# "Windows Genuine Advantage" infects my computer - Help! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 16, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997 "2009-10-16T05:03:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/41 "2009-10-17T17:52:30Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > possibly costing him or her money if he’s already gone past the two free calls to MS tech support. Activation related support is always free ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/42 "2009-10-17T18:05:11Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > I am not optimistic that “just calling Microsoft” will do anything for me. Have you _tried_ it? It’s undoubtedly the simplest, easiest answer to your question, rather than downloading shady executables that may or may not fix your problem, and may or may not be legal. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/43 "2009-10-17T18:34:59Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > This is a fallacy. [Monopoly](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly) does _not_ mean 100% control. It means overwhelming dominance which MS undoubtedly has. It has been fined for abuse of it’s monopoly situation in both the US and in Europe. Not for the ubiquity of Windows though - bundling other stuff along with it, yes, and the fines have been largely to slap Redmond upside the head and remind them that they are but human: “Respica te, hominem te memento”. There are reasons why Windows is so dominant - on the home machine it just works - bloat? perhaps because it ships with 99% of the drivers needed to make your stuff work - and it is what people are familiar with from work, and from work the Microsoft environment makes it relatively painless\* to push updates to, say, 25,000 desktops. - for some values of “painless”, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/44 "2009-10-17T19:40:33Z")
Did you try a [system restore](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084)? It worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/45 "2009-10-17T19:49:03Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > As evil and sinister as WGA might seem, the question remains: if your copy is legit, what do you have to worry about? Do you actually think Microsoft is spying on you, trying to trip you up and force you to do something you don’t want to do? Do you really think that? What I have to worry about is the stress and inconvenience stemming from trying to resolve this problem, and also the downtime in which I am not able to use my main machine (which I use for work). Yes I do think MS is spying on me. It’s not a secret that WGA “phones home” regularly and reports back information on my machine. And yes I think they are trying to force me to do something I don’t want to do, i.e. have this program installed on my machine, giving a falls positive, and having to spend time getting it resolved. > [@DWMarch](#): > > It’s just as well that you don’t want to call them. I’d hate to be the support sub-contractor who has to listen to you rant and rave about how Microsoft is “violating” you. Just remember that you’re talking to another human being who is making a very crap wage and having to listen to people cuss him out all day every day because a VLK key belonging to Dell was compromised by pirates… \ I know you don’t know me, but I would _never_ be rude to or yell at anyone on the phone, including a MS support tech. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/46 "2009-10-17T19:50:52Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Did you try a [system restore](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084)? It worked for me. Thank you Kimmy, I might try this… ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/47 "2009-10-17T19:52:53Z")
> [@Fritz](#): > > I did create a Restore Point before doing this. Thanks for trying that out, Fritz. One question I have, is creating a restore point the same as the “system restore” that Kimmy suggests above? How do I create a restore point? I will go off and Google this now… ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/48 "2009-10-17T20:05:05Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > Thanks for trying that out, Fritz. One question I have, is creating a restore point the same as the “system restore” that Kimmy suggests above? > > How do I create a restore point? I will go off and Google this now… I think it’s the same as **Kimmy** suggests - “Restore Point” means that your computer will “roll back” all changes to the restore point - at least that’s what I think it means. I’ve never had to use it. To set a Restore Point: 1. Double click on My Computer 2. Click on “Help” 3. Click on “Help and Support Center.” 4. Under the title “Additional Resources”, click on “System Restore.” 5. Select “Create a restore point”, and follow the directions for naming the point. Takes less than a minute. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/49 "2009-10-17T20:27:56Z")
Just to emphasize, you don’t need to _create_ a Restore Point until the problem is resolved. What you want to try is a System Restore. It will ask you to choose a Restore Point to whch to roll back (Windows regularly creates them automatically.) Choose one from before the date of the WGA installation and allow the system to roll back. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/50 "2009-10-17T20:31:05Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > And yes I think they are trying to force me to do something I don’t want to do, i.e. have this program installed on my machine, giving a falls positive, and having to spend time getting it resolved.. You have already spent more time typing than it would have taken to call MS and have them walk you through it on the phone. You aren’t concerned with time, you aren’t concerned with factual solutions unless they circumvent anti piracy measures on windows. If this is so disturbing to you, I have an offer. Free of charge I will do a remote session to correct your problem limited to activation/WGA failure by legal means. No I will not remove the WGA module, I will correct the activation issue, by making the phone call on your behalf. I’m sure your paranoia will not allow for this, but the offer is there. I own a PC shop and several dopers have used my services, either remotely or in person. References available by PM on request. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/51 "2009-10-17T20:34:40Z")
**aldiboronti** is quite correct - it would be better to find a restore point before WGA was installed. My suggestion was meant to restore after you tried to remove WGA and something went wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/52 "2009-10-17T20:55:57Z")
> [@Fritz](#): > > **aldiboronti** is quite correct - it would be better to find a restore point before WGA was installed. > > My suggestion was meant to restore after you tried to remove WGA and something went wrong. Also (and this is for Nyctea) Vista generally creates a restore point before every update automatically. I think. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/53 "2009-10-17T21:11:29Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Just to emphasize, you don’t need to _create_ a Restore Point until the problem is resolved. What you want to try is a System Restore. It will ask you to choose a Restore Point to whch to roll back (Windows regularly creates them automatically.) Choose one from before the date of the WGA installation and allow the system to roll back. I just did a system restore to a week ago, which I am pretty sure is before the WGA problem, and it was STILL THERE. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/54 "2009-10-17T21:19:47Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > You have already spent more time typing than it would have taken to call MS and have them walk you through it on the phone. > > You aren’t concerned with time, you aren’t concerned with factual solutions unless they circumvent anti piracy measures on windows. > > If this is so disturbing to you, I have an offer. > > Free of charge I will do a remote session to correct your problem limited to activation/WGA failure by legal means. No I will not remove the WGA module, I will correct the activation issue, by making the phone call on your behalf. > > I’m sure your paranoia will not allow for this, but the offer is there. > > I own a PC shop and several dopers have used my services, either remotely or in person. References available by PM on request. **drachillix** I sincerely appreciate your offer. Maybe I am stubborn, and a little pissed off, and I don’t want to have to call them. IMHO this should have never happened in the first place. I have been buying Windows products since my first PC in 1995, and bought and paid for a ton of MS software over the years. Why are they installing spyware on a good customer’s machine? Why are they accusing a good customer of theft? Why the heck should I have to call them to see if perhaps they take this spyware off my machine and let me go back to my work? I don’t want to have to call them. I don’t like being forced to have to call them. That was never part of the deal. Yeah, I am taking it pretty personally, because my computer is essential for my work, and my life for that matter and I don’t like it being f\*cked with without my permission. I have a feeling of helplessness and panic. My strong feelings on this matter make me want to fix it myself instead of asking for help from the people who created the problem in the first place. If that means I have to reinstall everything, then that is probably what I will do. I am hesitant to call because how will they know that my Windows is not stolen? How can I prove this? How do they typically handle false positives? What if they say, sorry, you’re shit outta luck? What will happen then? Anyway sorry for rambling - I know calling is one option, but I am also looking at other options as well. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/55 "2009-10-17T21:49:17Z")
I don’t see why it’s so hard for some people to realize that other people don’t want companies, even ones they buy from, to not put crap on their computer that they don’t want on their computer. ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/56 "2009-10-17T23:36:17Z")
The only legitimate way of solving the problem is calling Microsoft. I believe one of the rules of this forum is not to discuss illegal activity. There are instructions which can easily be found via google for removing the WGA and tricking it into thinking you have a real copy, but I don’t think we’d be able to help you with that here, despite the fact that you have a legitimate copy. I have had to remove it from one of my previous machines for the same reason, it gave a false positive. I also didn’t want to bother calling Microsoft. It’s a sad fact that Windows is highly pirated software and whilst I disagree with Microsoft’s tactic here, since it treats all customers like criminals, I can see why they’ve done it. Unfortunately it seems you’ll just have to swallow your pride for ten minutes or so. From what I gather there’s usually very few problems getting it sorted via this method. Microsoft even have a forum to help people deal with this, so they wont accuse you of theft or anything, you wont have to prove you haven’t stolen it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/57 "2009-10-17T23:52:55Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > I am hesitant to call because how will they know that my Windows is not stolen? How can I prove this? How do they typically handle false positives? What if they say, sorry, you’re shit outta luck? What will happen then? I really doubt that they will tell you that. And, given that everyone here said that the call should take less than ten minutes, you’ve spent more time that worrying about it and posting to this thread. So why not call them already? ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/58 "2009-10-18T00:03:57Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I really doubt that they will tell you that. And, given that everyone here said that the call should take less than ten minutes, you’ve spent more time that worrying about it and posting to this thread. So why not call them already? They will trace the call and send the black helicopters. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/59 "2009-10-18T00:52:54Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > I am hesitant to call because how will they know that my Windows is not stolen? How can I prove this? How do they typically handle false positives? What if they say, sorry, you’re shit outta luck? What will happen then? > > Anyway sorry for rambling - I know calling is one option, but I am also looking at other options as well. They will ask for the windows key off your sticker on the case. They can see how many times someone has attempted to use that key. Because of the Dell OEM install image key, that number in your case is ZERO. They just do not want to see that number going 3…4…7…23 activations. Even then part of the WGA package creates a hash of data based on a snapshot of your hardware. If the same hardware or hardware with minor changes asks for an activation…no problem. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2009, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/60 "2009-10-18T00:55:36Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > I don’t see why it’s so hard for some people to realize that other people don’t want companies, even ones they buy from, to not put crap on their computer that they don’t want on their computer. Then stop buying major brand name computers and happily visit your local guy who can build you a machine without the bloatware. If I built you a machine, all of this WGA stuff would already have been dealt with before it left the shop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997.md?page=4)