How to avoid Windows Genuine Advantage for an XP update?
- by hlovdal
I am about to apply updates to a windows xp installation I have not booted in a couple of years. When going to update.microsoft.com, it forced me first to accept an activex installation and now it wants me to install wga:
Windows Update
To use this latest version of Windows
Update, you will need to upgrade some
of its components. This version
provides you with the following
enhancements to our service:
<... useless list of "advantages" ...
Details
Windows Genuine Advantage Validation
Tool (KB892130)
1.1 MB , less than 1 minute The Windows Genuine Advantage Validation
Tool enables you to verify that your
copy of Microsoft Windows is genuine.
The tool validates your Windows
installation by checking Windows
Product Identification and Product
Activation status.
Update for Windows XP (KB898461) 477
KB , less than 1 minute This update
installs a permanent copy of Package
Installer for Windows to enable
software updates to have a
significantly smaller download size.
The Package Installer facilitates the
install of software updates for
Microsoft Windows operating systems
and other Microsoft products. After
you install this update, you may have
to restart your system.
Total: 1.5 MB , less than 1 minute
I have heard nothing but bad things about wga, and I absolutely do not want it installed on my system (this answer seems to give some options).
Searching for "windows xp" at microsoft's web pages brought up this page which says
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers
Brief Description
This installation package is intended for IT professionals and developers downloading and installing on multiple computers on a network. If you're updating just one computer,
please visit Windows Update at http://update.microsoft.com .
...
File Name: WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe
I am currently downloading this file. Will installing this bring my installation up to date with security updates? What about later updates whenever a new problem is discovered, how can i update without using wga?
