How to avoid Windows Genuine Advantage for an XP update?

Question

I am about to apply updates to a windows xp installation I have not booted in a couple of years. When going to update.microsoft.com, it forced me first to accept an activex installation and now it wants me to install wga:

Windows Update

To use this latest version of Windows Update, you will need to upgrade some of its components. This version provides you with the following enhancements to our service:

<... useless list of "advantages" ...>

Details

Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130) 1.1 MB , less than 1 minute The Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool enables you to verify that your copy of Microsoft Windows is genuine. The tool validates your Windows installation by checking Windows Product Identification and Product Activation status.

Update for Windows XP (KB898461) 477 KB , less than 1 minute This update installs a permanent copy of Package Installer for Windows to enable software updates to have a significantly smaller download size. The Package Installer facilitates the install of software updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems and other Microsoft products. After you install this update, you may have to restart your system.

Total: 1.5 MB , less than 1 minute

I have heard nothing but bad things about wga, and I absolutely do not want it installed on my system (this answer seems to give some options).

Searching for "windows xp" at microsoft's web pages brought up this page which says

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers

Brief Description This installation package is intended for IT professionals and developers downloading and > installing on multiple computers on a network. If you're updating just one computer, please visit Windows Update at http://update.microsoft.com . ... File Name: WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe

I am currently downloading this file. Will installing this bring my installation up to date with security updates? What about later updates whenever a new problem is discovered, how can i update without using wga?

Solution 1

AutoPatcher is another way you could probably install updates without needing to use the Windows Update site directly.

Solution 2

Without WGA installed you will have trouble installing any optional updates from Microsoft though there are presumably "ways and means" if you have the time to search for them and the determination to avoid Windows-Genuine-Spyware.

If you can live without optional updates though, you'll be fine. Microsoft would not be daft enough to deny anyone security updates (at least until XP is officially fully deprecated) as the extra abundance of hacked Windows machines causing hassle would be extra embarrassment. You won't be able to use the WindowsUpdate web site - just the local client, and you'll need to be careful with that as WGA creeps in unexpectedly with other updates (make sure you always do a custom download and install of updates).

Caveat: I long since gave up trying to avoid WGA, though I've not stopped resenting the "guilty until proven innocent" attitude it implies. Note also, that you will not be able to avoid it at all if you upgrade to Vista or Windows 7.

Comments

[Admin]

Related: superuser.com/questions/23833/…

[alex]

I've never really found WGA that intrusive. Yes, you're viewed with suspicion, but considering the levels of piracy for Windows (and for Office even more so), you have to at least partially understand why it's being done. Where I live, Windows is considered free; I'm sure most regular users here have no idea what licencing, EULAs and WGA mean.

[Murray Furtado]

-1 for not answering the question. I agree that Linux is a useful alternative for those who dislike "big brother stuff", but that's not what this topic is about at all.

[Multiverse IT]

I answered the question - I explained that trying to avoid WGA is virtually pointless. My point to linux is that it is the one without the "xGA" type of thing.

[David Thornley]

I haven't had problems with it, but I didn't like the EULA that came with the update, so I didn't accept it.

[hlovdal]

I already am using Linux, and in fact I have been since 1994. That is the main reason the xp partition had not been booted for a couple of years.

[Admin]

Interesting link, although the link itself contains a ']' character too much.

[hlovdal]

I just booted windows again (after not having used it since around asking this question I think), and using AutoPatcher worked flawlessly.