WGA notification

Perhaps this has been asked and answered before, if so I apologize, but Microsoft Updates is telling me that I need to download KB905474. This update was downloaded and installed on 5/28/2006 according to the Add/Remove programs. Why is this showing up and should I download and install it again? Up 'til now this transition from ME to XP has been great but now I keep getting this! What's up? Thanks and best regards

 

See if the information in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, How to troubleshoot Windows Update or Microsoft Update when you are repeatedly offered an update, is any help.

 

I also received another request to install KB905474 (previously installed 6-03-06). Today's has Date last published: 6-27-06
Can not find any details for this version. Will sit on it for a day or two and continue to monitor wBBS thread Question about Updates

 

My advice is once its installed and you don't want to uninstall it, then continue to update it.

In that thread that Dennis referenced, Rockster posted an MS article to get rid of it entirely if the patch causes a problem or for anyone that just doesn't like it.

For the record, I never installed it to begin with, so its a non issue for me.

Regards - Charles

 

If enough "concern" was lodge from legitimate owners, do you feel MS will provide a "opt-out" of installed Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications and have it run online during monthly update?

 

Hi Pete,

From my understanding, the KB patch originally offered and updated is the "Pilot" program.

Perhaps the confusion is with the Validation requirement when downloading an MS program such as Winders Defender and also called WGA and has been around for some time now. The difference I think is that the patch continually "phones home" while the original WGA checks the validity of the installation prior to a download of an MS program.

Regards - Charles

 

As of June 27th Microsoft has removed the controversial "phone home" notifications component from its WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) anti-piracy tool.

Rest of article at http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1982591,00.asp?kc=ewnws062806dtx1k0000599

 

Hats off to Charlesvar again for trying to bring some understanding to those that might be a little confused. In relation to XP, the operating system, there are two, yes two WGA programs. Validation and Notification. The notification is the one that most have been screaming about because of its phone home spyware feature. The validation is the one that actually blocks all but critical updates on bogus XP installations. Microsoft posted a fix for removal of the Notification late last night.

Now to confuse it further (unless you carefully read what Charles said) there are WGA checks for IE7 Beta, Windows Defender, Media Player 11 and Direct X10 as I understand it. These are independent of the two above referenced WGA programs. The moral of the story is that Microsoft is doing a pretty good job of enhancing the value of legitimate software despite some obvious mis-steps that have cost them dearly within the IT community. By-line includes advice that he or she who is using automatic updates sleeps with a fool on their pillow.

 

Hey, have been speaking to my wife.

 

Just to add fuel to the fire, if you do install WGA Notifications (KB905474), then try to remove it in Add/Remove, you'll be told This update cannot be removed. "ET phone home ", indeed.

 

Hi Christer,

From Arie's article User pressure spurs Microsoft to dial back WGA http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=55560
in the News section:

Swedes so far seem to have escaped this particular "security" update

Not sure that is what happened.

Regards - Charles