A new version of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Validation Tool has been released since March 26, 2009 in order to check and verify that a Windows system is licensed and paid for before allowing it to download updates from official Microsoft servers. The WGA Validation version 1.9.0040.0 appears to be the latest effort by Microsoft to fight counterfeit of still popular Windows XP operating system.
User who fails the WGA validation test and cannot download updates or applications from Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update or Microsoft Update can download and apply the WGA component patch so that the system will be treated as authenticated, genuine and legally purchased software when validation is performed.