(HOW TO) Removing annoying WGA stuff from Windows XP

[Darthtanion]

The language packs put out by Microsoft *should* be available for other base languages besides English. You might try looking seeper into that portion of their website and see if they offer your language pack that is usable under the base language of your legal OS.

[casecutter]

I understand Darth. I don't mean to imply you guys are condoning anything illegal. I do understand that people can have issues with valid software. But what got my blood pressure up was when you look at this thread, most of the people requesting help have the one post and it is in this thread looking for help. Now I am not against helping noobs out because that is how you get new members. But when they are looking for this kind of help, they are usually at best internet trolls looking to validate their cracked copy.

As for the person looking for help now, sounds like you bought an OEM version in the wrong language no less. If you bought the retail version, MS will definitely give you support. Unfortunately, sounds like you were looking for a deal and bought the Chinese version OEM and in the end found out that isn't a good idea. Either bite the bullet and buy a legit copy, or you gotta deal with the problems of having a cracked version.

[Darthtanion]

I try to be helpful with regards to this topic (after ascertaining that the person has a legal version) because WGA is about the worst thing that could have been done by Microsoft. I've been keeping up with this monster on ZD Net and the numbers are indicating that MS is incredibly happy since they estimate only a 20% false postive in WGA... of 60 million legitamate users out there. While I don't claim to be a mathametician, a quick trip through my little pea brain indicates that works out to a whopping 12 million false positives when using the MANDATORY usage of WGA. While I haven't had problems myself (yet), there are many who have.

[casecutter]

I think the thing that truely disgusts me is that they snuck it in and made it spyware basically. When I found out it contacted MS daily, I almost crapped myself. And I never realized there were so many false positives. I guess I better read up on the subject before I react so critically.

[orangutang91]

What is a false positive?

[casecutter]

When you have legitimate software that MS falsely calls illegal. I knew it happened, I just never realized there was a 20% false ratio. That is ridiculous.

[lesslie]

I do not have the chinese version. Its a french one and I want to update it to maltese (minority language interface pack).

I've got the feedback now, it is only possible with winXP english 32 bit SP2.
The wga error I got is not a real validation error but it should indicate that the language is not supported! Weird! Following M$ you have not only to buy licencs per computer, but also per language!

[Darthtanion]

I'm sorry for you lesslie, I don't have any work-arounds to suggest. But the fact that MS is trying to raoe you for more money does not surprise me in the least. After all, that is one of the many reasons their ass landed in federal court and they have been labeled as a monopoly.

[orangutang91]

I feel so bad for the people with WGA stuff! 1 in 5 peeps gets it?!?! I cant believe it

[naughty]

Originally Posted by Darthtanion

After all, that is one of the many reasons their ass landed in federal court and they have been labeled as a monopoly.

Thank God it exists and we that they, MS, can be brought to court.