Windows XP Automatic Update problem...

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Starting yesterday I received an update from Microsoft. It is the "Genuine Advantage Notification KB905474". Once it downloads it asks to reboot your machine. So, I rebooted my machine. Once everything came back up, I got the same reminder down on my toolbar saying there was an update available, it was the same one. I have installed it like 4-5 times and rebooted my machine each time, and each time I get back into windows it says I need the update over and over again.

Any ideas?

I tried to go into add/remove programs to remove it, but it does not have the "Remove/Unistall" button available.

I don't get this, I hate Microsoft...

Randy, from the Microsoft support site:

Quote:

Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications notifies you if a copy of Microsoft Windows XP is not genuine. The notification messages only appear on computers that have failed the Windows Genuine Advantage validation process and that are running a copy of Windows XP that is not genuine. If you are running a validated, genuine copy of Windows XP, you will not receive notification messages.

Also:

Quote:

You can use Add or Remove Programs to view Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications, but you cannot use Add or Remove Programs to remove the notifications.

You can temporarily disable Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications. To do this, right-click the Notifier icon in the notification area and select Change Notifications Settings. Then, follow the prompts. This will disable the Notification Prompts until a new release of the Notification Update is released.

For more information about Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine)

This is not a notification, but rather an actual update from the download website. I have auto updates turned on so when security patches, etc.. are released they will automatically download and install. This appears to be the "update" that once installed would check your machine for validation.

I just got the balloon prompt again saying "Updates are ready for your computer, click here to download updates"
If I click on the yellow shield it opens up the download window showing me the 1.0mb "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification" KB905474 (knowledg base). Below is the text for the download.

"Size: 1.0 MB

The Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool notifies you if your copy of Windows is not genuine. If your system is found to be a non-genuine, the tool will help you obtain a licensed copy of Windows.

More information for this update can be found at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39157

fyi: the version of XP I'm running is legit.

Ok, this last time around I "unchecked" this download from the hitlist and selected "Close". The next window I selected to not download this update again, since I've downloaded it about 10 times.

Hope this resolves this mess, dang Bill Gates.

Considering your version if legit, you shouldn't have received this update. I would give them a call and inform them of this issue.

SirQuack... do you have a firewall? If so and if the Windows Genuine Advantage whatever it is can't report you've got a genuine copy of XP, you might get that.

Bren R.

I do use Zone Alarm, hmmmm I"ll check into that as an option, thanks..

littleb, you'll receive this update regardless of whether your copy of Windows is legit. The Genuine Advantage program is what actuallu determines the "legitness".

Yep

Ummm, OK.

At least MS is now telling the truth about the notification in their EULA -- this is permanent, can't be uninstalled, will send all kinds of information to MS, other software may not work in the future if you don't run it...

I didn't think *installing* the Genuine Advantage code actually executed it during the installation process, ie didn't think it called home until after the installation was complete so I would be surprised if a firewall issue could be causing Randy's problems...

Your right John, actually I had Zone Alarm set to accept the updates from MS anyway, so was no an issue.

I have had windows update problems crop up a couple of times causing repeated IE crashes and other annoying issues. I emailed Microsoft support for for Windows Updates which is free. They get back to you in a day or so and did get things resolved in a pretty straight forward way. I believe it is better to go this route sooner rather than wasting the time it takes to try and sort it out on my own.

Ahh the frustrating balance of stopping pirates and not annoying users.

Getting support from MS would be my advice. If you don't get help from the support folks PM me. I may or may not know people

We have a MS rep that calls on our company, I may hit him up next time I see him...

Let's see... Issaquah, WA... I wonder if you know people...