How to Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications

By eHow Computers Editor

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When you install Windows XP on your computer, you may get Windows genuine advantage notifications pop up on your computer if you haven't passed the validation test. To stop these notifications, you can either validate Windows or remove the genuine advantage notifications program entirely. If you choose the latter, here's how to do so.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Go to "Start," then "Run" and type in "System32." Click "OK." Once in, go to "Tools," then "Folder Options," then "View". Click on the check beside "Hide extensions for known file types" to uncheck.

Step2

Find "WgaLogon.dll" and rename it with another extension or by adding a "1" after WgaLogon. Click "Yes" if you get the warning: "If you change a file name extension, the file may become unusable. Are you sure you want to change it?"

Step3

Locate "WgaTray.exe" in System32. Delete the file, then immediately open Task Manager. Go to the "Processes" tab, highlight the "WgaTray.exe" file and click on "End Process."

Step4

Return to System32 and delete the Application Extension for "WgaLogon.dll." Change the name of the file from whatever you renamed it back to the original name.

Step5

Restart your computer. This process will not be complete until the computer is restarted.

Tips & Warnings

A downloadable program called RemoveWGA can do this process for you.
In "Safe Mode," you can open the "Registry Editor," delete the wgalogon folder, then search for wga
files and delete them. Reboot the computer. It is recommended to back up the Registry should something go wrong.
It is always recommended to use legitimate copies of Windows and not pirated copies to best avoid getting genuine advantage notifications, though these notifications can pop up on legitimate copies as well.
Open Task Manager before deleting "WgaTray.exe."
Removing Windows genuine advantage notifications does not validate your copy of Windows.
Once Windows genuine advantage notifications are removed in this manner, you will no longer receive Microsoft automatic updates.