Windows Genuine Advantage Notification

[griffsmith]

Hopefully a simple question. My PC has been trying to get me to download/install Windows Genuine Advantage Notification as a windows update. I'm not keen on just updating with whatever windows sends to me.. my copy of windows is obviously genuine, but what will this update do? and should I install it? if not then how do I make the update request go away for good??

Help please before I make a fatal error and let MS take over my world!!
cheers
chris

[neilesh86]

This caused a right fuss when it first appeared - it was meant to 'scare' those who might not have a genuine copy of Windows into getting one. If you're 100% that yours is confident it probably won't do much. Personally I wouldn't install it, as the only thing it'll do is spend time loading up to confirm you've got a genuine copy. So it'll take longer to boot up and there's no real benefit IMO

[SneakyNeil]

If you click on the windows update icon in the bottom right, and choose custom install rather than express then it will show you the list of updates that it's going to do. Untick the WGA one and choose not to be reminded about this update again.

Some cool stuff needs WGA installed unfortunatley, like the latest media player, internet explorer, windows defender... otherwise yeah you could just sack it off.

[griffsmith]

cheers guys
I think what it comes down to, if there aren't any detrimental effects of installing it then I will.. I just wanted to know the general feeling before made an irreversible blunder just doing what ever Microsoft wants me to.

[bigdods]

IIRC its a blocking install - so if you dont install it you dont get any more updates.

[jamieboy]

bigdods said:

IIRC its a blocking install - so if you dont install it you dont get any more updates.

I think you do still get security updates, but not some other types - have a look at the Microsoft pages about it.

[road2ruin]

jamieboy said:

bigdods said:

IIRC its a blocking install - so if you dont install it you dont get any more updates.

I think you do still get security updates, but not some other types - have a look at the Microsoft pages about it.

Thats correct. You will still be able to download and install security updates but not the optional ones like media player or drivers from MSN's site.

[ThePassenger]

road2ruin said:

jamieboy said:

bigdods said:

IIRC its a blocking install - so if you dont install it you dont get any more updates.

I think you do still get security updates, but not some other types - have a look at the Microsoft pages about it.

Thats correct. You will still be able to download and install security updates but not the optional ones like media player or drivers from MSN's site.

Considering I've seen MS Update try and sledgehammer an ATi driver in for an Nvidia graphics card... it not tinkering with drivers is probably a good thing