Find out if the Windows product key is legit

Microsoft introduced Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) just a month ago to Windows XP systems . Once installed it checks if the running Windows XP version is genuine. If it's not the it's showing annoying popup messages that inform the user about it. It's Microsoft's decision that only popups are being displayed to the user, but the company could change that in the near future to more drastic actions.

WGA is installed using Windows Updates, it copies three files to your system.

• \WINDOWS\system32\WgaLogon.dll
• \WINDOWS\system32\WgaTray.exe
• \WINDOWS\system32\LegitCheckControl.dll

There are reports on the Internet that legit versions of Windows XP are sometimes identified as not genuine so that users of those systems receive the popup notifications as well. Microsoft released a program that checks wether your Windows XP key is legit or not. You can download the Microsoft Diagnostic Tool from the Microsoft homepage.

If you key is not valid you have the following options to fix the problem asap. (Besides calling Microsoft asking wha'´s wrong of course.):

Option 1. 

Option 2. 

Clear the file C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data from all data and make it read only. Restart Your Computer.

Option 3.

If you have another windows XP key (maybe because you have received another one from Microsoft or the retailer who sold you the PC after you have complained to them about the issue) you can change the key by using Microsofts Key Update Tool.

Option 4.

There are ways to uninstall the wga files. This is only a temporary solution, next time you run windows update it's likely to be installed again. (source)

• run > regedit, search and delete all references to WgaTray.exe
• start in safemode and remove the infection by deleting the file WgaTray.exe in c:\Windows\System32, placed there by the second greediest Corporation in the World (Intel holds the enviable no1 spot). (B. Gates III is best known for spying on his customers.)
• restart your computer