Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (KB905474)

[francis_tzf]

Windows Update is telling me I need to download and install "Windows
Genuine Advantage Notification (KB905474)" which "notifies you if your
copy of Windows is not genuine". My computer is a Dell Latitude laptop
with Windows XP Pro installed on it by Dell. I presume therefore that
my copy of Windows is genuine. Ordinarily, I routinely install updates
recommended by Windows Update. This one worries me a little, however,
as I have read here and there of problems it has caused others. So, my
questions: (1) Is there a way to tell Windows Update that I don't want/
need this update which will remove from the notification area or
system tray the little shield with an exclamation point on it, and (2)
Am I right in being concerned about installing this update, or am I
being overly cautious because any bugs etc. that may have been in it
have been removed/fixed? Thank you.

[Alias]

Don't download or install it. It can do *nothing* good for your machine
and, due to its buggy nature, can flag a false positive and accuse you
of piracy. If you use Auto Update, use Inform but do not download or
install" in the Auto Update options. When you are informed, use the
custom install, NOT the express install, and untick WGA and you will be
asked if you want the update to be hidden from future notifications.
Click on Yes. Now you won't be bothered with the nefarious WGA crap
until the next version comes out.

Alias

[Shenan Stanley]

I'd just install it - the percentage of those that 'have problems' is *very
small*. In very few cases (with the newer versions of WGAN) where it ends
up being a problem was there not a problem already being exposed by the
application.

Having said that...

AFAIK, it is *not* necessary to install it - and your easiest method for not
installing it would be not to do automatic updates and manually visit
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (updating whatever you need to scan your
computer for updates properly) and do a custom scan. When it lists out the
updates, uncheck and expand that one and tell it to hide it. Get everything
else you think you want from the updates - although I highly suggest you
skip the Optional Hardware Updates.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

[Alias]

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> francis_tzf wrote:
>> Windows Update is telling me I need to download and install "Windows
>> Genuine Advantage Notification (KB905474)" which "notifies you if
>> your copy of Windows is not genuine". My computer is a Dell
>> Latitude laptop with Windows XP Pro installed on it by Dell. I
>> presume therefore that my copy of Windows is genuine. Ordinarily, I
>> routinely install updates recommended by Windows Update. This one
>> worries me a little, however, as I have read here and there of
>> problems it has caused others. So, my questions: (1) Is there a way
>> to tell Windows Update that I don't want/ need this update which
>> will remove from the notification area or system tray the little
>> shield with an exclamation point on it, and (2) Am I right in being
>> concerned about installing this update, or am I being overly
>> cautious because any bugs etc. that may have been in it have been
>> removed/fixed?
>
> I'd just install it - the percentage of those that 'have problems' is *very
> small*.

All the OP needs it one case, his own. How many successful installs will
not be all that relevant, now will it?

> In very few cases (with the newer versions of WGAN) where it ends
> up being a problem was there not a problem already being exposed by the
> application.
>
> Having said that...
>
> AFAIK, it is *not* necessary to install it -

It is definitely not necessary and can only serve to provide a real
headache if it mistakenly sees his XP as "not genuine".

> and your easiest method for not
> installing it would be not to do automatic updates and manually visit
> http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (updating whatever you need to scan your
> computer for updates properly) and do a custom scan. When it lists out the
> updates, uncheck and expand that one and tell it to hide it. Get everything
> else you think you want from the updates - although I highly suggest you
> skip the Optional Hardware Updates.
>

I suggest that the OP NOT do this unless, of course, he wants to jump
through the WGA ActiveX crap. My advice with auto updates is the only
way to completely avoid WGA in all its nefarious flavors.

Alias

[Shenan Stanley]

francis_tzf wrote:
> Windows Update is telling me I need to download and install "Windows
> Genuine Advantage Notification (KB905474)" which "notifies you if
> your copy of Windows is not genuine". My computer is a Dell
> Latitude laptop with Windows XP Pro installed on it by Dell. I
> presume therefore that my copy of Windows is genuine. Ordinarily, I
> routinely install updates recommended by Windows Update. This one
> worries me a little, however, as I have read here and there of
> problems it has caused others. So, my questions: (1) Is there a way
> to tell Windows Update that I don't want/ need this update which
> will remove from the notification area or system tray the little
> shield with an exclamation point on it, and (2) Am I right in being
> concerned about installing this update, or am I being overly
> cautious because any bugs etc. that may have been in it have been
> removed/fixed?

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> I'd just install it - the percentage of those that 'have problems'

> is *very small*. In very few cases (with the newer versions of

> WGAN) where it ends up being a problem was there not a problem
> already being exposed by the application.
>
> Having said that...
>

> AFAIK, it is *not* necessary to install it - and your easiest

> method for not installing it would be not to do automatic updates
> and manually visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (updating
> whatever you need to scan your computer for updates properly) and
> do a custom scan. When it lists out the updates, uncheck and
> expand that one and tell it to hide it. Get everything else you
> think you want from the updates - although I highly suggest you
> skip the Optional Hardware Updates.

Alias wrote:
> All the OP needs it one case, his own. How many successful installs
> will not be all that relevant, now will it?
>

> It is definitely not necessary and can only serve to provide a real
> headache if it mistakenly sees his XP as "not genuine".
>

> I suggest that the OP NOT do this unless, of course, he wants to
> jump through the WGA ActiveX crap. My advice with auto updates is
> the only way to completely avoid WGA in all its nefarious flavors.

That is your paranoia and opinion. I appreciate you sharing it.

The original poster may/may not share your feelings on the matter and the
history of issues with it do not seem to back up the need for the *do not
install it* at this time.

While it is true - if the OP turns out to be one in the small percentage
that has issues - given the information they have (Dell with the original
installation, no reported issues through now, etc) - the OP, I believe,
would be fine with the installation.

I gave both options. The decision is up to the OP.

It would be nice if the OP would come back and let everyone know which
direction they chose and how things went, either way. ;-)

[Alias]

It is an opinion based on hundreds of false positives from a program
that does *nothing* for the operating system and is not needed at all.
It is not paranoia that I feel but utter disgust that Microsoft insists
over and over and over again that you prove that you're not a pirate.

>
> The original poster may/may not share your feelings on the matter and the
> history of issues with it do not seem to back up the need for the *do not
> install it* at this time.
>
> While it is true - if the OP turns out to be one in the small percentage
> that has issues - given the information they have (Dell with the original
> installation, no reported issues through now, etc) - the OP, I believe,
> would be fine with the installation.

Belief just isn't good enough.

>
> I gave both options. The decision is up to the OP.
>
> It would be nice if the OP would come back and let everyone know which
> direction they chose and how things went, either way. ;-)
>

If you install it, you might have problems.

If you don't install it, you definitely won't have problems.

Easy choice.

Alias

[Alias]

Shenan Stanley wrote:

>
> It would be nice if the OP would come back and let everyone know which
> direction they chose and how things went, either way. ;-)

He's probably too busy on the phone with Microsoft asking them why WGA
says their Dell machine isn't "genuine".

Alias

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The WGA update is safe to install.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

---------------------------------------------------------------------

"francis_tzf" <fsinc...@gmail.com> wrote in message news:460e9d3b-d6cc-4e2e...@c22g2000prc.googlegroups.com...

[Alias]

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
> The WGA update is safe to install.
>

LOL! Where have you been, under a rock?

Read this and educate yourself, you phony MVP:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=wga+false+positives&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

Alias

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

While KB905474 is safe to install, installing it is and always has been
optional. Feel free to hide this update.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/