How to Uninstall the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications Screen

One of the newer features of the Windows XP Operating System is its new validation system. The latest edition of Windows XP comes with a special application called the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program. This program automatically checks to verify whether or not the version of the Windows XP Operating System that you are using is actually original and authentic. If it determines that the version that you are using is an unlicensed copy, then this program will constantly prompt you to install a licensed version.

However, the WGA program has been found to produce false positives, in which case, it identifies a genuine copy of Windows as being pirated. There are a number of reasons this may happen, and Microsoft is working to fix it. Needless to say, it can be frustrating just the same.

This tutorial will show you how to uninstall the windows genuine advantage notifications screen until you can get the problem resolved. It involves editing your registry.

Instructions

1. In normal XP mode, access your Task Manager by pressing the CTRL, ALT and DEL buttons together at the same time. In the screen that opens, choose the process wgatray.exe and end it. Once the process is disabled, turn off your computer.

2. Reboot your computer in Safe Mode. Depending on your PC, you can initiate safe mode by hitting NUM Lock, DEL, F5 or F8 keys. Once in safe mode, open the file C:\Windows\System32. Next, find and delete the file named wgatray.exe.

3. Go to the file C:\Windows\dllcache. Again, find and delete the file wgatray.exe.

4. Go to the Start Menu and select "Run." In the command prompt, type regedit. This opens the registry editor.

5. In the Registry Editor, locate the file HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE_\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify.

6. Go to this registry key and delete the file WgaLogon.

7. Close the Registry Editor. Shut down your computer and restart your Windows normally. You will again receive the Windows Genuine Advantage Notification" screen again. Unselect it this time.

Tips & Warnings

• You must use extreme caution if you need to make any change in your registry. Editing your registry involves bypassing standard safeguards that are otherwise provided by Windows.