Turn Off Autoupdates!

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Aron Schatz

2014: Year of change. Joined: August 3, 2001 Status: Offline Posts: 10753 Rep:

Turn Off Autoupdates!

Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:17:18 AM #17163 Perm Link

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474/en-us

This kind of 'feature' should not be in auto updates from Microsoft. I'm going to turn off all my home computers' autoupdates even though they are legit. Screw Microsoft.

2014 is going to be a good year. More content, more streamlining. Be a part of history!

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Thefremen

LOL whut? Joined: September 29, 2002 Status: Offline Posts: 2475 Rep:

Re: Turn Off Autoupdates!

Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:00:26 AM #17171 Perm Link

In response to Aron Schatz #17163

Also, autoupdate kills my GTK+ install, still can't figure out why, but every time it goes active I have to re-install.

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Aron Schatz

2014: Year of change. Joined: August 3, 2001 Status: Offline Posts: 10753 Rep:

Re[2]: Turn Off Autoupdates!

Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:59:16 AM #17175 Perm Link

In response to Thefremen #17171

I have Gaim installed in a few places that have autoupdates and don't have a problem.

2014 is going to be a good year. More content, more streamlining. Be a part of history!

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SHCaseRtoZ

I don't quote Joined: September 2, 2005 Status: Offline Posts: 1189 Rep:

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Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:51:48 PM #17201 Perm Link

I set autoupdates to notify before installation already. Can't trust Microsoft.

-SHCase

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Chris Reid

Joined: August 1, 2005 Status: Offline Posts: 51 Rep:

How to kill / remove / disable WGATRAY.EXE

Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:24:50 PM #17259 Perm Link

THE FIX
-------
If you think Windows starts up slowly enough as it is, you can disable WGA by removing the execute bit on WgaLogon.dll. That way, winlogon can't call it as a notification package at boot, and since WgaLogon is responsible for running and maintaining WgaTray.exe, no more tray popups either.

And since the read bit is still there, you won't trip Windows Update to force you to reinstall it; the DLL still matches with the WU catalog and all the WGA registry keys are still in place.

HOWTO
-----

If you're not familiar with how NT ACLs work, here's how you can break file permission inheritance. First of all, let's make sure Windows will let you access the ACL dialog from the GUI:

* In explorer, go to Tools > Folder Options. Then, go to View > Advanced Settings and uncheck "Use simple file sharing". Hit OK.

Now, let's change the permissions for WgaLogon:

* In the Address bar, type (without quotes) "%WinDir%\system32" and hit enter.

* Scroll down to WgaLogon.dll, right click on it, pick Properties. Go to Security.

* Hit the Advanced button, uncheck the Inherit box at the bottom, hit the Copy button, then hit OK.

Now we have a local copy of the ACL which we can modify.

* Go through each listed user/group and remove the "Read & Execute" permission for that file, leaving the "Read" permission as-is.

* Hit OK to apply the permission changes and close the file properties dialog. Restart the machine.

You can now turn "Use simple file sharing" back on, if you want.

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Aron Schatz

2014: Year of change. Joined: August 3, 2001 Status: Offline Posts: 10753 Rep:

Re: How to kill / remove / disable WGATRAY.EXE

Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:30:54 PM #17265 Perm Link

In response to Chris Reid #17259

Or install a real OS like Linux. +1 for you.

2014 is going to be a good year. More content, more streamlining. Be a part of history!

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SHCaseRtoZ

I don't quote Joined: September 2, 2005 Status: Offline Posts: 1189 Rep:

Re: How to kill / remove / disable WGATRAY.EXE

Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:34:49 PM #17269 Perm Link

In response to Chris Reid #17259

Thanks for that Chris. It will be helpful if the update gets pushed onto a machine.

Your comment is good as well Aron Smile

-SHCase

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Chris Reid

Joined: August 1, 2005 Status: Offline Posts: 51 Rep:

(No Title)

Tue May 2, 2006 10:48:07 PM #17473 Perm Link

I often have to reinstall operating systems on machines because they get screwed up either by some spyware, a virus, a program that had too much fun during an install, windows just crapping out, drive dying, etc.

This is something that I have to do quite often for many other people. Up until this point, I would install the Corp VLK release just so I didn't have to deal with activation.

Here is my previous method:

1. Insert Windows XP Pro VLK Disc w/ SP2 + all latest updates included upto latest month
2. Insert unattended installation floppy disk
3. Walk away
4. Walk back, type in a username, done.

Here is my new install method (using the COA sticker on the user's case):

1. Insert Windows XP Pro OEM Disc w/ SP2
2. Insert unattended installation floppy disk
3. Walk away
4. Walk back, fix the crap that didn't work because the install is old on the OEM disk
5. Attempt to activate windows: FAIL, please call 1-800-INDIA-TECH
6. Talk to a computer (10 minutes)
7. Talking to computer fails, transferring you to someone who does not speak english (hold, 2 minutes)
8. Answer about 10 questions on what the system is that you're reinstalling Windows onto (5 minutes)
9. Provide CDKEY (2 minutes)
10. Provide installation id (2 minutes)
11. Listen to activation number (2 minutes)
12. Windows is activated
13. Download 46 windows updates.
14. Install 46 windows updates.
15. Reboot 2 or 3 times.

Then... Windows Genuine Advantage installs, and doesn't work, and wants me to call the number AGAIN.

-REPEAT PROCESS-

Then... Change a stick of RAM, a CPU, anything.

-REPEAT PROCESS-

It's sad when users come to you requesting a cracked copy of Windows for their Dell systems (with legit stickers), just to get away from all this crap.

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Aron Schatz

2014: Year of change. Joined: August 3, 2001 Status: Offline Posts: 10753 Rep:

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Wed May 3, 2006 4:26:07 AM #17478 Perm Link

In response to Chris Reid #17473

I had a situation like that just the other day. A dell laptop that had a legit sticker of XP Pro came in to buy another version of XP Pro because Microsoft said his copy wasn't legit. Microsoft is stepping beyond their rights now, I fully support a cracked copy in those situations that people PAID for their product and now, because of DRM, doesn't work.

2014 is going to be a good year. More content, more streamlining. Be a part of history!

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free::zombie

Joined: December 6, 2005 Status: Offline Posts: 930 Rep:

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Wed May 3, 2006 7:39:43 AM #17490 Perm Link

you mean NT supports UNIX-style (or close) file permissions and hides them by default ??
I mean, this means NT has built-in support for the most basic form of UNIX security, but uses win95-style (==absent) security by default.
/me backs off in disgust

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Aron Schatz

2014: Year of change. Joined: August 3, 2001 Status: Offline Posts: 10753 Rep:

(No Title)

Wed May 3, 2006 7:50:37 AM #17492 Perm Link

In response to free::zombie #17490

NT has a POSIX layer for compatibility (and I hear it sucks).

The NT file permissions are not hidden and are more involved that unix permissions. I LIKE Unix permissions better because it is much easier to understand.

2014 is going to be a good year. More content, more streamlining. Be a part of history!

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free::zombie

Joined: December 6, 2005 Status: Offline Posts: 930 Rep:

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Wed May 3, 2006 7:58:19 AM #17495 Perm Link

they are hidden from the mortal user at least Razz

I only ever knew of the ro, hidden and archive bits. (if there are other bits like that, them as well). There were the bits Total Commander displayed, and they never bothered me in the slightest, i.e. I never had problems finding hidden files and similiar.

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SHCaseRtoZ

I don't quote Joined: September 2, 2005 Status: Offline Posts: 1189 Rep:

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Wed May 3, 2006 4:21:28 PM #17527 Perm Link

NT permissions have multiple groups and multiple owners. Stuff can be inherited or not, it is very strange.

-SHCase

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Aron Schatz

2014: Year of change. Joined: August 3, 2001 Status: Offline Posts: 10753 Rep:

(No Title)

Wed May 3, 2006 6:52:01 PM #17539 Perm Link