Windows Genuine Advantage

[mpcrsc562]

I believe earlier this year, there was talk about a Windows Update concerning Windows Genuine Advantage (I tried searching my old posts, but they don't go back that far). Anyway, at that time the update was "voluntary," meaning that you could remove it for the time being with no adverse effects to your system.

So, I uninstalled it.

So, yesterday, i boot my (main) pc and as soon as I log in, I get a "Windows is not genuine" message. I followed the instructions and downloaded a file to check validity -- and I passed validation (as did Office).

So, is that "voluntary" update now mandatory?
(Just curious as my "problem" is solved)

 

[sygnus21]

There was talk of Microsoft Security Essentials sneaking that back in. But if you don't have that installed, it could have been an update as well. Microsoft is always checking

http://www.sevenforums.com/system-s...-security-essentials-upgrade.html#post1010823

 

[CarlTR6]

Interesting. I wonder if MS included it in a security update along the way? I uninstalled it also just to see if I could and then installed it again.

 

[mpcrsc562]

I knew it would probably come back to hit me (uninstalling the update). It was a surprise, but I knew my copies of W7 and Office are legit, so no fear here -- just an inconvenience.

 

[mpcrsc562]

There was talk of Microsoft Security Essentials sneaking that back in. But if you don't have that installed, it could have been an update as well. Microsoft is always checking

http://www.sevenforums.com/system-s...-security-essentials-upgrade.html#post1010823

Thanks for that read.

 

[CarlTR6]

Did the program you downloaded to check validity reinstall WGA?

 

[mpcrsc562]

You know, I didn't actually check for sure -- I assumed it did.

On the desktop, I had a pop up informing me that Windows was not genuine. It had a button to click to solve the issue. As soon as I clicked the button, a pop up from MSE appeared informing me of the same thing -- Windows is not genuine. From the first pop up, it took me to a Microsoft site that stated up front that i would have to download a file to check validity. I downloaded the file, ran the .exe file and in about 10 seconds, I had confirmation that Windows was genuine.

In MSE, however, the pop up still stated that Windows was not genuine. There was a button to take me to the same Microsoft site and a link under the button for people who have already downloaded and have run the validity checker. I clicked the link, and a few seconds later, MSE reported that Windows was genuine.

 

[CarlTR6]

Here is an old thread on the subject. There were actually several of them; but this is the only one I found.

http://www.sevenforums.com/news/62966-windows-activation-technologies-update-windows-7-a.html

It is called WAT now instead of the old WGA.

 

[mickey megabyte]

i never downloaded it in the first place, and chose to hide it.

it's still in my list of hidden updates.

i'm an mse user too...so i guess it is still optional.

 

[mpcrsc562]

Maybe there's a method to Microsoft's madness...

 

[mickey megabyte]

microsoft's madness: discuss: -

i still don't understand why this update is optional. you may have heard about the recent technet debacle, where microsoft severely slashed (10 -> 2) the number of keys available to paying technet customers mid-contract, and if they gave any reason at all, it was due to piracy concerns.

yet they still make this update optional? :huh:

are they really that scared of ubuntu and fear the pirate masses would flock in that direction, if their copies of 7 became 'de-activated'? nah, they'd just go back to their old xps.

probably.

 

[sygnus21]

In MSE, however, the pop up still stated that Windows was not genuine. There was a button to take me to the same Microsoft site and a link under the button for people who have already downloaded and have run the validity checker. I clicked the link, and a few seconds later, MSE reported that Windows was genuine.

I had a weird one a while back. I did a repair install on Windows, once the repair was done I log into Windows and MSE pops up with a box saying Windows isn't genuine. WHAT???

I do an activation, which was successful, yet MSE still displays the box saying Windows isn't genuine. Now I'm worried. I do a re-boot, why I don't know, but do it anyway, log back into Windows and all was good. To this day I have no idea what that was about???

BTW, this was "before" the newest version of MSE was released

 

[Bill2]

I think MS is still testing waters with WAT. There has been a spate of false positives and bugs and MS needs to iron those out. But with sp1, I think it would become mandatory. Otherwise, theres always the conspiracy theory- with a lenient WAT, MS gets massive outreach for the new OS and once things tighten up, the erstwhile "experimenters" and "mad scientists" (that Ballmer once talked about) become paying customers.