robo_mojo
join:2006-01-11
Ada, OK
4 edits | WGA, again?
Greetings,
Appologies if this is in the wrong section. Didn't know where to post it.
To start with, I'll mention that I actually have a legit license of Windows XP Pro, I just don't like WGA.
After running last week's updates, I find a directory on my computer named "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage" with a data file in it. This wasn't there before, and it shows to have been created a few days ago, about the time when I applied the newest updates.
I review all updates before I download & install them through the updater, and I don't recall seeing anything about WGA in there.
Did it slip in with the updates somehow? Or did I get it some other way? |
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justintime-z7
@rogers.com
| Re: Windows Genuine Advantage, again?
Do you own the software or are you just the legal licensor of the software?
If you are the owner of the software then you have the right to complain about WGA if on the other hand you are a licensor of the software then your right's are subject to the terms of the EULA.
In 2007 all MS software that are licensed to whomever will be subject to periodic checks for legitimacy [Software Protection Platform] otherwise that software will enter into Reduced Functionality Mode until corrected by paying MS a fee and from what I understand this will be applicable to all MS software including WinXP. Also from what I understand of the EULA MS retains ownership forever.
FYI, many [if not all commercial] software developers have adopted this model and the only way to escape from this is to move away from the MS paradigm. IMO, because 90% of the people out there who are professional developers love (and have adopted) the MS model (because they end up making more money on a recurring basis) you I and the goal post will have little option but to comply assuming that the MS platform is the platform of choice. From what I can tell Windows Vista will be an overwhelming success surpassing every milestone conceived. |
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robo_mojo
join:2006-01-11
Ada, OK
4 edits | Please, try to stay on topic.
I'm just asking if it had gotten in from last week's updates, or if I had gotten it some other way.
I didn't intend to have any further discussion about WGA in this thread. That discussion has been done months ago already. I'm using my software legitimately. |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| reply to robo_mojo
Re: WGA, again?
I don't have that file but I don't use WU/MU. I take the time to go to MS download site, after reading the Security Bulletin summary here and then each individual bulletin, and download manually each update. That way you cannot possibly get WGA.
I have automatic updates and BITS permanently disabled.
Did you install IE7 recently? It is hidden in the installer.
--
"If you want to do DRM on a PC then you need to treat the user as the enemy." Ross Anderson in "`Trusted Computing' Frequently Asked Questions"
»www.msfirefox.com/ |
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Cudni
La Merma - Vigilado
Premium,MVM
join:2003-12-20
Someshire | reply to robo_mojo
did anything you download from MS asked you to validate? If yes then that is how you got it.
Cudni |
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33591094
join:2002-11-19
Canada
| reply to justintime-z7
Re: Windows Genuine Advantage, again?
said by justintime-z7 :
From what I can tell Windows Vista will be an overwhelming success surpassing every milestone conceived.
Nothing to add to the debate, but I just wanted to let you know you're a funny guy. Brilliant!
You are joking, right?  |
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BQuick
join:2003-11-05
Italy
| reply to justintime-z7
said by justintime-z7 :
]Do you own the software or are you just the legal licensor of the software?
If you are the owner of the software then you have the right to complain about WGA if on the other hand you are a licensor of the software then your right's are subject to the terms of the EULA.
Brilliant way of behaving towards customers.Thank God there is no serious competitor around...yet...Also FYI,the right to complain has nothing to do with EULA.The latter is something you have to live with,this doesn't mean you have to like it or that you can't complain about it.It's called freedom of expression.MS doesn't own people's minds or feelings too.Think about it the next time you go out for Vista promo.
quote:
Also from what I understand of the EULA MS retains ownership forever.
Till death do us part,i hope!Forever sounds scary!
quote:
FYI, many [if not all commercial] software developers have adopted this model and the only way to escape from this is to move away from the MS paradigm.
And what will happen when the only way of customers to escape from this will be Linux?Hmm...
quote:
IMO, because 90% of the people out there who are professional developers love (and have adopted) the MS model (because they end up making more money on a recurring basis) you I and the goal post will have little option but to comply assuming that the MS platform is the platform of choice.
Yeah...And 90% of people who are legal customers and have paid for Windows,don't like that model,cause only disturbs them,not the pirates.So eventually they ll clash with the "MS model".And then we ll see who will be "making more money"...
quote:
From what I can tell Windows Vista will be an overwhelming success surpassing every milestone conceived.
April's fool?Nah,too early...Oh,i get it!A joke!Ahaha! |
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richk_1957
If ..Then..Else
Premium
join:2001-04-11
Minas Tirith
| reply to Mele20
Re: WGA, again?
said by Mele20  :Did you install IE7 recently? It is hidden in the installer. Yes, and even if you uninstall IE7, WGA stays. It's also installed with Vista [all versions]. |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| said by richk_1957 :said by Mele20 :Did you install IE7 recently? It is hidden in the installer. Yes, and even if you uninstall IE7, WGA stays. It's also installed with Vista [all versions]. Yep. But you can kill it. It took two cracks but I got it killed. I couldn't remove it, but I stomped all over it, spat on it and choked it.
Sad thing that the day comes when the legitimate Microsoft customer finally feels compelled to look for a crack. Never done that before WGA.
--
"If you want to do DRM on a PC then you need to treat the user as the enemy." Ross Anderson in "`Trusted Computing' Frequently Asked Questions"
»www.msfirefox.com/ |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| reply to Cudni
said by Cudni :did anything you download from MS asked you to validate? If yes then that is how you got it. Cudni The only way to handle that is to use a virtual machine (free now), take a snapshot of the machine, and then let MS put its insulting spyware on your machine. Get your download and download it to a shared folder. Or just grab it with your mouse and move it to your main machine...however you have sharing set up or if you don't want the virtual machine to share with the host then email it to yourself. Then revert to your snapshot on your virtual machine. Poof! WGA is all gone.
That is a compromise, but not as bad as having to look at a piece of X*$% on your machine forever. Plus, think long and hard as to how much you need any piece of software or update to software you already have that Microsoft is forcing the validation crap on. Hold onto your dignity and honor and say no to everything you possibly can from Microsoft and when you must have it either do the above or get a crack to kill WGA.
Before anyone goes off again, I am willing to REvalidate my machine once a year. That is the compromise I will make because I don't think I should need to even do that. I possibly might be persuaded to do so every six months. But every time I want to download anything other than a critical patch...even a upgrade to DirectX or .NET, etc. no, Microsoft has no right to insult me that often.
--
"If you want to do DRM on a PC then you need to treat the user as the enemy." Ross Anderson in "`Trusted Computing' Frequently Asked Questions"
»www.msfirefox.com/ |
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Cudni
La Merma - Vigilado
Premium,MVM
join:2003-12-20
Someshire | Even you will get tired and just let WGA run. There are other things that need opposing more
Cudni |
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DownTheShore
Maddie Knows Poopie
Premium
join:2003-12-02
Beautiful NJ
clubs:
| reply to robo_mojo
Ah, well, at least as a result of this thread I looked in that Ap Data section and found some more old Symantec detritus to get rid of. Damn stuff is like having cockroaches in your computer. 
--
Life is simply one damned thing after another. |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA | reply to justintime-z7
Re: Windows Genuine Advantage, again?
Just for the fun of it I might actually download a pirated version. With all WGA crap removed it might be a half decent OS. |
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Babar
Premium
join:2001-05-09
Washington
| reply to justintime-z7
said by justintime-z7 :
In 2007 all MS software that are licensed to whomever will be subject to periodic checks for legitimacy [Software Protection Platform] otherwise that software will enter into Reduced Functionality Mode until corrected by paying MS a fee and from what I understand this will be applicable to all MS software including WinXP. pfffft...
--
"Geez, I'm goin' crazy out there at the lake." |
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BB1984
join:2006-05-31
Australia
| reply to richk_1957
Re: WGA, again?
said by richk_1957 :said by Mele20 :Did you install IE7 recently? It is hidden in the installer. Yes, and even if you uninstall IE7, WGA stays. It's also installed with Vista [all versions]. Just checked the IE7 unpack dir, and no 'WGA'-prefixed files therein. Also, bar validation during install, no 'WGA'-prefixed files on the hard drive thereafter either.
Can someone shed more light on what 'WGA' stuff IS installed with IE7 please? Specific files etc, cheers. |
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BB1984
join:2006-05-31
Australia
1 edit | Also have the same directory and file in the one PC I installed IE7 in. XP also has a DRM directory. Just don't know if these directories get much use, especially if you haven't got WGAN etc installed - I'll await answers to my post above, but maybe also watch the 'last modified' date in that WGA directory file.
. |
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OZO
Premium
join:2003-01-17
| reply to BB1984
said by BB1984 :Can someone shed more light on what 'WGA' stuff IS installed with IE7 please? Specific files etc, cheers. Check this file:
%SystemRoot%\system32\LegitCheckControl.dll
You may also have these old files (I do not have them now):
%SystemRoot%\system32\WgaLogon.dll
%SystemRoot%\system32\WgaTray.exe
As it was mentioned before there is new data file as well:
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data\data.dat
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Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself... |
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BB1984
join:2006-05-31
Australia
1 edit | Thanks OZO. Just checked (yes I know how to scan for hidden/system files  ):
%SystemRoot%\system32\LegitCheckControl.dll -NO-
%SystemRoot%\system32\WgaLogon.dll -NO-
%SystemRoot%\system32\WgaTray.exe -NO-
They are part of WGA/N from memory, which I never allowed to be installed. But it seems to suggest that IE7 does not have THIS form of WGA in it, for now at least. Maybe there is something else, but not the olde classic WGA/N.
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data\data.dat
-PRESENT: PART OF IE7 INSTALL-
Seems to be the only 'new' file to appear thus-far, tho I'll take a guess and say it's linked with some other files ... (?). Something will come up sooner than later re this info I presume. |
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