Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

In with this latest batch of updates is the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB905474) - it's an optional install, and if you're one of the people who is *cough* not quite sure if their copy of Windows is legit or not *cough* then I would advise against it.

Basically it adds the equivilant of the "Activate now!" reminder that you get when you first install Windows, but does it for invalid installs instead. According to what I've read it plonks a nice logo on the login screen telling everyone how naughty you are, has a shareware style delay every so often (as in the login button is disabled until 10 seconds have passed so you can read the message, or something like that) and pops up reminder bubbles from the system tray.

Apparently these reminders can currently be turned off by the user, but this will not necessarily be the case forever, and indeed Microsoft are even contemplating making it REALLY like the "Activate now!" reminder in that it would actually disable the installation after a set period, although this is by no means a certainty at this stage.

Remember that it will also be installed whenever you run the Windows Genuine Advantage activex control - ie. when downloading certain non-critical updates such as Media Player version updates, or "value added content" like Microsoft Antispyware.

Looks like Redmond are playing for a takedown this time, by at the very least making using dodgy Windows installs incredibly annoying, effectively nagging you into buying a licence. Nice.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

No big suprise, this is exactly the reason why I don't let windows auto update
ever since I noticed they had locked all the service packs, drivers and patches away on their site I kinda saw it coming

Thanks for the warning tho, it's good to know

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

am I the only person with a legitimate Windows XP ?

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Mine is legit. I was just pointing this out for those poor sods who're going to be lumbered with it.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

mine is legit! on the laptop, anyway. but i'll still pass on the nagging.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

will this automatically download onto PCs with automatic updates enabled, or does that really only send essential security updates?

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Mine is legit because Microsoft gave me a free license.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

nope. Mine's legit and free. Huzzahs for the MSDNAA

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

I just checked the website and it's considered to be a "high priority" update.

I unselected and hid it, and it said

:rolleyes:

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Mines legit but thanks for the heads up

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Mine's legit, came with the laptop - but thanks :)

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

chances are it'll be cracked within a week

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

yeh i noticed that yesterday. I felt quite happy that it came up on its own and so I noticed it and deselected it.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

mine is legit as well, may have to pass this on to some other people i know though :)

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Mine is legit only cos it came with my laptop when I got it :p

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Mine is legit, it uses some universities multi user licence key.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Its quite annoying.

But I remembered not to install it when I had to reinstall :)

What was extra annoying was that I was actually using a legitimate copy. But for some reason unknown to me, it didnt accept the key that came with the cd. So I just found another key. The CD was a mate of mine's, he had gotten it with a pc or something, but had never used it before.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

I have a legal XP home edition that came with my computer, but I needed some features that are turned off on the home edition and only on professional... :(

(think it was the remote desktop stuff as I recall so I could access my computer at uni while home between in the holiday breaks)

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Both mine are legit.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Nope, mine came with the PC.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

and so it was (not a link to it, rather a news story about)
surprised it took this long tbh

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Actually I thought this would be about the annoying fact that I get ´click here to activate this applet´ or something when loading flash applets. Or the fact you have to click them twice.

Apparently it´s some patent thing.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

It's not just flash actually, it's any embedded applet (media player, real player, flash, quicktime, etc).
Yeah it's down to patents, something to do with activex I think, so the fact that they now require user interaction to get control is a patent dodge tactic.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Whatever it is, it is somewhat annoying if you make money with ´certain types of flash technology´. Not that it scares away users or anything...

And I believe the programmers have found some type of workaround already.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

I really do apologise for bumping this thread but it's better asking here than make another thread.


A friend of mine accidentally installed this update and his copy is not legit. Is there anyway of reversing it / uninstalling the patch/update file?

Thanks.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Er, not having the issue myself I'm not sure.
There's probably some sort of patch around on the various "naughty" sites or something?

Or he could just buy it :p

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

I haven't updated my Windows since SP2. I think I'll buy a legit one whenever I can afford it.

Re: Windows Updates - one not to install for some of you!
 

Tell your "friend" yes. First of all, (to be safe) tell him to do a system restore from just before he installed the update (backup all new files etc. since then).

Then all you have to do is to replace a .dll in the windows\system32\ folder :)