Microsoft has taken a page out of the Scottish legal system and added an extra verdict of "not proven" - WGA for XP will now label your software genuine, non-genuine, or not sure. Last time round some users found minor hardware changes like installing a new video card meant they had to re-activate their software through WGA.

The opt-in software is available for download from www.microsoft.com/genuine/. It will then be rolled out in Automatic Updates over "the next several weeks or months". The software will be updated every 90 to 120 days.

Microsoft UK anti-piracy head Michala Alexander told us: "There's no denying WGA has had its challenges but we really think we've listened to customers. When a customer fails it now gives more information as to why. Some 33 million people have gone through WGA now in the UK alone. We've added a glossy wizard to make it easier for customers. If any IT manager does have problems, please get in touch and we'll try to help."

Source: The Register