PC Harpoon > Tutorials > How to get rid of WGA

How to remove WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage)

(Ubuntu way)

Regardless of why your XP or Vista isn't validating, Microsoft will install-- what they label a critical security update-- validation tool that "phone's home" through the internet whether or not the copy of Windows is properly activated. Sound like spyware? You bet it is.

So here is one getting rid of it: Ubuntu Live Disc:

Only follow these steps if you see a something similar to the screenshot above when your windows boots up.

1. First, you need to have a Ubuntu LIVE CD. If you don't know what Ubuntu is, basically it's an alternative operating system based on the Linux kernal. All you need is the LIVE CD boot off and no installation is required. It's always good to have this CD around in the event your Windows or Mac machine breaks down and you need to extract data.

2. Open and burn the ISO file. Burn at the slowest speed to ensure you don't get any disc errors. I recommend PowerISO, it's a great small program that can burn anything and everything.

3. Restart your computer. Make sure your boot order has the CD drive first, in most machines you can press F12 to display a boot order, and boot into the Ubuntu splash screen. Then choose the first option, I think it's "run ubuntu from CD" or something like that.

4. Once loaded, mount your Windows NTFS drive. Open up the Windows folder and do a search for "wga".

5. Delete all results. Restart, take the CD out, and boot up windows.

6. You're done! Make sure you don't download the WGA package through automatic updates again: KB905474