Windows Genuine Advantage Validation is up and running.

ViSCeRaL

Won't affect anyone here, of course, but:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/26 ... ga_launch/

Quote:

Microsoft is no longer providing updates to non-genuine versions of its Windows XP operating system. From today, the company has switched over to a full launch of its Windows Genuine Advantage Programme as part of its ongoing anti-piracy campaign.

Users will now have to join the WGA authentication program if they want to receive software updates from the Microsoft Download Centre or from Windows Update. However, MS says it will still provide security patches for pirated systems, which will be available via Automatic Updates in Windows.

tweye · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:53 pm **Post subject:**

bastards! pirates helped microsoft back in the days to boost its popularity and now bill gates cowardly stab'em in the back.
come here bill, i'm waiting you outside. you think you're though...uh.. uh.. come'ere ...

goober · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:14 pm **Post subject:**

That's good. Just means less shit to fuck up my computer. :bananaboy:

antropomorphic · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 4:58 pm **Post subject:**

I have never updated windows so far & it still works perfect

who needs Gates anyway
besides,it'll take those ' pirates' a month to bypass that :mrgreen:

isn't that the whole idea ???

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:15 pm **Post subject:**

Quote:

I have never updated windows so far & it still works perfect

/me sends msg spam and RPC shuts down his pc
:mrgreen:

You must have had some updates?

antropomorphic · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:18 pm **Post subject:**

nope
honestly

I have my new pc 2 years this october,the only thing I put on is SP2 but that's it

I have never updated my windows so far(in fact I shut my updates off)
just modded my pc and my windows as I saw fit & thats it

truth is it looks/works more like a linux machint now,but it works fine

pepak · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:32 pm **Post subject:**

A good firewall and paranoid IE settings are all you really need. Patches, antivirus, antispyware, alternate browsers, all of these are more or less optional (depends on your computer skills and your paranoia).

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:59 pm **Post subject:**

Quote:

I have my new pc 2 years this october,the only thing I put on is SP2 but that's it

SP2 is every single update on the website, so yes, you've put all the updates on

That includes the fixes for the RPC blaster worm, msg spam. Since sp2 there hasn't been a major security bug that effects home users.

In essence, you've already downloaded all their fixes when you put SP2 on

antropomorphic · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:25 pm **Post subject:**

I don't agree pepak;I have NO firewall never had & never will,never had any probs either

unleashed every port assault etc I could find on it,and my pc doesn't even exist online :mrgreen:

as you say,it all depends on your computer skills

and spud,spoiler lol :wink:

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:59 pm **Post subject:**

well you can actually get away with an unpatched windows and not have any problems, the major bugs can all be caught by a firewall (not that inbuilt shit), but better yet a router. Its should filter out requests to undesirable ports with 0-configuration.

Since SP2, i don't recall doing an update though, but if another RPC style bug cropped up, it will be annoying not to be able to get a fix simply.

However, m$ has tried this before, they changed their minds and opened it up because its really bad for everyone if they knowingly allow millions of infected machines run.

I'm not a betting man, but i reckon this policy will change back, like its already done the two times previously they took this decision.

antropomorphic · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:06 am **Post subject:**

heehee,Big Bad Bill to the rescue
:matrix:

George Tatum · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 8:35 am **Post subject:**

I downloaded SP2 as my Windows update is configured to auto download but I still remember those stories of it causing A64's to reboot. You have an A64 don't you Spud, am I being paranoid (again)?

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 5:46 pm **Post subject:**

AK47? i sometimes catch the M62 bus...

You mean athlon64s? Na, that was bs. There was a bug in WindowsXP 64 that caused reboots on some athlon64s though.

George Tatum · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 7:02 pm **Post subject:**

Thx Spud, I'll install it then.

ViSCeRaL · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:41 pm **Post subject:**

From http://www.hardocp.com/

Quote:

MS Genuine Advantage Cracked:
Well, that didn?t take long. Apparently Microsoft?s Genuine Advantage has been cracked already.

This week, Microsoft started requiring users to verify their serial number before using Windows Update. This effort to force users to either buy XP or tell them where you got the illegal copy is called 'Genuine Advantage.' It was cracked within 24 hours."

Before pressing 'Custom' or 'Express' buttons paste this text to the address bar and press enter:

javascript:void(window.g_sDisableWGACheck='all')

It turns off the trigger for the key check.

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:20 pm **Post subject:**

Merrin wrote:

Deadman wrote:

In IE 'Tools' 'Manage Add-ons' then from the drop down select 'Addons that have been used by Internet Explorer' then highlight and disable 'Windows Genuine Advantage'.

Works for me, bet they plug that little hole quickly enough, but nicely spotted

Merrin

kingbuxton

I only redid my PC like 2 days ago so I dunno when it started.

Dunno if these are of any intrest to anyone - I am sure we all paid ?250 for XP when it came out and have been over the moon with it's constant patches and updates - that are no real problem on such an expensive bit of kit.

h**p://windowsupdate.62nds.com - this allows Windows Updates from within Firefox/Opera. Actually I had to grab the plugin from Firefox and then Copy/Paste it into Operas plugin folder - npupd62.dll - no ActiveX so the Validation Crap doesn't run.

h**p://www.autopatcher.com - this looks to have all the required updates as of this month and you then just update it "Offline" should be pretty fast in comparison.

Not used either yet so if anyone has - do they work?

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:11 pm **Post subject:**

both the above methods posted by DJbenz and me bypass key checking.

kingbuxton · **Posted:** Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:32 pm **Post subject:**

Shit I didn't see this Thread - sorry.

Well the disable ActiveX only works for SP2 - the option is only there in SP2.

The Javascript command doesn't work for me - still tries to grab the WGA - so I guess that only works for SP2 as well.

I am using SP1 - I can't be arsed with SP2 - hopefully the two links will let SP1 users update. I put SP2 on the other day and it caused all manner of issues. The version of Zone Alarm I have wouldn't work. My USB mouse didn't pick up. And I had a popping sound on MP3's - I can't even imagine why it did that. So I went back to SP1 and had no problems.

Am I mistaken in assuming that apart from the crap that nags you about not have Anti Virus etc etc and DX9c - that SP2 is basically SP1 updated?

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:42 pm **Post subject:**

Quote:

Shit I didn't see this Thread - sorry.

no prob, i like merging :wacky:

Zone Alarm not working is a bonus, that piece of shit software is terrible, Do yourself a favour and upgrade to anything, Kerio is far better. Zone Alarm and any connection based program (ie. p2p) is a very bad idea, always has been. I still have no idea why zone alarm still exists.

The mouse thing is weird. Popping? Only ever had that with an audigy, and that's cos the audigy was a piece of crap.

Windows Genuine Advantage Validation is up and running.

Who is online