Microsoft keeps offering me this download that has to do with checking to see if my XP is a genuine version (anther words, did I pay Microsoft for it or not). I already know my computer has a genuine copy of Windows, because it is a Compaq that came with the pre loaded OS. I personally do not like the idea of allowing somebody to install something in my system, just for them to see if they made their money off of it. Am I compromising anything by refusing this download from Microsoft? Is Microsoft going to get even by opening the security door to all sort of threats, just because I refuse to allow the install of this so called “genuine checker” (read “did you pay me, Microsoft, the Money?” As I said, my OS is already genuine.

If you read the long and fine print this is an optional update.

What is does is matches your product key to your motherboard; hard drive; and ISP address.

With XP you can still change this hardware as often as you like as long as new hardware replaces old hardware and does not duplicate it. In Vista you can only do this once. I guess this is Microsoft's new approach to tracking the hardware/software connection.

Do you need to downloads it? No.