[FliveGell]

Just turn off automatic updates and tis problem goes away. Next time you buy a new PC just make sure you buy it from a reputable dealer.

Lastly, most of the major updates have cracks available on the internet so if you absolutely must the just get a P2P file sharer and handle your business.

[dayclaccikere]

Linux is more than a free replacement for Windows... but that is certainly one option. Unfortunately you can't play games like Civ on Linux

I suggest www.distrowatch.com or www.linuxquestions.org if you want to go down this path.

The other route would be to delete the file: "c:\windows\system\wgatray.dll" (or was it "c:\windows\system32\wgatray.dll"?)

This may or may not work, but once you do it, you shouldn't be bugged for WGA updates again (only normal updates). However, it would be a good idea for you to check each time it updates and untick the box for anything to do with WGA. This'll make sure it'll never pester you again.

Finally you could as has already been suggested shell out several hundred $/£ (or equivelant) to get a pucker copy. Although it's cheaper to just phone up tech support (or do it online) and claim "I've been stung"... you get a fully valid code to use for about 1/5th (maybe less) of the price of a normal copy. Plus they send you a new disk should you need to re-install later.

My personall preference would be a combination of the first two... Linux for day-to-day stuff and Windows for games. Although Wine (Windows emulator for Linux) is getting pretty good. Plus there's always something like VMWare or stuff like that.

[66paptroump]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Always choose the Custom Install option for updates, and de-select the Windows Genuine Advantage ones. Which is what I just said... sort of.