By Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational uses only. In no way do we condone software piracy. Readers should contact Microsoft if legitimately-licensed OEM software does not properly validate.
I have a legitimate copy of Windows XP (honestly!). However, I refuse to allow any tentacle of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) to touch my machine. I’ve read far too many horror stories of WGA falsely identifying installations of Windows as invalid, and honestly, I just don’t want to deal with the potential hassle.
If you wish to install WMP 11 on your Windows XP machine, there’s an easy way to do it without requiring WGA validation. Let’s go.
This tutorial works with either WMP 9 or version 10 as a starting base.
Step 1 – Download and Install
First of all, there’s no need to download version 11 from Microsoft’s web site. All you have to do is launch your existing version of WMP (9 or 10), go to the Tools menu, and Check for Updates.
WMP will launch an update window, download a small 1 MB file, then begin downloading WMP 11.
While the file that is downloading comes with a WGA utility, fear not. We’ll bypass it when the time comes. Just sit back and wait while WMP downloads and installs.
When it finishes, it may give you a notification that the installation failed. Don’t worry. It likely installed anyway.
Step Two – Disable WGA
The next step is very important. Before you launch the new version of WMP, you must first rename the WGA tool.
- Browse to C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player
- Find the file called LegitLibM.dll
- Rename it. Something like LegitLib.dll works well.
Step Three – Launch WMP 11
Alright folks, it’s time to fail WGA validation! I’m not kidding. Launch the new version of Windows Media Player and prepare to validate.
Click the Validate button, and GASP! You just failed validation! Oh no!
Again, have no fear. WGA is broken. Just click the Finish button and continue to set up your new version of WMP.
Congratulations! You now have WMP 11 installed, all without the potential headaches of dealing with WGA. Of course, there’s no guarantee that this method will always work. Microsoft may issue an update that re-activates the WGA tool, or they may change the installation procedure. For now, this method works just fine.
Please let me know if the comments if this method no longer works.
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I LOVE U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
u r jus’ awesome…..whr do u get these ideas, man!!!!!
seriously, if i knew whou were i would have taken no time to kiss ya
i need help can you tell me why when update the copy of WMP10(via the above link) i get this message ( An unexpected error has occured. setup was not able to detect any
Windows Media Updates. Please try again later.) Thank you in advanced
A high five from Portugal here !!!
i cant Find the file called LegitLibM.dll know how can i disable the valadiation for wga. Please help
Thanks a lot for this info, it has saved a great deal of headaches. This was very much appreciated.
Still works, love it
Thanks
Dude As everyone states, I LOVE ya too. works awsome.
Brian! Thank you so much buddy! You really saved me a lot more headaches trying to load media %$#@ing player 11! works great now. Such a simple fix, just changing the dll file, and it works!!
22.3.2010 still works
If LegitLibM.dll is not find on windows media player what should I do??
i can’t install my WMP 11. why? i was do this step???
Okay all,
I just tried this magic trick and it still is very magical today april 21 2010! Bless you !
Thanks!
u really rock dude thanx u r the best.
this is
awesometooooo awesomeawesome!!!! U R Great
you are the best thanks…..
Tere!
Kahjuks minul ebaõnnestus sedaviisi proovimine kasutan windows xp rofessional servis park 3 ei tea kas põhjus selles või mis aga minul jäi ikka peale windows media player 9
Gotcha Genuine hehehe
thanks
jundejp
Great. By the way if you can’t find “Check for Updates” in Tools, you can check the Help menu. The Check for Updates was just transferred there in Help.