Back in October 12, 2005, I wrote a post on how to bypass Microsoft’s Windows Genuine Validation. I would just like to remind everyone that are is still ways of getting around this nuicence, and there will always will be. Let me remind some people or inform thoughs that already don’t know…

Microsoft’s Windows Genuine Validation is basically code that is slipped onto your PC when you update Windows. If you have automatic updates on, it was even more hidden because Microsoft won’t tell you what they are putting on your computer until it’s there. Anyways…what it does is checks your version of Windows XP for a Genuine CD key. So if you have a pirated version of Windows XP on your computer, it is going to tell that your version isn’t genuine. If it isn’t a genuine version of Windows XP, you will not be able to receive any of the updates (like anyone does update anyways).

For those who just can’t find life without Windows updates (Ya, there are times you need them.) here is the newest, and updated way around it. This will also include the new update of Microsofts’ of making annoying reminders that are copies are not “genuine”.

How To: Turn off the annoying WGA reminders-

This is so simple that It makes me wonder why Microsoft did it in the first place. When you load into a user, you will recieve a bubble on your taskbar, along with a icon. When right clicked, you get a “Change Notifications Settings” menu choice. Click on it. It will take you to the Microsoft site, and you will be given a check box to turn off the reminders that you aren’t running a genuine version of windows.

Like I said simple.

How To: Get Windows Updates With Non-Genuine Version of Windows-

Well, the way to get around WGA has changed since October of 2005, but if you have been checking out the original post I made, you would notice it still gets alot of activity.

The fix is the same as in the recent comments. It is a registery fix, and I’ll let you in on it.

Instructions-

1- Go to the Windows Updates page, and download all updates including windows genuine valdiation.

(You will know that you are ready to move on to step two when you go back to the Windows Updates page again, click “custom” or “express”, and you recieve a page that notifies you that your version of Windows is not Genuine. If this happens move on to step two.)

2- Go to start, run, and type in regedit

3- Locate yourself to HKLM \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ policies \ EXT \ CLSID

(HKLM= HKEY LOCAL MACHINE)

4. There will be two files, one has no value, and the other one should be set to 1.
Change the file value data that is “1″ to “0″.
5. Open windows update.

6. Select which way you want to go (either custom or express) it doesn’t matter at this point.

7. You will be asked to reinstall the Validation tool. It now thinks you don’t have Windows Genuine Validation installed, but you do. DON’T CLICK THE BUTTON! DON’T CLOSE THE PAGE! DON’T REFRESH THE PAGE! Instead…put the registry data variable string that you deleted back in with a value of “1″. Once you have the value set back to “1″ close regedit and return back to your open Windows Update window.
8. Click back and then click the update method of choice (Custom or Express) and voila! It works!

Deleteing it completely. (Advanced)-
End the process wgatray.exe in Windows TaskManager and restart Windows XP in safe mode. Now delete the following files:

Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\windowss\ystem32
Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\windows\system32\dllcache

Start Windows Registry editor and delete the folder “WGALOGON” located in the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinlogonNotify. Delete all references in your registry to WgaTray.exe

Another alternative suggest that three files are installed Windows XP System Folder:

\WINDOWS\system32\WgaLogon.dll
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaTray.exe
\WINDOWS\system32\LegitCheckControl.dll

The wgatray.exe process makes the check for genuine windows software. You can disable WGA by removing the execute bit on WgaLogon.dll. That way, winlogon can’t call it as a notification package at boot, and since WgaLogon is responsible for running and maintaining WgaTray.exe, no more tray popups either.

To change the execute bit of WgaLogon.dll, first turn off Simple File Sharing. Now right click the file in Windows Explorer and open the Security Tab. Hit the Advanced button, uncheck the Inherit box at the bottom, hit the Copy button, then hit OK. Go through each listed user/group and remove the “Read & Execute” permission for that file, leaving the “Read” permission as-is.

Hit OK to apply the permission changes and close the file properties dialog. Restart the machine. You can now turn “Use simple file sharing” back on, if you want.

A third alternative posted on the internet suggest that users clear the content of file data.dat located in the following directory:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data

Save the data.dat empty file and change the attributes to “Read Only” - Restart you computer. Or start your PC in Safe Mode and delete the following files from Windows system32 folder - wgalogon.dll spmgs.dll wgatray.exe The WGA setup file is in C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\ Download\6c4788c9549d437e76e1773a7639582a

If you don’t use “Fast User Switching”, you can disable the Windows XP Welcome Screen if you are logged in as an Administrator. This will remove the initial WGA Warning Screen:

1. Click on Start -> Control Panel ->User Accounts
2. Click on “Change the way users log on or off”
3. Uncheck “Use the Welcome Screen” - Choose Apply
4. Close the User Accounts window and the Control Panel
5. The next time you reboot your computer, the classic login prompt will be used

I just want to report that I don’t believe the javascript code line in the address bar method works anymore. Neither can you disable WGA in your browser. That is basically what you are doing in the registery. You are making it seem like you didn’t have WGA, hence “0″, downloaded it and passed as genuine, hence the change to “1″.

I’m sure Microsoft will come out with more updates to WGA, and we’ll find ways around it. So if you have problems, just come check out this post comments and I’m sure will have the fix.

Also, you can download the new pirated version of Windows XP Pro SP2 that is out on torrent. That has a fix on it so it looks genuine to Windows all the time. I suggest if you are going to reformat, you download that image and use it on the reinstall.

Good luck my fellow Windows piraters!