How to Disable Microsoft Genuine Advantage

Genuine Windows software was published and licensed by Microsoft. The Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage program (WGA) tells users whether or not their software is genuine. It does this with WGA notifications that pop up on the desktop any time Microsoft detects software that is not genuine. WGA notifications can be annoying, so many users want to disable them. As long as you are running a pilot version of WGA, you can disable notifications.

Instructions

1. Log in to Windows with your main account.

2. Click on "Start," then "Control Panel."

3. Double-click "Add or Remove Programs." Click on "Windows XP--Software," then "Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications" then "Click here for support information." Look at the version number in the "Support Info" dialog box and verify that it is within the range of 1.5.0527.0 to 1.5.0532.2. Click "Close."

4. Click on "Start," then "Search." Search for the following files:

   "%Windir%\system32\WgaLogon.dll"

   "%Windir%\system32\WgaTray.exe"

5. Rename the files to:

   "%Windir%\system32\WgaLogon.old"

   "%Windir%\system32\WgaTray.old"

6. Restart your computer.

References

• Microsoft: How to disable or uninstall the pilot version of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications for Windows XP
• Microsoft: Microsoft Genuine Advantage Program Information