Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jeff
  • Start date Start date
J

Jeff

I am running XP MCE and set up to receive notification when security updates
become available which I regularly download and install. I just received
such a notification but the ONLY "High Priority Update" available for
download and install is "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool".

This does not seem to fit the definition of a High Priority Update, which
Microsoft defines on that screen as "To help protect your computer against
security threats and performance problems, we strongly recommend you install
all high-priority updates" !

Is there something that I am missing? My XP is genuine but I thought
Windows updates were for security reasons - the user security - not
Microsoft's security. I've also heard of problems after installing Windows
Genuine Advantage Notification tool and have therefore held off for now.

Explanations and suggestions?

Jeff
 
Jeff said:
I am running XP MCE and set up to receive notification when security updates
become available which I regularly download and install. I just received
such a notification but the ONLY "High Priority Update" available for
download and install is "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool".

This does not seem to fit the definition of a High Priority Update, which
Microsoft defines on that screen as "To help protect your computer against
security threats and performance problems, we strongly recommend you install
all high-priority updates" !

Is there something that I am missing? My XP is genuine but I thought
Windows updates were for security reasons - the user security - not
Microsoft's security. I've also heard of problems after installing Windows
Genuine Advantage Notification tool and have therefore held off for now.

Explanations and suggestions?

Jeff
Click to expand...

Do NOT download and install it. It has been known to show false
positives and is no use to you whatsoever.

Alias
 
I am running XP MCE and set up to receive notification when security
updates become available which I regularly download and install. I
just received such a notification but the ONLY "High Priority Update"
available for download and install is "Windows Genuine Advantage
Notification tool".
Click to expand...

It's only a "Genuine Advantage" for Microsoft, not us. Pushing it as a
"High Priority Update" is misleading to say the least.

At the moment we can still refuse it, but I expect they will soon make it
mandatory (i.e. no more security updates unless you install it)
 
Chris said:
It's only a "Genuine Advantage" for Microsoft, not us. Pushing it as a
"High Priority Update" is misleading to say the least.

At the moment we can still refuse it, but I expect they will soon make it
mandatory (i.e. no more security updates unless you install it)
Click to expand...

Yep, as old Stever Ballmer said, "gotta squeeze the money out of
developing countries".

Alias
 
Alias said:
Yep, as old Stever Ballmer said, "gotta squeeze the money out of
developing countries".
Click to expand...

Well, we send 'em enough money. It'd be good to get some of it back.
 
HeyBub said:
Well, we send 'em enough money. It'd be good to get some of it back.
Click to expand...

You're ill informed. A very close relative of mine worked many years for
USAID. The US collects most of what it lends (that was one of his jobs,
to collect). It just isn't front page news. "We" are not getting
*anything* back. MS is trying to, quite unsuccessfully I might add.

Alias
 
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