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)
May 18th, 2006 04:44
Jetta392 Worked like a charm. Thanks
May 17th, 2006 12:09
Thanks a million!
I got it right using the first try itself!
Also, pls tell me if I can visit the microsoft update/Windows update now after removing the nags and replacing the legitcheckcontroll.dll?
Also, I downloaded the windows defender, but not able to install earlier because it said my windows was not genuine. Can I install it now?
Thanks again!!!!!
All the best!!!!
-Sameer
May 17th, 2006 12:02
Was easy for me. I did a two step method.
First Download and replace LegitCheckControl.dll with the hacked version.
Second Open folder
Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data
Open data.dat clear out the contents and save empty file.Change file properties to read only and hidden.
Reboot
Balloons and warnings gone. Windows Updates work 100% Never asks to reinstall WGA…
May 16th, 2006 21:11
I still like Dhilip’s removal tool. Just double-click the .EXE, click “Remove”, and restart.
Simple! Easy!
Dhilip’s Post: http://tinyurl.com/erh75
Rapidshare Link: http://tinyurl.com/jj3po
=)
May 16th, 2006 20:54
Better use this cracked WGA files and you will still eble to use WindowsUpdate. eMule link:
ed2k://|file|WGA%20Crack%201.5.512.0%20LegitCheckControl.dll
%20wgalogon.dll%20WgaTray.exe%20by%20daro.zip|355244|
68C30021651242B19C2AB41DB56717A7|
h=DCJRGOJRGPUPFDTAYNQX3IHH3IGXKOUL|/
Note: Above link should be in one line.
Overwrite the original file with that cracked one and
Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications and check and procedure will gone!
Copy it here:
system32/LegitCheckControl.dll
system32/WgaLogon.dll
system32/WgaTray.exe
system32/dllcache/LegitCheckControl.dll
system32/dllcache/WgaLogon.dll
system32/dllcache/WgaTray.exe
do it in safe-mode or better in linux-knoppix
May 16th, 2006 09:56
Remove and Disable Windows Genuine Notification…
There are several methods available in the Internet to disable and remove Windows Genuine notifications
……
May 16th, 2006 08:34
[...] Disable and Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications Nag Screen [...]
May 16th, 2006 08:33
[...] Disable and Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications Nag Screen Here are 12 method’s to removing the nag screens that have recently been appearing for many people using windows. Since Microsoft is a bunch of retards it appears for people who do not have a “legal” serial code even though many people probably have already bought Windows XP before from OEM companies but would rather bypass their crap because they lost their valid code or plain just don’t want to put up with the crap that microsoft forces it’s customers to go through like calling the company everytime you upgrade your hardware. 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. [...]
May 16th, 2006 04:39
Found this on another site. Cannot verify
Download and install WGA after clicking “Express” or “Custom”. Then click Start, Run, then type the following (without speech marks): “regsvr32 /u LegitCheckControl.dll”. Then go to Windows Update and it will ask you to install WGA again. Then click Start, Run, then type (again without speech marks): “regsvr32 LegitCheckControl.dll”. Click “Back” on the browser, and then “Custom” or “Express” – the updates should now be shown.
May 16th, 2006 02:28
All gone. Great stuff. But they’ve got wise to a few things..ending wgatray via task manager just spawns another copy, switching values of norepair etc seems to work (method twelve)
Also, now when I try to get updates the first thing it does is try to install wga checker! Will it still get updates or does it have to have this beastie to work, now?
May 15th, 2006 22:35
Dhilip,
Great remover! I have a few questions. Do you have a website with additional tools? How will we be able to get a new version, if you have to make one? Can I see the source code? If not, what process is the executable taking to remove WGAN?
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/04/26/disable-and-remove-windows-genuine-advantage-notifications-nag-screen/#comment-1324
May 15th, 2006 08:43
cyExy,
By FAR the easiest ‘fix’. I just talked a friend through it over the phone and it worked like a charm. (The line started winlogon on his PC, but it still ended with WgaLogon.dll.
I tried it on my own PC (Which is legal.) and when checking for Windows Updates, I was asked to install it again. I Hide the Update, never to be bothered again…..until MS comes up with another check.
May 15th, 2006 04:10
I’m using Spybot – Search & Destroy to disable the WGA.
And when I checked windows update site I didn’t see any WGA installation offers.
Open S & D (Advanced Mode)
and go Tools -> System Startup
then uncheck the “System.ini; WgaLogon; WgaLogon.dll” (I unchecked only this one).
Restart windoza
And all Notifications are gone
May 14th, 2006 13:08
#51
Yes. Open the the balloon. Click custom install. This will show the update with a check mark beside it. Uncheck the box beside the update. This will show an option that says something like “Never install this update”. Check that and click ok. The balloon and update goes away.
May 14th, 2006 13:00
[...] crack wga [...]
May 13th, 2006 23:36
To all the people telling us to “use the 13th method” and buy the software, please STFU.
Thank you
May 13th, 2006 09:44
How about you just don’t install the fucking thing in the first place? You do know that Windows Update will continue to serve you updates even if you don’t install the fucking KB905474 WGAN package, don’t you? Just use the good-old javascript to bypass WGA.
javascript:void(window.g_sDisableWGACheck=’all’)
And you’re golden.
May 13th, 2006 02:18
Thirteenth Method:
Actually go out and buy the software instead of stealing it.
May 13th, 2006 01:50
I used the hacked DLL, Then choose custom updates, unslected WPA 5474 Installed the other 24 updates… everything sweet!
May 12th, 2006 22:58
There’s no iffiness with regard to “may be a victim of piracy” for those in the know and who look at how they sew up their boogie boards.
Though the suggestion of #54 is always something good to hear.
May 12th, 2006 17:34
I have provide a little tools for anyone who want to remove WGA that could be annoying for some user. Trust it, there is no harmful code. Feel free to distribute this tools.
File content:
- wgaremover.exe
- readme.txt
Download from any of the link:
——————————
http://users.cjb.net/melhacker/wgaremover.zip.zip
http://www.rapidsharing.com/043d4e78f5439e89dac500a1ab039afe
http://media3.uploadjar.com/file.php?file=uploads/wgaremover.zip.zip
http://ez-files.net/download.php?file=a347697ce9b22f2b9b4a665fc0c5f7c9
http://www.filehosting.cc/download.php?id=BE2C99C6
Regard,
Melhacker
May 12th, 2006 15:01
The ultimate solution to the WGA notification:
Download a free copy of Linux and install it right over top of the Windows OS.
Time to get off that crack folks!
May 11th, 2006 18:58
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/04/26/disable-and-remove-windows-genuine-advantage-notifications-nag-screen/#comment-1324
>480 downloads and no feedback….lol
Ragards,
Dhilip
May 11th, 2006 03:11
I was able to resolve the problem with a combination of methods 3 and 4. I used the patch from 3 to get rid of the balloon popups and the tray icon. Then I used method 4 to unlock and delete the wgatray.exe and wgalogon.dll from the System32 folder. Rebooted and no logon nag screen or desktop pop-up balloons.
Thanks everyone for the great tips!!!
May 10th, 2006 14:16
I’ve tried a couple of these methods, and all of them have worked. HOWEVER, with all of them I have still ended up with a download balloon (from Windows Automatic Updates) that wants me to install the “Windows Genuine Advantage Notification” update. Obviously I won’t download it, but is there a way to get rid of this annoyance without completely turning off automatic updates?