XP: How to bypass validation to download updates when the product key is invalid

Contributor Icon Contributed by mattnus Date Icon September 23, 2005  
Tag Icon Tagged: Windows installation

How to bypass the validation to download updates for xp computers when the product key is invalid.


1) Open Internet Explorer

2) Go to Tools menu > Internet Options…

3) Click on Programs tab.

4) Click the Manage Add-ons…. button

5) Scroll down to the “Windows Genuine Advantage” add-on (they should be in alphabetical order).

6) After you click on it, there is a settings box below all the add-ons. In there are Enable/Disable radio buttions. Just click Disable, then OK, then Apply, and you are set

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  • Anonymous
    Umm, Doesn't work when you don't have a Manage Add-ons.... button....
  • risherz
    <ul id="quote">Umm, Doesn't work when you don't have a Manage Add-ons.... button....</ul>

    Interesting... IE should have the "Manage Add-ons..." button if you are using the latest versions.

    Look at the bottom left corner of the "Internet Options window" in the "Programs tab". It should be there :? ...

    If you don't have the button then try doing this:

    Tools > Manage Add-ons... > Then select the "Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer" option. Then scroll down to find the Windows Genuine Advantage Add-on.

    Note: Apparently you won't be getting the Manage Add-ons button if you don't have Service Pack 2... thanks FireBlade for pointing this out, its funny how I didn't notice that :roll:

    Hope this helps :D
    Risherz
  • Dcarver19@aol.com
    I bought the window xp for a computer at home a while ago, and came back home after the storm in the the gulf, and can not fine the product key to install window xp on the other coomputer.
  • Dcarver19@aol.com
    I bought the window xp for a computer at home a while ago, and came back home after the storm in the the gulf, and can not fine the product key to install window xp on the other coomputer. How do I bypass the product key, all zeros do not work any more.
  • Anonymous
    If you explore the windows cd and open up I386 it does reside in a file named UNATTEND.txt. I have successfully used this on VALID windows installations. Still working to this day, have never been blacklisted.
  • risherz
    <ul id="quote">I bought the window xp for a computer at home a while ago, and came back home after the storm in the the gulf, and can not fine the product key to install window xp on the other coomputer. How do I bypass the product key, all zeros do not work any more.</ul>

    Well Dcarver19@aol.com... hmm... I wonder if its possible to loose the product key... :?

    Anyways I don't think it is possible to bypass the product key expecially if you brought xp only a while ago. But if you did loose the key you can try calling up Microsoft and telling them about this(if you haven't already). And if you are trying to install xp on another computer I don't think you can do that, because according to my understanding of microsoft ... you need to pay to install it on another computer. Plus even if you can install it on another computer you might not be able to get the genuine advantage downloads etc.
  • Anonymous
    [quote="Anonymous"]Umm, Doesn't work when you don't have a Manage Add-ons.... button
    works great but I suppose that they will come up with another proper validation . It keeps you on your toes
  • risherz
    <ul id="quote"><h6>Anonymous wrote:</h6>works great but I suppose that they will come up with another proper validation . It keeps you on your toes</ul>

    Yup, validation techniques are constantly changing and becoming better... but until it does this recipe should work just fine. :wink:

    Risherz
  • Anonymous
    The Manage Add-ons button doesnt show up untill service pack 2 is installed.
  • risherz
    <ul id="quote"><h6>FireBlade wrote:</h6>The Manage Add-ons button doesnt show up untill service pack 2 is installed.</ul>

    Oh! great point. I almost forgot about Internet Explorer on SP 1... :o thanks for pointing this out!
  • Anonymous
    Hey!
    Getting close there with the bypass. In all of those add-ons, I can choose to enable/disable all of them EXCEPT the WGA validation tool. It just fades and i can't click it. Instead there's a little message saying, "only the system administrator can change this." I am the system administrator!

    Any new ideas? or must this machine stop?
    - Mikey
  • risherz
    <ul id="quote"><h6>undrunk wrote:</h6>Hey!
    Getting close there with the bypass. In all of those add-ons, I can choose to enable/disable all of them EXCEPT the WGA validation tool. It just fades and i can't click it. Instead there's a little message saying, "only the system administrator can change this." I am the system administrator!

    Any new ideas? or must this machine stop?
    - Mikey</ul>

    Well, it could be that you aren't in the right account, or you've just downloaded the patch that Microsoft realeased. If you've gone to update.windows.com lately, you might have downloaded the patch, which prevents the Windows Genuine Advantage tool to be disabled... like people above said Microsoft might come up with a solution, and apparently they have found a soulution...

    Я
  • Anonymous
    Still tells me that there is a problem...
    I need a work around for installing SP2...no matter what I do it doesn't seem to work.
  • risherz
    <ul id="quote"><h6>MACaroni wrote:</h6>Still tells me that there is a problem...
    I need a work around for installing SP2...no matter what I do it doesn't seem to work.</ul>
    Well I believe Microsoft patched this one up, have you tries the latest recipe http://tech-recipes.com/windows_tips1319.html by William Wilson? This one should work since it is newer.
  • William_Wilson
    yup, had a few requests on different occasions, although i don't usually advocate such things, but with Vista 6 months or so from being out i figured why not?

    (I've had a legal copy of XP for almost 3 years now, and i use the bypass listed above just because it saves time when looking for specific updates)

    The fact that MS leaves their javascript code embeded within each page instead of linking is not the smartest plan, though it is still readable the other way. What takes the cake is that the option to disable the key check is available... I don't know who's bright idea that was, lol, but i thank them.
  • Anonymous
    <font color="orange"></font>
    its year 06....
    can the windows validation tool still be worked around???
    i have not downloaded it yet...
    its still waiting for me there everytime i run windows update...
    and obviously, i have a pirated vr of windows xp sp2
  • Anonymous
    <ul id="quote"><h6>countjakkul wrote:</h6><font color="orange"></font>
    its year 06....
    can the windows validation tool still be worked around???
    i have not downloaded it yet...
    its still waiting for me there everytime i run windows update...
    and obviously, i have a pirated vr of windows xp sp2</ul>

    Yes it still works. I installed XP SP1 yesterday and used the script trick that I found here to bring SP1 to SP2 with all updates current. Works exactly as described never asking for a validation key.
  • Anonymous
    MS recently announced that the updates and patches effective 26 April 2006 will install a validation tool that pops up annoying messages when it detects an illegal copy of windows xp. Doubt that the WGA bypassing patch in March 2006 will still work.
  • davak
    If it doesn't still work, post us proof. I imagine somebody will be challenged enough to post another work-around...
  • Anonymous
    I have tried http://tech-recipes.com/windows_tips1319.html by William Wilson? and it does not work and I have tried the one that you go in to internet options and disable but when I hit the button to disable it stays on enable,anyone got any info how to get round downloading updates from microsoft.
    p.s e-mail me if you what to gary.mellor2@ntlworld.com
  • cozofdeath
    I haven't looked up activation stuff for a while but as I googled for work arounds, I found a lot for the April update(KB892130). Here is a site that has some and links to other methods. I hope it helps someone.

    http://www.aviransplace.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.ph...
  • Anonymous
    As of June 13 2006, you can use muBlinder to bypass the validation.

    Here is a link:

    http://www.p2plife.com/forums/Official_muBlinde...
  • Anonymous
    I bought a second hand laptop. Turns out its not genuine windows. I also have an IRiver h10 mp3 player which works on other computers but not my laptop. After some detective work, I found out the H10 only works with SP2 which I don't have. So I finally managed to bypass the validation thing using this crack

    http://dl38l3.rapidshare.de/files/24331719/2175...

    Can't remember the site I found it.

    So Windows Update no longer checks for validation. I checked the validation tool and it now says it is valid. It recommends i install the Service Pack 2. But when I try to install Service Pack 2 it comes up that the licence key is wrong during the installation. Any way to bypass the check on the installer?
  • Anonymous
    I don't know about the product key issue, but Microsoft does let you get security updates and such. I have a legal copy but have gone to pirated also only because MS refused to activate windows after doing it 25 times or so and I also got tired of calling them up to activate it. So I installed pirated so as not to have to put up with MS BS. So, I can still get the updates. What I do is just get the list of the numbers of the update. Go to microsoft and go to downlads and you can get the downloads and patches manually to install instead of auto. I get them because if I do other systems I have to applying the updates and I have 56k so I have them all on CD to install all the time. As a new security bulliten or patch comes out I get it and save it. Now with the new windows media player 11 you can't do it, it wants the authorization and if there is a workaround I don't know. What I do know that you may be able to do is find someone that has a leagal copy, have them save the d/l and you copy it and install it. :)
  • Anonymous
    my computer recently updated itself...when I started the computer back up, I click on my profile on the windows screen and before logging in completely it asks for the registration key...when i type mine in, it says invalid key..you can either retry or cancel...when you cancel it takes you back to the main user profile screen..it won't let me log in to get to internet explorer...is there a fix for this?
  • Anonymous
    i have sp2 on internet explorer 6 and windows xp, and it still doesnt have that option, any suggestion on wat to do ?
  • Anonymous
    WHAT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE WINDOWS GENIUNE ADVANTAGE in the list of add-ons in the tools add-on area? I am trying to install Internet Explorer 7 and it scans and says it cannot install because I don't have a genuine copy of xp pro with sp 2. If I altered my product key would I be able to install I.E.7?
    help!
  • Anonymous
    hello guys. i have a very big problem. i am going to the add-ons button and i prees it, but i cannot find the Windows Genuine Advantage thingy, and i still cannot bypass the validation...
  • Anonymous
    Thank you brilliant worked first time.
  • Anonymous
    <ul id="quote"><h6>risherz wrote:</h6></ul><ul id="quote">I bought the window xp for a computer at home a while ago, and came back home after the storm in the the gulf, and can not fine the product key to install window xp on the other coomputer. How do I bypass the product key, all zeros do not work any more.</ul>

    Well Dcarver19@aol.com... hmm... I wonder if its possible to loose the product key... :?

    Anyways I don't think it is possible to bypass the product key expecially if you brought xp only a while ago. But if you did loose the key you can try calling up Microsoft and telling them about this(if you haven't already). And if you are trying to install xp on another computer I don't think you can do that, because according to my understanding of microsoft ... you need to pay to install it on another computer. Plus even if you can install it on another computer you might not be able to get the genuine advantage downloads etc.

    I :arrow: f you have lost your product key I can give you one here it is :
    P2882-HQ9CC-DHFYG-YCDB3-BCJPJ 8)
  • Anonymous
    To clarify, this works with an installed copy that was validated at one time, and the validation tool has been installed. Installing from a disk with an expired license will not get you the same result.
  • lucky
    i have to not having any such add on
  • rani
    My Addons list doesnt show windows genuine advantage. what do i do? i do not have any activation key and i have only 1 day left.. please help..
  • sarj
    there is no such add-on
  • rik
    hw do i get media 11 wivout product key??
  • Chris
    i cant find the windows genuine avantage to disable
  • ZOUboo
    when i get to the second step i don't see where to the button to click to manage add...
  • Colin
    didn't work, no Genuine Advantage button...
  • edward
    How to bypass the validation to download updates for xp preofessional computers when the product key is invalid. the steps youhave given are not apparent in the menu
  • Adeel Chohan
    too bad. I have genuine windows
  • anonymous
    Cant find "Windows Genuine Advantage" in Manage Add-ons
  • ashrafemp
    INSTALL INTERNET EXPLORER 8 LATEST VERSION
    THERE YOU CAN FIND
  • Chetan
    I dont get the Windows Genuine Advantage add-on listed and yet the computer is checking for the genuine copy of windows XP.. I do have SP2 installed...
  • stuffaboutlife
    This tip no longer seems to work. I followed it to the letter (XP sp2) and Windows Update is still asking to run Windows Validation. :(
  • Anonymous
    If you explore the windows cd and open up I386 it does reside in a file named UNATTEND.txt. I have successfully used this on VALID windows installations. Still working to this day, have never been blacklisted.
  • A.M
    I tried opening the UNATTEND.txt file, and typing in the key. Much to my dismay, it did not work. Suggestions?
  • atul
    how?????
  • Bliss
    Sorry, did all the above but I have NO Windows Genuine Advantage in the lists? Can it be called something else or is there another way to block this rotten thing.
  • shimmeer
    Yeah, done all the above but I have no Windows genuine advantage to disable!
  • sudhi
    I have installed the win XP professional version 2002 service pack 2 to my system,but i recieve a windows validation erroe message in the task bar when i start my PC,i dodn't want to install any updates but i want to overcome this problem.
  • Anonymous
    Thank you for this!! :) Worked like a charm.
  • sasanna
    nothing i got as Windows Genuine Advantage add on
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