Windows Genuine Advantage Gets More Lenient

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Windows Genuine Advantage Gets More Lenient

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday February 27, 2007 @07:46AM from the you-may-already-be-a-pirate dept.

Troglodyte writes in with word that Microsoft is revamping its Windows Genuine Advantage program so that it labels fewer users pirates. WGA now has a third category besides "genuine and "not genuine," called "not sure." Quoting: "[I]t's quite obvious what is going on here: Microsoft has added 'not sure' as a way of cutting down on the number of false positives associated with WGA. As many as one in five PCs were failing WGA checks, but this new setting should both reduce this and give Microsoft the chance to investigate further the kinds of things that are landing folks in the 'not sure' category."

18 of 228 comments (clear)

First Post by Anonymous Coward · 2007-02-27 07:48 · Score: 5, Funny

Is this a genuine first post?
1. Re:First Post by Zonk+(troll) · 2007-02-27 08:07 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  You are making a joke. Cancel/Allow?
  
  --
  "The Federal Reserve is a fraudulent system."--Lew Rockwell
  End The FED. -
Not sure? by Sneakernets · 2007-02-27 07:49 · Score: 4, Funny

I'm not sure I want them to change anything else after being told my genuine copy was pirated.

--
"No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson
1. Re:Not sure? by Anonymous Coward · 2007-02-27 07:56 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I'm not sure I want them to change anything else after being told my pirated copy was genuine.
2. Re:Not sure? by maxwell+demon · 2007-02-27 08:36 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I'm not sure I want them to change anything else after being told my genuine pirate was copied.
  
  --
  The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
Matey by Anonymous Coward · 2007-02-27 07:50 · Score: 5, Funny

Me thinks I need ta be labeled 'genuine pirate'. Aaaarrrrrrrr!
So by Apocalypse111 · 2007-02-27 07:50 · Score: 5, Funny

So I guess the new categories are:
1. Not a pirate
2. Pirate
3. Ninja

--
There is no mod option "-1: Disagree" for a reason. "Overrated" is not an acceptable substitute. Post something instead.
1. Re:So by Apocalypse111 · 2007-02-27 08:01 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  So like I said... ninja.
  
  --
  There is no mod option "-1: Disagree" for a reason. "Overrated" is not an acceptable substitute. Post something instead.
2. Re:So by proxy318 · 2007-02-27 09:29 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Don't be silly. No one can detect ninjas.
  
  --
  Saying your "phone ran out of batteries" is like saying your "car ran out of gas tanks".
Not sure? by Anonymous Coward · 2007-02-27 07:57 · Score: 5, Funny

I'm a Mac
I'm a PC
I'm not sure
magic by Stanistani · 2007-02-27 08:11 · Score: 5, Funny

Soon the options will be:
* Signs point to yes.
* Yes.
* Most likely.
* Without a doubt.
* Yes - definitely.
* As I see it, yes.
* You may rely on it.
* Chances are good.
* It is certain.
* It is decidedly so.
* Reply hazy, try again.
* Better not tell you now.
* Ask again later.
* Concentrate and ask again.
* Cannot predict now.
* My sources say no.
* Very doubtful.
* My reply is no.
* Chances not so good.
* Don't count on it.

--
You can't talk about Wikipedia's flaws on Wikipedia
1. Re:magic by Stanistani · 2007-02-27 09:35 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I once wrote a routine which applied the principle of Schrödinger's Cat to a dialog box:
  It prompted - "You won't know what happens when you select this until afterwards" and displayed - ?
  
  My instructor told me, "Now you're just being a jerk."
  
  --
  You can't talk about Wikipedia's flaws on Wikipedia
Re:So it's safe to upgrade my computer now? by iggymanz · 2007-02-27 08:16 · Score: 3, Funny

no. also, that's Mr. Indian Tech Support Bozo to you.
Re:I got a better idea by jcr · 2007-02-27 08:23 · Score: 5, Funny

If humans make it, humans can break it.

That's why the next version is being coded by SHARKS! Sharks with frickin' "lasers" on their heads.

-jcr

--
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
I can't believe it by Aqua_boy17 · 2007-02-27 08:26 · Score: 5, Funny

You forgot the best one of all!

* Outlook not so good.

--
What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?
Windows Freebooter by fyoder · 2007-02-27 08:57 · Score: 2, Funny

I have never had trouble using pirated editions of Windows.
Are you listening Microsoft? Here is an opportunity to make some money. Package and sell the pirated version as 'Windows Freebooter', perhaps for a $50 premium over regular price. Seriously, I'll bet there's a market for it.

--
Loose lips lose spit.
MS automated licensing by crabpeople · 2007-02-27 09:39 · Score: 4, Funny

ID Processing Computer: "Please repeat your license key as it occurs on your M$ identity card. Document number G24L8"
Joe: "Well, I'm not sure if--"
ID Processing Computer: "You have entered the license status of 'Not Sure'. Is this correct, Not sure?"
Joe: "No, it is not correct."
ID Processing Computer: "Thank you. 'Not' is correct. Is 'Sure' correct?
Joe: No, it's not. My license key is rm233-"
ID Processing Computer: "You've already confirmed that your license key starts with 'Not'."
ID Processing Computer: "Please confirm the last part of your key, 'Sure'."
Joe: "My ke-- The last part of my key is not sure. No."
ID Processing Computer: "Thank you. Your pirating status has been entered as Not Sure."
Joe: "What I mean is my status is legi--"
ID Processing Computer: "Confirmation is complete. Please wait while I tattoo your pirate status on all your word documents and email correspondences."
Joe: "Tattoo, wait what?!?"

--
I'll just use my special getting high powers one more time...
you are a pirate ... arrrr by garlicbready · 2007-02-27 12:07 · Score: 3, Funny

my guess is it will probably force you to play this on every single bootup
forcing this incredibly annoying song to go through your head all day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEBbu-wkKrs&mode=re lated&search=

if that isn't a deterrent, I don't know what is