Disable and Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications Nag Screen
This page has been updated, visit the new article on how to bypass and disable the WGA or way to make your Windows genuine permanently.
Microsoft has released WGA Notifications application which effectively turned Microsoft Windows operating system into a ‘nagware’, with a “This copy of Windows is not genuine” warning. What the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application does what it will check your Microsoft Windows XP validity. If it found that the copy of Windows XP is not validated, not genuine, counterfeit, unlicensed, pirated, illegal, unauthorised or simply failed the Windows Genuine Advantage validation process, then the notification messages will appear at various places and time.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purpose only, as most information is found on various part of Internet. Readers should contacts Microsoft if their licensed or OEM software cannot be validated or purchase genuine software.
When you log on to a non-genuine copy of Windows XP, the following notification error message “This copy of Windows is not genuine” will pop-up on the logon process:
And the nicely said “You may be a victim of software counterfeiting” message on the bottom right corner of log-in screen:
Microsoft allows Windows faithfuls to have 2 options: Get Genuine or Resolve Later. Click on Resolve Later will temporarily bypass the notification and let you login into and use Windows nagged with notification icon and messages, which will randomly appear as balloon notification message with an icon in the notification area (system tray).
Clicking on the balloon notification or the notification area icon will lead you to the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Failure Web page that contains the specifics of the validation failure and the steps that you can take to make the operating system genuine.
To get rid of the WGA notifications that intends to remind you that your Windows is not validated, you can buy a validly licensed copy of genuine Microsoft Windows.
Update: Bypass WGA Validation with Crack or Hack and Disable WGA Notifications Warning Message Workarounds
Latest Version: 1.5.554.0 on October 2006 (distribute to some computers with no known roll-out pattern), 1.5.708.0 on September 2006 (distribute to whoever wants to download from Microsoft Download Center), 1.5.540.0 on 28th June 2006, 1.5.532.2 on 6th June 2006, 1.5.532.0 on 30th May 2006, 1.5.530.0 on 23rd May 2006, 1.5.526.0 on 26th April 2006.
More information on WGA Validation Tool (KB892130) and WGA Notifications (KB905474) which install LegitCheckControl.dll, WgaLogon.dll and WgaTray.exe.
With new release of WGA, some methods no longer works, and some has been updated. Several methods that has certain success on certain people, you may try until you success.
Official Method by Microsoft - more information here.
First Method
- Lauch Windows Task Manager.
- End wgatray.exe process in Task Manager.
- Restart Windows XP in Safe Mode.
- Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32.
- Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32\dllcache.
- Lauch RegEdit.
- Browse to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify - Delete the folder ‘WgaLogon’ and all its contents
- Reboot Windows XP.
Note: With this method, you may be prompted to install WGA Notifications again which can still be unselected.
Second Method
Another alternative suggested by dman is by using System Restore to restore the PC to a previous restore point that WGA Notifications hasn’t kicked in, and then carefully stop KB905474 from been applied to the system. To use System Restore, go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore.
Note: Again, you may be prompted again to install WGA Notification, so it must be bypassed.
Third Method updated
This method involves using a cracked version of LegitCheckControl.dll to replace the original copy of LegitCheckControl.dll, and thus bypass the WGA validation and make Microsoft believes that your copy of Windows is genuine. To get rid of WGA Notifications warning messages, the patched version of WgaLogon.dll and WgaTray.exe to replace the existing files.
To apply the patch by replacing the files manually, try to end the respective processes in the Task Manager before deleting the existing files. Most likely is you will have to restart your PC in Safe Mode in order to replacing the original copy of LegitCheckControl.dll and related files. However, there has been automatic updater and even cracked WGA installer that automatically apply the patched version of WGA files.
Latest Update for WGA version 1.5.708.0 latest
Download cracked and patched version of LegitCheckControl.dll with thanks to Danny.
Latest Update for WGA version 1.5.554.0 latest
Download cracked and patched version of LegitCheckControl.dll, WgaLogon.dll and WgaTray.exe for v1.5.554.0 of Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool and WGA Notifications.
John suggested that it may be rolled out to reduce the frequency of ‘phone home’ feature. BetaNews has confirmed this and says Microsoft has completed the pilot phase for WGA Notifications, officially rolling out the anti-piracy reminders to Windows XP users worldwide. Anyway if Notifications Tools is patched, it won’t callbacks at all. Swissboy found that now there are 15 languages supported for KB905474 and offers solution.
General release version of Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications also has updated EULA which says installing of this update is optional. However, once installed, the update will become a permanent part of your Windows XP software, means you can’t uninstall it. The EULA also confirms that information about your system will be sent to Microsoft. You can just skip installing the KB905474 by clicking “I Decline” when shown the EULA. If you don’t want the Automatic Updates or Windows Updates to try install WGA Notifications again, click Don’t ask me to install these updates again at Decline EULA window.
Latest Update for WGA version 1.5.532.2
Version 1.5.532.2 of WGA Validation Tool and WGA Notifications is NOT YET mass released to all Windows system, so your system may not have this version.
WindowsXP-KB905474-ENU-x86-1.5.532.2-noWGA.exe (as suggested by swissboy) is the original setup of KB905474, but with the 3 files as mentioned above replaced with patched version and re-packed. You can view the contents with WinRAR or 7-Zip. Download here or here. (Removed due to compliant from Microsoft)
LegitCheckControl.dll-v1.5.532.2-Jun-02-2006.zip (as suggested by swissboy) contains hacked version of LegitCheckControl.dll which you have to replace manually over the existing dll in \Windows\System32 folder. Download here or here. (Deleted due to complaint from Microsoft)
new More automated WGA removal tool: RemoveWGA
Latest Update for WGA version 1.5.532.0
LegitCheckControl1.5.532.0.muiz.fixed.rar (suggested by Picard) is the patched LegitCheckControl.dll and can be download here or here (removed due to complaint from Microsoft).
If LegitCheckControl.dll alone doesn’t work, try to patch the other two WGA files too, namely WgaLogon.dll and WgaTray.exe. Download the the patches for 3 files here or here (Removed due to complaint from Microsoft). Overwrite the original files with these hacked version in \Windows\System32 folder. The patch should remove notifications nag screen and allows Windows Update.
There are also several automated tools that save the dirty works of have to manually overwrites and replaces the WGA applications.
WGAPatch905474 (suggested by SilverBullet) contains 905474.exe that will patch Windows to allow access to full (custom) Windows Update and get rid of nag screen. Download 905474.exe here or here (removed due to complaint from Microsoft).
There are also several patched WGANotify KB905474 installation setup which will install KB905474 WGAnotify with the 3 patched WGA files namely LegitCheckControl.dll, WgaLogon.dll and WgaTray.exe. One of them is HotFix windowsxp-kb905474-enu-x86.exe suggested by DeaDMan Walking, which will after install, disable notifications nag screen and allows update. Download here, here or here (removed coz of Microsoft complaint).
WindowsXP-KB905474-ENU-x86-v1.5.532.0-noWGA.exe (suggested by Swissboy) is also the patched KB905474 setup file which is actually the original setup of KB905474, but with the 3 files replaced. Download it here or here (removed due to Microsoft compliant).
Old Updates
Version 1.5.530.0 of cracked LegitCheckControl.dll (suggested by chucko), can also be downloaded here or here (obsolete links, visit here for updates).
Use the latest cracked LegitCheckControl.dll by searching for “Windows.Genuine.Advantage.Validation.v1.5.526.0.CRACKED-ETH0″. Can also be downloaded here (obsolete link, update here). Cracked LegitCheckControl.dll also available here or here (obsolete links, updates available here). Once download the cracked dll, replace the LegitCheckControl.dll in \Windows\System32 folder with the cracked version. You may need to restart your PC in safe mode to replace the files.
Forth Method
Jules found that by disabling and renaming the files ‘WgaLogon.dll’ and ‘WgaTray.exe’ in C:\WINDOWS\system32 folder by using the program Unlocker seems to get rid of all the nags/popups.
Fifth Method
Clear the contents or create a new empty data.dat for WGA, and make data.dat Read-Only and Hidden as detailed here.
The following step basically is the same with the above data.dat method, only different is that you no need to create any file in the WGA data folder:
- Launch Windows Explorer and go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data
- Go to Tools -> Folder Option -> View.
- Select (click) Show Hidden Files and Folders option.
- Unselect (uncheck) Hide Protected Operating System Files option.
- Click OK.
- Delete everything in the data folder.
- Right click on data folder, and select Properties.
- Select (Check) Read-Only as the folder’s atributes.
- Click OK or Apply.
Update: After 30 May 2006 with the release of WGA 1.5.532.0, this method no longer works. If the data.dat is set to “Read-Only”, WGA may complains that the serial key from the file could not be read, making the WGA validation failed even with the cracked dll files. So just delete the file (and make sure the folder is not set to “Read-Only”), WGA will then automatically regenerate the file and create the key, so you will pass the validation if you have the correct patched dll installed.
Sixth Method
Another alternative suggest that three files are installed Windows XP System Folder for WGA:
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaLogon.dll
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaTray.exe
\WINDOWS\system32\LegitCheckControl.dll
The wgatray.exe process makes the check for genuine windows software. If WgaLogon.dll is denied execution right, that WinLogon is unable to call it to check on Windows validity and display notification package at boot, and since WgaLogon is also responsible for running and maintaining WgaTray.exe, no more tray popups either.
To change and disable the execute bit of WgaLogon.dll:
- Turn off Simple File Sharing in Tools -> Folder Options -> View tab.
- Right click WgaLogon.dll in Windows Explorer and open the Security Tab.
- Click Advanced button.
- Uncheck the Inherit box at the bottom.
- Click the Copy button.
- Click OK.
- Go through each listed user/group and remove the “Read & Execute” permission for WgaLogon.dll, leaving the “Read” permission as-is.
- Click OK to apply the permission changes.
- Close the file properties dialog.
- Restart the computer.
- Turn “Use simple file sharing” on (optional).
Optionally, steps suggested by PSNet which has the same effect - disabling WgaLogon.dll.
Note: Visit the a more tidy article on how to bypass and disable the WGA with various tricks and hacks or a host redirect method to make Windows genuine permanently.
More on…
Page 2: More methods and suggestions to bypass WGA
Page 3: How you can ‘upgrade’ the version of cracked DLLs by yourself
Share and contribute or get technical support and help at My Digital Life Forums.
Related Articles
- Crack and Patch to Bypass and Disable WGA Genuine Windows Validation and Notifications version 1.5.554.0
- Crack for Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB905474) 1.7.17.0
- Bypass and Disable Genuine Windows Validation Check
- Download Microsoft Software from Download Center Bypass and Without Genuine Windows Validation
- Cracked LegitCheckControl.dll 1.7.59.0 for WGA Validation by ETH0
- Windows Genuine Advantage Crack for WGA 1.5.722.0
- Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Validation v1.7.69.1 Update
- Download Windows.Genuine.Advantage.Validation.v1.7.59.1.CRACKED-ETH0 WGA Cracks
- Firewall Leak Tester RemoveWGA Stop Microsoft WGA Notifications Callbacks & Phones Home
- Windows Genuine Advantage Crack 1.7.18.5
Entries (RSS)
April 28th, 2006 07:00
After installing XP one of the first things I do is turn off system restore. Usually never need it and a huge resource hog. Here’s a good example why to use it. lol So for those like me who have it off…
April 28th, 2006 05:09
Hey friends!
The easiest way to get rid of the damn notification is to perform a System Restore to an earlier date.
After completing the Restore, delete any files in the C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder because the WBA files still exist there which may cause further problems in the future. Bye
April 28th, 2006 04:23
You got it Jules. I looked at the install log and found those two files as well.I deleted them both and nag is gone. Good to go for the time being.
April 28th, 2006 02:17
I’ve found that disabling and renaming the files “WgaLogon.dll” and “WgaTray.exe” in C:\WINDOWS\system32 by using the program Unlocker seems to get rid of all the nags/popups.
April 27th, 2006 14:44
re install it?? sounds risky, wat if this newer one is of a very updated version, and then no one can release a higher version of hacked dll? or would you simply copy the version info from the original and paste it into the hacked dll to increase its update??
but at the moment im really struggling to copy and paste and then actually saving it. refer to my previous posts about the saving problem.
April 27th, 2006 12:59
Maybe the thing to do is reinstall WGA to get the original dll lol. I’m in the same exact boat. Nagged but can access M$ d/l’s.
April 27th, 2006 10:58
admin, as in my previous post (post #3), i have once again tried copy and pasting the info version you provide in step 4. i did this by opening the LegitCheckControl.dll with Reshack and saved the file after pasting the info version but when i close and reopen to check it, it has not saved the new info version. when i navigate in that dll with reshack i find something about an error on line 5 again.
this was done AFTER downloading TYLER’s dll, which didnt work either. (yes i found the hacked dll in the rar folder, extracted and put it in sys32).
the data.dat procedure also didnt work for me. the new data.dat which i created and then applied READ-ONLY and HIDDEN attributes, does not work. (this is done under the docs and settings/allusers/applicationdata/windowsgenuineadvantage folder.
i managed to stop the pop up whihc appears on the system tray a while ago but i still get the prompt when i start windows.
a final word, TYLER and ADMIN, …could it be your procedures didnt work for me because i deleted the original windows dll from sys32 even before replacing it with a hacked dll??
i think im going insane here.
April 27th, 2006 10:49
Admin,
Will that data.dat hack remove the nag screens, notifications and other things MS had put?
April 27th, 2006 09:29
Just copied the .dll into system32 but still get message when I reboot. Is there anythin else I need to do?
April 27th, 2006 08:01
kon and donkjaer, it’s unable to the uninstall.
Kon, use winrar to open RAR file.
April 27th, 2006 07:18
This requires some patience and reboot often I found helped me get it going.
It does however work nicely. Appreciated
April 27th, 2006 06:57
also what do i need to open that hacked/cracked version of LegitCheckControl.dll? comes as a RAR file?
April 27th, 2006 06:54
Hi,
Got to the uninstall bit in add/remove programmes & it said it required a location as someone posted above…
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7620/14hv.png
I clicked cancel then another box appearted which i clicked yes to & now I cant see or retrieve windows validation in add/remove programmes.
Any help appreciated.
April 27th, 2006 03:45
Hi,
I tried all solutions here (which are great) and got rid of most but when I start up windows, it still tells me that I’m not genuine.
When I want to uninstall KB905474, it cannot find the uninstall program (I can’t find it either it should be in c:\windows no?) and in regedit the uninstall string is empty - any ideas?
April 27th, 2006 03:03
Koby, I believe you need to check the “Show updates” option on the “Add/Remove Programs” screen.
April 27th, 2006 02:58
Hi,
I changed the values in the registry, but i even can’t see the KB905474 program in the Add/Remove screen, is there something i missed?
April 27th, 2006 02:36
I can confirm the release I mentioned in my first comment does indeed prevent the nag screen from popping up.
Windows Update and everything still works. And Windows Update doesn’t re-install a “proper” LegitCheckControl.dll if it finds a hacked one.
That release can be gotten here:
http://www.9down.com/downloads.php?fileid=319
April 27th, 2006 01:44
PSNet, I wrote about it before here. Notice that some users successfully get rid of the notification nag screen with the modified data.dat.
April 27th, 2006 01:35
There’s a new LegitCheckControl.dll in Windows.Genuine.Advantage.Validation.v1.5.526.0.CRACKED-ETH0
April 26th, 2006 23:57
What’s the data.dat hack?
April 26th, 2006 23:02
Kori, try the version information above. Let us know your result.
PSnet. I use data.dat hack, so far still working.
April 26th, 2006 20:02
Admin,
Ok. I hope the fix will be there soon!
I’m still not using the .dll way, because I don’t know if that’s really safe? Is it safe?
April 26th, 2006 19:22
i downloaded the patched version of LegitCheckControl.dll and also Reshack. The instructions above say to copy the version info of the microsoft original LegitCheckControl.dll (because it has newer version info) and to paste that into the version info of the hacked one. You then replace the original dll with the hacked one (now with newer version info), correct?
unfortunately i think i had already DELETED the original LegitCheckControl.dll because i tried another method for removing the Genuine Windows Notifications, which predictably failed miserably.
therefore with only the one hacked dll, there is not much use of it, correct?
i also tried copy and pasting the version info text u have in step 4 but when i save the dll, it says theres some error in line 5 of the version info or something like that. is the version info text in step 4 even supposed to be used?
help asap please, thanks.
April 26th, 2006 15:18
Hi PSnet, you’re right. Seems like it’s not possible to uninstall the WGAnotify yet. But the dll hack should works.
April 26th, 2006 13:46
Hi,
The reg fix worked and showed the Remove button, but when you click the button, it will ask for the uninstall file or such like. I got this window -
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7620/14hv.png