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Windows Genuine Advantage

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by jacklbrt

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After reading a recent post on one of TR's blogs I started looking into Windows Defender.
When I went to the MS website to do the download I was prompted to install Windows Genuine Advantage which, as I understand it, is a validation against pirated Windows software.

I'm looking for some opinions from TR members more savvy and expert than I before I download this WGA as it seems that I've read some negative things about it in the past.

12 replies

by boxfiddler

you cannot install updates without periodic renewals of WGA. You don't really have the option not to install it if you want to keep your system patched.

One of the primary objections to WGA on the part of most members here, is that WGA has the potential to give MS more control over what we install on our systems than we ourselves would otherwise have. A secondary objection is that, as yet, the bugs have not been worked out to the degree that it functions properly - install new hardware, or possibly software - and WGA kicks in causing your Windows to be invalidated and marked as pirated.

Very general overview.

by thumbsup2

Everything offered by MS for download today will require WGA Authentication at least once. If you haven't done it yet, you'll eventually need to do it. So, if you want downloads and critical patches, go get it. And, each time MS changes it, you will need to install it again, and again, and again.

The concern you've read about is because, occationally, WGA will report something as being pirated when it's really not. So, you have to call MS to get it straightened out.

Of course, if you have concerns about your copy of Windows (and other MS software installed) being genuine, your experience could be slightly different. ]:)

by nepenthe0

Basically, you're stuck with it, because Microsoft won't install updates and hotfixes unless you have this installed.

I seem to have installed it several times, probably because Microsoft launches a new version and insists upon the updated version.

Bottom line: annoying, but harmless.

Rick/Portland, OR

by alashhar

I want to take this chance to tell you a story about WGA, once I install fresh windows XP in Dell PC, which has a licenses Key sticker on its case, the installation was from my windows XP SP2 CD , the Dell Pc did not have Windows XP CD when they bought it.
After complete the installation, I changed the windows key to the licenses key which was on the case. by following the following TR article
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/itdojo/?p=116

After changing the key successfully, I updated the windows XP. But the Microsoft update site reported to me that the windows XP is not genuine.

Please, can you describe to me what is the wrong in my story?

by thumbsup2

Well, to start with, reread that TR article. It states in the first sentence that unless you come from a "geographic region with a high rate of counterfeit software"...... YOU are from one of those geographic regions.

Your mistake was to use a CD that was not purchased for THAT machine and had already been used to install another (YOURS). Even though you didn't do updates until after changing the key, the instant that computer booted up the first time while connected to any form of internet access, Microsoft knew it was pirated. Nothing you could do after that first boot would change it. You're extremely lucky that Microsoft didn't invalidate your own computer leaving you with NEITHER one of them working.

If the machine you worked on did not come with installation media when it was purchased, you should have contacted DELL and requested (purchased) replacement installation media for THAT machine.

by alashhar

thank for reply

but i am confuse, the author wrote "An end-user may have installed a pirated copy of XP but now wants to go legal. An organization may have installed 100 pirated copies of XP but now has a legitimate volume-licensing key",
suppose my cd ,which was used in the installation, was pirated copy. so my method should be work if i followed the article.

or the reason is that my country in "geographic region with a high rate of counterfeit software"?

i am waiting your answer!

thank you

by jacklbrt

This gets me wondering...............In the next few weeks I'm planning on swapping a hard drive (C drive) from a PC I'm currently using, installed on an HP PC, onto a Dell PC.
Is this going to throw MS and WGA a curve and cause MS to think I'm using a pirated copy of XP ? Both PC's have validated copies of XP.

by thumbsup2

Hi Jacklbrt.

Thank you very much for the nice thank you through the use of a Private Message.

However, in the future, please post your comments and thank you notices here in the forum. Sending Private Messages exposes your true email address to people that you don't know. For your own safety, don't use Private Message to send to anyone unless you are invited to do so. And, even then, be sure you trust who it is that you're sending the PM to.

by jdclyde

I think that it is kind of cool that someone would be grateful enough to take the time to try to thank you personally.

Just a thought.

by rob miners

grateful people who were over the moon that their PC is functioning again or that they were able to retrieve data that they thought that they would never see again. It gives me great satisfaction to know that I have helped someone out of a predicament and that they have acknowledged my efforts. Some of them have became contacts that I frequently keep in touch with. I think that its cool too. ;)

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