Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool

[xant14]

I have just updated some windows essential NET 3.5 sumat or other, and now it wants to update Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)

My question is will this only check out if my OS is genuine, or will it delve into other stuff belonging to MS. Not that I am worried, squeaky clean is my middle name, curious tho.

[smoggy]

there is a good explanation of it here Windows Genuine Advantage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage)

[xant14]

I see it is only the OS it checks, altho it does pass on data including office product key according to the Wiki article. Unless that is the Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) update which I have never noticed asking to be installed.

[Spacerat]

Once you run it it will interogate all of the M$ software that you have installed - it doesn't do anything until you try to run Windows Update and include office applications - at this point it will flag if you have illegal copies of Office, Visio, etc.

You can normally get round this (I am led to believe :) ) by going to the Micro$oft download centre using Chrome or Firefox and downloading the service packs, etc. from there.

Cheers,
Spacerat

[tommy t spanner]

Well if you do have a pirated o/s and office,firstly you don't install any wga crap,(ms spyware,is all it is)even legit versions of xp have been flagged as pirated by it,but there are wga removal tools out there,and also wga cracks that will kill the nag pop ups and allow dowloads from ms update and download center too,and there are alternate ways of installing most of the add ons such as wmp 11 and windows defender,to bypass the legit check at install,they must be really stupid at ms,as the currently want ?95 for xp,lolthey are about to stop support for it if they already havent done,so the only updates that xp users will automaticaly get will be security patches,and according to ms even people who are using a dodgy copy will also get them,but should you want more support you will have to pay extra,

[AdillaTheBum]

Does this help?


Desktop Operating SystemsDate of General AvailabilityDirect OEM and Retail License Availability (end date)System Builder License Availability (end date)
MS DOS 6.xx

June 1, 1994
November 30, 2001
November 30, 2001

Windows 95

August 15, 1995
December 31, 2000
December 31, 2001

Windows NT Workstation 4.xx

July 29, 1996
June 30, 2002
June 30, 2003

Windows 98

June 30, 1998
June 30, 2002
November 30, 20031

Windows 98 SE

June 30, 1999
June 30, 2002
March 31, 20041

Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me)

December 31, 2000
December 31, 2003
June 30, 2004

Windows 2000 Professional

March 31, 2000
March 31, 2004
March 31, 2005

Windows XP Professional

December 31, 2001
June 30, 2008
January 31, 2009

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

February 11, 2003
June 30, 2008
January 31, 2009

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

April 25, 2005
June 30, 2008
January 31, 2009

Windows XP Home Edition

December 31, 2001
June 30, 20083
January 31, 2009
Windows XP Media Center Edition2

October 28, 2002
June 30, 2008
January 31, 2009


1 In the US and Canada only: System Builder License Availability end dates are June 30, 2003 for Windows 98 and September 30, 2003 for Windows 98 SE.
2 Includes the 2002, 2004, and 2005 editions of Windows Media Center.
3 As of April 2008, Microsoft is extending availability of Windows XP Home Edition for OEMs to install on Ultra Low-Cost PCs. The new OEM end date will be the later of either June 30, 2010, or one year after the general availability of the next version of Windows.