DrVenkman PhD 0 Report post Posted May 5, 2006 I've had this computer for two years now, bought it from a friend of the family. In that two years, the Windows updates always came in and, being the kind of person that generally doesn't care and just does whatever a Windows prompt to update windows says, I never had a problem. Today I see the little icon there saying I have available updates and as usual I just click on it without looking. Around this time, my connection drops, and clicking on the connection wizard just creates a flicker, so I say "whatever" and reboot. Upon start-up, I see this new graphic appear saying I'm not running genuine windows and may be the victim of counterfit software. Now I have this stupid blue star on my system tray (even after I followed the insturctions to disable notification, not caring that running a non genuine windows could result in no furhter system updates) and it won't go away. Does MS think I'm going to fork over money for a "proper" system key after running a system for two years with zero problems? Is there anyway I can get this damn star to go away forever? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Princess Leena Report post Posted May 5, 2006 Is it a star that pops up and says you have 30 days to activate windows? If you want, you can find a fake product ID online. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrVenkman PhD 0 Report post Posted May 5, 2006 Nope, it just acts as a shortcut to MS's official homepage, asking me to spend $200 on a "genuine" product. There seem to be no reprecussions for not using it (it even offers you the option of diabling notification - although this only effects booting up and not removing of the star icon - but it warns you you won't get future security updates). I just don't like it there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted May 5, 2006 Some info here about it: may want to skim over, since I'm not sure what update you got: http://www.aviransplace.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=871& You could try getting a pirate version of Windows 2000. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrVenkman PhD 0 Report post Posted May 5, 2006 Reading the first post there, that seems to be my problem in a nutshell. Thanks Drew. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Princess Leena Report post Posted May 5, 2006 If it's the Genuine Advantage thing... Try Start > Run > Type in regedit > Find wga > Delete any .exe's that have wga in the name. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrVenkman PhD 0 Report post Posted May 5, 2006 Yeah, it was the GA... I followed the advice on the link from ATS and the problem has been solved, and fairly quickly. I thank the both of you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted May 5, 2006 Great. Although from here on out, I'd make sure you disable the automatic updates (Start > Run > msconfig, under processes, uncheck it, OK it) in case MS develops ways to get around known work-arounds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Hot Thumbtack In The Eye 0 Report post Posted May 5, 2006 The last windows update I did, which turned itself on automatically at restart, shredded my windows installation completely. Windows 2000 works just as well for my needs anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
