Blogger offers Windows antipiracy tool workaround

A blogger has offered a workaround for Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications, giving users another way to temporarily disable the antipiracy tool.

The Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications tool is designed to inform users whether their copy of Windows is a pirated version. Microsoft acknowledged that the workaround works, but only temporarily. Once a person visits the Windows Genuine Advantage site or receives an automatic update, the notifications tool will be restored. For some, the temporary workaround may not be better than the one Microsoft offers, which calls for right-clicking on the alerts when they appear. Microsoft said the tool cannot be uninstalled.

[BMR777]

Automatic Updates not so Automatic for Me

I never let Microsoft Windows Updates just install. I have it set to check with me before downloading or installing any updates. I have had it like this ever sice they tried to push out that Malicious Software Removal Tool every month.

Even though I do have genuine Windows XP on my PC I don't like the idea of this tool. I won't let Windows Update install this tool or anything else other than critical updates.

BMR777
http://www.rusnakweb.com

[umbrae]

Amen

You would have to be a fool to auto-install updates. I have one system that will auto-download, but installations require my approval.

I will not be buying Vista and I seriously hope Linux Desktop is more viable by that time.

[GrandpaN1947]

Do you really?

Is it really possible to stop Microsoft or your own government from installing, using, investigating, or manipulating "your" PC? I've yet to see evidence that they are not already. When Windows DRM (Vista) gets here you may become more enlightened as just how much they are already into "your" private computer.

Uncle Bush is watching.

[mstrhypno]

Another example of Microsoft wanting to control systems

Again, Microsoft wants automatic access to everyone's system to
check to see if they have pirated software. Add this move to the
"pilot" legislation in Oklahoma that literally allows them to
browse a systems entire disk drive array and you have a
seriously intrusive push going on here from Redmond.

Again.

"Control the flow of information and you control what people
think." - me circa 1967. Bill Gates and crew seem really intent
on doing exactly that.

Just another reason to diversify software, OS and
communications and to keep mega-corporations out of the
legislative link.

Lee Darrow, C.H.
Chicago, IL

[GrandpaN1947]

agreed and

You may also wish to be extra careful what you DL into win XP. I fully expect the next XP service pack to be rife with DRM crap.

[thedreaming]

Microsoft promise

Originally, microsoft was going to turn off critical updates for pirated copies of their operating system, but so many people complained that a critical internet system would crash if it didn't get updated, they left it on, but you can't download additional components.

If they're going to do it, they should do it, not say that they're going to do it and then change their minds.

[System Tyrant]

I didn't agree to this!

Now I will admit that I haven't gone over the license agreement to see if I actually did agree to this, but I don't remember anything in the license agreement that said I agreed to this.

With that said I don't know if that matter or not, but I think it's wrong what Microsoft is doing. I am getting the idea that it's better to do without than to live with crap like this. I already know Vista's not in my future, but Microsoft keeps this up and I may just learn to live with Linux or a Mac. The interesting thing is that I have had two people I know are running genuine copies of Windows XP get told they are running pirated copies. They got it sorted out after calling Microsoft, but I'm sure they aren't the only ones.

I don't want to be a "hate Microsoft" guy, but all of this antipiracy/DRM crap is starting to grind on my nerves.

[WJeansonne]

Duh!

Why don't you just come out and say it dude--you're a pirate. :-)

[heystoopid]

Never mind

Never mind, think of all those astute users with legal copies, that regularly update their systems core, with newer motherboards, cpu's ,harddrives and ram etc, and the rings they have to chase just to do a clean re-install and re-register!

Looks to me like the Redmond campus, is waiting in the wings for intel's trusted core control serial ID'd chips to be made mandatory fitment, and then slam the door on all users!

Just think of how many times, you can then legally resell the same piece of software to the sucker, and then multiply it by 10 squared!, the corporate accountants must be salivating at that prospect!

[Below Meigh]

You can't even become legitimate!

For S&G, I took a PIII PC I had, reformatted it, installed Windows XP Pro (non SP), then searched the net for a VLK# (not very difficult). The install went fine (except I needed drivers). I then updated the install with SP2 from My Windows SP2 CD ( I emailed and received this from MS).
After all the d/ls were done, I got the Genuine Advantage problem when trying to install the Defender Beta2. So, I called MS up to redo my key (I tried removing the key and then putting in the legit key from the new Windows XP Pro CD that I purchased). Seems you can't remove old illegal info and correct with new. Tech support (I recognized a foreign-accent) told me to type in a website at MS newsgroups for help. OMG!
So, if you are a pirate, you better fess up, back up your files and buy a legit Windows XP Pro and wipe that drive! Because you can't fix what you stole in the first place!
(From different OEM flavors of XP, to Pro versions, Home versions, Service Packs, and Corporate versions...no wonder MS is so screwed up.)
Workaround: don't buy MS products or don't steal.

[john.miller]

Bill Gates Becomes Big Brother

Okay, it's not enough that we all have to put up with Windows flaws, security risks and crappy performance. Now, Bill Gates is going to be our Big Brother. So now, even though we've gone through properly registering our copy of Windows and everything, Gates is requiring Windows Update users to AGAIN verify that we have a legal copy of Windows. ***?! You can't get Windows Update to run in the first place unless you had a legal Registration Key. The damn update you're required to install even has one of those whacko government-type names: "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification." Please!

What is this? It's enough that The United States Government spies on us every second. Now, when we blow a load of cash for a faulty operating system, we have to prove we paid for it over and over. What other product do you have in your house that you have to whip out your receipt for it every second? Bill Gates' power has truly gone to his head. It's time he get it together and start acting like a human being instead of a tyrant.

[erniehatt]

Time for a change

Well, it's time to look for an alterative, I am in the throws of changing to linux, maybe its a bit more difficult to set up, so what.Microsoft must be a little worried, because they are posting all over the net, the advantages of Windows over Linux, as far as I can see not many, as a lot of windows based software will work.

[hadialaddin]

Solution

Well, it is just non-sense to steal someone's work in all means. But at the same time, Microsoft needs to make it harder. Announcing that it will automatically replace the Notification when you visit the automatic update..etc is not a solution!

I or any other programmer can easily make a simple application to automate the deletion of the files mentioned by the blogger and intercept their execution!!

A better solution is needed ;-)


Thanks!