Genuine Advantage Notification "Update"

[Joe McGuire]

I keep getting bugged to allow this 1.2mb update to download. it is
supposed to tell me if the copy of Windows XP Pro that came on my Dell
computer is genuine. Is there any reason so suspect that Dell is selling
computers loaaded with fake or bootleg compies of Windows?

The blurb also promises that if it finds my copy is fake--of course mine is
not--it will help me obtain a genuine copy. As in "buy" one? Considering
that you can walk into any computer store and buy one, is this "upgrade"
going to disable your bootleg Windows until you cough up the $$$?

I figure I ought to allow updates that sound like they are actually
upgrading something that seems important to me, even if I don't really
understand them. But this doesn't sound like an update to me.

I get bugged by this notification each time I start my computer. Is there
anyway to disable this particular notice without simply getting rid of all
updates that might be forthcoming?

 

[Pipboy]

I get bugged by this notification each time I start my computer. Is there
anyway to disable this particular notice without simply getting rid of all
updates that might be forthcoming?

Just disable auto updates and check for new updates manually the 2ndTuesday
of every month.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_Tuesday

 

[SMS]

I keep getting bugged to allow this 1.2mb update to download. it is
supposed to tell me if the copy of Windows XP Pro that came on my Dell
computer is genuine. Is there any reason so suspect that Dell is selling
computers loaaded with fake or bootleg compies of Windows?

The blurb also promises that if it finds my copy is fake--of course mine is
not--it will help me obtain a genuine copy. As in "buy" one? Considering
that you can walk into any computer store and buy one, is this "upgrade"
going to disable your bootleg Windows until you cough up the $$$?

I figure I ought to allow updates that sound like they are actually
upgrading something that seems important to me, even if I don't really
understand them. But this doesn't sound like an update to me.

I get bugged by this notification each time I start my computer. Is there
anyway to disable this particular notice without simply getting rid of all
updates that might be forthcoming?

Don't allow this update.

I get the same notification. I once tried to let it update, and it was a
huge hassle. I have a very legal copy of XP Pro in my Compaq notebook
that I bought new. However the Genuine Advantage update requires
ActiveX, and ActiveX has never worked on this system. I spent hours on
the phone with Microsoft trying to get ActiveX working, to no avail.
They told me the workaround to be able to get other updates without
completing the Genuine Advantage update, but it was non-intuitive and
they really don't want people disabling it.

 

[Joe McGuire]

Good idea. Why didn't I think of that?

Just disable auto updates and check for new updates manually the
2ndTuesday
of every month.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_Tuesday

 

[Stan]

Good idea. Why didn't I think of that?

And don't worry if you don't get this one because M$ comes out with a
new one every few months. You know just because you didn't steal that
copy of windows off of yourself during the last version of the
infamous malware WGA doesn't mean that you won't steal that copy of
windows off of yourself during this version of the infamous malware
WGA. I guess their way of thinking is that soon or later, you are
going to steal your copy of windows off of yourself and just because
you passed the thief test last version doesn't mean you will pass it
next version.

Thus the reason why you have to keep proving

over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and
over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and
over and over and over..........................

that you didn't steal your copy of windows off of yourself.

 

[Pipboy]

Don't allow this update.

I get the same notification. I once tried to let it update, and it was a
huge hassle. I have a very legal copy of XP Pro in my Compaq notebook
that I bought new. However the Genuine Advantage update requires
ActiveX, and ActiveX has never worked on this system. I spent hours on
the phone with Microsoft trying to get ActiveX working, to no avail.
They told me the workaround to be able to get other updates without
completing the Genuine Advantage update, but it was non-intuitive and
they really don't want people disabling it.

You can get security updates from a 3rd party website that doesn't require
activex but I forget the url.

 

[Tim Slattery]

I keep getting bugged to allow this 1.2mb update to download.

Don't. There's no advantage, genuine or otherwise, for you in this
thing. There's plenty of advantage for Microsoft, which puts a tool on
your machine that can disable it if at any time it thinks your license
isn't valid.

 

[RA]

Good idea. Why didn't I think of that?

You can hide that update. When you uncheck the little box next to the update
and click ok, you will get a popup box that asks if you want to not be
notified of this update again. This hides it until they have an update and
then you have to hide it again.

 

[Alias]

And don't worry if you don't get this one because M$ comes out with a
new one every few months. You know just because you didn't steal that
copy of windows off of yourself during the last version of the
infamous malware WGA doesn't mean that you won't steal that copy of
windows off of yourself during this version of the infamous malware
WGA. I guess their way of thinking is that soon or later, you are
going to steal your copy of windows off of yourself and just because
you passed the thief test last version doesn't mean you will pass it
next version.

Thus the reason why you have to keep proving

over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and
over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and
over and over and over..........................

that you didn't steal your copy of windows off of yourself.

Which is why Microsoft is headed for failure. You can't accuse your
paying customers of being thieves over and over again and expect to stay
in business.

What's worse, the cost of the activation operators, WGA programmers and
other "anti piracy" programs is probably more than they save from people
buying genuine Windows to replace pirated ones.

Alias

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Alias wrote:

Which is why Microsoft is headed for failure. You can't accuse your
paying customers of being thieves over and over again and expect to
stay in business.

Do you have the courage of your convictions? If you really believe that
Microsoft is headed for failure, you have a wonderful opportunity to make a
fortune. Simply sell their stock short.

Let us all know how you make out.

 

[Pipboy]

Don't. There's no advantage, genuine or otherwise, for you in this
thing. There's plenty of advantage for Microsoft, which puts a tool on
your machine that can disable it if at any time it thinks your license
isn't valid.

Yea, I've read stories of it flagging legit licenses as invalid licenses
too and Microsoft still insists you buy a new license.

 

[Alias]

Alias wrote:




Do you have the courage of your convictions? If you really believe that
Microsoft is headed for failure, you have a wonderful opportunity to make a
fortune. Simply sell their stock short.

Let us all know how you make out.

Hey, MS might wake up and stop this nonsense and then where would I be?

IF they keep this up, my prediction will come true. If they see the
writing on the wall and change their act, it won't.

Alias

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hey, MS might wake up and stop this nonsense and then where would I
be?
IF they keep this up, my prediction will come true. If they see the
writing on the wall and change their act, it won't.

Yep, I didn't think you would.

I'm not in favor of Genuine Advantage Notification Update either. But I'm
far from ready to predict that they will go out of business because of it.

 

[Alias]

Yep, I didn't think you would.

I'm not in favor of Genuine Advantage Notification Update either. But I'm
far from ready to predict that they will go out of business because of it.

An XBox in every home.

Alias

 

[Pipboy]

Hey, MS might wake up and stop this nonsense and then where would I be?

IF they keep this up, my prediction will come true. If they see the
writing on the wall and change their act, it won't.

Alias

First they have to get rid of that nutjob Steve Ballmer before they even
start to clue in. The guys a freak and bad for PR.

 

[Pipboy]

Yep, I didn't think you would.

I'm not in favor of Genuine Advantage Notification Update either. But I'm
far from ready to predict that they will go out of business because of it.

Hey, your job here is to help out the noobs and not make fanboi comments.

 

[Alias]

First they have to get rid of that nutjob Steve Ballmer before they even
start to clue in. The guys a freak and bad for PR.

He most certainly is a strange man. I think that the DRM and so-called
anti piracy programs will only get worse which is why I am learning Linux.

Alias