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Paul Thurrott Bitten by WGA

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the watch-who-feeds-you dept.

suntory writes "Paul Thurrott, one of the most important Microsoft advocates, has been bitten by Windows Genuine Advantage. As some Slashdot users have reported, Paul installed a bunch of updates in his machine and now Microsoft thinks that he is using pirated software." From the post: "Truthfully, I can only imagine what triggered these alerts. The software was installed to a VM a long time ago and archived on my server. I no doubt used a copy of XP MCE 2005 that I had received as part of my MSDN subscription. If the WGA alerts are to be believed, it's possible that Microsoft thinks I've installed this software on too many machines, though that seems unlikely to me. I can't really say. Anyway, that's what it looks like to be a suspected pirate. Like many people who will see these alerts, I don't believe I did anything wrong. I'm sure that's going to be a common refrain in this new era of untrusting software and companies. Ah well."

4 of 591 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Even if done by M$FT, it's still spyware... by joshier · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I think this is just brilliant... seriously.. Every time I hear legiment users of windows getting p***** off, or angry because their windows won't work, or that they can't install patch updates because they've installed new hardware, it really lightens up my day.

    No, I don't revel in customers unsatisfactory, it bugs me, but I do laugh at how microsoft is loosing popularity and a user base extremely fast due to this.

    Ubuntu, Here we come!

    p.s. Ubuntu has released a version today based on the 2.6.17 kernel, and that kernel includes many new supported wireless cards, one of which I have in my laptop (broadcom 4308)

  2. Re:Not that I expected by KarmaMB84 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The one and only time I ever had to call, I was immediately accused of installing the software on too many machines. They were so quick to jump the gun on it, that I know damn well they couldn't have been actually looked at the history for the software since it had been activated ONCE on the EXACT same hardware on ONE machine almost a year prior.

    That is the ONE problem I have with Microsoft's software: they see pirates around every corner and their customers are criminals.

  3. Because he's a Lackey Wuss by Geccie · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Its because this guy is a complete and total Lackey Wuss! He has a legitimate copy of a product and - from what I gather - is a journalistic outlet.

    He has an opportunity to voice the opinions and concerns of the people and instead chose to bend over and take one right in the arse!

    Thanks Paul and Fuck You very much!

  4. Re:Even if done by M$FT, it's still spyware... by theonetruekeebler · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Back in the 1980s, Yosemite National Park was having a serious problem with bears: They would wander into campgrounds and break into the garbage bins. This put both bears and people at risk. So the Park Service started installing armored garbage cans that were tricky to open -- you had to swing a latch, align two bits of handle, that sort of thing. But it turns out it's actually quite tricky to get the design of these cans just right. Make it too complex and people can't get them open to put away their garbage in the first place. Said one park ranger, "There is considerable overlap between the intelligence of the smartest bears and the dumbest tourists."

    I've forgotten why I mentioned this, but it had to do with the considerable overlap between our individual opinions of an "average user."

    --
    This is not my sandwich.