Slashdot Mirror
Vista to Allow "One Significant" Hardware Upgrade
fiorenza writes "Ars Technica spoke with Microsoft concerning the controversial changes in Windows Vista's licensing, and they have learned that Vista will permit one 'significant' hardware change before requiring users to either appeal to Microsoft support or purchase another license. Automatic re-activation online will fail after one use. Microsoft is using a new algorithm to monitor hardware changes and enforce licensing compliance, and the company says that it is more forgiving now than it was with Windows XP."
Windows has detected a new non-microsoft mouse and now your computer will self destruct in 5,4,3,2,1...
MS is looking to hurt the pc enthusiasts who for all intensive purposes helped them create such a vast "empire"?
aside from the various "grey" hacks and cracks that *WILL* come out of this - this is a very poor choice for MS imo.
When, oh when, will we be able to use what we paid for for what we want, within the limits of the law, without asking permission. Sheesh.
that all depends on how they choose to define 'significant'. Gamers who regularly upgrade their box are going to be unhappy at any rate; if a video card is considered 'significant', I can see storm clouds blowing. Of course, Microsoft won't care - they've got their money, and with the example of Halo 2, they can count on those purchases of Vista as given for the hardcore.
And tomorrow the stock exchange will be the human race
Another great use case for virtualization.
sig: sauer
Anybody hear about the new cars? You buy them and you can only add one new component. After that, you've got to buy another one. Also, have you heard about the houses you can buy? You can only renovate them or add on to them one time. What?!? Doesn't make sense? That's because when you buy something you should be able to do what you want with it. The license is yours. When I buy a new car, I transfer my license the the new car. The license is mine.
I suppose that's true, in the sense that I'm required to either "appeal" to the valet parking guy or purchase another car.
What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
LINUX !!!
* Carthago Delenda Est *
So now the only reasonable option for the OS you purchased after you do something common like toss in a new video card, is to go out and get a pirate version? Well whatever, if MS wants to drive more people towards using superior pirated products, so be it. This seems to be part of a larger industry trend of artificially limiting products when there are uncrippled products out there if people look around, which just makes people want to look around. These sorts of tactics are going to bloat the pirate population, pass the rum me-hearty, y'aarrrrrrr.
So does this mean I can't buy a 5 gig stick of ram now & another one later instead of a single 10 gig stick ?
Man, it sucks being poor.
Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
>> Automatic re-activation online will fail after one use.
You get more than that with XP. How can Microsoft claim that this is more friendly?
This is really funny but not really news knowing MS.
_ vista_eula_analysis/
5 6/5625
See this: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/29/microsoft
and this: http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2006/10/24/04
and this: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=158
MS is doing their best to kill Vista when/where they can. I wonder if they have OS/2'itis.
God made the Idiot for practice, and then He made the School Board -- Mark Twain Look for http://Thebar.steelbeachca
I purchased one copy of Windows XP Professional a long time ago, and since then I have installed it on at least 5 machines of mine or family.
I did upgrade my computer at one point, and the activation failed, so I called Windows support. I was quickly connected to some outsourced support technician who asked me the CD key of my XP CD, as well as the serial number and release (I think?) number. After giving him this info, he gave me a new CD key, which I assumed to be one shot only, like the previous one I had.
I have since learned that this is apparently a get-out-of-jail-free CD key, because I am able to install the same CD onto any machine with any hardware configuration and always pass Windows activation. And if Vista will be more lenient than XP was, then heck, I'm more than happy!
"... the company says that it is more forgiving now than it was with Windows XP."
It's uncomfortable to be in the situation that when I want to upgrade my computer, I need to be "forgiven".
--
The best of the Bush comedy videos
Yes, "More Forgiving" in that now they wont sue you into the abyss ... just offer to let you pay them more money willingly ...
... just make sure not to upgrade that same PC too far, since our platinum-level partners over at Dell and HP would be upset if anything were to 'happen' to your OS install ...."
"Nice computer you have there
http://techreport.com/onearticle.x/11109
p pro/evaluate/xpactiv.mspx
"Furthermore, users who go through such upgrades will be allowed to re-active their copy of Vista up to 10 times."
I really dont think its as big of a deal as a lot of people are making it out to be. Here's an example of how it worked in XP:
"User swaps the motherboard and CPU chip for an upgraded one, swaps the video adapter, adds a second hard drive for additional storage, doubles the amount of RAM, and swaps the CD ROM drive for a faster one.
Result: Reactivation is NOT required."
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winx
Again you'd have to change so much hardware, it would be no different than installing on a new machine. And you can just call them and they give you a new key in just a few minutes... not a big deal.
But simply re-installs. I hope it is safe to assume we'll be waiting ~5-6 years before the next Windows release. Suppose in 3 years I use my "one upgrade". Does this leave me room to reinstall Windows semi-annually or more frequent? I may not be the typical computer user but in the last 8 years or so I've sometimes gone as little as 2 weeks between formats.. this could be a serious issue for many people..
This article goes over some of the finer points of the Vista license: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/29/microsoft_ vista_eula_analysis/
Besides the "significant upgrade" crap they are also disallowing virtualization in the two cheapest licenses. It's going to get a lot more expensive to test web pages in IE if I have to either buy a premium license or a separate computer.
...and the company says that it is more forgiving now than it was with Windows XP
Um, thats about all I can say is "What?"
...if it wasn't for the fact that WINDOWS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO INSTALL NEW HARDWARE IN ONE TRY.
The biggest benefit of a PC over buying something like a Mac was specifically upgrades. The ability to purchase a new video card for a relatively low price when games start requiring more than you can handle, etc. So effectively, this makes the PC lose its greatest benefit. That's absolutely ridiculous.
Fuck you, Microsoft. Some of the other stuff that was new in their license kinda bothered me a bit, but it didn't really affect me much. But I'm a casual gamer, and this makes it impossible.
This is nail number 128 in the coffin lid of the Universal Computing Device. Welcome to the machine.
...Um. Scratch that.
We will tell you when and where you may apply your licensed software. Do not try to trick us, because we will know. This hurts us more than it hurts you. It's for your own good. This is the only way we can protect our ability to deliver robust, secure software on-time and on-demand.
Thank you Linus. I mean, seriously. Thank you. Whose chaps would we be sucking if it weren't for you?
These stories are free but worth money.
I have problems activating Microsoft Office, they claim that the code printed on the envelope is not correct. I'm waiting for an answer for two weeks now. I sent them photos of the envelope, of the CD, removed and reinstalled Office, ...
Microsoft received my money, but they are refusing to activate their product.
...pray I don't alter it any further.
Weaselmancer
rediculous.
I thought I already something in the Vista EULA saying this same thing in Slashdot...yet its back on /.
I just can't wait until this beast roars past us...
;-) )
Oh yes, the ten best reasons to upgrade to Vista are/will be...
Gaming, directX and please, no one bought our new OS....
They should call it VistaBob....crash and burn....
Secutity enhancements ? Oh please...If you're relying on Microsoft
to protect your Microsoft OS you're already on a zombie PC.....
One can only hope that Vista will be replaced by a robust
and free XP SP3 though 5. (yeah like that'll ever happen
Message ends
End of Line.
This looks like a great feature, how long until Ubuntu will offer this functionality? Linux is lagging behind Microsoft due to the lack of this feature.
-evilghost
I was really torked when I got a new motherboard and had to buy a whole new copy of Linux.
Oh, wait...
When, oh when, will we be able to use what we paid for for what we want, within the limits of the law, without asking permission.
the phrase "0-day" doesn't exist for nothing.
The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
If it's true that you need to purchase a new license after one significant upgrade, I suspect that for many, something like this will be their
second upgrade.
__ Someday, but not this morning, I'll finally learn to use the preview button.
Could somebody tag this 'assholes'? =P
Still not dead.
I didnt read the article, but the little bits above says that the algorythm is more forgiving than XP. in XP you can change almost everything and it doesn't notice... You think changing your videocard will trigger anything in Vista?
It's not off topic, just think about it for a moment.
The simple truth is that interstellar distances will not fit into the human imagination
- Douglas Adams
requiring all benchmarking to follow Microsoft's rules. And not allowing virtualization for it's home versions.
Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration, which is why engineers sometimes smell really bad.
Now the sense of "My Computer" is revealed for certain: it undeniably refers to "Microsoft's computer", that Microsoft forgives you for using.
Does anyone believe that Microsoft would sell any copies of an OS that forced you to pay for a new copy just because you upgrade to a better computer, without the force of its monopoly? Probably because all the MS bloatware makes your old one run too slow.
MS abused its monopoly by illegally bundling Internet Explorer. And by anticompetitively blackmailing HW vendors into bundling Windows with their PCs. The Federal government said it would take action to rein in the rampant monopoly. Of course that never happened, not with the Bush Department of Justice that prefers monopolies to competition. Now MS is dropping its mask, and forcing users to pay Microsoft whenever they upgrade their PC - even though we get no extra value from MS for our money. But we'll have to anyway, because Microsoft's market dominance is a monopoly.
--
make install -not war
Windows activation is a joke anyway. You can keep using the same cdkey, you just have to call their 800 number. It's been awhile since I've done it, but they ask you a stupid question like "is this copy of windows installed on any other computers". I think once they asked me why I was reinstalling and I stated "reformat because of a virus". Let them argue that. If they complain you've called too much complain that their OS is too virus prone and keeps making you reformat. I don't know which is easier to do, get the anti-activation crack or call the 800 number.
----
Squirrel
Windows Marketer...
Hmmm, how can we generate more revenue?
I know, we make it so that they can never re-install the OS on the same hardware without buying a new license.
Then we design in new security flaws (what? We don't need to design in new security flaws? They're already there? - cool - no extra work needed then) - wait for the operating system to fubar itself, and then collect another license fee when the user re-installs it.
Let's see - with a low estimate of 20 million users, at twice month re-install rates, that's 40 million licenses a month, at ~200 a pop, we collect 8 billion in revenue the first month alone... (cue the muahahahaha and mad scientist music)
meanwhile over at the Justice Department...
USAGboy - Holy rotten licensure Ratman, we've got to do something about this.
Ratman (aka GWB) - Don't worry USAGboy, we've already got it covered - we collect $20 out of every $200 renewal fee. We get our money, M$ gets theirs, and our constituants are screwed as usual...
Who is general failure, and why is he reading my hard drive?
upgrade restrictions....
With DRM, it is possible to do this...
Free Software: the software by the people, of the people and for the people. Develop! Share! Enhance! Enjoy!
It looks like forced activation and DRM is the wave of the future. MS gained their monopoly by creating an operating system (DOS and Windows up and including 2000) that can be ran on any old PC. MS used to not care about charging you for another license of Windows when you upgraded your PC multiple times; they figured that it was great that you were using Windows instead of OS/2, NEXTSTEP, DR-DOS, or the other alternatives at the time. Since they gained 95% market share, they repay you by implementing restrictive activation schemes that get worse with each release of Windows.
I say, no thanks. Me and thousands of other people will still hold on to our Windows 2000 disks. Even though I don't use Windows anymore (too bad Boot Camp for Mac doesn't support Windows 2000), I know plenty of people who haven't gone to XP because of this. Activation negatively inconviences (and sometimes even locks out) those who legally buy their software (no activation scheme is perfect); those who illegally obtain their software can just download a cracked version or a corporate version of it. I don't want treated as a pirate as a customer. But that is how MS wants to treat us. Oh well. I'm not buying any new versions of Windows or Office for this Mac; I'm sticking to Windows 2000 and Office 2000.
Viva Windows 2000!
Before Microsoft has spent more money supporting a licenced customer than thay gained from the sale?
FRA: STFU GTFO
Microsoft's new algorithm:
if ($windows_version = 'vista')
{
$pirated = true;
} else
{
$pirated = true;
}
"City hall" in German is "Rathaus" Kinda explains a few things......
If M$ is going to even further ram this down our throats that if I add any hardware other than what they feel they've been paid for, they get paid again .... my first significant hardward upgrade will be the purchase of a Mac.
I've already seen Vista preview editions at work, and I'm underwhelmed by it. If they're gonna lock it down so that I can't legitimately replace borked hardware without them getting a cut, they'll get nothing out of me.
I'll run XP until they drop support for it, and I'll migrate to a Mac, simple as that.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
I've heard a lot of stories about all the changes that Microsoft is making to vista that are designed to combat piracy and prevent competition from the likes of Symantec, McAfee, etc.
I for one am having in a hard time caring because I'm unlikely to run vista anytime soon, or have to support it. My primary environment is Linux, and while I do run Windows XP (at work), I do not depend on it. If they give me a new system at work with Vista on it, then I'll run it, but I won't spend my own money to buy a copy for home use. I simply don't need it.
Also I think that Microsoft is shooting itself in the foot, especially with the anti-piracy efforts. The dominant position that Windows has is in no small part due to piracy, especially in the 3rd world. The effects of piracy hurts Microsoft's bottom line, but it also maintains their market share.
In Hong Kong the price of Linux is greater than that of Windows right now. Why? Because Windows comes on one CD whereas Linux typically comes on two to three CD's. If the day comes when the price of windows is 100x the price of Linux, guess which OS people are going to start using?
This is the same mistake that Apple made back in the late 80's, maximizing profits at the expense of market share. Had they played their cards right they could have won the OS/platform wars instead of becoming the perennial also-ran that they've been for the past 20 years.
Microsoft has the dominant position in the desktop OS market, but that position is not guaranteed. In any measurable sense, Linux has technical parity if not superiority vis-a-vis windows. The only thing that Linux is lacking to be contender at this point are users, and Microsoft's anti-piracy strategy is an almost sure-fire way of creating them.
Lee
Muslim community leaders warn of backlash from tomorrow morning's terrorist attack.
WINDOWS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO INSTALL NEW HARDWARE IN ONE TRY
Is this still true? I haven't tried to upgrade a component for a while (without at the same time reinstalling the OS onto a new HDD and all)--the last upgrade I did was to slot in new memory, and that went off without a hitch. I can see something like a video card being much harder, but my last video card replacement was under W2k, if I remember correctly, and probably required just a few reboots with a minimal amount of time spent using software drivers--that switch will probably not "count," though.
And, off-topic, you can't really purchase new video cards for "relatively low" prices these days. Well, you can do it, but only if you're looking for a marginal upgrade. And I suppose it's still relatively low compared to buying an entire Mac, unless maybe you're going for top-of-the-line SLI/Crossfire.
>>This policy won't affect 95% of their customers so it's probably a win for them financially.
Especially those who say "to hell with all this nonsense" and switch themselves, their parents, and their siblings to Macs as I did. 5 PCs have gone dark, 5 new Macs online in their place, and my "family tech support" time has gone from approx 10 hours a month (and some six-hour marathons rebuilding virus-laden machines) to ZERO in the past year. A "win-win" scenario.
No, that MS *says* is more forgiving.
I'll believe that when I see it in production.
"Please, sir, I want some more."
I wonder what else they 'lerned.'
Aren't we lucky?
They are so good with us.
Don't you feel loved?
As a discussion involving Microsoft grows longer, the probability of the Galactic Empire or Sith being mentioned approaches one.
I will continue to use Win 2K and XP for as long as I can and when they are no longer usable, I will switch to Linux. Maybe even sooner.
I simply do not understand how MS can be so ignorant as to make what I think are dumb business decisions. Of course I could be totally wrong and perhaps the majority of individuals and businesses will just gripe about MS and swallow the poison anyway. I hope not....
Before posting wacky MS is so evil, RTFA, it starts of just quoting rumours and then puts them to rest.
From TFA "SPP appears to have all of the bark and the bite of a pack of pugs. It might sound scary, but the reality is something else."
I know this is Slashdot and making MS look bad is a priority, but this article is saying good things about them. Less restrictions on hardware changes than before, the ability to more your license to an all new machine without MS support help. Some of it was worded vaguely, but it's clear from the article that Arstechnica believes it to be a lighter and less restrictive license in regards to hardware than XP was. They even throw in this "As I have noted before, similar concerns over hardware upgrades surfaced before Windows XP launched. The reality since that launch has been far less dramatic than many commentators predicted." to quell the people who screamed the same thing last time MS released a new OS.
At least if people are going to fling mud, they could RTFA or at least link to something that isn't on MS's side.
I have no idea why everyone is so upset.
I think it's extremely benevolent of MS to allow me one significant hardware upgrade, and I know exactly what mine will be.
"Hello, Apple store? 1 iMac please!!"
The fools who continue to use M$ software deserve the crap they get.
A computer operating system that allows you to actually change (upgrade for example) the hardware without having to buy a new license!
What kind of a moron came up with an idea like that? Sure it's nice for users but hey how is Microsoft going to make any money anymore? :(
Well... Only the time will tell. I just hope this won't push Microsoft away from the revenues. Though the more user-friendly approach gives it a nice new twist.
Hopefully this will make some Windows PC enthusiasts notice GNU/Linux more. All the smart users will migrate to open source free of cost operating systems, and idiots will continue to be exploited by M$.
...the threshold of pain involved with migrating to (or continuing to use) Vista will exceed that of installing one of the many flavors of desktop Linux (which is well suited to the common browser/email/office application sufficient for a good number of home users).
I'm not saying it will happen, but the more complex and difficult Vista becomes, the more people will look at alternatives.
The 'appeal' to Mirosoft is neither time-consuming nor difficult. Just don't buy an OEM copy [off eBay or the like] and this means nothing.
You can say it was a mac-mac scenario ;-)
Wrong on just about every account.
I'm running Windows XP Professional w/ SP2. I was running a Connect3D Radeon 9600 for the past 3 years on this computer... half a month ago, I bought myself a Sapphire Radeon X800 GTO (for about $125, I might add). I pulled out my old one, stuck in the new one, and the damn thing wouldn't boot into windows. I was like, "huh?" I had to uninstall the old catalyst driver, THEN take out the old video card, then plug the new video card in before it would work. It was a pain in the ass, tbh. But to call that a marginal upgrade? Hell no. In fact I can run Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic/2 and Elder Scrolls: Oblivion excellently on high settings.
Then a half a week ago I installed a new hard drive, I finally installed a floppy drive... need I say more?
They lost me ~10 years ago. I went from DOS, to DOS and Windows 3.1, to DOS and Windows 3.1 and Linux, to Linux--I wasn't keen on the direction they were taking with Windows '95. Sure, I've played around with Windows since, or as needed, but never as the primary OS. And nowadays, it's much more fun watching it reboot in QEMU (or VMWare, or perhaps Xen if you can get it to work, or...), so that its inevitable idiocy doesn't impact anything important. Also, the hardware configuration doesn't generally change much in QEMU! :)
pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate.
Frankly, I'm not passing judgement, yet. For me what keeps me on the fence is the option to call Microsoft Customer Service and get a re-activation code (or something like that). Now, on one hand, the service could be a royal pain in the ass, and leave you on hold for hours and getting bounced back and forth from customer service rep to customer service rep. Or, it could be really quick and easy (i.e. Tell the operator "I installed a new graphics card on my computer and need to re-activate windows" and they give you an activation code). It's still a hassle, but not as bad, as I don't upgrade my hardware very much anyway.
Also, do we have a confirmation on what constitutes a major upgrade? If it's a situation that changing one thing (like adding more ram, or upgrading the video card) wouldn't constitute a major upgrade, then it's not a problem. If it's something that would, on the other hand, call for a re-install under XP (like upgrading the video card and adding more RAM), then again, I'm not too worried, because I don't do that big an upgrade that often.
Zagreus sits inside your head, Zagreus lives among the dead, Zagreus sees you in your bed and eats you in your sleep.
I will ask for reactivation once and if they deny it, the software is returned to the dealer.
We don't want you. Stay home and solve your own problems.
...inasmuch as, Linus isn't the only one defending us from "sucking chaps"; these guys and their projects provide excellent shields, also.
.. Is my macpro vista ready?
oh wait, I forgot, I'm not interested..
I was considering buying Vista on the release date. A one-off cost for 5 years of use doesn't seem to bad.
I was having a "I hate Microsoft week" a while back when the new Vista EULA's were released (what ? documentation for Visual Studio costs extra ? What a joke!). I've replaced motherboards about 4/5 times in the past 5 years. There is no way I am going to purchase the same product 2 or 3 times.
I've now moved to Ubuntu, and will be recommending Ubuntu to family and friends. It's easy to install, easy to use, and free in every sense of the word.
The dealer will refuse. Be my guest... try it.
As a PC enthusiast this sucks, however, to play devils advocate; MS is not targeting nor cares about the enthusiast.
This policy is to target Dell / HP / Walmart etc. companies that are starting to offer the PC without an OS option. This cuts into MS's bread and butter. MS wants every Dell PC to be shipped with a MS OS license. Imagine if you can buy Vista once but re-apply it to each new Dell PC you buy. That would kill MS's revenue for sure.
I think i've re-activated my copy of XP about 5 times already - mostly because of new hardware. You call a free-phone number and they just ask you "how many computers have you installed it on?". If you're dumb enough to not say anything over 3, they'll give you a new key.
It's not like the big Billy G has tapped into the line with a lie detector ready to call in a SWAT team or anything. Well, if he was, it was very convincing - anything's possible I suppose.
throw new NoSignatureException();
Our company did last year, cities of Vienna and Munich did, it should work out very nicely for you too. Our former XP users love KDE.
No need to put yourself through pains when you can improve security, save money and achieve a good deal of vendor independence all at the same time. Why support the Microsoft monopoly by paying ridiculous prices for bug ridden software with DRM restrictions, when you can run Free software on the industry standard (and thus inexpensive) hardware?
Knowing everything I know now, I only regret that we did not migrate to GNU/Linux sooner.
"When, oh when, will we be able to use what we paid for for what we want, within the limits of the law, without asking permission. Sheesh."
... Profit!
The day has arrived!
Microsoft has a market cap of slightly under $300 billion. All you have to do is buy up all the stock, take MS private, and... well you know the rest. But this time it doesn't end with
A subscription based OS. They won't call it that of course. It will start with having to pay for service packs, or the server bandwidth to download/host them. They can't seem to get the cd key thing right, so why not just take a credit card number instead and outsource the "activation" to the credit card processors.
MS sure seems to be kicking people off of the linux/win32 fence, but I don't think we're landing where they expected.
Microsoft can HAVE my money every time I make a 'significant upgrade' when they ship it on a nice fat NAND, or even ROM chip with a set of NAND chips for patches, so it boots instantly, runs a hell of a lot faster and screws up less. then and only then would it be remotely worth forking out again once you upgraded something significantly enough (ie new motherboard technology) that the card just plain wouldn't work on the new system any more (like ISA boards into PCI-x based machines :P )
otherwise, on that issue, get stuffed, all my hardware stays the same through each new box I build, cost significantly LESS than vista, still gets updated software for free.
with the speedy AIGLX and compiz desktops actually coming in linux distro's now (fedorea 5 I beleive), people not tied into MS for business reasons (being practically EVERYONE who actually enthuses over their systems and does upgrades rather than just like-for like 'keep it running' swaps) will be looking in that direction far more seriously than ever before let alone all of this DRM and EULA limiting crap.
I haven't paid _separately_ for an MS OS since NT4 when I bought a p-pro 200 and wanted a true 32bit OS. vista I was really looking forward to, religiously beta tested for MS from the first releases, was going to pay in full for, and now I'm just livid and dont think they'll see a penny from me for an OS again.
I got a pair of licences from MSDN when I was a student. I have a copy of WinXP and Win2000 (both Pro) from free. So yes, they are legitimate copies, albeit downloaded ones that I burned onto CD.
I've rebuilt my WinXP box twice. Each time, I had to call their toll-free number and get an authorization. It took less than a minute (hold time notwithstanding) and did not require me to give out any personal information. (Although they probably had my home phone number.)
Both times were well outside of business hours. (8pm on a Thursday and late on a Sunday.) So it's not really a big deal. It probably would be if you were a casual pirate who borrowed your brother's friend's CD from work. If you're a serious (career?) pirate, then you don't give a shit either way because you'll just be using key generators and a fake authentication server anyway.
---
ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
Will be the next turn of the crank for all the machines at Casa gelfling. Since I have a miserly tendency to keep OS's installed for 8+ years. I figure I can wait out MS for another 5 years while Linux or Mac get up to speed.
If it is anything like the XP Activation I don't think there is a big problem. You won't have to buy a new license if you upgrade your MB twice. I have done so with XP, and while the internet activation fails, I call the 800 number. I explain that I upgraded. The girl with the hard to understand accent asks how many PCs is this copy of windows currently installed on. I say, "One," and she gives me the code. I am assuming it will be similar for Vista.
... I've had this same copy of window xp pro since the day I got a computer after windows xp came out. It's been on a hell of a lot more than one computer.
Shadus
I'm sorry, but in the U.S.A. at least, we have hit the bottom. The days when America stood for something right and just are merely a memory.
Anyone remember "Millions for defense, and not one cent for tribute!"
I refuse to buy any Microsoft product. My son is mad that I will not allow an XBox in the house. We need a general and wide spread boycott of these, pardon the language, fuckers. They suck.
Buy a Mac, try Linux, but boycott every Microsoft product.
In America, damn it, we are AMERICANS, not "Consumers." Citizens of our nation where there are things more important than convenience and profits.
.. Because (to paraphrase) the best way to learn to write great letters is by digging through people's trash and reading their letters, I present the updated Gates Whine;
1) Most of these "users" never bought Windows (less than 10% of all PC owners have bought Windows), and 2) The amount of royalties we have received from sales to hobbyists makes the time spent on Microsoft Windows worth less than $2 an hour.
Who can afford to do professional work for nothing? What hobbyist can put 3-man years into programming, finding all bugs, documenting his product and distribute for free?"
455fe10422ca29c4933f95052b792ab2
MOD PARENT UP.
The problem is the corporations, and the government that allows these things to go on. The government is paid by the corporations... so what to do? I can think of a few, but it'll require a movement of a lot of people doing something similar to what Jefferson did so many years ago.
People stand up n all that.
Most people aren't thought about after they're gone. "I wonder where Rob got the plutonium" is better than most get.
It's just this sort of thing that shows us why monopolies are BAD!
Microsoft's pricing has always been detrimental to independent small system builders, but with only one significant hardware change before requiring reactivation, I fear this is the final nail in the coffin. Hard drives are my number one replacement item. Adding hard drives is number two followed closely by DVD burner and video card upgrades. If the cost of upgrading these items more than once is burdened by the cost of a new license, then people will opt to buy new systems. Who can blame them? The cost of Vista alone is more than the bottom-line system from Dell. Thanks, Redmond.
"If your parents never had children, chances are you wonât either." -Dick Cavett
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus
Paraphrased, if an entire computer is replaced, piece by piece, would it be, in the end, the same computer?
So effectively, this makes the PC lose its greatest benefit.
All the benefits of a PC are still there. Nobody ever said you have to use Microsoft products (and those who force you to use Microsoft software [ie: wr0k] usually buy you a copy at their expense).
"If anything can go wrong, it will." - Murphy
I know Bill Gates is all into charity these days but I didn't figure he'd be into giving away his market share to Apple! Macs are already touted as "easy" and "user friendly". This will only add to that impression as Mac braggarts tell Windows users how experiences like these are alien to them!
So ask yourself... what do we do about the situation we are in?
Most people aren't thought about after they're gone. "I wonder where Rob got the plutonium" is better than most get.
Simple answer:
1) Go to store.
2) Buy shrink wrapped Vista
3) Open. Read license.
4) Reject license.
5) Return software to store, demand money back.
6) File small claims suit.
When 10s of thousands do this, the stores will ponder 'is this Microsoft product worth the hassle'
Microsoft is not going to stop pushing the envelope of how much they can hurt their users until their users start hurting them back.
If you don't like this, then don't buy Vista, don't buy XP, don't buy Office, don't buy an XBox, and get your friends to do the same. The invisible hand of the market only works if you put your money where your mouth is. If you don't, all you'll get from Microsoft is the invisible finger of the monopolist.
No, Although it looks like a sale it isn't - it's a lease agreement. Note: I don't agree with Microsoft so I don't use their software.
Warning! Reading the words "Microsoft", "forgiving", and "Windows" (XP) in the same sentence may cause your head to explode.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
I know it's been said a thousand times but I'll say it again, games.
Only reason I run windows at home is cause it's main purpose is games, I had more success moving my work machine to linux than my home machine.
Given that its "relaxed" hardware change policies have already wasted my time and annoyed me, Windows XP will be the last M$ OS I use for my gaming rig.
No sig.
And what happens the day they don't offer activations for this OS anymore? Not only is your copy of Windows useless, any other applications/games/etc you have that require that version are down the drain as well.
I routinely use hardware and software that's as much as 20 years old. Will anyone be answering the activation line 20 years from now? I sure doubt it.
FIXME: Add a sig here
I call the 800 number. I explain that I upgraded. The girl with the hard to understand accent asks how many PCs is this copy of windows currently installed on. I say, "One," and she gives me the code.
When I blew my system disk out three times and ran out of activations for iTunes Apple was happy to reset my iTunes account, and I was back authorized in no time.
Luckily I've burned everything to Audio CD and re-ripped it, just in case. And all that's at risk is a fraction of my music library. Because who knows what the requirements will be next time I need to go cap-in-hand to get access to my music again.
I'm not going to spend $15 a pop to build up a movie library if they're going to be hostage to Apple (or Microsoft, or Sony, or Paramount, or anyone). I've bought six episodes of "Eureka", and last night I wanted to let my son watch one on his computer... but we couldn't: the cable modem was down.
I bought a video game once, that had copy protection that involved the timing on the floppy it saved my scoes on. I used it in a drive that was a little bit out of alignment and it never booted again. I found a pirate who was much amused as he burned a cracked copy of the game onto the original gold-foil-labelled master floppy.
And that's just entertainment.
I've had to work on computers in places where there's no phone, no cell service, no cable. I've had to work on a computer remotely over a 300 baud modem that went through the only telephone in the entire plant... we had to get someone who spoke the local language to say "put the phone in the rubber cups and don't answer when it rings next".
There is NO WAY I'm going to risk being unable to get to the rest of the stuff on my computer, by depending on an OS with a boobytrap in it, for anything. Not unless I can get a cracked unlocked version to stick in the box next to the never-to-be-unsealed master disc.
The algorythm seems to look for things in the same family. I blew out an AGP port on an XP box. I know the only problem was the AGP slot, because the card worked in another PC and I could VNC into the box. I popped in an S3Virge card w/ 8MB ram & XP freaked. I also know other people that have changed from Nvidia to Nvidia cards with no issues, and others swapping from Nvidia to ATI & watched it die.
My gut instinct is that the 'algorythm' looks at the mfg & type codes of the PCI/AGP firmware & not the details. MB & chips it complains about evertime I've had to do something with them
Well, now I really have to say I can't see myself installing Vista. Forget this! Why not charge me for a kick in the face while you are at it. I run Windows XP on my home PC and I think if I have to upgrade it will be to Linux.
Regular Meta Moderators are not more likely to get mod points.
...your telephone guy left you stranded, so the least you can do is *return the favor*. Go over to his house, stop down the block and check it out. If he is up on the roof, quick drive over and steal the ladder, then drive off laughing maniacally.
Doesn't matter, if ur legit for the most part they will register you
It's not that bad, actually.
A 'major' upgrade according to MS is your hard drive and at least 1 other component. I don't know about you guys, but when I build a new PC, I have the same hard drive(s) in there for YEARS. I may add hard drives, but I never swap out the one that Windows is installed on. MS has already stated that minimal installs (such as memory, a video card, a sound card, etc) will not require reactivation of any kind.
Last I heard, larger swap outs, such as a motherboard or CPU, will be granted 10 activations. I seriously doubt that Vista is going to have 1 single reactivation. Even still, you can just call up MS, explain what has happened, and they will issue you a new license. I've had to do it a lot with my WinXP pro install. It's not difficult, people.
So, what they're saying is if I do like I always do and upgrade my monitor from a cheap one to a flat panel LCD, then later buy a new sound card, then add another drive so I don't have to put in DVDs, and swap my CD/DVD player/reader to a Blu-Ray/HD-DVD player/reader, and upgrade my memory then ... I have to pay them WinVista "upgrade" money four times?
Scr.w that, I'm going with Ubuntu Linux.
My home machine that I use has been a Win machine since DOS 3.0 - I owned Apple and Mac computers and Linux servers too - but if they insist on this I'm not "upgrading" to WinVista no matter what you pay me.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
A.) I'm pretty sure this wont get read, and/or I'll never hear anything back on it, but so the fuck what.
B.) I was just thinking and thought..."you know, this will probably only change people's cut off price of Vista." Here's my thinking: People will realize they'll be buying more licenses of Vista (eventually) thus they'll gradually be willing to pay less and less for that same license of Vista. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Microsoft will still shaft as hard as it can people, but the laws of supply and demand dictate that as the price of a product increases demand for that product will decrease. Now, that's assuming the demand for Vista liscenses isn't completely inelastic - which it might well be close to, though I imagine it still has its limits. Simply put, Microsoft can't expect to make so much money from one person's OS liscense purchases that the total price of running Vista over, say, 2-4 years, becomes comparable to the next closest competitor to Vista - which is Mac OS X. I realize people would say "uhh...those are two very different products" and they are. In order to use Mac OS X you must have a Mac which must have been bought, at one point, from Apple. So all that really needs to happen is the cost of purchasing & running Vista for 2-4 years equaling the price differential between comparable Dell & Apple PCs (PC as in "personal computer".) (By the way, I'm pretty sure that differential is already pretty small, but I'm not going to make any guesses as to that right now.)
PS: I don't reply to ACs.
Normally I don't post on Slashdot's MS threads because of the anti-MS tendencies and flame-fests which erupt, but there is some serious gravity for MS users here.
I play at least one hour of PC games daily. Because the majority of games I play are written specifically for Windows, I've used 3.11, 95, and XP exclusively at home for the past 10 years. In that time, I have never, repeat, never had a configuration of PC components (hard drives, motherboard, processor, memory) stay the same for the life cycle of a Windows release.
Redmond cannot match the hardware manufacturer's ability to innovate and get a product to market quickly, either because of their organization's nature or the nature of the O/S software business. Yet, according to their PR, they will seek to bind their users to their slow inception to release cycle and penalize their licensees with extra costs should they seek to exploit any new hardware innovations.
For the past 20 years, the MS PC's advantage over other architectures has been the ability to upgrade hardware peicemeal. If MicroSoft abolishes this, I see no reason why not to consider a Mac as my next computer. I'll just build/purchase a NAS running on Linux to avoid Apple's uncompetitive storage costs, switch to console gaming (Sony or Nintendo) and not look back. Yes, I would love to switch to LINUX as my main O/S, but it doesn't support communicating with my DSLR and getting its RAW formatted images. Plus, I'm hooked to the Adobe Photoshop workflow for better or worse.
It seems to me that Redmond is committed to making their O/S the worst choice for enthusiasts and custom machine builders. This is not a wise move, as we are the first contact for friends/family/business colleagues who look to our opinions for all things computers. DRM (although Apple suffers from this too), activation, broken security... it's all added up to me definitely not purchasing Vista even for DirectX 10 support. But this is the last nail in the coffin, now I couldn't even possibly consider purchasing Vista only to have to turn right around and purchase another license when I upgrade my video card.
The more you tighten your licenses MS, the more users will slip through your fingers.
I've been doing solid freelance development work on Microsoft junk since EDAS on TRS80 in 1978. Swapping PC hardware around and reloading the OS is just an unavoidable fact of life. My software has always been legal, as has my clients, who are mainly medium to large corporations or public bodies. I don't care that this nonsense is impossible for me, because it's equally impossible for my clients. Never mind Microsoft business partners getting digital signatures and stuff - think of the pig's breakfast most orgs make of handling their existing licences. People like e.g. a government vehicle emissions lab just won't be able to develop on Windows - period. Hooray! I get to work on Linux!
when my XP updater offered to install the "genuine Windows" thingy.
Tyranny isn't the worst enemy of a democracy. Cynicism is.
CrossOver Office is basically a pre-configured Wine plus some installers and tech support, done by people whose priorities include making it properly handle specific high-profile apps like Office. Nothing against it -- I've been a satisfied customer since somewhere around version 2, and CodeWeavers are major backers of the Wine project -- just pointing out it's the same technology that the GP already tried.
If Wine won't run Office at all on his machine, CrossOver won't help. If it's a configuration issue, though, it'll probably work.
Also useful is their compatibility database. Office 2000 and Office 97 are rated gold, Office XP is rated silver, and Office 2003 is rated bronze.
The same thing we do everynight, Pinky. Try to take over the world. Somehow I think that statement from the cartoon "Pinky and the Brain" embedded itself a little too deeply in ol' Bill's psyche. With every new OS, Microsoft becomes more and more controlling, pretending that they're providing service rather than stiffling computers for the sake of their own profit. What ever happened to innovation? I guess capitalism, atleast in the case of Microsoft, has led to the removal of passion and pride in the growth of the computer industry.
-asleep
What about warranty replacements ? I've been having some trouble with my HP laptop, and they've replaced the motherboard and hard drive ( still hasn't fixed it, BTW ). Will there are special exceptions for things like this ?
Lima India November Uniform X-ray
Well, Microsoft can kiss my business goodbye.
Hmmm... All you nerds should just switch! ;-P
1) Most of these "users" never bought Windows (less than 10% of all PC owners have bought Windows)
That depends on the definition of "bought". People "buy" Windows every day when it comes on their computer from the OEM.
2) The amount of royalties we have received from sales to hobbyists makes the time spent on Microsoft Windows worth less than $2 an hour.
I don't think this justifies making them buy Vista every time they want to make a substantive change to their computer. There is no reason (other than sheer greed) that a Vista installation shouldn't be transferrable (note: not copyable--transferrable) from one machine to another, much less simple hardware upgrades.
You'll finally have cool transparent desktop stuff that Mac and Linux users have had for years. Then you can pretend your l33t.
If Vista ends up being anything like XP in this regard it will be a non-issue for most people. I know people who have reinstalled XP numerous times with no problem. And when it did lock up a quick call quickly unlocked it to allow for installation.
Adobe, on the other hand, is a whole other story. A couple of years ago Dreamweaver MX 2004 was installed on some machine and never used. Since then that machine has even been wiped of the application. However, a couple of weeks ago I try reinstalling it and it doesn't accept the serial number I gave it.
I call Adobe, it turns out Dreamweaver was originally installed on a PC and I'm trying to install it on a Mac now. It's a dual-platform CD, but apparently it gets locked into a specific platform once it's installed.
So I was told they'd send me a new serial number within a few days; which is a bit ridiculous to begin with. It's been three weeks now and I'm still waiting. And I've called those jerks numerous times and keep facing people who keep giving me nonsense about the case having been sent to corporate and whatnot and that I should be notified within days.
This isn't even a damn operating system. People like to complain about Microsoft, but as a designer with my own company, I see Adobe is a far more threatening monopoly with little regard for the customer. Especially since having acquired Macromedia.
I could go online and within half an hour probably find a serial number that works. I wouldn't have to deal with their bullshit. I have a legitimate copy of the software and it's only installed on a single machine. So, what incentive have they given me not to pirate? Especially when they charge hundreds of dollars for insignificant upgrades.
Allowing one significant change for anyone is in fact more lenient than they were previously, as long as they continue to allow unlimited hardware changes for corporate users. For them to do otherwise would be crazy.
"The change of a single component multiple times (e.g. from video adapter A to video adapter B to video adapter C) is treated as a single change." - Microsoft
As long as the above still holds true, you could update your video card multiple times and it would still only register as that one significant change. If however, you also upgraded your soundcard it would register as a second change and would require reactivation.
"Approximately 2 percent of activation requests are due to hardware changes or other reactivations." - Microsoft
I'd wager that most people who are the kind of folks to upgrade their hardware also have corporate licensed editions of windows or are smart enough to know how to reload XP Pro or at least smart enough to pick up a phone and call Microsoft.
I have to say i have never had that problem, going from TNT2 -> Geforce 2MX -> Geforce 4 Ti 4200 -> Geforce 6600GT (all AGP, i haven't included my new PCI express Nvidia card).
I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
If I read the EULA correctly, I only have the ability to install Vista twice? According to MS, any significant change would require activation? Significant meaning a new video or a new hard drive. Screw that. I've had at least 4 or 5 hardware failures in my machine since I installed XP. 2 HD failures (requiring full reinstalls), 2 MB failures, 1 video card failure. And that's not counting the number of times I had to reinstall XP just because it got bloated (I'm not the only user on my machine). Is it me or does it seem like MS wants me to "rent" their software?
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
Anyone else notice the tags that are on this story?
.... Oh Slashdot, I <3 you.
assholes, vista, microsoft, windows, drm (tagging beta)
Its not what it is, its something else.
Flat out it is theft. You bought the software. You are entitled to use it any way you wish. Microsoft is acting in a monopolistic fashion and are only able to do this because of the monopoly status they enjoy. If there was competition there would be no practice such as this.
It is the same code. It is like saying you can only watch a movie 2 times and then you have to buy the movie again. It is like saying you can only listen to a song 5 times then you have to buy the song again. It is like saying you can only drive your car 30,000 miles and then you have to buy a new car. It is like saying you can only take 1000 calls on your phone then you must buy a new phone. It is like saying you can only turn your monitor on 1500 times then you must buy a new monitor. It is like saying you can erase your HDD only 2 times then you must buy a new HDD.
Essentially, if we allow Microsoft to do this then we allow every other software vendor to do that too. It opens the door for every digital form of data to be managed in the same way. This is software rental in disguise.
The code is exactly the same. The programs are exactly the same.
This is just an attempt by Microsoft to keep their revenue stream flowing. It is a deceptive practice. There is no reason to force you to purchase such an expensive piece of software over and over.
You can lead a man with reason but you can't make him think.
Hard core gamers (the early adopters, so they can drool over DX10) aren't going to be happy with mucking around with MS support every time they slot in the latest video card, or whatever other hardware triggers this bullshit.
Eventually the gamers will rise up en masse and switch to another OS rather than deal with this crap, at some point Windows won't be worth it anymore no matter how cool DX10 might be. The game studios should prepare for this now.
For that matter, software vendors in general should prepare for this now.
apple needs better hardware for gaming the mini has POS gma 950.
The i-macs have laptop ram, cpus, and videos cards as well as being forced to buy a bigger screen / higher end i-mac to be able to pay more for a better video card.
The mac pro starting at $2000 - $2500 only comes with a low end 7300 plus it can't use SLI or Cross fire in mac os x and you have to pay $300 to add 1 gigs to it.
Apple needs a mid-end head-less system with desktop parts and a better choice of video cards.
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB base price is $149
upgrade to ATI Radeon X1900 XT 512MB (2 x dual-link DVI) Add $249
upgrade to NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 512MB, Stereo 3D (2 x dual-link DVI) [Add $1649]
is way to little of a choice.
I think MSFT should do this and more. Stop them users from using their boxes!!!
... I run Gentoo :-)
Of course I agree with this
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
HA! Good one, meanwhile it is those two (Clinton/Gore) who are REALLY to blame. They set the benchmark for greed and corruption that the Bush administration has been trying to undo ever since.
"Along with the standard computer warranty agreement which said that if the machine 1) didn't work, 2) didn't do what the expensive advertisement said, 3) electrocuted the immediate neighbourhood, 4) and in fact failed entirely to be inside the expensive box when you opened it, this was expressly, absolutely, implicitly and in no event the fault or responsibility of the manufacturer, that the purchaser should consider himself lucky to be allowed to give his money to the manufacturer, and that any attempt to treat what had just been paid for as the purchaser's own property would result in the attentions of serious men with menacing briefcases and very thin watches.
Crowley had been extremely impressed with the warranties offered by the computer industry, and had in fact sent a bundle Below to the department that drew up the Immortal Soul agreements, with a yellow memo form attached just saying: 'Learn, guys.'"
Pratchett/Gaiman -- Good Omens
Technoli
You can buy (or download) Mac OS 10.5 when it comes out, install it on a bunch of Macs, no problem. Apple knows that Mac OS X is basically just running on Macs, so there is no need for product activation or any of that bullcrap.
Seriously, who here didn't see this sort of thing coming more than ten years ago? You've had plenty of time to switch over to an OS that has acceptable licensing. Not only that, but it keeps getting easier to switch over to free software.
Anything worth doing is worth doing badly -- G.K. Chesterton
It's all about revenue. It's all about controlling the money. Microsoft doesn't want to have to introduce new products to create revenue. They want to add some intangibles to create revenue. You want to move your license to new hardware? Too bad, it'll cost you.
If you want to see what it's like, pay attention to the liberal socialists and their tax policy. They want to tax the rich so they can throw money at poor people to increase their voting base. Liberals then control the rich, and they control the poor.
Microsoft is the same. They control their software. They want us to pay whenever we do something. When we want to do something, we have to pay up.
Eventually, no one will be left to control, because anyone with money and a brain will leave. The only people left will be those too stupid to do something on their own... which is exactly what they deserve.
that upgrade their servers constantly and there is no way I'm going to recommend this shit!. Beside I'd rather they use the CPU cycles to run our software not some fancy UI.
Si vis pacem, para bellum! For evil to succeed good men need only do nothing!
welcome our new... Oh, screw it. Lick my nuts, Bill Gates. (Don't lick more than once, though, or I'll have to re-activate you with a good, hard, pimp-slap to the face.)
If you need me to fix your CPU, send me an internet and I'll get right back to you. Thanks.
Just as with Windows XP, a third-party DRIVER upgrade (e.g., removing then installing a newer NVidia driver or a NIC driver) can trigger the activation, so buyer beware. Windows XP is the end of the line for Microsoft products for me. a shame too, because I tried the Vista public beta and the new Media Center application is amazing, plus unlike Myth, it's fully Plug & Play.
In spite of that: Sorry, Microsoft, I'll take freedom and the cost of freedom (the PITA of shuffling firmware files to figure out which will work with the rev chipset and tuner my PVR-150 has) over your fascist removal of my first sale rights AND fair use rights. In short, I'll be blunt: fuck you, Steve Ballmer. Vista may be pretty and the Media Center might be breathtaking, but your illegal removal of my rights is unacceptable.
The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
... "Infinite Significant" Hardware Updates. ;-)
The process to do this is intentionally difficult, and should be even more difficult than what it is. Microsoft has put the pricing of Small Business Server at a point where a small business can actually afford to own a server. By having others take advantage of lowered pricing for all their server needs really defeats the purpose, and cheats the little guy out of software that he couldn't otherwise afford.
But your post is +5 funny in my books none the less.
After an XP virus ate a boot partition, I switched over to Ubuntu and have not looked back. My massive PC gaming library lies dormant, but it's a small sacrifice to avoid that sort of ridiculous hassle.
Vista will permit one "significant" hardware change before requiring users to either appeal to Microsoft support or purchase another license.
Why, that's mighty white of them.
Do you feel lucky, punk(s)? Well, do ya?
Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry Callahan
Yep, he should've done his homework and read about the restrictions imposed on SBS and understood why it is the WRONG choice of a winblows server o/s for the voicemail machine. You should fix the problem by buying a proper copy of W2K3 standard edition and installing that.... and deducting the cost of fixing all the troubles from your phone guy's next paycheck.
...actually *trying* to destroy itself?
The more they keep talking about doing things like this, the more I wonder. It leaves me aghast...Do they honestly think people are going to tolerate it?
I'm surprised there's no "itsatrap" tag yet...
There's a couple of lines from the MST3K theme song which answer that pretty nicely:
(Meta-Note: Don't take *that* too literally, either. The point is not to insinuate that you're not relaxed, but rather, to point out that not everything needs to be explained explictly. (Meta-meta-note: The fact that this itself needs to be explained explictly says something, too.))
dragonhawk@iname.microsoft.com
I do not like Microsoft. Remove them from my email address.
"I am altering the deal...pray I don't alter it any further."
Hmmm, that got mod'ed mostly as "Funny", yet when I read it, chills ran up and down my spine.
I think there's rather more truth than not in the parent post. Remember, Microsoft owns that "copy of Windows" on that CD; you do not. Microsoft just lets you use it, for a fee. That's the deal, and they reserve the right to alter the deal at any point. That's what the EULA says, and the congress and the courts have largely agreed with them (or been paid to do so; it amounts to the same thing).
Beware the Dark Side. Once you turn down that path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
dragonhawk@iname.microsoft.com
I do not like Microsoft. Remove them from my email address.
Microsoft's problem is that they cannot release as fast as Apple can, so someone there probably concluded that instead of selling them new versions of Windows every one or two years, they can get their money by charging several times for the same thing. The user won't even have to reinstall .. oh wait, it's a good idea to reinstall anyway.
Michel
Fedora Project Contribut
Looks like it will once again be bittorrent to the rescue for another of my legitimate copies of Windows. I have a copy of Win XP home sitting in my desk drawer that was supplanted by a bootlegged copy because I got sick of calling customer support in India to get it reactivated everytime my computer crashed and had to be rebuilt. To their credit I never had a problem getting it reaauthorized but getting it reauthorized was the problem.
95% of the people on slashdot are probably linux users or will pirate Vista, so basically this thread is pointless.
The EULA will tell you what is and is not allowed. The articles only present the spin that Microsoft wants you to hear. When push comes to shove, the EULA, not the articles, will govern.
Say your computer stops working. What is it? CPU? Mainboard? Power supply? Or maybe you get strange errors. A virus? Faulty ram? A dying CPU or graphics board?
Now I go ahead switch components around and find the culprit. Then I replace it. Case closed.
What would that mean when I run Vista? That I have to get a new license?
Hardware is manufactured with larger and larger tolerances, to stay cheap. How many of you own a computer that has been unchanged for longer than 3 years? That never experienced a component that blows up, falls apart or simply dies?
What about midlife upgrades? I tend to revamp the PC setup after about a year. New graphics board, faster CPU, more ram, whatever.
How many here change their hardware every 3 or 4 years completely? The technology advances with leaps, think back five years and tell me you'd want to run this crate today.
It basically means that MS is trying to achive what they wanted to do for a long, long time, through the backdoor: That you don't "buy" a license but that you "rent" it. That your license is valid for a set period of time and then you have to buy again. Yeah, sure, you could, in theory, run your system forever. But in fact, when your system fries or you decide to update your system, you should also calc' in the price for a new license.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Many even regulate against you erecting a TV antenna.
If you're in the US, go to www.fcc.gov and search "OTARD." Homeowners associations cannot ban the erection of TV antennas.
How amusing that Microsoft is under the impression that it is allowed to have any kind of say in what we do or do not do with our own purchases.
There really aren't all that many places to sell 500 or more systems at a time, at least in the US.
According to the US Census Bureau, in 2003 there were:
16,845 businesses with 1,000 or more employees.
24,399,315 businesses with 100 or fewer employees (what the US Gov defines as "small business;" also includes the self-employed).
Persons employed by businesses with less than 500 employees: 76,096,684
Persons employed by businesses with more than 500 employees: 55,950,473
Actually, what Microsoft is doing is focusing (apparently) on big business while pissing off the small business majority. Although, for the life of me, I can't see how any size business can be happy about the direction the company seems to be headed lately.
* * * * *
All business proceeds on beliefs, or judgments of probabilities, and not on certainties.
--Charles W. Eliot
*sarcasm=on*
When is *nix gonna catchup with this?
It's an outrage that I can download (for free!) almost any linux distro, install it on ANY number of my PC's, change my hardware at will- as often as I want, and never have to activate it ONCE!
What is Linux trying to prove!
Linux will never be "ready for teh desktop" until it adopts shit like WGA, activation, and limited hardware changes/re-installs, and MORE malware and security holes.
Sheesh, Tux, what's happened to your ambition?
BTW, I've had torrents of Kubuntu 6.06 and FC6 running for DAYS with no "cease and desist" crap- no wonder Linux "ain't ready fer prime time"- No matter how hard I try, I can't get teh black helicopters to land on my roof with Linux- what a waste!
*sarcasm=off*
Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
You don't think hardware junkies do not drool when they open a Mac Pro? Come on.
Plenty of tinkering to be done there, software and hardware. Even in my older G5 Powermac I modified the location of some thermal sensors to help cool the HD's better, and also of course upgraded the video card...
Even the laptops are tinkerable. Extra HD instead of an optical drive, anyone?
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
In the last few years, since there is XP, I went thru more or less 5-6 machines. And YES I refuse to buy 5-6 copies of VISTA for each machine I get/upgrade, especialle because the "decommissioned" machines turn into linux/bsd/solaris boxes, and the shiny new machine gets the Windows for gaming/multimedia ...
.... for me: I stick to XP as long as possible, I did the same with Win2000, and upgraded when I was able to get a vopy for $25 on ebay :)
I think it is unacceptable, If I buy the product I should be able to run it on whatever machine and whereever....
I think it will cause people to simply boycott Vista and pirate it from the beginning
Except, of course, that even when you've wiped out 99.99% of your opposition in a swift and bloody coup, the odd ones that got away can still come up with a better option and bring down your whole empire if you upset enough of the people.
Man, we're stretching now, aren't we? :-)
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
It is well worth reading the following: http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/420/1 since it discusses the upcoming MS Windows Vista Eula which mainly appears to define what you can't do. This is a fairly easy read (3 pages) although if you follow the links you could waste the rest of the day.
From the article I think the best quote is " The draconian limitations I've discussed could only be enacted by a monopoly unafraid of alienating its users, as it feels they have no other alternative. Microsoft may yet learn, however, that there are limits to what its users will bear. "
For those who don't want to read the article I think it is best summed up by "You're hosed".
There ain't no such thing as proprietary standards only proprietary formats. Standards are by definition open.
Oh yeah? I had a motherboard which blew it's USB connections and an PCI slot. So I bought another motherboard and switched everything (cpu, ram, HDD etc). Good luck doing that; not only do you have to re-activate, you have to fscking reinstall windows.
/days/ to get fully done. Sure, I'd done some searching on changing a mobo with xp, but none of the tricks which would have stopped a total reinstall worked properly.
Why? Because of that MS no-new-hardware-allowed rule. Bastards. A new install of windows and other installed programs and settings takes
Microsoft owes me two days pay due to their 'anti-piracy'measures. Appart from the idiocy of equating new hardware with piracy, lets talk about an OS where you have to perform a total reinstall when you change your motherboard...that's just insane.
-- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
No new hardware allowed rule? The reason changing chipset hoses a install is just because of stupidity in MS' hardware detection, and has nothing to do with any of that junk. Its just a registery tweak or two away to make sure Windows redetect it. Actualy, the computer I'm typing this on was setup this way (it did have to reactivate...but the harddrive was the ONLY piece of hardware that didn't change, so that part is understandable :) )
Worried sick is a figure of speech but it also signifies great worry. Against my will signifies "I had no real choice" and is again a very strong figure of speech. Both of them are hyperbole in this usage, and the parent was right to point this out. He obviously understood that the grandparent was using a figure of speech, just one that was too strong for this circumstance. Having to point this out to you against my will makes me sick.
Apparently doing something like a registration process that detects your copy of Windows on a server or some crap like that is a little too complicated for Microsoft. I'm running a legitimate copy of Windows Xp right now but I had to crack it after I put in a new mother board. If that's gonna be the case why the hell should I even bother paying for the software in the first place when I wind up 'stealing' it from Microsoft anyway?
If Microsoft gets out of line, just "deactivate" the money you paid to them.
It's very simple. If Microsoft deactivates and/or refuses to activate your software, produce your proof of purchase and demand activation or a refund. If they still refuse, take them to small claims court and recover the cost (and then some) when they no-show.
Problem solved.
This doesn't shock me at all, I'm surprised that M$ is feeling benevolent enough to allow us even ONE upgrade. Vista is alright, aside from the resource-guzzling, but there are some things about it that are just retarded. I tried to download Windows media player 11 just now & it refused to install b/c my copy of Vista is apparently not "genuine". Ahem, I ordered my copy DIRECTLY FROM MICROSOFT! I guess they're pirating their OWN software now... Eesh, I give up.
A rare breed- a female slashdotter
to something other than a MS operating system, welcome Google O/S + Adblock
Is Vista really going to detect if it is running under an emulator or in a virtual environment? Probably not. In which case why would anyone feel they have to obey such an absurd restriction? I mean if the EULA said you had to hop around on one foot for an hour every time you boot Windows Vista, would you feel obligated to obey?
The answer is simple, but not obvious: User's need to 1) band together and 2) refuse to comply with unreasonable EULA restrictions. Vista users should cooperate in the creation of a Vista indemnification fund. I.e., let a million users contribute one dollar towards a fund for the legal defense of any consumer pursued by Microsoft for refusal to comply with absurd EULA restrictions. This is an issue about power, in which an abusive monopoly dresses up naked self interest in a legal disguise. Fuck them.
Not to me anyway. I've already made my one large upgrade and that blessed microsoft machine is powered down and will stay that way until I get around to putting SUSE on it. I can't think of anything I couldn't do today for lack of a Microsoft product, except maybe reboot 6 times.
If you're happy and you know it, think again!
For more information on this topic, straight from Microsoft:
5 f83-1a10-4e4a-a137-c1db829637f5/10-03-06SoftwarePr otectionWP.doc
http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/2/9/c293
@Mindless Drivel: 100% of Twitter posts ever Tweeted.
I've just about stopped buying PC games entirely due to the anti-pirating software. You want to bitch and moan that I'm running Daemon-tools? Fine! I WON'T give you any money and instead I'll go out and download a copy that does NOT refuse to run from a faster virtual drive (which saves me time, eletricity, and wear-and-tear on my real CD-ROM drive.)
Keep up with the times, buddy. Back when we were fighting the commies, the terrorists were our allies (of evil). Now the commies are gone, and the terrorists are all funded by the islamic-majority countries (see:Axis of evil). Except, you know, they still have all those weapons and combat aircraft we sold em. Capitalism: 1, Terrorists: ...0?
This Slashdot headline caught my eye because it perfectly epitomizes why I've grown disgusted with Microsoft: "Vista to Allow 'One Significant' Hardware Upgrade" Now I'm not a Microsoft hater. I don't think Bill Gates is the Antichrist, and I don't think Linus Torvalds is the second coming of Ada Lovelace. But ever since Windows introduced their WPA in Windows XP, I have lost a lot of respect for the Redmond juggernaut. Recently I switched to Linux as my primary operating system, and except for the occassional old game on a DOS partition I'll be doing everything I need to do in Linux from now on. Heck, DOSBox runs just dandy on my distro. I've lost respect for Microsoft, but you know what I've gained with Linux? A powerful operating system, sure, but what I'm going for here is control. If I have two PCs, I don't have to feel the slightest twinge of guilt about slapping the same copy of Linux on both machines. I don't have to feel like a criminal by hunting down a WPA crack in the event that the Almighty M$ decides to stop supporting my operating system. I don't have to feel pressured into upgrading to a more expensive OS just because my operating system, which works perfectly fine, is now deemed "obsolete." And I don't have to worry whether that OS I downloaded via Bittorrent has been laced with viruses and trojans by malicious script kiddies. And I don't have to worry about any license except the GPL, nor any copyrights except the copylefts. I'm not gloating, and I'm not giving MS the finger. I'm just happy I jumped ship. I'm also happy to be the one who has the final say about what I can do with my operating system and my software. I can alter it, copy it, give it away, and download it all to my heart's content, with a clear conscience and a fatter wallet. How's that for a significant upgrade?
Professional Dilettante
The terms of that EULA are totally egregious.
IANAL, but IMO, EULAs that attempt to do away with the first sale doctrine should not be enforceable. I refuse to license software. I want to buy it, and own it. Thus, until the Supreme Court finally gets around to clarifying the various conflicting lower court decisions regarding EULAs and first sale, and unless they decide that EULAs cannot override first sale, I will make sure Microsoft (or any other company, for that matter) never gets a penny from me for any product that comes with a EULA claiming that I am only licensing the software. I suspect that in Microsoft's case, that basically boils down to all of their software. So be it.
And by the way, when I say not a penny, I mean not a penny. That includes software bundled with new PCs. I guess that means I'll have to continue building my own computers, even if I could get a better deal by buying one out of the box. It also means I'll have to finally make the switch to Linux at home, and so what if most of my games require Windows.
Geez, on my 50x100' lot, that wouldn't leave a terrible amount of space at all.... :-(
Individual components can be changed one at a time in XP. The only problem comes when everything changes at once too frequently. You can change motherboard, hard drive, video card, network card etc. one by one in XP without issue. I have only had to call once in all the years when I bought a replacement computer. With high end gaming systems costing $5,000, how many people will buy a new system each year. Maybe once every five years. BTW, if you want more licenses for cheaper, look into action pack at $300/year and you have 10 os licenses plus 10 office licenses and additional licenses for most everything Microsoft sells. You only need to be a "Developer" to qualify.
In India almost no one uses licensed windows. The activation thing is trivial to break(tons of s/w floating around that will do this). I wait for the time when M$ creates some protection scheme that is impossible to break, that will be the time when migration away from windows actually begins.
If swapping out brands of video cards does trigger a need to reactivate, then it's limited to OEM and general-public versions of the OS. Corporate versions don't have this restriction because I've done just that and I haven't gotten so much as a whimper.
Just "gittin-r-done," day after day.
Just bought a new laptop, the very first thing I did was to wipe the XP install and reinstall it so I could partition it meself.. So that would be my first activation spent because the friendly setupgnomes at HP doesn't think people might wan't something else than everything on one partition?
Those who complain about Unix (or rather Linux) configs are usually not admins or geeks. People who twiddle around with Servers will either know what to do in the respective OS or find the answer through the net or a book without complaining.
And when you gaze long enough into the code, the code will also gaze into you.
Last I checked, the "algorithm" for Windows XP could be crudely simplified as follows:
Any piece of hardware could be added or removed, sans network hardware, and reactivation wasn't necessary. Any change in network hardware would make Windows throw a red flag. Two pieces of hardware sans network hardware could be changed and it would throw a flag.
It's a bit more complex than this (it basically used a points system), but that's the gist of Windows XP's hardware hashing, IIRC.
"Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master."
You call that Perl?! This is Perl...
$_=$^O=~/Vista/?1:1;
Note the resemblance to line noise?
Either they tweaked it in later service packs, either this is not true... Network hardware is what I changed the most, without any flag raised... And I've changed everything but the board, CPU and hard drive in one shot, still nothing.
Actualy, on this PC I never raised a flag at all (I did on other computers), but it never got anything under Service Pack 1 (I got a legit Windows XP Pro SP1 disc). Maybe it was loosened with SP1? Don't know about SP2, never changed hardware since then.
I have upgraded the graphics card in xp twice, upgraded to 2*200+1*120+1*40gb hds from a single 40 gb hd, 1 sound card upgrade, atleast three optical drive upgrades(though I don't think that they even matter), doubled the RAM and numerous changes with the rest of stuff like smps, mice and keyboards, all without any problems (basically everything except motherboard and cpu which are up for upgrade this month). But then.. er.. I am using a VLK version of xp.. er.. so my valuable input in this discussion is not really valid. Don't kill me!
/hides
Let's just sum up why Vista is a bad idea then, shall we?
- In a normal production environment you will face more than one install. Laptop failures, hardware changes, you name it. Their approach DIRECTLY translates into an almost doubling of costs, not just in procurement but also license management.
- DRM. Was a bad idea, is a bad idea, shall remain a bad idea. Serial chains of single points of failure don't make sense, especially not if it for someone else's sake. And remember, one (1, uno, un, ein) screwup along that chain and bye bye data. Would YOU trust the CEO's laptop to that instead of a scheme that allows you a bit more resilience in backup? No? Thiught so, you'd like to continue in your job too. Oh, did I mention that the above serial chain of single points of failure is EDGE-TO-EDGE reliant on a Microsoft version 1 bit of software? Best avoid it.
- Hardware. New day, new version of Windows, new hardware. Yes, you can now write off over 2 years, but the fact is that you still have to spend it.
- Virus problems. Quite entertaining that you have to buy extra software to fix the deficiencies in Windows, but it gets better, now you can buy it from Microsoft! Yes, the very company that gave you the problem in the first place - quite a track record..
- Trojan problems. As virus problems, but with the added bonus that you can be taken to court for privacy violations. Or taken to the cleaners because someone stole your identity. Or both.
- Patching is beyond control. If you run Windows with a modem hookup, just forget about keeping up with the volume of patches emerging out of Redmond. You'd think that over so many years they'd finally come up with something that is fixed but hey, that would stop you from buying into the "hope" game (as in "the next version will finally deliver what our marketing team sells" or "we will eventually get the bugs out"). Just think about this as an extra, often hidden cost in terms of effort, time, infrastructure, bandwidth and - as always - Yet Another Risk Of Windows: you don't patch and it's stable but unsafe - you patch but it may contain all sorts of rubbish that you didn't ask for. If you eed any help, look up "Windows Genuine Advantage".
- THERE ARE VIABLE ALTERNATIVES. Yes, in caps. Try and grow some balls and TRY alternatives like Mac OSX and Linux. Especially Ubuntu is easy to try. Get a small team of people and let them try. If they meet the 80/20 rule then go for it - there's only profit in that direction. YOUR profit. And it's easier to maintain as well.
So, for God's sake, give alternatives a try. Don't believe anyone, try for yourself. You could be as amazed as quite a few people I've done this for myself - non-nerds. Ordinary people like you and me who just like a machine to work without fuss, and without fear.
Like it used to be.
Insert
Hilarious!
In return for licensing the use of this valuable software, Microsoft grants you the right to use your computer in certain approved ways, subject to close supervision. These limits are designed to allow you to test drive some of the great features that will be available in their next useful operating system, Windows Server 2007.
In addition to these advanced features, Windows Server 2007 may offer:
All this and more can be yours for staying with the world's leading software provider! Read all about it here! (Encrypted document. Free registration to download. Third party viewer requires separate licensing. EULA and pricing are available after installation.)
Help stamp out iliturcy.
"One SIGNIFICANT upgrade, my SIGNIFICANT butt ..."
Read radical news here
You bring up a very valid point. SUPERIOR being the key word there. I for one will not install a regular windows cd ever again after discovering TinyXP, which is totally illegal, but runs a million times better than regular windows.
Actually, I may just never install windows again and leave an old XP box hooked up on the network and use it via TightVNC. I mean, why not?
I hold very few opinions. I hold information based on observation and fact. If you wish to disagree, please use facts.
It is NOT the government's responsibility to insure I don't buy products from companies that have bad policies. It is mine. I don't need, nor want, the government to get involved whatsoever. Most governments tend to fuck up anything they get involved in.
Unfortunately, it is the government that is giving these foolish restrictions the force of law. If you bypass their rules, you're subject to the force of law whether or not what you're doing is morally correct and within your rights.
The ______ Agenda
I think I speak for a lot of us when I say, "Microsoft, you can kindly go fuck yourself".
[alk]
Meanwhile on Dune, The Microsoft ecologist says, "I see your copy of Vista is configured redmond fashion, who showed you how to do that?" "No one, it seemed the proper way." and the fremen housekeeper says, "It is known to us you have a traitor in our midst, we think its name might be EULA." Clang clang clang, the Duke says, "The Harkonnens have tried to take the life of my Son's Vista." "They have destroyed the wierd modules".
I am a driver writer, I wonder, I wonder. On Vista I develop, I ponder, I Ponder. Will my next driver test trigger SPP, I fear, I fear. Developing this driver could be expensive. (EULAg to a coder)
Fortune 100 Company here, we have dropped Windows for several enterprise wide applications (using Solaris or Linux instead), given this kind of shenaningans (and the dismay record of MS regarding security, the message regarding MS's cavalier attitude to security is slowly but surely reaching the suits).
If MS was making no money from regular people, they would not bother with all this nonsense copy protection.
Any company with a few dozen of machines or more will eventually standarize to a single configuration in order to save support costs and will not be thinkering with hardware without any good reason. They are the less likely to be fooling around with hardware and the less likely to be pirating software given the stiff penalties. So copy protection here is frankly menaingless.
In the other hand individuals are the ones that copy and share software. MS very well could release their personal edition software with watered down server capabilities (diks and print sharing constrained, no possibility of the machine becoming a domain controller, etc) and allow people a free range (as they did with all versions prior to XP I believe). That viral character of the OS made it popular amongst users (paired with MS's draconina strategy with hardware providers).
MS seems to be finally digging its own grave, I just don't understand how it is that nobody there seems to realize hopw much they are bothering their costumers (not me, I stopped using their wares long time ago).
IANAL but write like a drunk one.
.. and they can do what they want with it... All the Linux people out there should praise M$'s decision, because this will make using Linux way more attractive to those who like to tweak their hardware. This is turn will attract more commercial software developers, which will in turn attract more users to Linux.
MS wants free reign in our computers.
They do not want just to ensure we don;t copy their below par software.
They want to control how you play your media, they want to control the mechanisms to start trust relationshios with other entities ("secure" computing) and to decide which hardware can be connected or not (they will be actively working to close the "analogue hole").
MS is aiming to make you pay for a device fully controlled by them. I can't think of an apt car analogy because no car company would dare to mistreat their costumers so badly (but that is explained by a healthy competition in the car industry).
IANAL but write like a drunk one.
I own my computer, it is no bussiness of theirs what I do with it.
Which is why I have not bought MS stuff for 10 years.
IANAL but write like a drunk one.
I don't need a new OS at this moment, but if this all shakes out as bad as it sounds, I'm never even going to try to install another MS OS. They see the train coming through their tunnel and they're trying to grab as much money as they can before they get run over.
At this point I'm willing to feel the pain of retraining my family rather than paying the cost of Windows.
I think the one I had seen earlier was the feyrer.de group. But the Gentoo live cd looks certainly doable also. :)
Thanks
Most of my machines are built from scratch, with OEM licensed copies of the OS, but laptops are virtually impossible to get "naked". And I do tend to start from scratch and repartition it, as you do.
They're also the most vulnerable to breakage ; my desktop usually only gets upgraded voluntarily because the parts I buy tend to be reliable. The hard drive in a laptop is something I regard as a perishable component, because sooner or later, it's going to headcrash or the bearings are going to wear out.
While we of course don't know whether the algorithm is going to be that nasty, if it prevents me from swapping in a replacement drive without paying for a new license.....
Never mind, anyway. I've already decided that the only way I shall be running Vista is if my job mandates that I should do so ; they won't be getting my personal cash. I no longer have such a taste for games as I once did, and quite frankly, I find software development a more enjoyable pastime anyway. I guess I'll be developing for a different platform in future.
Which were they? The reg tweaks I found did jack shit, as did the backing up of those two activation files. And how do you figure it's the hardware detection which hoses up that operation?
I'm not trying to be sarcastic or anything: I'm genuinely curious.
-- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
What I call a hardware change is building a new system from scratch, taking the windows drive from the old system and plugging it into the new system (this often doesn't works for XP without a repair installation btw).
Does that count as a major hardware change?
Also often when trying to figure out if i have a software/viral or hardware problem I'll move the same drive back and forth between 2 or 3 machines to see what works and what doesn't. Does that count?
I'm sure some pc repair technicians probably do a lot of other stuff. I wonder how much of a hassle this is for them?
MS is making it MORE palatable to just pirate the software since they make such an annoying environment for those who actually BUY it.
good job MS.
Been through 3 mboards on my XP system and every time I fire up windoze with 3 days to sort out all the driver issues. Except Windoze immediately updates the mboard clock, activation thinks I'm trying to cheat and bingo, I need to activate *before* I can get back into Windoze. Which wouldn't be a problem if it didn't keep insisting on restarting multiple times just getting drivers updated...
If I swap out any other components after this obstacle race I risk having to reactivate all over again. I've had this POS need reactivating after flashing new firmware on my DVD drive, its that screwed up. Lost count of how many times I've had to reactivate so far.
Under this act of God, beyond my control, M$ would have required me to call and beg for a new key.
No thanks. It was overwhelming enough to purchase a tower, reinstall the OS and the apps, and recover from backups. And that was during a job hunt so the PC was critical to my career during a very stressful period. The last thing I needed is to deal with re-activating the OS.
My upgrade path after W2K will be Mac. I have no desire to jump through activation hoops. Brilliant M$, you've just reduced your monopoly on the PC OS market...!
Eternity: will that be smoking, or non-smoking? I Corinthians 6:9-10
I was more than a little concerned that I would run into a license validation issue recently.
The motherboard in my son's PC went tits up, so he ordered an ASUS barebones box and an Athlon 64 CPU from NewEgg. We took everything else from his old eMachine chassis. (hey, it was a gift from his uncle)
Anyway, we booted from an original XP CD we've owned for years. The PC it was originally installed on has long since been salvaged for parts and is no more. We installed the OS, an SP2 CD I keep handy, then connected to the net to get another 68 updates and such. Windows Update did it's "Genuine Advantage" update and....validated the XP license with no problem.
I was prepared to browbeat an MS employee into realizing the original PC the license was installed on was like the snows of yesteryear, but it a non-event.
The box has been running for 2 weeks with no issues. It's been through at least one Windows Update pass since then with no alarms or MS Gestapo banging on the door, black helicopters circling, etc.
I would think a completely new system build (the eMachine came with a restore CD that only works on an eMachine) would have tripped an alarm for MS but that's apparently not the case.
Hopefully, Vista will be as well designed! LOL.
I am my own gestalt.
However, since I've joined the workforce, I've had less time for playing games, and I've decided that there are enough good games that I can make work on Cedega, or natively on Linux, that I can afford to refuse to buy anything that forces me to boot Windows. In a couple of years, when most other gamers (even the cautious ones) will be running Vista, I'll probably be nuking my (legit) XP partition and using Linux entirely.
If the limited selection ever really starts to bug me, I'll buy a Wii. But I will not buy Vista.
Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
I don't remember the reg tweak, unfortunately. And it should be fairly obvious if its the hardware detection or not. On one hand the system just won't work, on the other hand the system will give you a 30 day warning or something of the sort. I'm just assuming it was hardware detection, since it is a known, and documented by microsoft themselves, issue with Windows (by design, so I guess its not a bug, its a "feature") that changing chipset hoses an install: Windows never tries to redetect a chipset for a board. Ever. The reg tweak simply tells Windows "hey, you never tried to detect this board before ::wink wink::".
Maybe you had a different issue. But this is a very common problem when moving a Windows install (again, it is documented, and is "standard procedure" when changing motherboard, however insane that sounds)
If I ever get this game I'm supposedly working on off the ground, it will be primarily Linux. The Windows and Mac versions will come with big fat "unsupported" warnings. But that's because I'm just stubborn enough to do it that way, not because I think it'll make me rich.
Still, it's nice to hear.
Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
This new license scheme is the final straw. I can't give these people money anymore. Can anyone point me to the right OS to switch to? I haven't installed any Linux distros in forever, so I have no idea what the latest and greatest is. I suppose I'd consider a Mac, but that seems like just as much a closed system as Windows. Just help me get away from this madness. Thanks!
Nothing different here. From win98 my windows stopped working whenever I put new hardware in.