I am running XP MCE and set up to receive notification when security updates
become available which I regularly download and install. I just received
such a notification but the ONLY "High Priority Update" available for
download and install is "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool".

This does not seem to fit the definition of a High Priority Update, which
Microsoft defines on that screen as "To help protect your computer against
security threats and performance problems, we strongly recommend you install
all high-priority updates" !

Is there something that I am missing? My XP is genuine but I thought
Windows updates were for security reasons - the user security - not
Microsoft's security. I've also heard of problems after installing Windows
Genuine Advantage Notification tool and have therefore held off for now.

Explanations and suggestions?

Jeff

Jeff wrote:
> I am running XP MCE and set up to receive notification when security updates
> become available which I regularly download and install. I just received
> such a notification but the ONLY "High Priority Update" available for
> download and install is "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool".
>
> This does not seem to fit the definition of a High Priority Update, which
> Microsoft defines on that screen as "To help protect your computer against
> security threats and performance problems, we strongly recommend you install
> all high-priority updates" !
>
> Is there something that I am missing? My XP is genuine but I thought
> Windows updates were for security reasons - the user security - not
> Microsoft's security. I've also heard of problems after installing Windows
> Genuine Advantage Notification tool and have therefore held off for now.
>
> Explanations and suggestions?
>
> Jeff
>
>

Do NOT download and install it. It has been known to show false
positives and is no use to you whatsoever.

Alias

On Thu, 22 Feb 2007 06:30:16 -0500 Jeff <jeff@naol.com> wrote:

> I am running XP MCE and set up to receive notification when security
> updates become available which I regularly download and install. I
> just received such a notification but the ONLY "High Priority Update"
> available for download and install is "Windows Genuine Advantage
> Notification tool".

It's only a "Genuine Advantage" for Microsoft, not us. Pushing it as a
"High Priority Update" is misleading to say the least.

At the moment we can still refuse it, but I expect they will soon make it
mandatory (i.e. no more security updates unless you install it)

Alias wrote:

> Do NOT download and install it. It has been known to show false
> positives and is no use to you whatsoever.
>
> Alias

DITTO!

--
Mike Pawlak

Chris wrote:
> On Thu, 22 Feb 2007 06:30:16 -0500 Jeff <jeff@naol.com> wrote:
>
>> I am running XP MCE and set up to receive notification when security
>> updates become available which I regularly download and install. I
>> just received such a notification but the ONLY "High Priority Update"
>> available for download and install is "Windows Genuine Advantage
>> Notification tool".
>
> It's only a "Genuine Advantage" for Microsoft, not us. Pushing it as a
> "High Priority Update" is misleading to say the least.
>
> At the moment we can still refuse it, but I expect they will soon make it
> mandatory (i.e. no more security updates unless you install it)
>

Yep, as old Stever Ballmer said, "gotta squeeze the money out of
developing countries".

Alias

ALSO.. once installed it cannot be removed.

"Jeff" wrote:

> I am running XP MCE and set up to receive notification when security updates
> become available which I regularly download and install. I just received
> such a notification but the ONLY "High Priority Update" available for
> download and install is "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool".
>
> This does not seem to fit the definition of a High Priority Update, which
> Microsoft defines on that screen as "To help protect your computer against
> security threats and performance problems, we strongly recommend you install
> all high-priority updates" !
>
> Is there something that I am missing? My XP is genuine but I thought
> Windows updates were for security reasons - the user security - not
> Microsoft's security. I've also heard of problems after installing Windows
> Genuine Advantage Notification tool and have therefore held off for now.
>
> Explanations and suggestions?
>
> Jeff
>
>
>

franktee wrote:
> ALSO.. once installed it cannot be removed.

Except by doing a clean reinstall of Windows.

Alias
>
> "Jeff" wrote:
>
>> I am running XP MCE and set up to receive notification when security updates
>> become available which I regularly download and install. I just received
>> such a notification but the ONLY "High Priority Update" available for
>> download and install is "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool".
>>
>> This does not seem to fit the definition of a High Priority Update, which
>> Microsoft defines on that screen as "To help protect your computer against
>> security threats and performance problems, we strongly recommend you install
>> all high-priority updates" !
>>
>> Is there something that I am missing? My XP is genuine but I thought
>> Windows updates were for security reasons - the user security - not
>> Microsoft's security. I've also heard of problems after installing Windows
>> Genuine Advantage Notification tool and have therefore held off for now.
>>
>> Explanations and suggestions?
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>>

Alias wrote:
>
> Yep, as old Stever Ballmer said, "gotta squeeze the money out of
> developing countries".
>

Well, we send 'em enough money. It'd be good to get some of it back.

HeyBub wrote:
> Alias wrote:
>> Yep, as old Stever Ballmer said, "gotta squeeze the money out of
>> developing countries".
>>
>
> Well, we send 'em enough money. It'd be good to get some of it back.
>
>

You're ill informed. A very close relative of mine worked many years for
USAID. The US collects most of what it lends (that was one of his jobs,
to collect). It just isn't front page news. "We" are not getting
*anything* back. MS is trying to, quite unsuccessfully I might add.

Alias