Latest Windows update I got

[DrVenkman PhD]

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?

[Guest Princess Leena]

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.

[DrVenkman PhD]

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.

[AndrewTS]

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.

[DrVenkman PhD]

Reading the first post there, that seems to be my problem in a nutshell. Thanks Drew.

[Guest Princess Leena]

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.

[DrVenkman PhD]

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.

[AndrewTS]

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.

[Red Hot Thumbtack In The Eye]

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.