Microsoft presses the Stupid button

That's the title of a blog article on ZDNet's website which discusses Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Tool that you can read here:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=76

The WGA Tool has created one heck of an uproar even with legitimate Windows users because it apparently has been crippling systems running licensed copies!

There is a rumor flying around that Microsoft is going to release a Windows "kill switch" in the Fall on computers running an unlicensed copy of Windows, but this hasn't been confirmed. As far as I know, the WGA Tool is targeted at systems running Windows XP.

For your info, there is a non-M$ removal application available (with certain risks) here:

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

I haven't had an issue with the WGA tool because I set my Windows updates to allow me control of when and what to update (I chose the "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them" option). I smelled a fish when WGA recently came up in the list of available updates, so I declined it and haven't been bothered by it after that.*

Has anyone had any experience with this new "tool" -- either good or bad -- yet?


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* To decline installation of WGA:

"There's only one sure way I've found to opt out of WGA. And in fact, that's what you have to do. It can take a day or two for you to actively find a way to opt out of Microsoft's new anti-piracy program. What you have to do is change the Automatic Updates Control Panel setting to 'Notify me but don't automatically download or install them.' Then you wait for the yellow icon to appear in your system tray that signifies that updates are available. When you open the notifier, you can access the option to 'Choose updates to download.' Remove the check beside Windows Genuine Advantage and click Cancel. Then you must add a check in the box beside 'Don't notify me about these updates again' on the Hide Updates pop-up that will appear. This is the only way I'm aware of 'not to opt in.'

Quoted from http://www.computerworld.com/blogs/node/3035 (I was too lazy to paraphrase it! )

This post has been edited by Ximinez: Jul 22 2006, 02:04 PM

Thanks for asking, Eric. It was July 11, using Firefox from here. This month, one of 'em wouldn't install w/o using IE and then going through their thing, but I decided I wasn't as sure I had to have it that day as M$N was.

I searched (w/ Agent Ransack). Don't have wgatray.exe, and KB905474 isn't in my Add/Remove Programs list.

I have info about the one that wouldn't install this last time (cited above) waiting in a folder for me to post a question in the Cabin's Computers and the Internet section. Sitting in the same folder are specifics about troubles with a media player fix. I've got version 10 and the update is for version 8...something like that, anyhow. So it won't install and Belarc says I [must have it] , despite it being for an earlier version. Bold-lettered words telling me what I've gotta do (technically, "have," but to "have" I must first "do" the download and install) tend to have the opposite of the desired effect on me, especially when they don't make sense.

I haven't used IE for updates in a LONG time...and never did them using Avant. Am not willing to give M$N the Trusted status they demand in IE as long as I can get the fixes another way. I DON'T trust them, and want to move past SP-1 when I'm ready rather than when they are. I bought the software, so that should be my right. Of course, I don't mean that to sound as if I'm being argumentative; you're my friend. The grumpy tone is all for M$N and none for you.


This post has been edited by DisguisedRose: Jul 23 2006, 05:00 PM