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By the end of 2004, Microsoft started its Windows Genuine Advantage initiative. Its time for Windows-Tweaks Intl. to take a closer look and share the pros and cons about this concept: On its way to successfully fighting crime, Microsoft tries to reduce piracy by offering downloads and other nice gimmicks only via WGA. This technology checks your operating system through your browser and determines whether you have a genuine Windows version running and (dis)continues to the actual download. What main principle lies behind WGA and tips to outsmart it will be disclosed in this article...

Table of contents:

• The validation of your Windows version
• Disclosed rumours about Microsofts supposed spying
• How to use Windows Download without Windows Genuine Advantage
• Download Windows Updates from your own SUS Server

In mid 2005 the test stage of Windows Genuine Advantage ends thus ending the era of popular downloads for everyone as well. From this time forward you cannot skip the validation of your operating system. The volunteer participation time ends and you are forced to validate Windows. Michael Hartmann, Director Windows Client Business Group (EMEA) comments: Instead of dispraise, laments or advertising Microsoft counters with a surplus.

The validation of your Windows version
Prior to your first WGA download (e.g. Windows Media Player 10) an ActiveX script checks the validity of your Windows version - and thats that, you will never ever see this assistant again. A big advantage in the sometimes long winded Windows world. Currently you will encounter the following alternative: No, do not validate Windows at this time, but take me to the download. In Summer 2005 this option will vanish, leaving you only the choice of validation. Software pirates will only be allowed to download Service Packs and critical updates since they prevent worms or other malware to spread like a bushfire. Popular tools, applications, add-ons or other updates will only be available for legal owners of Microsoft Windows 2000, XP and Server 2003. Good news for the nostalgic user among us: You wont be bothered by Windows Genuine Advantage since the Redmondians wisely excluded the Windows 9x/NT platforms. Since Microsoft hardly develops any popular downloads for these operating systems there is no sence in annoying this dying user goup.

             
              Currently the validation is just recommended...

  
           ...a fact wich is going to change rapidly within the next months

Disclosed rumours about Microsofts supposed spying
Dear rumour spreader community, I can already hear you screaming before anything hurts at all. With almost every product Microsoft releases, those guys claim to have seen proven evidence that Redmond connects secretly and steals half of your system data. Firstly, Microsoft doesnt own a terrain about as large as half Texas wth several millions of server farms wit the sole purpose of gathering your data. Secondly, the Redmondians arent a small company, I admit, but they dont rule the world. So please keep your unproven rumours at bay.
To prevent such rumours, Microsoft offers an insight into the transferred data streams:

Record of all transferred data
- Product key
- Computer type
- Version of your operating system
- BIOS data
- Several checksums

We used an online meter tool to keep track of all transferred data: We detected only a few kilobyte that have been up- and downloaded. A sum which is too low to be something associated with spying.

How to use Windows Download without Windows Genuine Advantage
David Lazar, Microsoft Director for Genuine Windows, revealed that security updates and Service Packs will remain available through Windows Update or the Microsoft Downloadcenter. We show you a way to receive all updates without the WGA validation method:

1. Click on Start/(All) Programs/Windows Update and select Administrator options. You will there find a link called Windows Update Catalog. Hit it!

Note: You might encounter some messages that force you to install new Windows Update software - proceed!

2. A new window pops up. Select Find Microsoft Windows updates and afterwards Find updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems. You have now the comfort of choosing hundreds of updates for every Windows system.

3. Hit Search after you have selected the system and your language. You are now free to chose from several sections like Critical Updates and Service Packs. A download can be selected simply by clicking on Add.

4. If you are done shopping you might click on Go to Download Basket, specify a destination directory and download the selected files. Its as simply as this!

Download Windows Updates from your own SUS Server
After you have legally acquired the Windows updates, you can easily deploy them to all the clients of your network. The only thing for you to do is to replace the clients link to Windows Update with the adress of your server:

1. Click on Start/Run and enter regedit in order to open the Registry Editor.

2. Expand the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU. In case it doesnt completely exist, right-click on the last available key (such as Windows) and select New/Key. Name it WindowsUpdate (if thats missing) and proceed with the missing AU the same way.

3. If the path is complete, right-click on the right-hand side of the window (under the key AU) and select New/DWORD value. Name it UseWUServer, double-click on it and enter a 1 in order to stop your Windows from using the update server.

4. Go back to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate and create 2 new strings (New/String value) called WUServer and WUStatusServer. Double-click on both values and enter the adress of your SUS Updateserver. After a restart your clients directly connect to the SUS server in order to receive the latest updates!

Bottom line
We honestly hope that we could get the idea of Windows Genuine Advantage across to you and that you liked the tips regarding Windows Update - precautions that will prepare you for Microsofts battle against software piracy.