Mar
11

How To Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (WGA)

Important Update: Microsoft has updated its WGA Tool. Now the above mentioned method will not work. Please see my latest article New Windows WGA 1.9.40.0.

What is Windows Genuine Advantage Notification?

WGA_Logo Windows Genuine Advantage is a software anti-piracy program started by Microsoft in 2005. It enforces the online validation of some of the Microsoft products. It is automatically installed if Windows Automatic Updates are enabled. If goes to the Windows Update site, it will ask you for installing this validation tool before you can select the updates from the Microsoft update website. By accepting to install this validation tool, an ActiveX component in Internet Explorer is installed.

What does it do?

If, for some reason, this tool fails to

validate your Windows, then it’ll always show you a warning that you may be a victim of software counterfeiting and that your Windows is not genuine. It will show up on your logon screen and make you wait for some seconds. And when you logon, it will just site in your status bar and will keep annoying you.

Here is the description of Windows Genuine Advantage Tool from Microsoft.

When this tool is installed, it shows up before logging on to the system

How To Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (WGA)

And keeps on displaying the balloons in the status bar.

Windows Vista

How To Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (WGA)

Windows XP

How To Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (WGA)

What data does WGA collect?

This tool, if installed, collects the following data from the system.

  • Computer make and model
  • BIOS checksum.
  • MAC address.
  • GUID
  • Hard drive serial number.
  • Region and language settings of the operating system.
  • Operating system version.
  • PC BIOS information (make, version, date).
  • PC manufacturer.
  • User locale setting.
  • Validation and installation results.
  • Windows or Office product key.
  • Windows XP product ID.

How to remove WGA notification:

There are several ways to disable WGA notification. Some of them are given below:

1- Through Firewall

WGA notification can easily be disable through your firewall. You can disable the automatic startup of wgatray.exe and wgalogon.dll through your firewall. This will disable WGA notifications and this will do no harm to the system.

2- Through third party softwares

There are many softwares available which can disable WGA notifications. Notable softwares include WGARemover and MUBlinder.

3- Through System Restore

If you have installed WGA by mistake, you can always use your system restore to get rid of it. Restore your system to the point where WGA was not installed.

4- Through deleting files manually

To remove WGA manually, follow the steps below:

  • Download this bat file
  • Double click it and restart your system
  • Most probably, you have successfully deleted all the files used by WGA. Now it should not come at logon.

If this bat file does not work, you should manually delete the following files from your system:

  • X:\Windows\System32\wgatray.exe
  • X:\Windows\System32\wgalogon.dll
    (Where X is your Windows Drive)

And you must also create an empty wglogon.dll file in the same directory from which you are deleting it.

Restart your system once you’re finished. If you are having problems with following these steps, please write in comments.

Important Update: Microsoft has updated its WGA Tool. Now the above mentioned method will not work. Please see my latest article New Windows WGA 1.9.40.0.

More Interesting Articles

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

RedditFacebookStumbleuponDiggDel.icio.us Posted by Sanix Tips and Tweaks, Windows, security, troubleshooting Subscribe to RSS feed

91 Responses to “How To Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (WGA)”

  1. Asma
    March 13th, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    Just something I was looking for :)

    Er.. promoting piracy, huh ?

  2. Sanix
    March 13th, 2008 at 7:46 pm

    Hehe .. not promoting piracy but only advocating privacy :-)

  3. vital_signs
    March 15th, 2008 at 9:51 am

    OOO!…all the solutions to all my comp probs on one website!…YAY!:D

  4. Sanix
    March 15th, 2008 at 10:03 am

    Glad that you found the solution to your problems here :-) . If you have any other problems, please do let us know..

  5. vital_signs
    March 15th, 2008 at 10:39 am

    thanks for the offer. acha…do you guys at this site also help with codes for programming languages?

  6. redza
    May 23rd, 2008 at 12:51 am

    really helpful site… congrats 2 da team…

  7. Sanix
    May 23rd, 2008 at 12:54 am

    Thanks redza :-) . If you have any suggestions or feedback, feel free to contact us.

  8. Stud
    June 13th, 2008 at 5:44 am

    this really works!! thanks

  9. B.PANNEER
    June 15th, 2008 at 2:47 am

    No use your command is not clear. Bat file not able to download. And your are not mentioned where iam going to type this command cmd or windows explorer not mentioned.
    I trying past two months no solution. Please tell me step by step process.
    Thankyou,

  10. Julien Yazbeck
    July 2nd, 2008 at 11:52 pm

    thanks guys 4 this website. It works…
    Best Regards

  11. Julien Yazbeck
    July 2nd, 2008 at 11:54 pm

    hey B.PANNEER.
    I Can Help U In 1 Thing… You Should Write “cmd” in Run Box: Start Menu —-> Run Box —> (Write: cmd) —> and press run…
    If Need More Help… Contact Me On: Julien_Yazbeck@hotmail.com

  12. kzzy
    July 13th, 2008 at 11:22 am

    ahmm..i cannot delete the C:\Windows\System32\wgatray.exe
    C:\Windows\System32\wgalogon.dll

    what will i do then?

  13. Amanda
    August 3rd, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    how do i creat a wglogon.dll file after deleting wgalogon.dll file?

  14. Sanix
    August 3rd, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    Amanda, you don’t need to recreate wglogon.dll. This is the dll which tells Windows to look for Windows Genuine Advantage. So only deleting it will do the trick. Share your experience with us.

  15. Mast
    August 11th, 2008 at 5:23 am

    I am able to delete wgatray.exe, but unable to delete the wgalogon.dll. I tried deleting it from system32, but it didn’t allow. What do i do

  16. anne with an e
    September 15th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    thanks for the cool info!
    I am told that a virus is altering the registration key of my windows authentic copy. This is why I got this message after I didn’t have a problem for the past 2 years. Do you have any info on that or how to reset it?

  17. Clarence
    September 16th, 2008 at 5:44 am

    thanks man, you rock!

  18. Eve
    September 16th, 2008 at 12:10 pm

    remove the .exe & .dll through the cmd there??? How to remove them through system? =_= i dumb dumb zzz.. i cant remove through the bat file :(

  19. JESIII
    September 27th, 2008 at 10:46 pm

    I found the information helpful but ran into a problem. I cannot remove the .exe and .dll files as directed. Can you provided any additional information?
    I am currently running XP

    Thanks

  20. Fleming
    October 26th, 2008 at 12:40 am

    Hello, if anybody can’t delete the files at the System32 folder is probably because the “wgatray.exe” process is running, so you have to end that process through Task Manager, after doing that you will be able to delete the wgatray file.
    NOTE: the process may restart itself after you ended it, so in order to avoid that you have to delete the file quickly, you can do it like this:
    Select the file -> press Del (dont press ok when prompt yet) -> end the process -> now press ok.
    if it couldn’t delete it, look for the process in the Task Manager, if the process is there, then try again (improve your technique :)
    On success, reboot your machine and delete the “wgalogon.dll” file.

    …Or you could do like me and use GNU/Linux Ubuntu!

  21. arnold
    October 27th, 2008 at 6:59 am

    in my system i wont find any files like wgatray.exe & wgalogon.exe or .dll files

    Instead i am having IGFXtray.exe, winlogonfiles what to do?

  22. Ubuntu
    October 28th, 2008 at 2:52 am

    arnold, those aren’t the files… IGFX is a tool for the intel graphics or something and i think winlogon is the one that calls wgatray.exe

    cant you find them in dllcache either?
    (start->run… type dllcache and look if they there…)

    if not, try using the tool then (at the Important Note above)

    what SP you have?

  23. dr. sachin
    November 8th, 2008 at 6:27 pm

    this software is very bed.

  24. Phil
    November 14th, 2008 at 10:27 pm

    If you use remove WGA at first everything is fine, but it keeps coming back, when you restart the computer… Any help on this?

  25. Mohsin
    November 15th, 2008 at 4:42 pm

    Tumhari maon ko lannnn You Allll FUCK

  26. Noob
    November 21st, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    how can i remove the wgalogon.dll?? i cant delete it using the cmd… what should i do??

  27. eddie
    December 6th, 2008 at 4:37 pm

    did any of you guys hear of safeboot? you can remove whatever you want in there.

  28. joel
    December 30th, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    i cant remove both exe and .ddl files ..

  29. dinesh
    January 4th, 2009 at 7:46 am

    dude i tried deleting the two files but is says it cant delete becoz it is erite protected ot something else ….i checked the properties also but still not deleting give me some idea ….i actually dont visit this website much so could u please mail me the solution to my problem this is my email id: patro.dinesh@gmail.com,cockusspaniel00@yahoo.co.in
    thank you

  30. Sanix
    January 5th, 2009 at 5:41 pm

    Dude see the end of the article .. there is new Windows Genuine Advantage remover .. please see the end of the article to go to the latest article.

  31. rahul solanki
    January 8th, 2009 at 11:18 pm

    Process to delete

    C:\Windows\System32\wgatray.exe
    C:\Windows\System32\wgalogon.dll

    go to your computer program press ctrl+f click all folder and files type wga after that rename the files as

    wgatrayold.exe
    wgalogonold.dll

    now u are able to delete this files it helped me alot thaks friends

  32. Christy
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:31 am

    When i’m about to delete WgaTray

    it says:
    Cannot delete WgaTray: Access denied.
    Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected
    and that the file is not currently in use.

    It also says tht for WgaLogon.dll

    i know that my computer isn’t full or write-protected.
    I know it’s in use so idk how to make it not in use. idk how to close it..

  33. Satnam
    January 29th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    Thanks all…..

    I was really annoyed with the WGA icon you guys are simply the best at this…..keep the good work up

  34. naqueeb
    January 29th, 2009 at 6:10 pm

    i have a problem that my wga is not removing i have tried the steps which the technize have given me but i doesnt work. If someone knows that problem plzzzzz help me

  35. Sanix
    January 29th, 2009 at 8:10 pm

    naqueeb please follow the instructions in the following article which is the updated version of WGA.
    http://www.technize.com/2008/1.....-download/

  36. thelma o'brien
    January 31st, 2009 at 7:29 pm

    I am not using VY; please remove all this stuff from my screen.
    I can’t do it. TOB

  37. ayaz
    February 19th, 2009 at 12:55 pm

    hi i am ayaz , i was deleted from safe mode wagtray.exe n wgalogin.dll but thats is file back the restart the pc. then wt should i do tell me plzzzzzzzz..

  38. Sanix
    February 19th, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    ayaz please see our latest wga removal tool which will work perfectly for you .. please see the following article:
    Download Latest WGA Removal Tool 1.9.9.1

  39. maly
    February 23rd, 2009 at 10:17 am

    Have you got a Windows Genuine Advantage Validation (WGA) for Office pro running on a legitimate copy of Vista Home Premium or can you run Removal Tool 1.9.9.1 on Vista also?
    It worked perfectly on XP Pro

  40. Varunx
    February 25th, 2009 at 9:21 am

    I wasn’t able to delete the Wgatray.exe and wgalogon.dll . So what do I do?? Simply renamed them with garbage values and thus the solution !!

  41. marc
    March 12th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    the validation crack worked (on the validating screen),,

    but when I try to download any microsoft software (ie: windows defender, etc) it DOES NOT VALIDATE!!

    is this just an Auto Update crack? or does this WGA fix allow for downloadig WGA-protected software?

    please let me know as I am now searching for a new crack.

    marc

  42. Sanix
    March 12th, 2009 at 9:49 pm

    marc please see the latest WGA Fix here:
    http://www.technize.com/2009/0.....-download/

  43. adri
    March 16th, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    Dear all,

    Microsoft release new WGA (KB905474) today and i download it from windows auto update. That not effected the current WGA 1.9.9.1, but make the OGA 1.7.105.35 doesn’t work anymore. The new release of WGA making my office 2003 become not genuine. The blue star appear when i open the ms word or ms excel. re-installing the OGA 1.7.105.35 but not solve my problem. Pls advice me….
    Pls………….

  44. Niko
    March 24th, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    I know I am a newcomer but I know that WGA is NOT a NORMAL FILE!
    I know someone in microsoft and she says that its a BINARY CODE that is programmed somehow in your PC, so don’t bother it.You just can’t fix it.Besides, if there’s a program that deletes this code MICROSOFT ALREADY FOUND IT AND PUTS PRESSURE ON THE GUYS MAKING THESE PROGRAMMES

  45. yoyoy
    March 29th, 2009 at 5:49 pm

    Yes, you are a newcomer, NIKO, and you dont know anything. My sister had a problem with the WGA thing, installed the crack above, and is now able to download updates via automatic updates. So, you shouldnt believe everything a MS employe tells you.

    Jesus!

  46. GHENCEA
    April 5th, 2009 at 8:48 am

    I tried this simple move and worked so far : cut the 2 files from system32 : wgatray and wgalogon and move them elsewhere. You can do it even though they are active processes. Restart the computer and…that’s it. After that you can delete the 2 files.

  47. sandra
    April 16th, 2009 at 11:25 am

    Plz help me… iam not able delete the wgalogon.dll file but i deleted wgatray.exe file succesfully and even then gunuine windows notification is coming at logon stage. So, what should i do now????

  48. Sanix
    April 16th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    sandra, you should use the latest WGA fix which will solve your problem. You can download it here:
    http://www.technize.com/2009/0.....0-cracked/

  49. davidyap
    April 17th, 2009 at 11:06 pm

    I moved C:\Windows\System32\wgatray.exe and C:\Windows\System32\wgalogon.dll to my desktop, then i end its process in task manager… n it’s not re-open~ u guys can try it out…

  50. Diana
    April 18th, 2009 at 2:08 am

    Sanix,

    I don’t have the WGA icon in my tray and I haven’t been able to find any file with the letters “WGA” in them via searching my C:\ drive or directly looking in my system32 folder but after 3 years of not getting this message, for the past week, I am now getting the “Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications” with the word “Introduction” under the title and a link to: “What is WGA Notifications (Online)”. We haven’t downloaded anything new on the computer for the past 2 years so I’m a little perplexed on how this showed up all of sudden, and it only appears after booting up. Can you help?

    Diana

  51. Sanix
    April 18th, 2009 at 2:14 am

    Diana WGA is the Microsoft tool of detecting whether your Windows is genuine or not. Many people have problems with it even though they have original purchased Windows. You should download the latest WGA fix tool from the following address and then run it and follow the instructions to remove this icon:
    http://www.technize.com/2009/0.....0-cracked/

  52. MS
    April 20th, 2009 at 5:58 am

    I pay for this software 149$ and I give it to you for free Make your OS Genuine http://uploading.com/files/O86U2R3F/Microsoft Genuine Maker.rar.html

  53. Paul
    April 22nd, 2009 at 11:23 pm

    Just start PC in safe mode, go into Windows/system32 folder and delete the two said files.

  54. Doug
    April 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 am

    running ngen win 2007 xp pro sp3 & ngen mso 2007 (enterprise).from task manager ended process wgatray.exe, used fileassasin on reboot for wgatray.exe removal in c:\windows\system32 Still have wgatray.exe-oed38bed.pf in c:\windows\prefetch, wgalogon.dll in c:\windows\system 32, wganotify.log in c:\windows, wganotify.cat in c:\windows\system32\catroot\( F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE)& wgaerrorlog.txt in c:\windows\temp. The star is gone from taskbar and oga notification isn’t appearing (yet),now getting non gen message upon app.opening.
    Also just received numerous updates with SP1. which updates are safe?? How do i remove the other wga files??

    Thank you for your input and support

  55. Sanix
    April 23rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Doug you should install the latest WGA fix from the following address:
    http://www.technize.com/2009/0.....0-cracked/

    Then you can download all the updates without any fear. But please make a system restore point for your own safety.
    3 Ways To Create System Restore Points In Windows

  56. Jeri
    April 24th, 2009 at 6:37 pm

    I could only try the last option for removing as the computer is not on the internet at this point. when I tried to remove the two files, it wouldnt let me, so I renamed them and the genuine advantage nonsense disappeared. cant wait to get to my dads computer and get rid of

  57. Yanna
    May 5th, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    Finally my problems are solved!

    That WGA is pretty pissin’ me off! It kept on displaying nonsense balloons on my status bar and appearing on my desktop! :|

  58. Musa
    May 20th, 2009 at 10:52 pm

    Here , I want to share what I do for my problem is How to remove
    windows genuine advantage notification ( WGA ).
    Firstly , don’t use automatic update at firewall and then go to drive
    C , windows/system 32 ,WgaLogon.dll to old.dll and then restart your
    computer . Make it try …

  59. Irina
    May 21st, 2009 at 11:41 pm

    Hi everyone,
    I deleted both wgatray.exe and wgalogon.dll files, but the wga notification is still appearing. I found two more files: wganotifypackageinner(Hotfix package) and wgasetup. Is it safe to delete these? Thank you!

  60. RISHABH
    May 22nd, 2009 at 1:23 pm

    WANT TO DELETE THIS SOFTWARE GENUINE MICROSOFT SOFTWARE FROM MY COUMPUTER

    THANK YOU

  61. igotit
    May 24th, 2009 at 4:50 am

    I have the easiest answer! All you do is search for files/folders and type in WGA and delete them all. As simple as that! I don’t have that damn message popping up anymore.

  62. QA
    May 25th, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    Hi, i want to remove the WGA message but its rather difficult because i can’t log on to windows.

    What should i do now ?

  63. Sanix
    May 25th, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    @QA: Can you tell me how you’re unable to logon? Is the Windows not activated?or any other problem?

  64. QA
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:09 am

    The message says that i should activate windows ?

  65. Sanix
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    @QA: Activating Windows is a completely different issue than WGA or Windows Genuine Advantage. You should have a working Windows Product Key (CD Key) to activate Windows.

  66. QA
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

    I dont think you understand what i am trying to say , its because of the wga that i can’t log on to windows its says that should activate windows now in order to get into windows ?

  67. Sanix
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    QA I’m understanding your issue. Actually Windows, if not activated, has a grace period of 30 days. After that you have to activate Windows. It’s completely different from WGA. WGA comes in after you have activated Windows and your Windows is not genuine. You should activate your Windows before making it genuine.

  68. Sanix
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:24 pm

    @QA: is it Windows Vista?

  69. QA
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    No its XP

  70. QA
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

    The problem is i dont think that the windows key was a genuine one.
    That means that i can’t activate windows and that i should install xp all over again :( ?

  71. Sanix
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    Which Windows are you using? is it a pirated one?

  72. QA
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    Windows Xp SP2 i think , Yes :$

  73. Sanix
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    There are Windows XP keys available all over the internet which make your Windows look genuine. You can search google to get one and find your way into your Windows.

  74. QA
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    I will try that thanks for you support your doing a hell of job helping people on theire way.

  75. Sanix
    May 26th, 2009 at 12:42 pm

    Thanks for the compliments QA. Do tell me about the results. Wishing you best of luck with your work.

  76. lynda
    May 27th, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    Have xp on desktop..suddenly saying need to activate w/in 30 days…I click on activate and am told already activated..countdown continues. What to do/

  77. RObin
    May 30th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    thanks, my problem ok

  78. Anonim
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:24 am

    i have a problem!!! I can’t delete the wgaLogon.dll file. How to delete it?

  79. Quispe
    June 2nd, 2009 at 3:03 am

    why can’t you delete it? have you tried deleting in safe mode (press F8 when booting)

  80. sharpester
    June 4th, 2009 at 11:32 am

    I downloaded from the link that was on this site to get rid of the windows advantge validation and it crashed my computer .Now I can’t get to system restore to restore my computer or do anything eles. When I turn my computer on I have to F1 to get it to go to the windows loadup screen and then the logo screen comes up and goes to window then it freezes up .I can’t get to safe mode or anything .Do you have any ideal what I can do to get my computer back to normal. Before I didn’t have to press F1 to go to the windows screen.

  81. sharpester
    June 4th, 2009 at 11:58 am

    A blue screen come on with this on it Stop: 0×0000008E (0xc00000005,0xB442B8D3,0XBA4DB970,0X00000000) 00000C97
    Address B442B8D3 Base at B442B000 when I start my computer after I down loaded the removal link

  82. genie
    June 15th, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    Hi guys:

    Can you help me? I still keep on getting the same WGA notification everytime I starup my computer, can you help me get rid of it?

    Actually I have tried using the WGA 1.9.40.0 but still same problem appears. I even manually deleted the two files in system32, but to my suprise it still did not work. Can you please help me pls.?

    thanks.

  83. simpliciti
    June 16th, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    i downloaded a file from http://www.techzilo.com/remove.....mment-9307 to remove the WGA notification. When i tried to run it, an error popped up. After that, i tried deleting the file but it says it’s being used by another person. can anyone help me to delete the file?

  84. dicks
    June 21st, 2009 at 9:34 am

    how to remove WGA in OFFICE
    follow this step:

    1. go to windows/system32
    2. look for OGA files. (OGA.dll, OGA.exe, etc)there are 3 files.
    3. delete this files
    4. look for WGAtray.exe (Delete this file)
    5. have a cup of coffee

  85. Karan
    June 22nd, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    guys before you try anything, please make sure a restore point is created in your computer. so in case you do screw up..you can revert back to settings.

    coz those microsoft guys are not idiots, if not done properly, it attacks your pc like crazy.. it will disable your registry, your safe mode and gpedit.msc, then every time you try to search for a solution online, it shuts down the explorer. its amazing how every time the word registry or regedit is included in the google engine, it automatically shuts it down. besides your computer becomes slower, and hence the only way to undo the damage is a restore.

    or ofcourse you could format with a pirated xp cd ;)

  86. shailesh
    June 24th, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    how i delete wga files

  87. ADAM1989
    June 28th, 2009 at 8:56 am

    HEY…GUYS THANKS…YOU REALLY HELP ME OUT COUSE DAT WAS BIG PROBLEM TO ME AND MY COMPUTER

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. How To Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (WGA) | Software Piracy Update
  2. remove wga tool
  3. The New Windows Genuine Advantage Validation (WGA) 1.8.31.9 Cracked - Download Here! | Free Software Downloads And Reviews, Windows Tips And Tricks
  4. Latest Windows Genuine Advantage Validation (WGA) 1.8.32.1 Download | Free Software Downloads And Reviews, Windows Tips And Tricks

Leave a Reply

You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Incoming Searches For This Article: