KB 905474 ( WGA "Notification" ) Removal Tool

[bob3160]

Like you, I keep this computer updated so it hasn't had anything to do. 

[polonus]

Hi folks,

Some say they can live with MS verifying what they legally use, but do not own.. OK nothing wrong with that. There are only two points one can make. Why are these features always "undocumented", and are they taken on board without the end-user in mind?

These things only come to haunt you if you are unlucky. For instance you have a cd with which you can restore your OS only for the machine you have a license for (with a 30 day install restriction as well), and this machine breaks down, or you cannot use this laptop anymore for the screen has stopped functioning. The liicense says you can only use it on that particular machine, you cannot use it on a rebuild. Then you have to go to the software man and pay 4 times as much as the OEM version for e.g.  Dell  (which is unavailable to you), and sells for $ 35), so the repairman is not interested in letting you pay $ 170 for an OS that cost you more every year, selfbuilt computers are phasing out because of these practices). The old CD is only fit to be used as a place mat or a frisbee for the dog, because you cannot do anything else with it (if you legally proceed or live up to the terms of the eula or you have to call M$ whether they will make an exemption, which cost you an awful lot of time and energy). It is just a story to explain in what way the end-user is disappearing in the process. Iit is take it or leave it, and increasing restrictions to keep it that way. And then all sort of undocumented features are built in to see to it that end-users live by these terms set out for them. Just remember like it was in the old days. Big Brother is a Money-maker to-day.

polonus

[mauserme]

I'll leave it running for a while on this computer to see what happens, but I suspect my old habits are going to be too hard to break.  Checking for updates right after I boot up is pretty well ingrained in me - I'm not sure I can stop at this point.

Haven't had a chance to try the WGA Notification removal procedure on any other computers yet.  Maybe I'll have more time over the weekend.  I know you're OK with it but it feels too trojan-like to me.

[mauserme]

Some say they can live with MS verifying what they legally use, but do not own.. OK nothing wrong with that. There are only two points one can make. Why are these features always "undocumented", and are they taken on board without the end-user in mind?

Exactly so.  The point has been made that a single verification makes sense.  I can live with that.  But sneeking in an on-going process further reduces my trust for MS.

The liicense says you can only use it on that particular machine, you cannot use it on a rebuild.

The computer I'm using now came as a "bare bones" box.  Along the way I put in a larger primary hard drive, added a secondary drive, upgraded my video card, added a media dashboard, etc.  One day when I booted I got a system message saying my configuration had changed so much that I must re-register Windows.  After MS inspected my machine it decided it really was the same computer, but what if it decided otherwise?  And this was before the days of WGA.

[polonus]

Hi mauserme,

I do not know if you do not have to live with it, because there are some known issues you can run into. Read here: http://www.firewallleaktester.com/removewga.htm

It is these issues that will see to it that the average user won't even take an effort taking the critical parts out of this validation, even with a Bart CD. Moreover we don't know what MS's plans with it are for the future? I don't say it is spyware, I say it is nagging of sorts, and for some these developments mean a drag.

polonus

[mauserme]

It is these issues that will see to it that the average user won't even take an effort taking the critical parts out of this validation ...

Very true.  The two removal methods I've used were not very straight forward and neither did completely clean uninstalls.

=YLAP= had some success restoring back to a pre-WGA state but I couldn't restore back that far.

[YLAP]

=YLAP= had some success restoring back to a pre-WGA state but I couldn't restore back that far.

I made system restore ASAP as this tool was installed in my system in his first version and now I'm keeping this tool as hidden update, and my automatic updates are set to "ask" to see what updates are ready. Yes, others now should use some third-part tools to remove it.

[mauserme]

I've used the Microsoft procedure successfully on another computer but decided to start a new thread with a somewhat simpler removal method

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=22105.0

[Abraxas]

I like to keep track of any changes to my system and found a program called FileMap which does just that. 
http://www.dogkennels.net/filemap/
Point being:
After the installation of The MS WGA verification files, FileMap anounced the changes to Disk Root, the Windows and the System directories.I was then able to Quarantine the files , and inspect them. End of story .
To add a little humor to this thread 
SOME WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR...
G'day from Australia. I'm Bernie Madigan... I make Dog Kennels from Super Long Life Weathertex timber building board... but I write software in my spare time...

Yes , he is a bit of a character this guy, but makes great software.

"Find phantom files left behind after uninstalling software OR
malicious files picked up from the Internet..."
From Sydney, Australia.

Have you ever noticed how the number of files in your windows and system directories seem to mysteriously grow over time?  Or, you might have already heard from victimsof hijack programs describing how phantom files had taken control of their browsers,with no idea where they came from.

It’s times like that when it would be handy to have a record of files before and after, so you could determine which files do not belong.

Don't become complacent with Internet security. Firewalls are great - but never thinkthey are perfect. There could be times when your firewall is out-smarted. FileMap byBB is a tiny program that helps you pick up the pieces if your firewall ever becomespenetrated, or other secret files mysteriously invade your hard disk. It's a layer of security you cannot afford to be without which downloads in just a few seconds.

FileMap by BB lets you take control of the growing number of files  on your system bymaking an inventory record of those in the Windows, the System, and the Disk Root directories so that you can constantly check what has been added (or removed).

FileMap by BB is a tiny program designed to help you pick up the pieces if your firewallever becomes penetrated or other secret files mysteriously invade your hard disk.

[neal62]

Thanks Abraxas. Sounds like a very interesting free program. Appreciate the heads up on this one. Will check it out. Have a nice day. 

[drhayden1]

also thanks for the info on the free program abraxas 

will also check it out and see how it is

have a good one avast world

[mauserme]

I got brave and tried it on version 1.5.0540.0 and it worked just fine.

Did you try the suggestion I posted?
It suggests usage of the same MS Removal procedure and then
suggests using BigFix to prevent WGA from being re-installed on your system.

Hey Bob,

I've had BigFix since July 6 now and was anxiously awaiting notification of today's Windows Updates - but nothing happened.  I opened the gui, tried gathering notifications, etc and not a word.  I did subscribe to Windows XP so I don't think that's the problem.

What am I doing wrong?

M

[bob3160]

What am I doing wrong?

Probably nothing which is why you should pose that questiont to BigFix. 

[mauserme]

Well, OK.  But do you get notification of Windows Updates with BigFix?

[bob3160]

Well, OK.  But do you get notification of Windows Updates with BigFix?

For as long as I've use the laptop, I never did. The notifications always came from the windows update
notification.
I'm now back on my desktop and that system doesn't have BigFix installed on it.