,53,f3,17
save it
then ,open it with regisrty
start , run , regedit , open , the txt file
it will ask you would you like to add the information to the regestry
click yes
Your windows is now fully liceced and you can now bypass microsoft WGA checks
Enjoy
Note : dont delete file , if your windows isn't origionally genuine then this will ware off in 4-5 days , if so reapeat steps
All credits to Drag Darkfire : aqbattleon2@yahoo.com for more help
You also can delete the KB update.
problem solved.
you can download al the updates with microsoft update:
Before pressing 'Custom' or 'Express' buttons paste this text to the address bar and press enter:
javascript:void(window.g_sDisableWGACheck='all')
It turns off the trigger for the key check.
Solved.
B.
When you attempt to log on to a non-genuine copy of Windows XP, you'll see this notification error message "This copy of Windows is not genuine..." as seen here windows-wga-not-genuine
It also displays this nag message as a yellow balloon tool-tip in the lower-right-hand System Tray taskbar with the nag message, "This copy of Windows is not genuine. Click this balloon to resolve now