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Post Info TOPIC: Windows Check
Blobrana


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RE: Windows Check
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As announced, Microsoft has updated its Windows Genuine Advantage Notification. Microsoft uses the tool to "convince" users to buy original software if the WGA check finds that a stolen Windows activation key is being used. But the tool also calls Redmond if the user cancels installation.
In addition to the Windows update site, the automatic Windows Update finds the new software version and tries to install it. During installation, the program requests the user's consent once again. If you then cancel, your desktop firewall may set off an alarm because an update program is trying to connect to the internet.
According to tests conducted with an Ethernet sniffer program, if the user clicks the close button to cancel the installation of this WGA update, Windows sends some information back to Microsoft over the wires.
This information includes version numbers of both Windows and WGA, the language of the operating system, some registry information, and a cookie.

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Blobrana


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Microsoft is about to bring out a new version of its controversial Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications antipiracy tool to Windows XP users.
The updated WGA Notifications package will now includes additional changes due to criticism over the spyware nature of the software.

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Blobrana


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Official Method by Microsoft t remove genuine check.

1. Launch Windows Task Manager.
2. End wgatray.exe process in Task Manager.
3. Restart Windows XP in Safe Mode.
4. Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32.
5. Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32\dllcache.
6. Lauch RegEdit.
7. Browse to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify
8. Delete the folder ‘WgaLogon’ and all its contents
9. Reboot Windows XP.

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Blobrana


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When you want to download a file from Microsoft, a WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) check is performed. Microsoft installs a small piece of software on your computer that contacts the Microsoft server and checks the validity of your installed Windows software. If the test fails you will not be able to download the file(s). The following method gives you the ability to download every file from Microsoft without a WGA check.

All you need is the tool mgadiag.exe and the download url of the file that you want to download. Mgadiag.exe is the Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool. Start this tool and check the value of the Download Center Code, this should be seven chars consisting of upper case letters and numbers. Remember that code and open the website of the file that you want to download.

A download page looks similar to this one for Internet Explorer 7. All you need to do is append the following value to the url and you will be able to download the file without a WGA check.

&Hash=download center code

Replace the download center code with the code that you looked up in the mgadiag.exe tool. This code changes frequently, make sure you have the correct code before starting the downloads.

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www.ghacks.net/2006/09

-- Edited by Blobrana at 03:19, 2006-09-06

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Blobrana


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Posts: 131433
Date:
XP Pirate key
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"...do what any red-blooded pirate would do and Google for a working product key.
It took me about 15 minutes to find a web page containing five volume license keys that had reportedly been posted on September 9 2004. Surely if I can find a leaked VL key on a search engine, Microsoft can too, right? If these keys have been floating around the Internet for two years, surely they’ve been tagged as stolen by Microsoft, and I’ll get a WGA failure that I can show the world.
I restarted the installation using the VL media Microsoft had supplied me and entered one of the bootleg keys I found. It worked. After installation completed, I set up an Internet connection and downloaded a slew of updates, including the WGA Validation tool and the WGA Notifications utility. I then restarted, fully expecting to see a series of stern messages telling me I’d been busted.
Only that’s not how it worked out.
My bootleg key worked perfectly. I went back to Windows Update and downloaded a series of Optional Updates and drivers that are only available to Genuine Windows users."

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Blobrana


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Posts: 131433
Date:
RE: Windows Check
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Microsoft on Tuesday said it had completed the pilot phase for WGA Notifications, officially rolling out the anti-piracy reminders to Windows XP users worldwide. The company has made minor changes to the program in response to customer concern regarding its "phone home" functionality.

WGA Notifications is a component of Windows Genuine Advantage, an anti-piracy program implemented to detect counterfeit copies of Windows XP. The first piece of this initiative, WGA Validation, was launched in July 2005.
Customers who do not install WGA Notifications will have the same restrictions as those with a non-genuine copy of Windows. Critical security updates can still be obtained through Automatic Updates, but no other downloads can be made through the Microsoft download centre or Windows Update.

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Blobrana


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Posts: 131433
Date:
RemoveWGA
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A private security company has found a way to nuke the controversial callback component in Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage anti-piracy tool.

Firewall Leak Tester, a company that provides tools to test the quality of personal firewall software, has released a utility called RemoveWGA that blocks Microsoft from "phoning home" from Windows PCs on a daily basis.

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Blobrana


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Posts: 131433
Date:
RE: Windows Check
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Disable and Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications Nag Screen

Microsoft has released WGA Notifications application which effectively turned Microsoft Windows operating system into a ‘nagware’, with a “This copy of Windows is not genuine” warning. What the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application does what it will check your Microsoft Windows XP validity. If it found that the copy of Windows XP is not validated, not genuine, counterfeit, unlicensed, pirated, illegal, unauthorised or simply failed the Windows Genuine Advantage validation process, then the notification messages will appear at various places and time.

Bypass WGA Validation and Disable WGA Notifications Warning Message Workarounds:

First Method

1. Launch Windows Task Manager.
2. End wgatray.exe process in Task Manager.
3. Restart Windows XP in Safe Mode.
4. Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32.
5. Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32\dllcache.
6. Lauch RegEdit.
7. Browse to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify
8. Delete the folder ‘WgaLogon’ and all its contents
9. Reboot Windows XP.

Note: With this method, you may be prompted to install WGA Notifications again which can still be unselected.

Second Method
Another alternative suggested by dman is by using System Restore to restore the PC to a previous restore point that WGA Notifications hasn’t kicked in, and then carefully stop KB905474 from been applied to the system. To use System Restore, go to Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Restore.

Note: Again, you may be prompted again to install WGA Notification, so it must be bypassed.

Source

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Blobrana


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Microsoft has recently unveiled that its Windows Genuine Advantage makes calls to Microsoft every day. Most users were aware that the piracy tool would ping Microsoft servers periodically, but every day has been a bit surprising to some users. Microsoft claims the daily check is a safety measure that allows the tool to shut down if it malfunctions. Although users have reported that WGA falsely labelled their software as pirated copies of Microsoft operating systems. The program takes note of the computer's manufacturer, language being used and location where the operating is set for.

"First of all this is a pilot - customers have the choice to subscribe or not. WGA is very careful about which license keys are checked - some numbers have been leaked and therefore have been culled by Microsoft. If customers bought a genuine copy of Windows but as a result of a poor installation or a repair a different license key was used then WGA would flag it as not genuine."

The software is being offered to people that signed up to receive Windows security updates. If a user is using a pirated copy of Windows, they will start receiving reminders from Microsoft that the software isn't authentic. People using pirated versions of Windows are not eligible to receive some Windows updates. David Lazar, director of the Windows Genuine Advantage Program, has said that the company is thinking about modifying WGA so it only checks in with Microsoft every two weeks.

Source
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Blobrana


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Posts: 131433
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Microsoft plans to introduce a new version of the windows genuine check. Activation of Windows XP is going to be required to get access to ALL downloads listed in Microsofts Download Centre.
Currently, Windows Genuine Advantage check is inserted with the distribution by safety-relevant files over Windows update.
Microsoft wants to guarantee that only the owners of duly licensed Windows versions can download the updates.

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