Windows Genuine Advantage (spit)

[KenOath]

Or use a cracked winlogon.exe like I do. That works wonders.

Using a modded Winlogon is only half the job done, a particular

registry entry must also be used to finish the job, I'm sure posting it

here however would be stretching the rules a little & constitute a warn for me.

Like the original poster, I too hate having to waste time on the phone with

the activation process, I earn $80.00/hour, will MS pay for the time

wasted on the phone during business hours, I doubt it...

My Copy is legit & the number used for it, I own legit

VLK & OEM & MCE of XP but choose to use the OEM as it always

passes the wga test as a result of the PID being what it is..

I just choose to activate it my way, as far as i'm concerned, I paid for

it & feel it's my right to seeing I paid full price..

I see this as being on par with sony adding drm software on your system

stopping you from backing up your music that you paid full price for...

Of course I still beleive they have the right to eliminate piracy nonetheless...

[ozzie123]

I think I once bumped into a cracked version of WGA files on the net. All you got to do is just replace the original files with the cracked one.

 

Surely people who are using pirated copy will do this and wouldn't mind to jump the hoops. But people will people with legitimate copy would want to jump through this hoops? I doubt it.

 

Microsoft's measure against piracy is really annoying their loyal fanbase (if they do have one that is)

[David Bowman]

Check out this nice tutorial on how to remove and then avoid future installs of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notification update. Even if it is reinstalled, it won't nag, after using this method.

 

http://spacebag.googlepages.com/wga-notify

[Lkr]

Check out this nice tutorial on how to remove and then avoid future installs of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notification update. Even if it is reinstalled, it won't nag, after using this method.

 

http://spacebag.googlepages.com/wga-notify

woah, thanks

[Careless]

I don't want to be an @ss, but I'm here to defend Microsoft. It's their software and they have the right to defend it. As far as it not being the best OS, well, don't use it. I really don't get this "hate microsoft" thing. Truthfully, it's a little too old. And not even funny anymore. A lot of people complain that the OS doesn't come with a lot of things. But then again, the EU council screwed microsoft because they had windows media player built in, while, Apple has iLife built in and they don't complain about that. WTF.

I'm trying out Vista right now, and I have to say that it's far more superior to OSX. Especially with the built-in media center. WOW!! Front row is nothing compared to Media Center.

Don't get me wrong, I love OSX. It's clean,.. and well, it looks pleasing! But it falls short when it comes to productivity. Try using Dreamweaver on a Mac! Too freaking slow.

 

whole heartedly agree.

 

while i enjoy macosx, i find that windows is just a far more superior os due to the fact that 90+ percent market share doesnt lie. and the fact that there is so much aftermarket/3rdparty support for the OS, MORESO THAN OSX ON ANY PLATFORM, where it counts for ME, i prefer it.

 

all throughout school i was using G5's to do my design work. G4's sometimes. I respected the G4's a lot more than the G5's because they were more along the lines of my expectations in terms of speed and peripheral setup.

 

the G5's were 1.5gb 1.8 duals with SATA drives, and they were slouchy.

 

some were even 2.0 duals with 2 gigs of ram, and my CURRENT AMD HACKINTOSH whips their ass.

 

that is not directly related to the OS, but it's in relation to the fact that a strong OS has no backing when it's slower than windows on a similarily spec'd machine, DESPITE what all those people who are "anti gates" will say.

 

it's just NOT TRUE, in my eyes. and i see this as an un-biased user who has touched base with both platforms for more than 5 years a piece.

 

and I'm a graphic designer.

 

and i prefer my AMD and my Windows.

 

so basically, i can't wait for Vista. i think it will be a blast.

[unixguru]

I hate to interrupt the Microsoft love-fest, but I have a few comments on this WGA thing and other stuff. First of all, my encounter with it was a couple of months ago. I have a laptop from work, where we have a volume license. When I first got the laptop, second-hand, I took the Windows disc and laptop home for the weekend so I could format and install the laptop clean with XP SP2. However, when I got it home I realized I didn't have the VLK. So I made one using a popular XP keygen. Then, about a year later, I got into problems with the WGA {censored}. I tried a couple of methods on the web for changing the key, but I couldn't get them to work. So now the laptop doesn't have updates. I don't use IE, so it's not that terrible, but it still sucks. I really don't want to reinstall windows on it, especially since I don't even use the thing that often anymore. I made sure I didn't download the notification tool because that would really suck. So here I am with a validly-licensed copy of windows, and WGA problems. Yes, Microsoft fanboys, I know it's all my fault.

 

Now as far as OS X goes, I have a G5 2.3 Ghz running 10.4.6 on my desk at work, and the thing is blazingly fast. It chews through anything I throw at it. Maybe the G5's weren't as fast with older OS X releases, but they certainly are with 10.4.6!!!

 

As far as productivity goes, I get a LOT more done on OS X. A big part of that is the superior window management. Between hiding of apps and Expose, plus all the easy-to-remember key shortcuts, it's just... no comparison. The big problem I have with Windows is that I'm always trying to figure out which window I want and get it to the front. Windows is fine if you're working with 1 or 2 windows on the computer, but you get 4 or 5 programs open, and it's just a mess!

 

This is not anti-microsoft talk here. I just think their products are inferior. Because they are.

[DrJägermeister]

RemoveWGA enables you to remove the Microsoft "Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications" tool, which is calling home and connect to Microsoft servers every time you boot.

http://www.firewallleaktester.com/removewga.htm

[Mactelman]

I don't blame Microsoft from doing what they do. Anyone who has a legal OS should have no problem with activating and validating. If you're using it illegaly, you're not supposed to be, and MS shouldn't care what you feel. No offence, but with the high number of piracy on Microsoft Operating systems, they deserve to protect their software.

[trav1085]

if you have legal copies then just get the genuine window advantage. you can't get updates, downloads from ms if you don't use it.

 

Example, you couldn't download midtown madness 2 trial without using the scan

[Colonel]

if you have legal copies then just get the genuine window advantage. you can't get updates, downloads from ms if you don't use it.

 

Example, you couldn't download midtown madness 2 trial without using the scan

 

I've got a bunch of MS software off their site without downloading the Genuine Advantage tool. Last night I downloaded Office 2007 Beta 2 and I've been not letting Automatic Updates download the Genuine Advantage thing.

[gwprod12]

Frankly, WGA basicly makes it so if you're using an illegal copy of Microsoft's operating system, you cant receive support from them.

 

I just dont get the point of this thread. Microsoft has some interest in limiting people from using their OS without paying for it. Let's face it, a copy of XP Pro costs $150 OEM. How often does Microsoft want you to pay them for an upgrade? XP came out in 2001, so... every 4 or 5 years, which is really about as long as a computer itself is usable. If you dont want to pay for their software, dont. But dont complain about it.

 

FYI. Since 2001, Apple has released 5 versions of OS X. 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4. With the exception of 10.1, Each of these systems were either bundled with a mac, or cost $129.

 

So, Assuming two people. Each of them Bought a computer for Xmas 2001. One bought a Windows XP machine, and the other bought a Mac with 10.0. Let's just say for argument that they paid the same amount, and each fulfilled their needs in equal sufficiency.

 

Since then, keeping the same machine has cost PC user $0 in Operating System upgrades.

Since then, assuming the mac user wants to keep being able to run current mac software, that user has had to pay at least $260 (to get to 10.3). If they upgraded to Tiger, that's $390.

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Colonel]

Frankly, WGA basicly makes it so if you're using an illegal copy of Microsoft's operating system, you cant receive support from them.

 

I just dont get the point of this thread. Microsoft has some interest in limiting people from using their OS without paying for it. Let's face it, a copy of XP Pro costs $150 OEM. How often does Microsoft want you to pay them for an upgrade? XP came out in 2001, so... every 4 or 5 years, which is really about as long as a computer itself is usable. If you dont want to pay for their software, dont. But dont complain about it.

 

FYI. Since 2001, Apple has released 5 versions of OS X. 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4. With the exception of 10.1, Each of these systems were either bundled with a mac, or cost $129.

 

So, Assuming two people. Each of them Bought a computer for Xmas 2001. One bought a Windows XP machine, and the other bought a Mac with 10.0. Let's just say for argument that they paid the same amount, and each fulfilled their needs in equal sufficiency.

 

Since then, keeping the same machine has cost PC user $0 in Operating System upgrades.

Since then, assuming the mac user wants to keep being able to run current mac software, that user has had to pay at least $260 (to get to 10.3). If they upgraded to Tiger, that's $390.

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

What if the XP user upgraded from Windows XP Home to Windows XP Pro and bought the full version, not the upgrade? So that's $199. Then let's say they upgraded to Media Center 2005. That would cost $299. So, the total cost for the Windows guy would be $498.

 

I rest my case.

[gwprod12]

Let's say I bought a 1985 toyota. Then I decided to add a Rolls Royce Jet Engine to it. Obviously a 1985 toyota isnt a good deal, because it cost me $1.3 million dollars in total ownership costs.

 

I mean, if we're going to just blatantly alter the scenario, why not do it with style?

[Colonel]

Let's say I bought a 1985 toyota. Then I decided to add a Rolls Royce Jet Engine to it. Obviously a 1985 toyota isnt a good deal, because it cost me $1.3 million dollars in total ownership costs.

 

I mean, if we're going to just blatantly alter the scenario, why not do it with style?

 

While we're on the extreme subjects,

 

How about if I bought a 1985 Delorean, made it run on Plutonium, and give it the ability to travel through time? It would cost alot more than $1.3 million dollars and it would probably be illegal.

[gwprod12]

You're the reason why this country sucks dude. Instead of viewing the constitution as a document that says "Unless there's a law, go do it", you are of the opinion that unless the constitution says it's okay, it's a crime.

 

I'm pretty sure there are no anti-time-travel statutes on the books!

[Colonel]

You're the reason why this country sucks dude. Instead of viewing the constitution as a document that says "Unless there's a law, go do it", you are of the opinion that unless the constitution says it's okay, it's a crime.

 

I'm pretty sure there are no anti-time-travel statutes on the books!

 

You're right. I guess time travel would be considered completely legal.

Now only if I could build a time machine...

[gwprod12]

Damn straight. While not expressly enumerated, I feel that the freedom to time travel is an important right, and shouldnt be taken away arbitrarily.

[domino]

How to disable or uninstall the pilot version of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications

 

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;921914

 

Easier way: RemoveWGA v1.1

 

http://www.firewallleaktester.com/removewga.htm

 

My thoughts on this is that WGA will get relaxed and eventually MS will be releasing patches amost every week in hopes of crackers getting tired of the updates since they aren't getting payed for it. I speculate that Apple will do the same thing with a regular update more often whan before.

 

Bwy, using this patch does speed up loading the desktop.

[Mactelman]

What's the big deal, Microsoft has the right to, and should be protecting their OS from running illegaly. This patch then shouldn't bother you, if it does, then you're running an illegal OS. You should have it legally, if you don;t and dont like that, don't run it to begin with.

[bwhsh8r]

I think its great because it works with my "trial copys" and makes it fully updatable... mhm... thats hacoughcoughcough.... server 2003, server 2003 x64, and xp x64, allthough its annoying, but it cant tell if you have the 180 day trial still, it just checks your serial to see how many people are using it, and if you did it the right way, its just fine.... not warez, warez fales.... oh, and its a pain if you have dialup Microsoft is bad at what they do, but i love em any way because sooooo much stuff supports them.

 

oh and dude above me, if it was an illegal copy it wouldnt be a pain because they have those stupid patchers, so dont flame that guy, on legit copys its more of a pain because when it fails you have to figure it out and it would be stupid for someone with a legit copy to patch, witch is what youd have to do, or call microsoft and wait for like an hour +. So dont flame that guy.

 

 

max

[BRP]

You're right. I guess time travel would be considered completely legal.

Now only if I could build a time machine...

It's the plutonium that'd be illegal, but I'm sure that you could find a few rogue nations that have radioactive metals and want to trade for a bomb. Just be sure to wear a bulletproof vest because they might come after you with a submachine gun mounted to a cheap van.

[tripleboot]

Its just another giant gap (black hole) waiting for the virus and worm making freak-a-zoids to drop there bots in.

[bwhsh8r]

Its just another giant gap (black hole) waiting for the virus and worm making freak-a-zoids to drop there bots in.

 

 

yes, it does leave those ports open and if someone designed somthing to inject packets with the microsoft it could get in and out with info and remote hacks through it. but hey, its worthless because it has allready been cracked three ways to sunday.

 

 

bwhsh8r

[michaelthehannigan]

So, I'm just going to drop in and post my story. I don't like microsoft, nor do I hate them, they are just something that is around, they provide a product which most of the world runs on. It's in a way a necessary evil becuase of what I can run on it. They do have a right to protect their product from running when someone has not paid for it, they sell you a product, they dont give it away. I will agree that one should be able to install it on their computer how they please, but that is another topic. I do agree that people need to get paid for their work, I can say that without being a hipocrit becuase A) I am a a student artist, musician, writer, and computer programer. If someone was to steal my art, or my songs, my poems, or my code I without be saying that it was alright, I would be a tidbit pissed. But that is once again another topic. I currently own the rights to install windows on my toshiba laptop, three hewlett packards that were given to me( came with discs and codes), my older gateway that came with windows xp and the code, and i have personally bought an extra copy for my work computer. This does not include all of the machines that I am responsible for maintaining at work, each of which has their own disc and key. That being said I use a VLK becuase it makes my life easier, it makes recovery time easier, and keeps a large amount of sales people out of my hair when i have to take that extra time to make phone calls. The use of WGA just annoys the hell out of me, Since I own all of my own copies, and the work does as well. Just had to rant for a while.

[Wardialer]

ok. i work for a large north american "big-box" retailer, as a member of a squad. having serviced MANY computers owned by average joes i can tell you this about WGA.

1. there is NO advantage to anyone. its a desperate attempt to sell their aging OS before rolling out Vista... and i have to say its working. seriously... if u haven't addressed all the bugs in your OS by now... you truly are retarded.

2. previously M$ claimed that 'no personal information was sent' to the company when downloading updates. now they're taking your IP, hardware profile, and your sister's virginity.

3. if you have a legal copy, you have nothing to worry about. {censored}. many smaller OEM's don't pass and their customers come to us for help. then i gotta dial india and have the issue resolved.

4. ETH0 and NC have been releasing WGA removal and since M$ has nothing better to do now, they keep 'updating' their genuine advantage and notification "TOOL" while encroaching more on more on your civil liberties w/ each update.

while its good for us 'cause we charge $60 to install windows on your computer... its definitely not fair to the few that were screwed by microsoft in their attempts to sell more copies.