How to avoid Windows Genuine Advantage for an XP update?

How to avoid Windows Genuine Advantage for an XP update? I am about to apply updates to a windows xp installation I have not booted in a couple of years. When going to update.microsoft.com, it forced me first to accept an activex installation and now it wants me to install wga:
Asked by: Guest \| Views: 256

Total answers/comments: 2

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bert [Entry]

AutoPatcher is another way you could probably install updates without needing to use the Windows Update site directly.

bert [Entry]

"Without WGA installed you will have trouble installing any optional updates from Microsoft though there are presumably ""ways and means"" if you have the time to search for them and the determination to avoid Windows-Genuine-Spyware.

If you can live without optional updates though, you'll be fine. Microsoft would not be daft enough to deny anyone security updates (at least until XP is officially fully deprecated) as the extra abundance of hacked Windows machines causing hassle would be extra embarrassment. You won't be able to use the WindowsUpdate web site - just the local client, and you'll need to be careful with that as WGA creeps in unexpectedly with other updates (make sure you always do a custom download and install of updates).

Caveat: I long since gave up trying to avoid WGA, though I've not stopped resenting the ""guilty until proven innocent"" attitude it implies. Note also, that you will not be able to avoid it at all if you upgrade to Vista or Windows 7."