Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool

Jeff

When notified that Windows security updates were available, I clicked on
Windows Update to get them as usual.

However, this time even though I selected "Custom" instead of the
default "Express", the update immediately went on to install "Windows
Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)".

I was not given a choice to not accept or not accept this "update" as I
believe I have in the past. Because I read that installing WGA
validation tool can be a problem and quasi-impossible to remove, I
aborted the install of WGA - even though I have a valid Windows XP
installed on my PC.

Is installing WGA no longer an option and has now become compulsory?
Anyway to avoid the WGA spyware?

Jeff

PA Bear

See


You (and a lot of others) are confusing WGA Validation Tool (892130) with
WGA Notifications tool (905474). [Yes, it is easy to confuse them.]

Fact: 892130 and updated versions of 892130 MUST be accepted and installed
to be able to use Windows/Microsoft Update websites to check for and install
updates. Period.

Fact: 892130 is not offered or installed by Automatic Updates, and it does
NOT have to be installed to update via Automatic Updates.

Fact: 905474 remains 100% optional.

References:

Description of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA):


Description of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application
[tool]:


How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:


How to schedule automatic updates in WinXP, Win2K and Win2K03


NB: If you "select a time to install updates", your default will be reset to
Automatic (vs, e.g., Notify Only).
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Jeff wrote:
> When notified that Windows security updates were available, I clicked on
> Windows Update to get them as usual.
>
> However, this time even though I selected "Custom" instead of the
> default "Express", the update immediately went on to install "Windows
> Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)".
>
> I was not given a choice to not accept or not accept this "update" as I
> believe I have in the past. Because I read that installing WGA
> validation tool can be a problem and quasi-impossible to remove, I
> aborted the install of WGA - even though I have a valid Windows XP
> installed on my PC.
>
> Is installing WGA no longer an option and has now become compulsory?
> Anyway to avoid the WGA spyware?
>
> Jeff

PA Bear

See


You (and a lot of others) are confusing WGA Validation Tool (892130) with
WGA Notifications tool (905474). [Yes, it is easy to confuse them.]

Fact: 892130 and updated versions of 892130 MUST be accepted and installed
to be able to use Windows/Microsoft Update websites to check for and install
updates. Period.

Fact: 892130 is not offered or installed by Automatic Updates, and it does
NOT have to be installed to update via Automatic Updates.

Fact: 905474 remains 100% optional.

References:

Description of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA):


Description of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application
[tool]:


How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:


How to schedule automatic updates in WinXP, Win2K and Win2K03


NB: If you "select a time to install updates", your default will be reset to
Automatic (vs, e.g., Notify Only).
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Jeff wrote:
> When notified that Windows security updates were available, I clicked on
> Windows Update to get them as usual.
>
> However, this time even though I selected "Custom" instead of the
> default "Express", the update immediately went on to install "Windows
> Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)".
>
> I was not given a choice to not accept or not accept this "update" as I
> believe I have in the past. Because I read that installing WGA
> validation tool can be a problem and quasi-impossible to remove, I
> aborted the install of WGA - even though I have a valid Windows XP
> installed on my PC.
>
> Is installing WGA no longer an option and has now become compulsory?
> Anyway to avoid the WGA spyware?
>
> Jeff

PA Bear

See


You (and a lot of others) are confusing WGA Validation Tool (892130) with
WGA Notifications tool (905474). [Yes, it is easy to confuse them.]

Fact: 892130 and updated versions of 892130 MUST be accepted and installed
to be able to use Windows/Microsoft Update websites to check for and install
updates. Period.

Fact: 892130 is not offered or installed by Automatic Updates, and it does
NOT have to be installed to update via Automatic Updates.

Fact: 905474 remains 100% optional.

References:

Description of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA):


Description of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application
[tool]:


How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:


How to schedule automatic updates in WinXP, Win2K and Win2K03


NB: If you "select a time to install updates", your default will be reset to
Automatic (vs, e.g., Notify Only).
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Jeff wrote:
> When notified that Windows security updates were available, I clicked on
> Windows Update to get them as usual.
>
> However, this time even though I selected "Custom" instead of the
> default "Express", the update immediately went on to install "Windows
> Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)".
>
> I was not given a choice to not accept or not accept this "update" as I
> believe I have in the past. Because I read that installing WGA
> validation tool can be a problem and quasi-impossible to remove, I
> aborted the install of WGA - even though I have a valid Windows XP
> installed on my PC.
>
> Is installing WGA no longer an option and has now become compulsory?
> Anyway to avoid the WGA spyware?
>
> Jeff

Jeff

Thank you.

Jeff

"PA Bear" <> wrote in message
news:.gbl...
> See
>
>
> You (and a lot of others) are confusing WGA Validation Tool (892130)
> with WGA Notifications tool (905474). [Yes, it is easy to confuse
> them.]
>
> Fact: 892130 and updated versions of 892130 MUST be accepted and
> installed to be able to use Windows/Microsoft Update websites to check
> for and install updates. Period.
>
> Fact: 892130 is not offered or installed by Automatic Updates, and it
> does NOT have to be installed to update via Automatic Updates.
>
> Fact: 905474 remains 100% optional.
>
> References:
>
> Description of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA):
>
>
> Description of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application
> [tool]:
>
>
> How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
>
>
> How to schedule automatic updates in WinXP, Win2K and Win2K03
>
>
> NB: If you "select a time to install updates", your default will be
> reset to Automatic (vs, e.g., Notify Only).
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>
> Jeff wrote:
>> When notified that Windows security updates were available, I clicked
>> on
>> Windows Update to get them as usual.
>>
>> However, this time even though I selected "Custom" instead of the
>> default "Express", the update immediately went on to install "Windows
>> Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)".
>>
>> I was not given a choice to not accept or not accept this "update" as
>> I
>> believe I have in the past. Because I read that installing WGA
>> validation tool can be a problem and quasi-impossible to remove, I
>> aborted the install of WGA - even though I have a valid Windows XP
>> installed on my PC.
>>
>> Is installing WGA no longer an option and has now become compulsory?
>> Anyway to avoid the WGA spyware?
>>
>> Jeff
>