File Details |
|
| File Size | 0.9 MB |
|---|---|
| License | Freeware |
| Operating System | Windows XP |
| Date Added | November 27, 2006 |
| Total Downloads | 21,130 |
| Publisher | Microsoft Corp. |
| Homepage | Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications |
Publisher's Description
Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications is a tool to help reduce software piracy. This tool will confirm that the copy of Windows installed on the PC is genuine and properly licensed. If it is not genuine, the tool will provide periodic reminders to help you take the appropriate action.
Latest Reviews
nesan reviewed v1.0 on May 3, 2009
Post a Review of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications
azazel666 reviewed v1.0 on Dec 19, 2006
The reason software like this exists is for the
hundred of thousands of imbeciles out there who would rather steal software than pay for it.
The mendacity of the masses makes honest people have to pay for their sins. If you cant buy it, dont steal it. If you steal dont complain over WGA, or steam, or disk protection on your games. Suffer for your sins you bunch of sloths.
![[deXter]](https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/228cde722f0fa085f3ff9a4709a93060?s=16){kind=small}
[deXter] reviewed v1.0 on Dec 4, 2006
Still buggy, and still doesn't work *always* as intented. Gives false positives sometimes, which is why I suppose, the new WGA tells the user that the copy they're running MAY be pirated.
So what you have now is WGA telling you have 1) Genuine Windows 2) Pirated Windows or 3) Possibly Pirated. Read between the lines, folks. Possibly pirated means that WGA itself isn't 100% sure if a copy is illegitimate, and thus, its upto the user to ultimately determine if the copy is legitimate.
Which brings the question- why make this at all in the first place when in the end the user himself has to determine the legitimacy?
Besides, legitimate users don't want WGA in the first place. As an owner of a legitimate copy of XP, I personally find WGA and all these "validation" methods very inconvenient and, to an extent, insulting.
The illegitimate users of course, wouldn't be bothered by it. As long as they're saving over $100, would a little tray icon convince them to buy a genuine copy?
I guess the real intended audience would be consumers who were duped by the resellers/OEMs. This tool may bring to their attention that their copy may not be legitimate, thus enabling them to get a refund or a legit copy.
Hence I say that Microsoft was wrong in forcing this "update" through AU. Validation/WGA etc should be optional, because, lets face the facts 1) A user almost always knows the legality of his windows 2) The methods themselves aren't foolproof 3) Causes inconvenience to legit users.
kronix2 reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
This used to phone home every day until Microsoft bowed to pressure and limited it to once every two weeks. Wikipedia documents what data is collected by MS: http://en.wikipedia.org/...dvantage#Data_collected
You can find out if your version of Windows is "genuine" by visiting Windows Update. Who the hell would be stupid enough to install this piece of crap? Avoid.
christoofar reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
Um...I already know if my Windows software installed on my PC is genuine or not. Useless.
jspratjr reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
Works as intended.
kda...though I agree with your ideas, you're blowing "smoke in the wind"...look at this comment:
"yeh, right. Why would anyone really care if they
were using ingenuine software, as long as it continued to work?"
Unfortunately that pretty much sums up today's tech world "in general" .. gimme something for nothing. If not, don't call me a thief for stealing it because if you do, there's obviously something wrong with you.
DatabaseBen reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
yeh, right. Why would anyone really care if they
were using ingenuine software, as long as it continued to work?
I guess MS believes there are some real idiots out there that would consider this piece of software to be advantagous. But in fact, it stalls the pc and has been found to misreport genuine software as pirated.
Of course anyone installing it can unistall it, but not before sending data to microsoft. Then can anyone ever be absolutely sure that the spyware was "really" uninstalled???
Unfortunately, I don't think so. It would not be unconceivable that each time the pc reported/revealed the version of windows installed, it will likely include a small indicator if it is genuine, questionable or pirated.
kda reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
Version 1.0 of Windows Genuine Advantage
---------------------------------------
UPDATE: Here is the web page where what's new in this "final" version is discussed, including fewer on-line checks (at boot up), new language, etc.
http://news.com.com/Micr...art=dht&tag=nl.e703
Here is a Tiny URL that would be easier to use I suppose: http://tinyurl.com/yasaxn
--------------------------------------
Installs easily and works fine. I always buy and register the few software programs on which I depend and which I use regularly. That currently includes my Operating System (WinXP), WinRAR, Agent 4.0, MS Office, Nero, my Intuit software and a few others.
Why? Because I want these companies to stay in business and to keep writing good, useful software. If I didn't think it was useful, I wouldn't use it. Pretty straight forward eh?
The few programs I do "borrow" eventually get purchased as they prove useful, prove trouble free and as I can afford them. Meantime, I sure don't expect the legal owners to condone my failure to purchase and register their product. And I sure as hell don't whine about it.
What an interesting place this world is becoming when any resistance to the act of theft is viewed by the thief as "spying" and as somehow unfair. This is not a good sign.
Just carry that philosophy to it's logical conclusion and imagine what the world would look like.
If you are a thief, at least have the grace to admit you are a thief. If a thief is what you want to be, try to show a little class about it. Don't demean your victims as being unfair because they want to try and stop you. ;-). Geeeze, that is the other half of this game you elected to play. You really don't just want your victims to give up do you? How classless is that?
Ciolouse reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
That just suxx !
HaWhatWhat reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
I love microsofts tactics they can't keep there own software secure so they are grabbing at straws to hope people will do the right thing. Maybe if xp or vista was worth the price they charge it would not be such a problem.
If they can take such a hit on the 360 why not do the same for software that has been in the making for 20+ years.
nesan reviewed v1.0 on May 3, 2009
Post a Review of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications
azazel666 reviewed v1.0 on Dec 19, 2006
The reason software like this exists is for the
hundred of thousands of imbeciles out there who would rather steal software than pay for it.
The mendacity of the masses makes honest people have to pay for their sins. If you cant buy it, dont steal it. If you steal dont complain over WGA, or steam, or disk protection on your games. Suffer for your sins you bunch of sloths.
[deXter] reviewed v1.0 on Dec 4, 2006
Still buggy, and still doesn't work *always* as intented. Gives false positives sometimes, which is why I suppose, the new WGA tells the user that the copy they're running MAY be pirated.
So what you have now is WGA telling you have 1) Genuine Windows 2) Pirated Windows or 3) Possibly Pirated. Read between the lines, folks. Possibly pirated means that WGA itself isn't 100% sure if a copy is illegitimate, and thus, its upto the user to ultimately determine if the copy is legitimate.
Which brings the question- why make this at all in the first place when in the end the user himself has to determine the legitimacy?
Besides, legitimate users don't want WGA in the first place. As an owner of a legitimate copy of XP, I personally find WGA and all these "validation" methods very inconvenient and, to an extent, insulting.
The illegitimate users of course, wouldn't be bothered by it. As long as they're saving over $100, would a little tray icon convince them to buy a genuine copy?
I guess the real intended audience would be consumers who were duped by the resellers/OEMs. This tool may bring to their attention that their copy may not be legitimate, thus enabling them to get a refund or a legit copy.
Hence I say that Microsoft was wrong in forcing this "update" through AU. Validation/WGA etc should be optional, because, lets face the facts 1) A user almost always knows the legality of his windows 2) The methods themselves aren't foolproof 3) Causes inconvenience to legit users.
kronix2 reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
This used to phone home every day until Microsoft bowed to pressure and limited it to once every two weeks. Wikipedia documents what data is collected by MS: http://en.wikipedia.org/...dvantage#Data_collected
You can find out if your version of Windows is "genuine" by visiting Windows Update. Who the hell would be stupid enough to install this piece of crap? Avoid.
christoofar reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
Um...I already know if my Windows software installed on my PC is genuine or not. Useless.
jspratjr reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
Works as intended.
kda...though I agree with your ideas, you're blowing "smoke in the wind"...look at this comment:
"yeh, right. Why would anyone really care if they
were using ingenuine software, as long as it continued to work?"
Unfortunately that pretty much sums up today's tech world "in general" .. gimme something for nothing. If not, don't call me a thief for stealing it because if you do, there's obviously something wrong with you.
DatabaseBen reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
yeh, right. Why would anyone really care if they
were using ingenuine software, as long as it continued to work?
I guess MS believes there are some real idiots out there that would consider this piece of software to be advantagous. But in fact, it stalls the pc and has been found to misreport genuine software as pirated.
Of course anyone installing it can unistall it, but not before sending data to microsoft. Then can anyone ever be absolutely sure that the spyware was "really" uninstalled???
Unfortunately, I don't think so. It would not be unconceivable that each time the pc reported/revealed the version of windows installed, it will likely include a small indicator if it is genuine, questionable or pirated.
kda reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
Version 1.0 of Windows Genuine Advantage
---------------------------------------
UPDATE: Here is the web page where what's new in this "final" version is discussed, including fewer on-line checks (at boot up), new language, etc.
http://news.com.com/Micr...art=dht&tag=nl.e703
Here is a Tiny URL that would be easier to use I suppose: http://tinyurl.com/yasaxn
--------------------------------------
Installs easily and works fine. I always buy and register the few software programs on which I depend and which I use regularly. That currently includes my Operating System (WinXP), WinRAR, Agent 4.0, MS Office, Nero, my Intuit software and a few others.
Why? Because I want these companies to stay in business and to keep writing good, useful software. If I didn't think it was useful, I wouldn't use it. Pretty straight forward eh?
The few programs I do "borrow" eventually get purchased as they prove useful, prove trouble free and as I can afford them. Meantime, I sure don't expect the legal owners to condone my failure to purchase and register their product. And I sure as hell don't whine about it.
What an interesting place this world is becoming when any resistance to the act of theft is viewed by the thief as "spying" and as somehow unfair. This is not a good sign.
Just carry that philosophy to it's logical conclusion and imagine what the world would look like.
If you are a thief, at least have the grace to admit you are a thief. If a thief is what you want to be, try to show a little class about it. Don't demean your victims as being unfair because they want to try and stop you. ;-). Geeeze, that is the other half of this game you elected to play. You really don't just want your victims to give up do you? How classless is that?
Ciolouse reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
That just suxx !
HaWhatWhat reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
I love microsofts tactics they can't keep there own software secure so they are grabbing at straws to hope people will do the right thing. Maybe if xp or vista was worth the price they charge it would not be such a problem.
If they can take such a hit on the 360 why not do the same for software that has been in the making for 20+ years.
dj_Kidd reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
After betanews beeing my home page for the last 10 years i had to log in and write a review for the first time ever just for this, now tell me...
what, are they joking or what ?!?!?!?!?!?!?
fishmaster reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
TOP NOTCH & SUPERB!!! Excellent "legal" privacy data collection spyware. I only wish they would make a mobile version so they can track me calls too & maybe give me an audible warning message that I AM LEGAL & HAVE VALIDATED UMPTEEN MILLION TIMES. ( Don't be surprised folks if it hasn't been slipped in or going to be slipped in another "update" ie: IE7, WMP11, Windows Live Messy or even the upcoming SP3 for XP)
wicketr reviewed v1.0 on Nov 29, 2006
Do not download this. It is spyware/nagware. It provides ZERO benefit to the user.