PA Bear wrote:
> Jeff wrote:
>> PA Bear wrote:
>>> wrote:
>>>> PA Bear wrote:
>>>>> If you enable Automatic Updates and use it to keep the machine
>>>>> fully patched, you'll never see a prompt to install a WGA update.
>>>>>
>>>>> The update you refer to is frequently updated and is required when
>>>>> using Windows Update or Microsoft Update website to scan for and
>>>>> install updates.
>>>>
>>>> I have three computers now running XP that are completely WGA
>>>> free. I guess I don't really need any "Genuine Advantage" to run
>>>> XP.
>>>
>>> Repeat: You don't need WGA to be able to install critical updates
>>> via Automatic Updates.
>>
>> With the latest critical updates it would not let me to proceed
>> further till I finished the step to "Update Windows components" and
>> that "updated Windows component" was WGA. Till I did that step, I
>> could not proceed further to the updates.
> <snip>
>
> Did Automatic Updates offer you WGA or were you updating manually via
> http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com?
Thanks for replying Bear.
I have the updates set to notify me but not automatically install. So
when the notification appears that there are new updates, I do not click
on that notification but go to my start menu where I have the shortcut
for Windows updates. The shortcut goes to
%SystemRoot%\system32\wupdmgr.exe
Once there, after I permitted all the active X controls and scripts it
needs in IE6, I always select "Custom" (Not "Express"). That is how I
avoid installing IE7. It is at this point that I am told Windows needs
to "upgrade some Windows components". If I say no, I cannot get to the
critical updates. If I say yes, a popup window appears saying
"installing Windows Genuine Advantage". I cancelled this twice and
could get no further. Finally, to get my updates I let it proceed and
then got my critical updates.
I have since gone to IE6's Tools/Manage Add-ons and when I
select to see "Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer",
Windows Genuine Advantage is indeed listed among them and listed as
enabled. I know WGA was not there before this last update.
Happened on 2 PCs and - as I said - I do the critical updates regularly.
This is new behavior.
I do not mind MS checking that my Windows is genuine before providing me
with the updates. What I do not want is WGA calling MS at "other times"
(as it is reputed to do) when I am not knowingly connecting to MS for
updates or anything and sending who knows what information about my PCs.
That is the spyware behavior that caused a public uproar and made MS
stop forcing WGA in 2006. Now they have decided to again force it on
its customers. Needless to say I am not a happy camper.
Jeff