What is a Windows Genuine Advantage Kit?

The Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Kit converts a counterfeit copy of Windows XP to a genuine copy without requiring a reinstallation of the operating system. It replaces a counterfeit serial number with a legal product key distributed by Microsoft.

Function

Microsoft uses the Windows Genuine Advantage tool to detect pirated copies of Windows XP. The company distributes the WGA Kit as a solution for victims of software piracy. The kit includes a genuine product key and the Windows Product Key Update Tool. It works with the Home and Professional editions of Windows XP, but not the Media Center Edition.

Benefits

Using the WGA Kit gives you a genuine copy of Windows XP. This lets you access Windows Update to download patches that improve XP's performance and security. The WGA Kit also removes the counterfeit message displayed in Windows after WGA detects a pirated product key.

History

Microsoft released the Windows Genuine Advantage anti-piracy tool in 2005--according to ZDNet--as a requirement for access to Windows Update. The company simultaneously released the WGA Kit to assist victims of software piracy. Microsoft later released a different set of anti-piracy tools for Windows Vista and 7.

References

• Microsoft: Description of WGA
• Microsoft: FAQ about the WGA Kit
• ZDNet: A Brief History of Anti-piracy at Microsoft