Sorry... I'm a little lost. How can you [even manually] download the
update files that you need w/o letting MS verify that you're using
Genuine Windows? It was when I tried to DL updates manually for the
desktop that it would not let me proceed without pulling my pants
down.
Whenever I install XP, I install SP2 and SP3 before I install any drivers
for the mainboard. Then, before I go online I go to Control Panel, Automatic
Updates and set Windows to "Notify me of updates but do not install".
Cool. I never even noticed that option. I just enabled that. (I
normally leave this disabled and update manually once a year or so.
Not the best method. Yours is better.)
I then make sure the Windows firewall is turned on.
I leave this off too cause I use ZAP and the MS firewall interferes
with so much... but it seems like you enable it just for this process
as a protective feature, right?
Next, I put the chipset drivers,
video, LAN, audio, wireless- whatever drivers. Then I go online and activate
Windows.
? I thought activation was only performed once when the software was
new, and that activating it also associated your computer with the
Product key.
Mind you, my product keys are legit, but like you, I consider these
methods invasive and I don't allow them, which is why I used the hack
to activate windows. It's my way of telling MS I don't support
anti-piracy technologies that are at MY expense! (meaning at the
expense of my privacy)
When the activation is done, within a miniute or two a little yellow
shield appears in the system tray that says there updates to install. Click
on the shield and a window opens that allows "Express install" or "Custom
install". DO NOT CLIK EXPRESS. That is how you install WGA.
Right. I tried telling Windows to check updates this afternoon to see
what would happen, and I got the Express and Custom buttons, and
clicked Express and it only came up with 2 dl's, and one of them was
WGA so I bailed.
Click Custom and
another box opens that allows you to choose which updates to download and
install; uncheck the ones you don't want. If another box opens that says you
need to install an update before continuing, that's WGA. This is probably
what you saw when you tried to update. Scroll down a little further and you
will see a description of the install identifying it as WGA. Uncheck the box
and set the installer not to notify you of this update again.
Cool... okay... I remember doing this on the desktop a couple years
back, now that you mention it....
Once you clear
this hurdle, the rest of the updates become available and you can download
and install to your heart's desire. Always choose "Custom" when updates are
available.
Right...
I'm guessing you can't get the updates because the hack you use to
disable activation also somehow disables the ability to update.
No, the hack activates Windows. Just does it without contacting
Windows. I can access updates fine, just didn't know I could DL any
without agreeing to the WGA DL first.
Honestly, if
you have genuine product keys for both computers, you don't need the hack.
You don't really need to worry about WGA on the desktop either, unless you
are pirating the product key for other computers.
All my keys are legit, purchased by me, and I am not sharing anything.
I just used the activation hack, b/c I consider THAT spyware too. I
shouldn't have to "activate" anything. Or tell MS shit. I paid for the
software, I'm using it on my own, single, machine, and I don't want MS
in my prvate computer. I don't go into Bill Gates' computer, I don't
want him in mine.
I don't allow WGA on my
computers because I consider it to be a type of spyware that "phones home"
regularly. This is how WGA works, by constantly reactivating windows, 120
days can never pass so that key will be caught if it's put on another
computer.
Huh. I didn't know that. Well, I'm going to uninstall it off the
desktop. And I'm going to check ZAP on the desktop to see if it has
been allowing WGA to phone home. I keep my firewall pretty tight, and
everything has to ask permission to call out except Firefox, TBird and
a few other trusted programs.
Some other Microsoft downloads like IE7 and Media Player 11 require
"validation" before download. I think this is the same thing as activation,
it checks to see if there has been a different computer activated with the
same key within the last 120 days, if there has, it won't allow the download.
I do not use IE or Media Player b/c it became too bloated. I use Media
Player Classic and VLC for everything else.
I've never had a problem with activation, but I also have legit product keys
that came with the OS disks I've purchased.
Sam here.
I hope this clears things up a bit.
It helped a lot, and I want to thank you for all the time you took. I
think I will just leave the retail version on here for now, and if I
can update both computers without changing the key, I won't bother
changing it. But I would prefer to have the right keys on the right
systems, because it IS illegal to have the same product key on both
machines, but I had NO idea it wouldn't let me enter the OEM disc's
product key! Nor did I think it would write OVER the existing product
key, but just repair the missing userinit.exe file.
Damn.... that was a mistake that just keeps on giving!
Thanks again for all of your help. Appreciate it!