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Bypass WGA for Windows Updates

12/04/2006 9:35 | Software, Windows | 6 replies | 7273 views | RSS

When there’s a friend (let’s call him José) who askes if he can get the official Windows patches via the official Windowsupdate website, normally you should say “no go josé”. Since Microsoft implemented their Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool, access is denied for all illegal keys (stolen or generated).

But I like José, with this little trick José cán get those updates.

Browse to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ (or take the IE > tools > Windows Update road), and let it do all the updates to the update engine. Stop when you see a screen with 2 buttons: Express and Custom.
Remove the URL from the addressbar, and copy the following in it:

javascript:void(window.g_sDisableWGACheck='all')

Now just press enter. You won’t see any popup or other message, but just click the custom button. Et voila José, happy patching!

Update

Seems MS found a way to block this javascript command with their updates WGA popup update thingie. If anyone finds another trick, please let me know. I didn’t install that particular WGA update, so I can’t search for another workaround …

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  1. On 12 April 2006 at 12h15, Selder wrote

    Mmm, damned single quotes … quote is fixed, should work now.

  2. On 25 May 2006 at 19h17, anonymous wrote

    It don’t work anymore.

  3. On 25 May 2006 at 19h33, Selder wrote

    Mmm, probably not with that new WGA … If I can find 10 minutes I’ll search how to get it rolling again…

  4. On 29 May 2006 at 19h03, anonymous wrote

    es arbeitet nicht! ist kaputt!

  5. On 10 June 2006 at 03h17, José wrote

    yup, i can see what updates i need now (what i couldn’t before), but i can’t install them :/
    i found several ways on google, but the guys from windows keep on finding new ways to prevent this…
    i am curious if you’ll find a new trick and will be willing to share it :)
    when i ‘ll have my new pc, i will buy a licensed version (XP professional) of windows though ! :p

    grtz

  6. On 10 June 2006 at 03h20, José wrote

    ps : it is 4.18 am right now :p