[pillut48]

My hard drive died last fall and we had to get a new one. Because I originally purchased a computer system with all the Windows stuff already loaded on it, I didn't have any disks to reload Windows, etc. so I had to purchase the whole new software for Windows XP Professional from Fry's. A few months ago I started getting this pop up when my system starts:

Is this for real? Or is it some kind of virus thing, or whatever? If I fill it out will Microsoft be 'babysitting' everything I do with Windows?? Did Fry's sell me a pirated copy of Windows XP?!? Help!

[aft_lizard]

It looks for real. So are you going through the steps and it keeps coming up?

[Dallas59]

Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) is an anti-piracy system created by Microsoft that enforces online validation of the licensing of several recent Microsoft Windows operating systems when accessing several services, such as Windows Update, and downloading Windows components from the Microsoft Download Center.
WGA consists of two components; an installable component called WGA Notifications that hooks into Winlogon and validates the Windows license upon each logon and an ActiveX control that checks the validity of the Windows license when downloading certain updates from the Microsoft Download Center or Windows Update.
WGA Notifications covers Windows XP, Windows Vista and current test versions of Windows 7. It does not cover other versions of the Windows NT family, such as Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003, or the Windows 9x family. The ActiveX control however checks Windows 2000 Professional licenses as well.[1]
WGA also advertises the latest service pack for Windows XP, which requires manual intervention to disable. Previously voluntary, it became mandatory for use of these services in July 2005.
Despite its name it does not directly evaluate the integrity or security of any computer

[rabscuttle385]

It’s for real, and it probably came in with Automatic Updates. Do you have Automatic Updates turned on?

[rabscuttle385]

Because I originally purchased a computer system with all the Windows stuff already loaded on it, I didn't have any disks to reload Windows, etc.

Did you call up the support line at your PC's OEM (manufacturer)? You probably could have gotten restore discs, which would have been noticeably cheaper than buying a fresh retail copy of XP.

[mad_as_he$$]

The price for shopping at Fry’s. Had the package been opened?

[LiberConservative]

If you bought a legit copy of Windows you would have had to type in a key, something like XXXX XYXY ZZZWY ... when you installed it and it would have prevented you from seeing this message. If you were not provided a key with the disks then you were sold a rip-off copy of software.

[GovernmentShrinker]

This problem was well-publicized when Microsoft first came out with this nosy function. Many people who had perfectly legitimate copies of Windows were getting their computers disabled remotely, after WGA incorrectly identified their software as pirated.

[Cyber Liberty]

It’s for real. If you did as I did, and purchased the Microsoft stuff you use, there should be no problem. I think this is a one-shot thing if you “pass.”

[GovernmentShrinker]

See the Wikipedia entry on WGA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage

Excerpt: “The WGA program can produce false positives (incorrectly identifying a genuine copy of Windows as “not genuine”). This can happen for any number of reasons. Microsoft has established a forum to help users encountering problems.[34] In February 2007, a “Not Sure” section was added to the program, in case of an incorrect reading.[35]
According to an editorial on the arstechnica.com technology website, WGA reported around 22% of 500 million Windows computers as failing the test; of these less than 0.5% were due to pirate software, with the balance (over 20%, or 90% of all positives) related to non piracy issues. Microsoft “refused to comment on the rate of pure false positives” beyond saying it was “under 1%” (or as stated, at most around 5 million users affected).[36]”

[PeaceBeWithYou]

WGA worm

[mysterio]

It’s real. It’s windows tattleware.

[bethybabes69]

You should have got refunded on the copy of WinBlows and download a copy of openSuSE instead, for free, for keeps, forever.

There's really no excuse not to use open source OS now, embrace it! The WGA process is genuine though, if that's what tickles your fancy.

[humblegunner]

It can't be real.

Only some moron would ask "What IS WGA notifications".

It should be "What ARE WGA notifications".

[Bon mots]

It’s just your friends at Microsoft accusing you of stealing and nagging you to prove that you did not.

[right way right]

Its not a virus. Its because of piracy but, it can cause false bootleg declarations because of consumer confusion.

I had a legitimate disk declared a bootlegged one.

If you call Microsoft when this happens (when you try to activate a fresh installation) they may be able to fix this.

They have made this a pain and they finagled me into buying another disc because I did not call first.

I did not understand what was going on and that they would not reimburse me.

(Stupid move on my part!)

I just registered a complaint with Microsoft about this because of this thread because it reminded me about it .

I will see what happens.

Maybe the FBI will show up at my doorstep! I am trying for activation or reimbursement.