"Windows Genuine Advantage"

[Sarai the Geek]

Today when I opened my 20GB XP SP3 Virtualbox, it brought up a box with a logo I don't recognize saying that I should install Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications to check to see if my copy of Windows is genuine and valid. It says that if I don't install it it will continue to bug me.

Now, I thought Microsoft ditched WGA a long time ago, so I'm a little worried.
1. Could this be a new Conflicker modus operandi?
2. Even if it is well intentioned, would installing it be problematic since I'm running Windows inside a virtual machine, which can't be microsoft sanctioned?

[Jose Catre-Vandis]

Are you using a genuine copy (and the only installation with that key) of XP?

If the answer is yes, then your problem probably arises from the significant change of hardware/virtual hardware from a previous installation with that key. You should be able to contact Microsoft to sort this out.

If the answer is no, then we can't help you with that here, although you should be able to find a way.

Microsoft shouldn't have a problem with you running XP inside a virtual machine, as long as it is genuine.

[Sarai the Geek]

Are you using a genuine copy (and the only installation with that key) of XP?

If the answer is yes, then your problem probably arises from the significant change of hardware/virtual hardware from a previous installation with that key. You should be able to contact Microsoft to sort this out.

If the answer is no, then we can't help you with that here, although you should be able to find a way.

Microsoft shouldn't have a problem with you running XP inside a virtual machine, as long as it is genuine.

Well, it is a valid copy, but I've used it to install XP on other computers. I didn't know that wasn't allowed?

[parkland]

Well, it is a valid copy, but I've used it to install XP on other computers. I didn't know that wasn't allowed?


Bill gates is the worlds richest man and he did'nt get there giving that kind of freedom...

[Sarai the Geek]

Bill gates is the worlds richest man and he did'nt get there giving that kind of freedom...

Well, screw that. I'd rather be driven nuts by some genuine advantage notification than give anyone the satisfaction... :popcorn:

[sgosnell]

I think the latest updates triggered that. On my work computer, it started nagging, and it certainly has a valid Windows license. All this paranoia is one more reason I abandoned Windows, and will never return. Bill Gates can go pound sand. I won't give him any more money.

[rucadulu]

Bill Gates is my hero, how many people have you heard of in history that can take garbage convince people that it is really diamonds and turn it into a billion dollar empire. Not many, so quit knocking him for doing what others wish they could do.

[Sarai the Geek]

Bill Gates is my hero, how many people have you heard of in history that can take garbage convince people that it is really diamonds and turn it into a billion dollar empire. Not many, so quit knocking him for doing what others wish they could do.

There's nothing honorable about that. The success of microsoft speaks less to his entrepreneurial prowess and more about the people's gullibility.

[RealG187]

Did MS abaondon WGA? I did an update a while ago and tried to run an IE7 installer and it asked. This wasn't that long ago...

[wsonar]

I didn't know that wasn't allowed?


lol

sorry..

its in the eula

[RealG187]

Bill gates is the worlds richest man and he did'nt get there giving that kind of freedom...

I feel the same way about Xbox live how they make you and and ban your console if it's modded.

[Sarai the Geek]

lol

sorry..

its in the eula

Lol...

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/faust_20.png

[xkcd (http://xkcd.com/501/)]

[RealG187]

Lol...

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/faust_20.png

[xkcd (http://xkcd.com/501/)]

What's the sign say?

[Sarai the Geek]

What's the sign say?

"By entering this room, you agree to forfeit your own soul rather than negotiate with the mortal residing within..."

[RealG187]

"By entering this room, you agree to forfeit your own soul rather than negotiate with the mortal residing within..."

So that text is him reading it and the text below it is his reaction?

[Sarai the Geek]

Yup.

[sirlancelot]

So you've never read a comic before??? That's what the quotes mean... :lolflag:

[mister_playboy]

A EULA is mainly an attempt to intimidate people with fancy legal-sounding language. It doesn't met the legal definition of a contract in the United States, and no court case has ever occured in which a company has tried to assert that a EULA is, in fact, a valid contract. Further, the terms of many EULAs are not applicable in many countries, where they directly contradict consumer laws. Germany is an example.

A EULA is nothing more than an attempt for a company to assert control in a situation in which they have no control. It's really just FUD.

[RealG187]

Apple's EULAs violate antitrust laws so they are actually against the law!

[AnimalMagic]

Nobody has mentioned that you can refuse the WGA install.

When the updates ask if you want 'express' or 'custom', you chose 'custom' and uncheck the WGA. You then proceed and you are asked if you never want to hear about this update again you uncheck or check the box accordingly...

[Jose Catre-Vandis]

Well, it is a valid copy, but I've used it to install XP on other computers. I didn't know that wasn't allowed?

To get back on topic (thanks Animal Magic :))

If you have valid copy, then you can contact Microsoft and tell them and then they will allow your XP to validate on its new "hardware".

I suggest if you choose to install again elsewhere, you set your automatic updates to less than automatic, then do as Animal magic suggests and always review your updates with "Custom".

[eival]

i had Windows XP Home running just last week and it was updating as usual, but i ran out of space on my VM after installing Adobe CS4, i maxed out the 10 gigs of fixed space and it wouldnt even let me open a document for lack of memory space, an rather than fooling with the partition swap i just created a new VM, but this time im using a Corporate XP Pro .iso that i acquired which doesnt require activation but when the initial updates came up it ran the WGA and said my copy isnt valid, so i cant update, but i can still use it.

perhaps this is the same issue that the OP is having?


EDIT- i just read the post above, trying out AnimalMagic's tip

[eival]

Nobody has mentioned that you can refuse the WGA install.

When the updates ask if you want 'express' or 'custom', you chose 'custom' and uncheck the WGA. You then proceed and you are asked if you never want to hear about this update again you uncheck or check the box accordingly...

i think this is working although its a bit different than how you explained.

i opened up the windows update website, an clicked custom like you said but it was still prompting me to download the WGA tool, no other updates were shown and i didnt see anywhere to disable that, how ever, i re-enabled the updates via control panel > auto updates and set it to Notify but dont Automatically D/I and after a few minutes i got the yellow icon an it came up with a long list of installs, an down at the bottom i did see the WGA and i unchecked it and its now downloading the other updates, i gotta wait an see if it prompts for the WGA again when i try to install all these updates, but i hope not

thanks in advance for your tip tho!:popcorn:


yup it works, installing SP3 now

http://i40.tinypic.com/2i8983r.png

[Sarai the Geek]

Mine just prompts me to install the WGA software every time I boot up the VM. It's annoying, but not much else. However, I haven't downloaded updates yet, so it may become a problem then.

[eival]

Mine just prompts me to install the WGA software every time I boot up the VM. It's annoying, but not much else. However, I haven't downloaded updates yet, so it may become a problem then.

you can install it, but even if you fail, when you get your next update it will show the long list of everything you can update, an down at the bottome will be the WGA test again, just uncheck it an you shouldnt get anymore reminders, unless you're using a different version of windows than XP