Have you updated your copy of Windows and received the "This copy of Windows is not genuine" notification. Have you ever wondered how to get rid of it?
The Windows Genuine Advantage notification checks if you have a genuine copy of Windows registered to that computer. It allows you to update your computer with the Windows updates. If you have installed it, and you do not have a genuine copy of Windows XP installed, then you may notice an icon at the bottom of your window before you Login. It will make you wait three seconds before allowing you to login.
In your tray, you will also notice a WGA icon telling you that you may be a victim of software counterfeiting.
Here's how to get rid of it.
The Long Way:
The longer way is to restart your computer and go into Safe Mode. If you do not know how to boot into safe mode, view our tutorial. Once in safe mode, non-essential programs will not run, including WgaTray.exe (the Windows Genuine Advantage program). Once in Safe Mode go to C:\Windows\System32\ and locate and delete WgaTray.exe
Cheat notes for computer savy users:
Restart your computer and boot into safe mode (press F8 while you restart your computer)
In Safe mode browse to C:\Windows\System32\
Search for WgaTray.exe and Delete it.
Reboot your computer and you are done.
The Quick but more difficult way (requires speed):
If you do not want to restart your computer and get into Safe Mode, you can do it in the following way. This requires a bit of speed with both the mouse and keyboard because every time you close the WgaTray.exe process, it will restart itself in less than a second.
Go to C:\Windows\System32\ and locate WgaTray.exe and highlight it. Trying to delete this right now will not work since WgaTray.exe is currently running. Next press ctrl+alt+del and select the process tab. Find WgaTray.exe in the list. To make it easier to find it, you can sort the list in alphabetical order by clicking the Process title at the top. Highlight WgaTray.exe.
Here's where your speed comes in. You have to end the WgaTray.exe process and then quickly go to the other window and delete WgaTray.exe.
Tip: Press end process then enter, then alt+tab, then delete, then enter. This is the sequence you should go through.
Note: If you do not delete WgaTray.exe before the program restarts itself, you will not be able to delete it. You will have to try again.
In both cases, continue with the following steps.
Next go to C:\Windows\System32\dllcache\ and delete WgaTray.exe here also.
Next you have to modify your registry.
Press the Start Button > Run and type regedit and then press enter.
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify and delete the WGALOGON folder.
That's all you have to do, now you are WGA free. Just make sure you don't automatically install the WGA update again. Restart your computer to see if you did it correctly. The WGA logo should not appear on your login screen.
DISCLAIMER: We do not condone having pirated copies of Windows on your computer. You should have one CAL per computer. This is for educational purposes only.
Another tip is to locate the file then delete but don't confirm. End the process through Task Manager, but put the confirmation pop-up over the delete confirmation so once you end it the cursor is right over it.
Yes..the process explained works well..and removes that annoying sign..it easy to delete it when you find the WgaTray.exe in windows 32 file and changed the name by right cliking and renaming it.then Ctr+Alt+Dlt to end the WgaTray.exe process and wont restart again..Now you can delete without being QUICK..!!
the easy way to delete windows genuine is to go on MY COMPUTER CONTROL PANEL, WINDOWS , SYSTEM32 and find WgaTray.exe try to rename it and then delete it!!!
I noticed that WGA starts even in safe mode. If we rename the folder first and then stop the running program, it is possible to delete this file under system32.
Thanks to it.okaay.com to solve my problem. This is a great solution for this problem. One only thing that i couldnot find DLLcache in my system. Remaining all are perfect.
if you're not fast enough...
safe mode.
open task and System32 folder at same time.
close file in task and drag file from Sys to desktop.
close again in task
drag to recycle bin
delete trash
restart.
not as much of a hurry.
If you can't find dllcache, the easiest way is to go to START, RUN and then start typing C:\Windows\System32\dllcache\ but DO NOT PRESS OK!!!! press browse instead. Here you will find the file and delete it from here. Hope this helps someone!
If you can't find dllcache, the easiest way is to go to START, RUN and then start typing C:\Windows\System32\dllcache\ but DO NOT PRESS OK!!!! press browse instead. Here you will find the file and delete it from here. Hope this helps someone!
If you can't find dllcache, the easiest way is to go to START, RUN and then start typing C:\Windows\System32\dllcache\ but DO NOT PRESS OK!!!! press browse instead. Here you will find the file and delete it from here. Hope this helps someone!
Thanks a great deal for this advice, noticed on my system, running it on safe mode did not prevent WGA from operating, so I tried the speed technique and after a few tries I got it, really felt I'd won a victory over WGA, then the rest was easy. I just hope this remains.
I should mention though that this, at least for me, didn't solve everything, it still left a single WGA error message at the start which sometimes causes there to be a blank screen on start up with only a few applications available. To get rid of this:
1. Start up normally, then while the initial WGA error message is still up and thus operating press ''CTRL+ALT+DEL''.
2. Look through the processes and you should find the application ''WGAsetup.exe''.
3. Look for this file on search and it should find it under one of the subdirectories of ''C:\Windows\System32\''. Right click on the file and click open containing folder and then simply delete all the files you see, they should all be WGA related.
Thanks a great deal for this advice, noticed on my system, running it on safe mode did not prevent WGA from operating, so I tried the speed technique and after a few tries I got it, really felt I'd won a victory over WGA, then the rest was easy. I just hope this remains.
I should mention though that this, at least for me, didn't solve everything, it still left a single WGA error message at the start which sometimes causes there to be a blank screen on start up with only a few applications available. To get rid of this:
1. Start up normally, then while the initial WGA error message is still up and thus operating press ''CTRL+ALT+DEL''.
2. Look through the processes and you should find the application ''WGAsetup.exe''.
3. Look for this file on search and it should find it under one of the subdirectories of ''C:\Windows\System32\''. Right click on the file and click open containing folder and then simply delete all the files you see, they should all be WGA related.
Thanks a great deal for this advice, noticed on my system, running it on safe mode did not prevent WGA from operating, so I tried the speed technique and after a few tries I got it, really felt I'd won a victory over WGA, then the rest was easy. I just hope this remains.
I should mention though that this, at least for me, didn't solve everything, it still left a single WGA error message at the start which sometimes causes there to be a blank screen on start up with only a few applications available. To get rid of this:
1. Start up normally, then while the initial WGA error message is still up and thus operating press ''CTRL+ALT+DEL''.
2. Look through the processes and you should find the application ''WGAsetup.exe''.
3. Look for this file on search and it should find it under one of the subdirectories of ''C:\Windows\System32\''. Right click on the file and click open containing folder and then simply delete all the files you see, they should all be WGA related.
Thanks a great deal for this advice, noticed on my system, running it on safe mode did not prevent WGA from operating, so I tried the speed technique and after a few tries I got it, really felt I'd won a victory over WGA, then the rest was easy. I just hope this remains.
I should mention though that this, at least for me, didn't solve everything, it still left a single WGA error message at the start which sometimes causes there to be a blank screen on start up with only a few applications available. To get rid of this:
1. Start up normally, then while the initial WGA error message is still up and thus operating press ''CTRL+ALT+DEL''.
2. Look through the processes and you should find the application ''WGAsetup.exe''.
3. Look for this file on search and it should find it under one of the subdirectories of ''C:\Windows\System32\''. Right click on the file and click open containing folder and then simply delete all the files you see, they should all be WGA related.
Thanks a great deal for this advice, noticed on my system, running it on safe mode did not prevent WGA from operating, so I tried the speed technique and after a few tries I got it, really felt I'd won a victory over WGA, then the rest was easy. I just hope this remains.
I should mention though that this, at least for me, didn't solve everything, it still left a single WGA error message at the start which sometimes causes there to be a blank screen on start up with only a few applications available. To get rid of this:
1. Start up normally, then while the initial WGA error message is still up and thus operating press ''CTRL+ALT+DEL''.
2. Look through the processes and you should find the application ''WGAsetup.exe''.
3. Look for this file on search and it should find it under one of the subdirectories of ''C:\Windows\System32\''. Right click on the file and click open containing folder and then simply delete all the files you see, they should all be WGA related.
Here's a tip for getting rid of all traces of WGA including the initial error message:
1. Start up normally, then while the initial WGA error message is still up and thus operating press ''CTRL+ALT+DEL''.
2. Look through the processes and you should find the application ''WGAsetup.exe''.
3. Look for this file on search and it should find it under one of the subdirectories of ''C:\Windows\System32\''. Right click on the file and click open containing folder and then simply delete all the files you see, they should all be WGA related.
And there you go, no more remnants of WGA should remain. I just hope this lasts.
Apologies if this has already been posted, thanks for the help.
Look for this file on search and it should find it under one of the subdirectories of ''C:\Windows\System32\''. Right click on the file and click open containing folder and then simply delete all the files you see, they should all be WGA related.
Look for this file on search and it should find it under one of the subdirectories of ''C:\Windows\System32\''. Right click on the file and click open containing folder and then simply delete all the files you see, they should all be WGA related.
ooppss it s not working,when i shift+delet that file in system32 it gives this error:
MAKE SURE THE THISK IS NOT FULL OR WRITE PROTECTED AND THAT FILE IS NOT CURRENTLY IN USE. pls tell me what to do
ooppss it s not working,when i shift+delet that file in system32 it gives this error:
MAKE SURE THE THISK IS NOT FULL OR WRITE PROTECTED AND THAT FILE IS NOT CURRENTLY IN USE. pls tell me what to do
ooppss it s not working,when i shift+delet that file in system32 it gives this error:
MAKE SURE THE THISK IS NOT FULL OR WRITE PROTECTED AND THAT FILE IS NOT CURRENTLY IN USE. pls tell me what to do
hello
am getting win authentication message on logon
however wgatray doesn't exist in my system
in the processes i only have winlogon.exe which cannot be stopped even in safe mode
what should be done please
hello
am getting win authentication message on logon
however wgatray doesn't exist in my system
in the processes i only have winlogon.exe which cannot be stopped even in safe mode
what should be done please
hello
am getting win authentication message on logon
however wgatray doesn't exist in my system
in the processes i only have winlogon.exe which cannot be stopped even in safe mode
what should be done please
hello
am getting win authentication message on logon
however wgatray doesn't exist in my system
in the processes i only have winlogon.exe which cannot be stopped even in safe mode
what should be done please
hello
am getting win authentication message on logon
however wgatray doesn't exist in my system
in the processes i only have winlogon.exe which cannot be stopped even in safe mode
what should be done please
hello
am getting win authentication message on logon
however wgatray doesn't exist in my system
in the processes i only have winlogon.exe which cannot be stopped even in safe mode
what should be done please
how to remove windows genuine notification error i
mcm (59.177.166.xxx) 2010-03-13 07:23:45
plz help me to remove window genuine notification error in "window 7", this shows " this copy of window is not genuine" and suddenly it turns the desktop into black colour. although i have tried the method given for "window XP" but it does not show Notify/WGALOGON folder inside the Winlogon folder. I have tried for "task manager/processing" but file "WgaTray.exe" is not found there. I have also tried for [ C:\Windows\System32\ and locate and delete WgaTray.exe ]as described above but "WgaTray.exe" file is not available in system 32.
if someone can help me , plz tell me the way to remove it. t is disturbing my research work.
i will appreciate the help from u.
how to remove windows genuine notification error i
mcm (59.177.166.xxx) 2010-03-13 07:24:26
plz help me to remove window genuine notification error in "window 7", this shows " this copy of window is not genuine" and suddenly it turns the desktop into black colour. although i have tried the method given for "window XP" but it does not show Notify/WGALOGON folder inside the Winlogon folder. I have tried for "task manager/processing" but file "WgaTray.exe" is not found there. I have also tried for [ C:\Windows\System32\ and locate and delete WgaTray.exe ]as described above but "WgaTray.exe" file is not available in system 32.
if someone can help me , plz tell me the way to remove it. t is disturbing my research work.
i will appreciate the help from u.
how to remove windows genuine notification error i
mcm (59.177.166.xxx) 2010-03-13 07:24:38
plz help me to remove window genuine notification error in "window 7", this shows " this copy of window is not genuine" and suddenly it turns the desktop into black colour. although i have tried the method given for "window XP" but it does not show Notify/WGALOGON folder inside the Winlogon folder. I have tried for "task manager/processing" but file "WgaTray.exe" is not found there. I have also tried for [ C:\Windows\System32\ and locate and delete WgaTray.exe ]as described above but "WgaTray.exe" file is not available in system 32.
if someone can help me , plz tell me the way to remove it. t is disturbing my research work.
i will appreciate the help from u.
how to remove windows genuine notification error i
mcm (59.177.166.xxx) 2010-03-13 07:34:43
plz help me to remove window genuine notification error in "window 7", this shows " this copy of window is not genuine" and suddenly it turns the desktop into black colour. although i have tried the method given for "window XP" but it does not show Notify/WGALOGON folder inside the Winlogon folder. I have tried for "task manager/processing" but file "WgaTray.exe" is not found there. I have also tried for [ C:\Windows\System32\ and locate and delete WgaTray.exe ]as described above but "WgaTray.exe" file is not available in system 32.
if someone can help me , plz tell me the way to remove it. t is disturbing my research work.
i will appreciate the help from u.
Cheat notes for computer savy users:
Finally! I'm not really sure why my laptop didn't pass te Authentication. It's brand new!
Thanks. I learnt sumthin 
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