SomeWhatAggravated wrote:
> I have a dialup connection. I use auto-update. On June 2nd the Windows
> Genuine Advantage Notification update installed on my computer. I guess I
> told it to install, but I thought it was a critical update. After that
> install my computer would try to connect to the internet every time I
> switched user accounts on my XP Pro system. I nomally work off-line so it
> pops up the window for connecting to the internet, twice, each time I log in.
> I know the FAQ says WGA Notification will call home when you restart your
> computer, but on my computer it does it every time I switch user accounts. I
> do this quite often because it is a development system and I have accounts
> with different access priveleges I use for testing, for security, for
> recreation and for guest access.
>
> I find this request to log on dialogue box popping up to be very annoying.
>
> Last weekend I tried to install some additional memory in my computer and
> managed to totally trash my system. There was some kind of error related to
> an attempt to write to a protected area of memory on boot. I have since
> rebuilt my system from scratch and am a bit reluctant to install the WGA
> Notification software again. I have an unfounded suspicion that this software
> was somehow related to my unsuccessful attempt to add memory and consequently
> for crashing and trashing my system.
>
> I have reformatted my hard drive using the quick format option, reinstalled
> all system and application software and applied all Windows updates, except
> the WGA Notification software. I have marked that "critical update" as
> hidden. I have turned off automatic updates to prevent it from being
> automatically re-installed. I would like to turn auto-updates back on,
> because now I am getting annoying reminders from my anti-virus software about
> the restricted status of my auto-updates.
>
> My question:
>
> If I have marked the WGA Notification update as hidden, (don't show this
> update again) and I turn auto updates on, will auto-updates download the
> software again?
Here's what I know from personal experience:
You don't need WGA Notification (KB905474) in order to use Windows
Update or Microsoft Update. You do need WGA Validation (KB892130) (and
a genuine, licensed copy of Windows).
MS explains WGA Validation and Notification here:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f...6-08wgaqa.mspx
Both WGA tools are updated from time to time, although they keep the
same KB number. One of the changes recently made to KB905474 was
(allegedly) to change the frequency with which the tool checks for a new
settings file. The version you apparently have checks "Shortly after
logon, WGA Notifications checks whether a newer settings file is
available and downloads the file if one is found." "Logon" apparently
means user logon, not just reboot. A more recent version apparently
checks only every 14 days (see article linked above). That article was
first released on June 8, and there is a new version of the tool out
today, so if you download it again, you'll probably stop the frequent
"phone home."
I have never installed KB905474. I "hid" this update on Windows Update.
I don't have updates set to "full automatic," but I do have them set
to notify me when new updates are available. I did not receive any
notifications in the week or so between the time I hid it and today.
OTOH, the re-issuance of KB905474 apparently caused WU to "un-hide" it.
I expect that if I hadn't gone to WU and re-hid it today, I would have
received a notice overnight. The moral of that story is, if you have
automatic updates turned on, you cannot rely on "hiding" a "critical"
update to keep if forever from downloading and installing.
WU has 3 levels of "automaticness" in addition to being turned off
entirely: automatic; download and choose when to install; notify but
don't download or install. I suggest picking the 3rd option. When
notified, go to WU and select the updates you actually need.
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