How to Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Warning

WGA is an anti-piracy application.

Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) is a notification used by Microsoft. The notification appears if Microsoft determines that the version of Windows XP that you are using is not genuine (for example, if it is deemed counterfeit). Unfortunately, many users have reported that the WGA notification appears even though the version of Windows XP that the individual is using is genuine. If this happens to you, you will want to remove the WGA notification.

Instructions

1. Click "Start" and "Run" and type "regedit" (without the quotation marks) into the dialog box and click "OK." The Registry Editor opens.

2. Click "My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify" in the left pane of the Registry Editor.

3. Right click "WgaLogon" in the right pane of the Registry Editor and select "Delete" from the context menu that appears.

4. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

5. Click "Computer" or "My Computer" and then click "Tools" and select "Folder Options" from the dropdown menu.

6. Click the "View" tab and check the box next to "Show Hidden Files and Folders" and uncheck the box next to "Hide Protected Operating System Files." Click "OK."

7. Click "Start" and then "Search."

8. Type "Wga" into the dialog box and delete any file that starts with "Wga." For example, "WgaTray.exe." To delete a file, simply right click the file and select "Delete" from the menu that appears.

9. Restart your computer.

References

• Detector Pro: How to Remove Windows XP Genuine Advantage Notification