Re: The Windows Genuine Advantage Notification

Robert Tonsing <RobertTonsing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

What do you mean a new one each time?

The WGA Notification Tool, like all parts of Windows, is subject to
occasional bug-fixes, updates and improvements. Each update means that
update 905474 is re-issued for download via Windows Update.

How many times do we have to prove our Windows is genuine?

Downloading and installing an update to the WGA Tool is not in itself
anything to do with validating Windows. The download and install is not an
act of validation. With the latest version of WGA, Windows will be
validated about once every 90 days, and/or when you perform a manual
download of certain enhancements and updates from Microsoft.

Isn't that what I did when I 1st installed XP and had to authorize it
online?

That was Product Activation, which just checked that the Product Key was a
valid combination of digits, at that time. Since then, various product keys
have escaped into the wild and been installed on multiple PCs, and
"key-generators" have been made which issue Product Keys which look valid to
Product Activation but are in fact illegitimate, which WGA now detects.
Even your own installation of Windows (with your personal valid Product Key)
could have been cloned behind your back by a dishonest repair workshop into
other people's PCs. So what was valid for you then, might no longer be
valid now in respect of those cloned copies. This is one reason why WGA
periodically re-checks the authenticity of installations.

And I've tried
to download the update faster at work, but search never finds it.

There is no manual download for the WGA Notification Tool: it is only
available by Windows Update.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
rdhw@xxxxxxxxx


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: xp wont validate
    ... still when I went to Windows Update it couldn't pass the test. ... Microsoft, not Dell. ... Or you can seek support from the "WGA Validation Problems" forum at ... please download and re-install the WGA software again manually: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: authentication passed off as critical update
    ... Open IE again, go to Windows ... >>> Update and download whatever your heart desires and ignore the stupid ... >>> balloon that pops up to tell you you've disabled WGA. ... m$ was supposed to decouple the OS from IE? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Microsoft heavy handed?
    ... Windows Genuine Advantage notification. ... WGA has been part of XP since at least 2005. ... Microsoft and download only the updates you need for your system. ... WGA is not a security patch and it conveys no benefit to the user. ...
    (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt)
  • Re: Windows Genuine Advantage Update - How many times???
    ... WGA Validation was launched worldwide in July 2005. ... It is required for any download on Windows Update, Microsoft Update and the Download Center. ... users who fail validation that they are not running genuine Windows and directs them to resources to learn more about the benefits of using genuine Windows software. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: No xp hard copy, it was just on my hard drive
    ... Windows operating systems are not available for download without a ... Without a subscription any version you download is ... had an OEM version of XP Home installed. ... Your Product Key should work with any OEM version of XP Home. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
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