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remove windows genuine advantage

Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA for short) is a Windows Update component rolled out to XP users long after XP was released. It is intended to validate your Windows licence, let updates to Microsoft wares and display a number of notifications if your product key isn't kosher.

In that location's nothing wrong with still using XP, a number of staff here at MakeUseOf have yet to budge in fact. If you've got an old PC that doesn't need the bells, whistles and expensive licence that comes with Windows 7 then XP is notwithstanding a feasible alternative.

In this guide I will show you how to remove the WGA notifications should you lot want to, later which you'll not be able to download non-disquisitional updates only will still receive the critical fixes that actually matter.

Why Remove WGA?

If y'all bought Windows XP and accept been unlucky enough to fail the validation (which isn't uncommon) then y'all might simply desire to remove it altogether. If you're a raging software pirate then I'm going to take a tougher task convincing yous to go on it.

WGA is a non-vital Windows component, which ways that without it your copy of Windows XP will proceed to work. If you're using something like VLC for your media needs and swear past Chrome or Firefox so you probably won't miss updates for Net Explorer and Media Thespian all that much.

remove windows genuine advantage

Information is as well collected about your system, this includes your BIOS checksum, MAC accost, hard drive series number, and even your PC's manufacturer and model. If you're tight on privacy, this might exist some other reason to ditch WGA.

I've provided two methods of removing WGA manually. I'd recommend yous try the first set of instructions to begin with, the 2d gear up is provided in instance yous can't become the starting time working. There are also a few applications that will effort to remove WGA for you (more on those later).

It is worth mentioning if yous've re-installed XP lately and downloaded WGA in a contempo update then a simple Organization Restore to the point before you downloaded the update will remove it. Just remember not to re-download it again subsequently.

how to remove windows genuine advantage notification

Bold y'all've had WGA on your machine for a while, the instructions beneath should remove it.

Removing WGA via the Control Line

Restart your PC and boot into Safe Way, normally by pressingF8 whilst your computer boots. In one case your PC has booted open a command prompt past clicking Start and so Run and typing cmd into the box before clicking OK.

Change directory to your System32 folder with the following command:

cd \windows\system32

Next you're going to need to copy the following lines to the clipboard, in gild to paste them into the command prompt chop-chop. This is necessary to kill the WgaTray.exe procedure and delete the file earlier Windows has a gamble to launch it again:

taskkill -IM wgatray.exe          

del wgatray.exe

del wgalogon.old

If all the commands executed correctly you should have killed and deleted WgaTray.exe likewise equally WgaLogon.dll. You might also want to have a wait for any WGA-related files (WgaTray.exe, WgaLogon.dll, WgaSetup.exe etc"¦) in \Windows\System32\dllcache and delete them, only in case.

Restart your PC to meet if the changes have taken issue, if the WGA notifications are still there and so you'll want to go along reading this next bit, otherwise you're washed.

Removing WGA With Registry Editor & Windows Explorer

If you lot're still reading and then that probably didn't work. Boot normally and in one case Windows is back click Offset, Run and type regedit before clicking OK.

Navigate your fashion to: My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify and delete the folder called WgaLogon and any content associated with information technology.

how to remove windows genuine advantage notification

Restart your PC and if all has gone well, your WGA notifications shouldn't be visible. These side by side steps volition delete the files for proficient.

Navigate to your Windows\System32 folder and  at the top of the window click Tools, Folder Options and click on the View tab. Check Show subconscious and protected Windows files then that you tin see all of the offending items.

how to remove windows genuine advantage notification

Next you're going to need to locate all WGA-related files within your \Windows\System32 and \Windows\System32\dllcache folders. Running a simple search is the best way, so hit First, Search and cull All files and folders.

Run a search for Wga*.*, and delete any WGA related results yous notice in these folders including WgaTray.exe, WgaLogon.dll and WgaSetup.exe. Restart your PC once you've washed, and your re-create of Windows should exist "genuine" once again.

windows genuine advantage

Removing WGA With Software

If you're yet having trouble then there are a number of 3rd-party tools that volition attempt to do this for you. I personally prefer tinkering with my System32 folder myself rather than getting an application to do information technology, though at that place's plenty of people claiming these work just fine.

RemoveWGA is a simple run and reboot process, by the time you've restarted WGA notifications should be gone. MUBlinder is some other solution, only make sure you have the Microsoft .NET Framework before running information technology or it won't work.

If one of these methods worked for yous then you might desire to alter your preferences forAutomatic Updates in Command Panel so that WGA doesn't make its way back onto your system. I'd recommend allowing Windows to notify y'all when updates are available, but so manually selecting them yourself.

remove windows genuine advantage

Don't forget to keep up-to-date with your critical updates, this is vital to continue your auto patched upward and secure.

Have you removed Windows Genuine Advantage or did your copy of XP validate ok? Any reasons yous're still using XP? Let us know in the comments.