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Microsoft to Disable Online Windows Activation
CasterPod writes "As of February 28, Windows users who purchased their PC will no longer be able to reinstall without calling Microsoft and answering a series of questions. The move is part of an anti-piracy effort to close 'a loophole that enabled unscrupulous resellers to use Windows XP product keys that were stolen from large OEMs.' Specifically, Certificate of Authenticity (COA) labels on PCs are often unused because OEMs preinstall Windows and bypass product activation. The product keys can therefore be stolen and reused. First WGA, and now this."
Thanks guys, thanks a lot
As if installing windows isn't enough of a headache. I had to reinstall windows in Japan, and let me tell ya, my Japanese isn't what it should be.
On a side note, I envy the Mac people here in that they can seamlessly switch between English and Japanese versions of their OS just by setting a preference.
In windows land, it's purchase both or suffer. Now more activation heedaches.
Thanks guys, thanks a lot.
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. - Victor Hugo
Amazing how that works, isn't it. I could see it being worth it if everyone loved Windows. But the only reason people even use it in the first place is because it's easy. Something idiotic like this makes it a LOT less so. Linux on the other hand, making pretty big inroads. No pointless activation sequences where you have to call anyone. Probably never will be, except with Xandros (but I doubt it). Hey, there's a selling point right there. Buy linux, and don't have to call anyone who will make you answer stupid pointless questions. Woo hoo! I'm sold. This is exactly the kind of thing they want to do just before they release Expidition. Although, I wonder how much more secure it's actually going to be.
This signature has Super Cow Powers
Due to a bad Adaptec PCI card (SATA interface to my hard drives) which was corrupting the hard drives, I've had to reinstall XP Pro on my primary worksation a lot lately. I took 3 re-installs to track down the problem. Each time, when I tried online activation, it would say the number of installs for the license key had been exceeded and I needed to call. So I call in, give them a very long string of numbers, they ask "why you are installing, how many computers has it been installed on, etc." Needless to say, this is pi**ing me off! I'll do everything possible to avoid Microsoft in the future! I've already purchased an Apple Powerbook.
It is things like this and the delayed operating system that makes one wonder if microsoft wants to get out of the Home User Operating system and just concentrate on their business customers.
Just think all they would really need to do is roll out a good, non-bloated version of Office for Macs and Linux that is compatible with their office version of Office and they can stop having to worry about whiny home user.
I make my face look like this and concerned words come out.
I know you were being sarcastic, but what about impossible-to-clean spyware? If stuff like this gets widespread some users won't have a choice, and Microsoft doesn't look set on making the install process any easier.
Guy asked me for a quarter for a cup of coffee. So I bit him.
I recently had to call MS to activate Office 2003 (too many installs). It took me nearly 25 minutes to get through to the nice (english is my second language) woman I spoke with. While she was quite helpful and only asked once (why so many installs) I still felt like I had been dragged down town and put under birght lights to be interrogated. This will be a wonderful experience for everyone, why, once we all know what criminals feel like, then none of us will be tempted will we?
Sick of stupidity? http://www.patentlystupid.com
My father recent ran into a rather stupid issue with the phone based activation. You see it's not a person you're talking to, but one of those recorded voice recognition systems. He had a copy of Microsoft Works that he had to reinstall, and suddenly required activation. For some reason the internet based activation didn't work so he proceeded to do the phone based one.
Well lo and behold after he enters in his proper key for the product he legitimately purchased when he got his Dell PC, it promptly tells him the key's invalid, buhbye and HANGS UP ON HIM. There was no option to speak to a CSR at all, and he has no recourse (Dell can't do anything about it, and there's no phone numbers to call at Microsoft to talk to someone). The whole experience has pushed him that much further towards getting a Mac and waving a not-so-fond farewell to Windows XP.
"I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
-Hoban Washburn
- Sure they have that right, but they're adding more and more conditions on how you prove it. They're also starting to restrict more and more things that customers require until they can prove they own the software. (Security updates, reinstall activation so far. What's next, will they require you to prove you own the OS before you can install a driver?) What about customers who lost their CD/CD Case but have a legit copy? Is it right to tell them to FOAD because of that? Should I really have to waste 3-5 minutes of my time to
- prove I'm not a crook. That's what it boils down to, MS doesn't care so much about their customers, in fact they're beating them to death with the anti-piracy club while the pirates happily install their no-activation copies they downloaded.
You should be thankful they're not giving it away free or you could kiss goodbye to something other than Windows ever being on a computer's desktop.Your $245 nework seemed to be worth it. I've had the exact opposite. Active/active clustering of an Exchange system. Worked with them for over 2 weeks trying to get it to work reliably. The final verdict? Upgrade to 2003 "which has better support for clustering" or move to active/passive. Can you explain WTF better support for clustering means? Either the shit works or not. We were told that 2000 supported exchange clustering in that configuration but apperently it does not. So.. we basically spent about 60 hours of time trying to get it too work the way it is supposed to and paid $245 for them to tell us to upgrade to the new and improved to get the functionality we already paid for in 2000 server.
I walked out at Sam's Club one time without showing my receipt. They guy stopped me to see my receipt. I said, "no. what are you going to do about it?" He said he would call the police!! LOL! The stuff in my hands is MINE, because the money I gave them is now THEIRS. I think the police would laugh at him too!
Had a problem like this recently at a public reference library. They had a rent-a-cop posted at the door searching the bags of everyone exiting. He asked, 'May I look in your bag, sir?' I said, 'No, sorry.' and kept walking. Guy started yelling at me, to the effect that I am not allowed back in the library, that sort of thing.
Well, of course, I had gone out only for 20 minutes and came back in (entrance is seperate from the exit, so he didn't see me), but on my way out again, he stepped in front of me and said, 'You are not leaving until you open your bag.' I replied 'Wrong. I'm leaving. Call the police if you like.' More yelling ensued.
A public library! I was there with my (mortified) girlfriend, who happily opened her bag twice. The worst part is that their 'examination' of the bags are so cursory as to be useless. My girlfriend had four books in her bag from another library, indistinguishable without removing and examining them. But she gets waved by. They have a magnetic-strip-beeping-system-thingie, so what's the point? Better to post those goofs somewhere where they can prevent real damage and loss to the library: making sure that people don't bring food in. While I was there--I'm not making this up--I saw a guy with a whole Big Mac meal pawing through a stack of journals from the thirties. Gimmie a break!
Bah.
I have never shoplifted, btw.
If you want to have some real fun, just keep walking out the door when the Wal-mar security alarm goes off. It is even more entertaining when the door nazi tries to stop you. But if you walk with just the right spring in your step and determiniation that you are not going to stop, they will let you go. Most states have laws stating that in order to be stopped someone has had to watch you from the moment of concelment to the point of leaving the store. Since most employees don't do that, they rely on the fact of you admitting the theft when you are caught. I have had one Wal-mart guy stop me once. I just looked at him and asked him, "What did I steal?" He just looked at me with a blank stare. I then told him that if the inept cashier would do his job and disable the security tags that it wouldn't have happened, and for him to have a nice day. I walked away, got in my car and left. No problem.
But for some real fun, you take the undisabled security tag and then put it in your wallet. Everytime you walk into a store or leave a store the security tags set off the alarm. If you get five or so of your buddies to do the same thing, and enter and leave a store at the same time, one after another, it causes some real fun. You usually get the store manager throwing some vague threats of calling the police. Since you didn't steal and they can't prove it, the ensueing frustration is always entertaining. BTW, only do that if you have a little time.
The views expressed are mine own and do not express the views of my employer.