[SharmanNet]

Microsoft has updated software that verifies whether a copy of Windows is genuine in its Windows XP Professional edition, making it similar to the notification in Windows Vista and thus more persistently visible to users.

Now when a version of Windows XP Pro is found to be pirated or counterfeit, the next time a user logs on to the system, the desktop screen background will be black, replacing whatever custom desktop may have been set by the user. This will reappear every 60 minutes, even if a user resets the screen's background. Previously, this was not a part of the WGA notification for Windows XP Pro.



Another new feature of the alert system is to put the PC into "persistent desktop notification" mode, with a "You may be a victim of software counterfeiting" banner at the bottom of the screen informing the user that the copy of Windows is not genuine. The notification is translucent and users can interact with any objects underneath it; however, it will continue to appear on the screen until a user installs a genuine copy of Windows.

Microsoft said the update to WGA also simplifies the installation of the alert system on Windows XP Pro. In addition, the company has improved its ability to detect non-genuine copies of Windows.

WG Blog via Infoworld

[Syzygy]

I think M$ might just still care a bit about XP

[pm_41]

I'll have to tell my aunt about this... (I told her not to use the same CD key on two computers!)

[j4f]

Now they are really gonna make home pira.... ups. i mean users move to Vista.

[Villain]

and this is why the first thing that you always do is DISABLE auto-update.

[phoenix_abhi]

Is MS giving re birth to XP ? NO !! After the launch of Vista SP1, so many users are shifted back to XP SP3 (most of them pirated version) reduced the popularity of Vista,compelled MS to do the above .

[Frylock86]

I just wish Msft would get rid of WGA all together. Its doing nothing to counter piracy and if anything makes people pirate more.

[Culprit]

Solo, on Aug 27 2008, 01:42 PM, said:

and this is why the first thing that you always do is DISABLE auto-update.

correct

[Genius314]

I find it funny that is says "you might be a victim," considering that Microsoft is the only one losing from piracy.
"Oh no, my free copy of XP might be fake!!"

[Syzygy]

Genius314, on Aug 28 2008, 06:32 AM, said:

I find it funny that is says "you might be a victim," considering that Microsoft is the only one losing from piracy.
"Oh no, my free copy of XP might be fake!!"

When they say 'you might be a victim' is them saying 'you will be going to jail if you get caught'

which is highly unlikely.

[Ultimate John]

You can download the new WGA Notifications update from here, if you want to..

[FalseAgent]

why the HECK are they even doing this? M$ should have been done with XP a long time ago?

[Johnnyboy]

Only a small banner at the bottom of the screen? People can hide it with quick dll file hacking.

[Konner]

lol i just installed it. i pirated my copy but it was pre activated.

[AMIRZ]

You can totally remove it by using WGA remover (RemoveWGA). Download from here
(personally i never use it because my Xp and Vista are genuine/legal so nothing i have to worry now, but otherwise i also think it maybe helpful "sometime"... lol )