When notified that Windows security updates were available, I clicked on
Windows Update to get them as usual.

However, this time even though I selected "Custom" instead of the
default "Express", the update immediately went on to install "Windows
Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)".

I was not given a choice to not accept or not accept this "update" as I
believe I have in the past. Because I read that installing WGA
validation tool can be a problem and quasi-impossible to remove, I
aborted the install of WGA - even though I have a valid Windows XP
installed on my PC.

Is installing WGA no longer an option and has now become compulsory?
Anyway to avoid the WGA spyware?

Jeff

See
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...82ef1a9e959a58

You (and a lot of others) are confusing WGA Validation Tool (892130) with
WGA Notifications tool (905474). [Yes, it is easy to confuse them.]

Fact: 892130 and updated versions of 892130 MUST be accepted and installed
to be able to use Windows/Microsoft Update websites to check for and install
updates. Period.

Fact: 892130 is not offered or installed by Automatic Updates, and it does
NOT have to be installed to update via Automatic Updates.

Fact: 905474 remains 100% optional.

References:

Description of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892130

Description of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application
[tool]:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

How to schedule automatic updates in WinXP, Win2K and Win2K03
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327838

NB: If you "select a time to install updates", your default will be reset to
Automatic (vs, e.g., Notify Only).
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Jeff wrote:
> When notified that Windows security updates were available, I clicked on
> Windows Update to get them as usual.
>
> However, this time even though I selected "Custom" instead of the
> default "Express", the update immediately went on to install "Windows
> Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)".
>
> I was not given a choice to not accept or not accept this "update" as I
> believe I have in the past. Because I read that installing WGA
> validation tool can be a problem and quasi-impossible to remove, I
> aborted the install of WGA - even though I have a valid Windows XP
> installed on my PC.
>
> Is installing WGA no longer an option and has now become compulsory?
> Anyway to avoid the WGA spyware?
>
> Jeff

Thank you.

Jeff

"PA Bear" <PABearMVP******.com> wrote in message
news:uoMpShGsHHA.3896@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> See
> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...82ef1a9e959a58
>
> You (and a lot of others) are confusing WGA Validation Tool (892130)
> with WGA Notifications tool (905474). [Yes, it is easy to confuse
> them.]
>
> Fact: 892130 and updated versions of 892130 MUST be accepted and
> installed to be able to use Windows/Microsoft Update websites to check
> for and install updates. Period.
>
> Fact: 892130 is not offered or installed by Automatic Updates, and it
> does NOT have to be installed to update via Automatic Updates.
>
> Fact: 905474 remains 100% optional.
>
> References:
>
> Description of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA):
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892130
>
> Description of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application
> [tool]:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474
>
> How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
>
> How to schedule automatic updates in WinXP, Win2K and Win2K03
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327838
>
> NB: If you "select a time to install updates", your default will be
> reset to Automatic (vs, e.g., Notify Only).
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>
> Jeff wrote:
>> When notified that Windows security updates were available, I clicked
>> on
>> Windows Update to get them as usual.
>>
>> However, this time even though I selected "Custom" instead of the
>> default "Express", the update immediately went on to install "Windows
>> Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)".
>>
>> I was not given a choice to not accept or not accept this "update" as
>> I
>> believe I have in the past. Because I read that installing WGA
>> validation tool can be a problem and quasi-impossible to remove, I
>> aborted the install of WGA - even though I have a valid Windows XP
>> installed on my PC.
>>
>> Is installing WGA no longer an option and has now become compulsory?
>> Anyway to avoid the WGA spyware?
>>
>> Jeff
>

YW.

Jeff wrote:
> Thank you.
>
> Jeff
>
> "PA Bear" <PABearMVP******.com> wrote in message
> news:uoMpShGsHHA.3896@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> See
>> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...82ef1a9e959a58
>>
>> You (and a lot of others) are confusing WGA Validation Tool (892130)
>> with WGA Notifications tool (905474). [Yes, it is easy to confuse
>> them.]
>>
>> Fact: 892130 and updated versions of 892130 MUST be accepted and
>> installed to be able to use Windows/Microsoft Update websites to check
>> for and install updates. Period.
>>
>> Fact: 892130 is not offered or installed by Automatic Updates, and it
>> does NOT have to be installed to update via Automatic Updates.
>>
>> Fact: 905474 remains 100% optional.
>>
>> References:
>>
>> Description of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA):
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892130
>>
>> Description of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application
>> [tool]:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474
>>
>> How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
>>
>> How to schedule automatic updates in WinXP, Win2K and Win2K03
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327838
>>
>> NB: If you "select a time to install updates", your default will be
>> reset to Automatic (vs, e.g., Notify Only).
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>>
>> Jeff wrote:
>>> When notified that Windows security updates were available, I clicked
>>> on
>>> Windows Update to get them as usual.
>>>
>>> However, this time even though I selected "Custom" instead of the
>>> default "Express", the update immediately went on to install "Windows
>>> Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)".
>>>
>>> I was not given a choice to not accept or not accept this "update" as
>>> I
>>> believe I have in the past. Because I read that installing WGA
>>> validation tool can be a problem and quasi-impossible to remove, I
>>> aborted the install of WGA - even though I have a valid Windows XP
>>> installed on my PC.
>>>
>>> Is installing WGA no longer an option and has now become compulsory?
>>> Anyway to avoid the WGA spyware?
>>>
>>> Jeff