# "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:** 4\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/161 "2009-10-27T21:20:49Z")
> [@The\_Piranha\_Brothers](#): > > The only update I know of that required validation, prefereably by means of WGA, was IE7. Are there others that will not install without checking the validation first? Loads. I’ve just been setting up a couple of new laptops and there was an initial round of updates, including WGA, then a whole bunch more that were not offered the first time. Same thing for Office updates on Microsoft Update. Supposedly they’re non-critical updates - so they’ll be addressing functionality and stability, rather than security, I expect. ---
**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 27, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/162 "2009-10-27T21:24:49Z")
> [@The\_Piranha\_Brothers](#): > > The only update I know of that required validation, prefereably by means of WGA, was IE7. Are there others that will not install without checking the validation first? I just installed KB955839 “December 2008 cumulative time zone update for Microsoft Windows operating systems” and it required me to install the Genuine Advantage Validation Tool first. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Piranha\_Brothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@The\_Piranha\_Brothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Piranha_Brothers)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/163 "2009-10-28T10:39:16Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Loads. I’ve just been setting up a couple of new laptops and there was an initial round of updates, including WGA, then a whole bunch more that were not offered the first time. Same thing for Office updates on Microsoft Update. > > Supposedly they’re non-critical updates - so they’ll be addressing functionality and stability, rather than security, I expect. But is it really a condition, or do they simply come in groups and some are cumulative and can only happen after some of the previous updates have been done (possibly with a restart in between)? Internet explorer updates probably work like that. Just because they didn’t appear before doesn’t mean they are WGA dependent (IE probably still is, right?). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997/164 "2009-10-28T13:45:31Z")
Just realised - we’ve been talking somewhat at cross-purposes. I never use automatic updates - I turn it off and schedule a visit to the Microsoft Update site at least once a month. On the Microsoft/Windows Update websites, WGA is absolutely required - it’s a first step before you can even get to the bit where you scan for updates. As far as updates being conditional -everything I have read on the subject (including the WGA FAQ on Microsoft’s site says that critical updates are still available to non-validated machines, but many non-security-critical updates are not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-genuine-advantage-infects-my-computer-help/513997.md?page=8)