Are Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool and IE 7.0 required? Should I upgrade both? IE 7.0 was a pain!

Question

I downloaded IE 7.0 once, didn't like it, so returned to the older version. Now I'm getting notices for something called Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool. Is this something required, and can I download it without upgrading to IE 7.0? Thanks

Answer 1

You don't need to download it, it has nothing to do with security. You can install it without IE7. I don't have it installed and never will install it.

"Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) is a controversial anti-piracy program initiated by Microsoft that requires users of Microsoft Windows to validate the authenticity of their copy of several recent Microsoft operating systems"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage

Answer 2

Windows Genuine Advantage Tool is Microsoft's AntiPiracy 'tool' to tell if your copy of Windows is legit or not. If it is not legit you can't use Windows Update etc.

IE 7.0 as far as I know isn't required, I use IE 6 for Windows Update and Firefox 2.0 for browsing unless a site requires Internet Explorer.

Answer 3

Did you validate your copy of windows?

Genuine Advantage Notification tool only is notifying you because you have not validated your Widows XP or Vista

Without registering Windows, you are not allowed to use Microsoft update or download software from Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/whyValidate.aspx
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474

You can also download from download.com
http://www.download.com/Internet-Explorer/3000-2356_4-10595922.html?tag=lst-0-6

If you legally purchased Windows you can validate it.

To Validate
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/whyValidate.aspx

I had a problem when I changed machines, I had to call Microsoft and they gave me a code to validate it.

If you receive a validation error:
http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1290094&SiteID=25

Answer 4

If you copy of windows is genuine you have nothing to worry about. Go ahead and let if validate your copy. If it is not genuine you can try the link below to get around it.


If you don't have a genuine version of windows you can not get your updates. Well in that case you need a way to get them to get your computer up to date. Go to

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/AutoPatcher-XP.shtml

It will bypass the genuine windows issue and get your computer up to date.