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56 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
56 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Remove WGA Notification
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layout: default
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created: 2009-02-02 19:49:08 +0100
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updated: 2009-02-02 19:49:08 +0100
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toc: false
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tags:
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- know-how
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- software
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- windows
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- wga
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---
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Microsoft distributes the *Windows Genuine Advantage Notification Tool (KB905474)* through the WindowsUpdate mechanism.
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This tool should detect fake Windows serial numbers and nag the user. Interestingly, Microsoft hid a small paragraph in
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their EULA after that the tool sends daily(!!) reports to Microsoft. According to MS this "is neccessary" since the
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tool is BETA and MS needs to be able to react if it goes crazy. Yeah … sure!
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Sadly, if you installed it by accident, there's no easy way to remove it. No entry in the *Add/Remove Programs* window.
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You could restore a backup of your disk or use *System Restore*, but after some Google'ing I found [this site](http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/04/26/disable-and-remove-windows-genuine-advantage-notifications-nag-screen/)
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which lists 16 ways to remove the WGAN.
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The first method seemed to be the best and so I used [AutoHotkey](http://www.autohotkey.com/) and automated it.
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**Download here:** [wganuninst.zip]({{ site.url }}/assets/wganuninst.zip)
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How it works
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============
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1. the files `WgaLogon.dll` and `WgaTray.exe` get moved out of `%WINDIR%\system32` and `%WINDIR%\system32\dllcache`,
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renamed and marked for deletion upon next boot
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1. the running process `WgaTray.exe` gets killed (if the file would still be in `system32`, it would get restarted
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through the `WgaLogon.dll`)
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1. the 2 uninstall entries and the `WLNotify` entry get deleted from the registry
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1. Now everything should be as it was before the WGAN infected your PC.
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Reboot and everything should be fine again.
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To not get the tool again through the automatic WindowsUpdate, set the update to *Notify but don't download* and when
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it asks for the WGAN, de-select it and choose *Don't show again*.
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Alternative
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===========
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Using [muBlinder](http://www.p2plife.com/forums/Official_muBlinder_Page-t320.html) you can patch your
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`LegitCheckControl.dll` with new version data so that the WGAN thinks everything is fine. After 3 or 4 reboots, the
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warning messages should be gone. If not, muBlinder can also remove it.
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WindizUpdate
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============
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Users of *Firefox* or *Opera* can get WindowsUpdates without any WGA testing through [WindizUpdate](http://windizupdate.com/).
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You even get updates for Mozilla-components or some hardware.
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