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Windows Update is a useful feature but to ensure your privacy you may not want to register your personal details before being able to use it. With this tip you can bypass the registration process.

Open your registry and find the key below for your Windows version.

Windows 2000 and XP
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]

Windows 98 and Me
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]

Create a new string value called 'RegDone', or modify the existing value, to equal '1'.

Check that the key [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Welcome\RegWiz] exists, if it doesn't then create a new key.

Next time you run Windows Update it should not ask you to complete the registration process.

Note: This will not bypass Windows XP product activation which is compulsory on all consumer versions of Windows XP Home and Professional.

		(Default)	REG_SZ	(value not set)
		RegDone	REG_SZ	"1"

	HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.