How to remove Windows XP Genuine Advantage Notification
29 March 2009, Viktor UstijanoskiIf your Windows XP is not licensed and your computer is connected to internet, it is very possible to get the newest Microsoft update in form of WGA Notification – Windows Genuine Advantage Notification or GENUINE warning.
This update will remind you all time that your Windows XP Operating System is not licensed and it will give options for licensing. Also when your system is already started, the WGA process is always active in your taskbar and there is no way to turn off because it will be started again automatically and continue with annoying warnings.
But here is simple tutorial how to remove genuine warnings:
Second Update and very functional tutorial:
- First – click Start then Run and type “regedit” without quotes and press Enter
- Go to My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify. In this location delete the folder “WgaLogon” and all content with name WgaLogon. If there is no WgaLogon folder continue with next steps.
- Restart your computer. After restart WGA will not be active and you can remove it completely following the next steps:
- Set your folders options to show hidden and protected Windows files – go to My Computer/Tools/Folder Options and then choose View. From the View tab choose “Show hidden files and folders” and uncheck “Hide protected operating system files” and click OK
- Now, Go to folder Windows\System32\dllcache, find and delete “WgaTray.exe”. Also, check for “WgaTray.exe” in Windows\System32\, and if you find it delete it, and search for “Wga*.*” with Start-Search-All files and folders and delete everything that starts with “Wga” (Wgatray.exe; Wgalogon.dll, Wgasetup; etc..)
- Restart your computer again and live happy and free.
Tags | Howto, Tips and Tricks, Windows, Windows XP
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Thanks, guys, that did the trick. Effing Microsoft and their dirty tricks.
Thanks! Those instructions really helped. No more annoying Microsoft notifications.
Sorry guys, didn't work for me. Didn't find the folder “WgaLogon” under My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify and (what else should I expect) no “WgaTray.exe” file found. Any ideas?
thank you for being my first google result… plain and simple, i like it. thanks for tutorial. genuine advantage is MICROSOFT SPYWARE… harmless but annoying. i got Windows XP from somebody who worked for ADT Security so i dont understand how there could be any way my copy was invalid… stupid microsoft…
OMG!!THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!I THINK IT WORKED. FOREVER IN YOUR DEBT.
TINYKONNIE
Worked great, just print it and follow the instructions word for word and it will get rid of the rat fink, I had the OEM and product and still received the message. Thanks
Worked perfectly.
Like the above post, I had an OEM license from DELL with the product key still on the side of the case. Micro$oft said it was invalid.
Thank you very much. I purchased my Windows in 2005 along with the Word program on it. I kept receiving the invalid error every time I used Word. This is very frustrating! I think they are trying to get us buy their new piece of crap Word, so they are using spyware to destroy programs. I will be purchasing Google's office program when it comes out.
This worked marvelous, thank you very much!
faboulous! Worked perfektly and easy to do, evan for a complete computer-novince like me. Tank you sooo much!
THANKSSS!
Thanks to all of you that were involved in this WGA fix. YOU ROCK!!!!!!Many blessings to all of you…
Chad
thanks, appreciate the help. worked great.
Some people have been conditioned to think this is cheating but here is what they do not know… Microsoft authorizes other companies to lease its product keys in absence of also providing pre-sales verification so that potential purchases of a product key lease can check to see if the product key is valid before purchase. Microsoft thereby can use counterfeit software as a sales lead gimmick. Pretty clever, huh?
It Worked! Thanks and Great Instructions!
good article. i also found an good tools named Genius QuickFix on http://www.pcgeniuszone.com
the full article link of the article is http://www.pcgeniuszone.com/2010/03/say-bye-to-windows-genuine-notification.html
Thanks, it is very helpful
hey guys its work… thanks
Thank you so much….The thing is gone forever
Thanks so much for this. It worked. Bloody Microshaft……..
Also delete \WINDOWS\system32\LegitCheckControl.dll
if you have it.
It still worked with me, thanks!
awesome! a great thanks to you!
hi…..
thanks for google support my problem is resolved
i have remove registry file then restart the computer
& now working ok
hi..,
Thank you very much,
very helpful..
The Notification screen comes up every time I start to boot the computer and asks whether to install it. It seems the GAN is not yet installed, so the above method does not work for me. Any way to remove the notification without first have to install it?
This method works after GAN is installed on your computer. So install it first, then remove it with this tutorial.
i found the “Start-Search-All files and folders + delete” so much helpful to me. super thanks man!!!
((and search for “Wga*.*” with Start-Search-All files and folders and delete everything that starts with “Wga” (Wgatray.exe; Wgalogon.dll, Wgasetup; etc..))
@ Gilbert, your trick work on mine..Wga software was not installed on my computer but installation skin comes everytime i start. now its all gone……thanksssssss
this is very good and helpfull for remove windows geneious problem
tnx this is very good and helpfull for remove windows geneious problem