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
Related Articles
- Official Ways to Disable or Manually Uninstall the Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications from Microsoft
- Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Validation Notifications KB905474 1.8.31.9 Crack
- Crack for Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB905474) 1.7.17.0
- Remove, Bypass, Patch and Disable Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage WGA Validation version 1.5.708.0 with LegitCheckControl.dll Crack
- Crack and Patch to Bypass and Disable WGA Genuine Windows Validation and Notifications version 1.5.554.0
- Windows Genuine Advantage Validation and Notifications 1.9.40.0 (WGA Patch Crack)
- Workaround to Disable and Remove OGA Office Not Genuine Notifications (Uninstall KB949810)
- Information on WGA Validation Tool (KB892130), WGA Notifications (KB905474) and Office Genuine Advantage (OGA)
- Windows Genuine Advantage Validation 1.5.723.1 Crack
- Download Windows Genuine Advantage Validation v1.8.32.0 WGA Crack
Entries (RSS)
June 17th, 2006 23:13
Nothing work for Xp Corporate. Anybody as an idea ? Thanks
June 17th, 2006 18:14
From France,
Great job Swissboy,
WindowsXP-KB905474-ENU-x86-1.5.532.2-noWGA.exe
Work perfectly !
Have a good day.
Bonne journée
June 17th, 2006 10:50
For WMP11, tried steps here.
June 17th, 2006 09:55
Thank you so much for this help!
The 3rd method worked for me, after letting windows automatic update dl and install the latest LegitCheckControl.
I tried to install WMP11 as well, and like “onlyU” experienced the method doesn’t work for this.
Any suggestions?
Thanks again!
June 17th, 2006 06:27
Third method works fine.
but.. when I try to install a software (like IE7, WMP11 or Defender) it fails the genuine check… I know there are ways to bypass this too, but… any other ways?
June 17th, 2006 00:14
humble thanks for all the detail info
June 16th, 2006 04:57
Superman – how are you re-installing XP?
Attempting to install and update some early cracked XP versions can run into other service pack validation problems that are separate from wga.
June 16th, 2006 03:13
@sheri: Simply install the patched Update KB905474 v1.5.532.2, decribed as the ‘Third Method’, and all your problems and questions are gone.
June 16th, 2006 02:56
hi, i need some help. last time i installed some updates from microsoft and it offer me 8 updates. the last one was KB905474 which i did uncheck, because i know that this is wga control update. and i think my window copy is not genuen
now every time when i start window, updates offer me to install KB905474 this updates.
my quetion is how i can stop this offer. should i instal this update or any other way. i m afraid that if i instal i will get messg from wga validation.
June 15th, 2006 22:24
I have just reformatted my computer and I have tried to update windows, but sadly the WGA screen pops out. When I continue on with the
WGA thing, it gives me an error that it cannot validate the version of windows I have if it is really a valid version or not.
Because of that, I cannot do any updates on my computer or even try to bypass WGA using these methods because it won’t even install WGA.
Is there anyway to fix this problem?
June 15th, 2006 20:20
@Zakaria Abdul Kadir: Why so complicate? And to just rename and/or delete the WgaTry.exe und WgaLogon.dll is not a good solution because Windows Update will offer you KB905474 again.
Simply use the patched Update KB905474 v1.5.532.2, decribes as the ‘Third Method’, and all your problems and questions are gone.
By this solution the the WgaTry.exe und WgaLogon.dll are replaced by dummy-files and Windows Update will not offer you KB905474 again. Also ist the installation very simple bcause it’s based on the original Microsoft installer from the Update KB905474.
June 15th, 2006 17:00
I agree, some of the suggestions are working but the WGA creator is smart; deleting all related WGA folders and files in the REGISTRY doesn’t help; the beautiful designed WARNING keeps cpming back.
For some computers deleting the data.dat (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data) will remove the annoying warning but some won’t because the following files can’t be deleted:
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaLogon.dll
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaTray.exe.
So the easiest way to remove it is to find all the WGA.EXE files + WGALOGON.DLL, and rename them or remove the .EXE extension. Everything will be fine.
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaLogonX.dll
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaTray
Tell me if this doesn’t work. Please email me…
June 15th, 2006 16:54
Some of the suggestions are working but the WGA creator is smart; for some computers deleting the data.dat (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data)will remove the annoying warning but some won’t because the following files can’t be deleted:
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaLogon.dll
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaTray.exe.
So the easiest way to remove it is to find all the WGA.EXE files + WGALOGON.DLL, and rename them or remove the .EXE extension. Everything will be fine.
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaLogonX.dll
\WINDOWS\system32\WgaTray
Tell me if this doesn’t work.
June 15th, 2006 11:08
thanks so much my digital life and swissboy! i used method 3 for windows XP (WGA version 1.5.532.2) and it fixed the problem.
you all are awesome!!!
June 15th, 2006 07:00
@Chicche di cala: Ich you have already version 1.5.532.0 of KB905474 installed you not get offered version 1.5.532.2 over Windows Update bceuase it seems to be a minor update. But anyway you can install the patched update KB905474 version 1.5.532.2 (also over the the version 1.5.532.0), decribed as the “Third Method”. By the way, I think much more than only 1 procent have already version 1.5.532.2.
June 15th, 2006 05:41
Hi Swissboy
Why i haven’t a new version 1.5.532.2?
YOu always write aboute it , but 99% of people have 1.5.532.0 or no?
I’m curios, thanks
June 15th, 2006 02:07
same question as fred… how to remove this prob on win 2003 server ?
June 14th, 2006 22:27
@Mastermattie: Why so complicate? And to just delete the WgaTry.exe ist not a good solution because Windows Update will offer you KB905474 again.
Simply use the patched Update KB905474 v1.5.532.2, decribes as the ‘Third Method’, and all your problems and questions are gone.
June 14th, 2006 21:48
In my case, the WgaTray progress can’t be stopped by taskmanager because it’s starting up again.
I stopped this progress this way:
Open windows explorer
Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\
Rightclick wgatray.exe, select properties
Select tab security
Click advanced
Uncheck override settings…
Remove all rights
Click ok
Add your user account and set all permissions to it.
Click ok
Open task manager (CTRL ALT DEL)
Click tab progress
End wgatray.exe
Now you’re be able to delete C:\Windows\System32\WgaTray.exe
June 14th, 2006 05:54
I applied the patch WindowsXP-KB905474-ENU-x86-1.5.532.2-noWGA.exe and it got rid of WGA notifications. I don’t get the messages anymore. Thanks a lot swissboy.
June 14th, 2006 02:17
Thanks swissboy I was just wondering if what I thought could be possible but had doubts that it may cause some other unforeseen problems.
June 14th, 2006 01:58
@Guru Mandir: This ist for many reasons a very bad solution.
Simply use the patched Update KB905474 v1.5.532.2, decribes as the “Third Method”, and all your problems and question are gone.
June 14th, 2006 01:48
If we can remove the Hard Disk and connect it to another PC running Windows and simply delete all occurences of the files
WgaLogon.dll
WgaTray.exe
and
LegitCheckControl.dll
will it do the trick?
Or will it cause a problem if we don’t modify the registry to remove references to WgaLogon.dll?
I was thinking to remove it through this method or since I have a dual boot Linux/Windows setup to boot in Linux and then delete these files since Linux can read Windows partitions and directories. I might have to log in as root to delete them, however.
June 13th, 2006 20:45
Has anyone managed to disable the WGA nag screen on windows update for Windows 2003 Server? I can do it for XP no probs but 2003 is doing my head in :O(
June 13th, 2006 15:06
Does anyone know what TCP / UDP Port number WGA uses? After finding out what information WGA sends, I would like to block it completely from a hardware firewall. Anyone?