How much you dislike Microsoft's Genuine Windows Validation

[beavermatic Profile]

This pretty much says it all....


http://mspisstest.ytmnd.com/


and i think its only one step further in the world of microsoft wanting to know the size of your penis before you can log onto Windows... Hell, i dont think Windows Activation even looked at your cd key, it just generated a PID and some info from it and your hardware....

Dumb enough, they did leave an option to disable it... unless it was intentional ( i assume it has to be with how obvious the fix is...)

start internet explorer and follow if you want to keep your privacy...

By clicking on Tools/Internet Options/Programs/Manage Add-ons, disable the WGA add-on, hit ok, and restart IE.... stupid Windows Genuine Advantage and Validation no more! woot!

other more sophisticated mentioned methods here:

http://www.computerworld.com.my/ShowPage.aspx?pagetype=2&articleid=2223&pubid=3&issueid=56

[w4rth0g]

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[Bromsin Profile]

Linux has its place for some things, but its not as broad as Windows. As far as validation goes, if you are not stealing it then you have nothing to worry about.

[Evan Profile Website]

Originally posted by Bromsin
Linux has its place for some things, but its not as broad as Windows. As far as validation goes, if you are not stealing it then you have nothing to worry about.

Actually yes, there are things to worry about. I know a few people (including myself) who have valid licenses, but yet cannot be authenticated.

[cavalierlwt Profile]

I've had to do the whole activation by phone thing 4 times or so (due to upgrades), no problems. But this is the first I've heard of people running into this. Man, I would friggin go ballistic if M$ had pulled something like that on me! I definitely felt a sense of vulnerability when I had to call, like 'what if these guys say no, accuse me of pirating etc' and I really didn't like the idea of having to 'beg' them to let me use my computer. I am so looking forward to Intel based Macs, hopefully the best of all worlds: The power of Intel, the OSX interface, and UNIX underneath it all.

[Bromsin Profile]

Originally posted by cavalierlwt
I've had to do the whole activation by phone thing 4 times or so (due to upgrades), no problems. But this is the first I've heard of people running into this. Man, I would friggin go ballistic if M$ had pulled something like that on me! I definitely felt a sense of vulnerability when I had to call, like 'what if these guys say no, accuse me of pirating etc' and I really didn't like the idea of having to 'beg' them to let me use my computer. I am so looking forward to Intel based Macs, hopefully the best of all worlds: The power of Intel, the OSX interface, and UNIX underneath it all.

You are talking about something different. I have to call MS everytime I re-install XP to get an activation code, what this thread is questioning is the Validation you have to do if you want to be able to download off of Microsofts website. Two different things.

[Bromsin Profile]

Originally posted by Evan
Actually yes, there are things to worry about. I know a few people (including myself) who have valid licenses, but yet cannot be authenticated.

The only time I have ever seen a case of not being validated when having a legal copy of Windows is when it isnt activated.

What was the reason you could not validate with genuine windows?

[cavalierlwt Profile]

My bad. So, this problem is popping up during updates, like Service Packs and such?

[CreepingCharlie Profile]

Heres Bill himself Plus a troubleshoot sheet just for laughs.

[Spirit of Me Profile]

Originally posted by Evan
Actually yes, there are things to worry about. I know a few people (including myself) who have valid licenses, but yet cannot be authenticated.

Just curious, but what reason does the AVS give you during validation?

[beavermatic Profile]

regardless of whether or not your copy of windows is Legal, this is still a rather nazi'ish tactic.... i'll explain why:

Microsoft needs to realize (and i know they do) piracy is going to happen, just like murder, rape, robberies and so on.
But unlike the law, Microsoft immediately assumes your guilty of piracy by forcing you into their activation and validation.

Think about this.... Your not thrown in jail and forced to take a lie detector test and stand in front of a jury if someone in the united states decides to slit so-and-so's throat at any given time. No, we go about our daily buisness and law enforcement handles that WHEN it happens (which like piracy, it happens randomly). Law enforcement can detain you if your suspected in part of a crime that will or has occured, but they need to prove your guilty... which anyone whose a lawyer knows its 10x harder for a prosecutor to prove a case against a defendant for a crime.

Basically, microsoft is looking at it like this.... one person pirates our software.... then we must accuse and jail EVERYONE until they prove they are innocent.

Not very nice, now is it?

So does that mean go out and kill someone or rob a bank because you might/might not be able to get away with it? Of course not... its more public an obvious than piracy and easier to get cought doing so. Which brings me to my next point.... Why is microsoft so damned focus on making shure YOUR not pirating their software when they should be investing their piracy team into cracking down on people who ARE pirating and distributing windows illegaly.

They want to police everyone using a windows-based PC? Not gonna happen.... too broad of range.... if they'd come to their senses and focus on the individuals who they know are pirating and finding out tips to people who continue to pirate in large distro's, that would be a much brighter idea.

Just dont point the finger at me mr. gates and call me a thief!

Besides, if Microsoft would quit bitching and putting all their time into anti-piracy measures and worry about the bugs in their current software and fix them, they'd problem make more sales from a less-glitchy OS!

EDIT: AND YES WEASEL MEAT, I DO HAVE HALF A BRAIN!!! MUWHAHA!

[cavalierlwt Profile]

I don't like dealing with their anti-piracy, but I have to admit, everyone and their brother was using pirated Windows98/Office back in the day. It seems like M$ has cut way, way down on piracy in the last few years since they've started these measures. I know there is still piracy, but they have made it very difficult for the 'average' user to do it, compared to Win98. It's a tricky situation. M$ doesn't feel like getting raped and we don't like dealing with some of their security measures. So, what would do you suggest M$ do to protect their product? I can't think of any other way that is cost effective and works as well.

[beavermatic Profile]

easy answer... microsoft should remove all anti-piracy countermeasures in their software and use investigation methods from claims of illegaly distrubted products.


Why? from DOS to Win 3.1 to win95 to win98 to winME to winXP they still remain top dog and make more money than they know what to do with. Figure this.... if everyone that used windows for home use pirated their software... they would STILL be the largest OS company and make more money than any other software company out there. How? Buisness.... Microsoft can and will send reps to check buisness owners, government agencies, corporations, schools, etc etc from time to time to check to make shure these places are using legal software. In fact, some of these places are so obvious to the large amount of computers they hold that they automatically have to prove they have purchased legal software long before anyone is allowed to use them.

I work for a cincinnati internet based company called BESTNEST.COM --- we have had reps from microsoft check our software. Every system we build for servers or workstations for employee use immediately gets a legal copy of Windows and Office. Schools and universitys have to do the same, will thousands of pc's in just one place alot of times.

That alone would still keep microsoft the top dog of software companies. They dont need to pester the common home user. They do it because they are greedy pigs and to make it look like they are active in something.... problem is they need to be active in fixing their software. Maybe more people will quit pirating and start buying because then they will see it might just be worth the $250 price tag for the latest boxed OS.

btw, that still doesnt include profits from the following as well:
Tech Support, MSDN, Hardware and media, xbox consoles and microsoft games for both pc and xbox, MCP/MCSA/MCSE certification course prices, MSN network, and probably endless amounts of other stuff too.

[cavalierlwt Profile]

The only thing I would change as far as pricing goes is I would eliminate the upgrade/full price and just go with $90 for full install. Same with Office, I always felt the full price was a bit crazy. But as for just abandoning all the profits to be made in the household consumer market, that's not even thinkable for a publicly held corporation. For a corporation, there is no such thing as making 'enough' money.

[Camel toe joe Profile WebsiteYIM]

I would like to add they at least automatic updates will still work even if you have a pirated version and from what i understand is that they know there are many pirated copies out there and if they didn't let them patch viruses would be able to spread much more rapidly..