question on wuauclt

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rage Skywolfe
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Rage Skywolfe

I have just gotten back from a fresh format a couple of weeks ago and I am
noticing that wuauclt is running even when I turn the feature off. it dosen't
run constantly it is just running on startup and at different times. all of
the files except for two that are aassociated with that are labeled wuauclt
1and those are in the service pack files. is this a normal occurance? or is
it something to worry about. spybot,avg and ad aware all come up clean for
viruses.
 
Rage said:
I am noticing that wuauclt is running even when I turn the feature
off.
Click to expand...

Microsoft is becoming more militant about WGA.

Every time they come out with a new version, they really really really
want to push it onto your system. They're coming out with a new version
every week now.

That's why wuauclt is running even if you don't want it to.
 
XP Guy said:
Microsoft is becoming more militant about WGA.

Every time they come out with a new version, they really really really
want to push it onto your system. They're coming out with a new version
every week now.

That's why wuauclt is running even if you don't want it to.
Click to expand...

what is WGA never heard of it. I am on XP and sp3 nothing more.

when I first install I don't have much of a problem with it and really
haven't in the past it has just been recently that I have had this problem.
I have both antivirus and antispyware protection and like I said they come up
clean.
 
This is normal for a modern XP system, with all critical updates. It is
called "Windows Genuine Advantage", or WGA for short. That name is almost
humorous, since at best it lets you use XP in peace, and at worst in casues
you problems. It is sort of like calling an income tax a "payroll
advantage".

Basically, Microsoft is checking to confirm that your copy of XP is
legitimate every time you login. This is beyond XP activation, which checks
for hardware changes. Should it someday decide that your verison of XP is
not legit, it will tell you, and continue to nag you, untill you (1) buy a
copy, (2) call Microsoft and convince them it is legit, (3) switch to LINUX,
(4) buy a MAC.

The good news is that it is not a virus, unless you define a virus as an
unwanted program that degrades a PC's performance. In any event, no
commercial antivirus will do anything to fix WGA. And, at least it does not
destroy data.
 
Rage said:
what is WGA never heard of it. I am on XP and sp3 nothing more.
Click to expand...

If you don't know what WGA is, then yes you have it, and you have about
3 versions of it by now.
 
lol I was wondering didn't think it was but you never know. I had a problem
with a computer that had xp pro on it not recieving updates because it was
saying it wasn't a genuine copy. but so far with this one I have not had that
problem. I do have to call them when I reformat though because it seems like
I have over used how many times the key can be activated on the computer. it
installs with that key it just won't activate it with it. and it is a genuine
copy because it was gotten when I got the computer. bought them seperately ;)
 
Rage said:
I had a problem with a computer that had xp pro on it not
recieving updates because it was saying it wasn't a genuine
copy. but so far with this one I have not had that problem.
Click to expand...

You're hacked.

You just don't know it.
 
That is possible, there are some malwares that simulate the wuauclt.exe
process.

Although I should add that wuauclt.exe is not in fact WGA, it's the
automatic update process. If you don't want this you can turn it off in
services.msc.

If he stops the automatic update service, and STILL sees this listed in Task
Manager, then he should suspect malware.

If infected (which I think is the right word) with WGA Notifications, then
you will see a wgatray.exe process in Task Manager.
 
hmmm I wondered about that so far not gonna worry about it though. everything
seems to come out clean virus and spyware wise. and I have tried disabling
things before and all it did was make the system freeze out.
 
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