Comments on: Windows Activation Sucks Sometimes

By: Tom van der Vlugt

Tom van der Vlugt — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:51:06 +0000

I’m also worrying for the following:

Every two weeks Windows’ WGA calls at home to check whether the license is still legal. If it is AND the internet connection is good, the user won’t get disturbed. If the license isn’t AND the internet connection is good then an error message will appear and also the background will change. But there is some case. In the case there is no internet (provider issue, cable issue or client issue). This means internet is off. What might WGA do? Will WGA invalidate the license, because the computer is offline from internet? If this is true for this offline-case, the protection mechanism for that portion of MS’s software protection should go back to the drawing boards. I find that the periodic WGA check shouldn’t happen as long as the computer is offline from internet. At most only a warning message in the log should be noted: ‘Can do WGA check now, since this computer is offline…’ The license shouldn’t be invalidated just because the case of an offline computer.

By: Tom van der Vlugt

Tom van der Vlugt — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:52:00 +0000

I advise to ***stay away*** from illegal copies of Windows because of the following:

1. No right of extra software like Windows Defender of Media Player.
2. No right of the correctly working Microsoft Update program.
3. Illegal copies of Windows *** might *** contain malware.

If you ** can ** afford Windows, I advise to purchase the RETAIL version above the OEM version, because of the right to ** move ** the license to your new computer.

If you ** can’t ** afford Windows, choose Linux, BSD or even Solaris. These OS’es are free and loaded with a bunch of software of which you can only dream! But: Linux, BSD and Solaris needs more tweaking, but you can be lucky.

By: Alexander

Alexander — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:26:52 +0000

At no point would I advise anyone to use a pirated version of windows, in fact with the improvements in methods of use in worms and other hidden viruses in any kind of pirated software. It is unadvisable to use any pirated software as the knowledge that can be lifted from infected networks and the damage that can happen, is often started by someone using a dodgy flashdrive infected unknowingly or unwittingly trying out something they should not be doing.
I would hope that Microsoft would lower the prices of windows7, it would make it more palatable to change onto at a reasonable price, but I expect that wont happen.

By: Tom van der Vlugt

Tom van der Vlugt — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:01:24 +0000

I agree with Bob, since it isn’t possible now to make one Linux-fist against Microsoft’s bad licensing practices. I think all Linux distro’s should unite together. Windows is infamous for the DLL-Hell problem. Because of the many hundreds flavours of Linux, Linux has nearly the same issue: Dependency-Hell that may prevent correct building from source tarballs. Even the (for that flavour suitable) binary packages may fail due to Dependency-Hell. I’ve faced both issues on both operating systems.

By: bob

bob — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:45:36 +0000

Unfortunately the Linux community has used open source to splinter into at least 15 different flavors of Linux. So, none of them will ever be competition, period. They are and will be too busy arguing the merits of ‘their’ Linux.

By: Tom van der Vlugt

Tom van der Vlugt — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:12:09 +0000

If such an activation scheme like Microsoft’s goes flipping worse, it’s best to avoid those products and stick with products which don’t have these copy-protection scheme yet. Software houses will then be given the chance for reflection for:

1. Be good for the PAYING LEGALLY using customer!
2. Be bad for the ILLEGALLY using hackers!

I think: PAID == PAID. If the OEM license forbids to TRANSFER the license from an old to a new computer, this limitation really stinks, because the PAID money is gone nowhere. I find this really immoral and incorrect.

This stupid (OEM) restriction is a feeding-source for people or even commercial businesses who ILLEGALLY circumvent this scheme, so LEGAL users get more bitten by this issue…

This means:

Legal User: LOST the battle (is restricted in their right to use the software)
Software Vendor: LOST the battle (loses a lot of revenue due to illegal copies)
Illegal cracker: WON the battle (those j##ks can misuse the cracked software with Trojan-horse malware.)

This is the worst case!

By: Captain

Captain — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:55:39 +0000

Microsoft Activation 2.0 is broken. I wasted several hours trying to obtain the correct key from Microsoft online. The online system is down. You cannot get through to phone activation as it disconnects you. I could go on and on. Bottom line is this. If you buy a Microsoft product, you may not be able to use it. Microsoft looks to me as they are going out of business. I wasted money on their server products and I cannot use them because Microsoft activation is down. What does one do now?

By: Paxo

Paxo — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:42:26 +0000

I think th moral of the storu is to switch to Linux. If you want a new version you just get it from the internet for free.

I am slowly migrating to Ubuntu and will not upgrade any further than Win 2000. This does all I need to do and I have never liked the way XP looked and worked anyway.

By: George

George — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:56:36 +0000

A true OEM copy of xp will be able to use any key for that software. The oem disk you talk about are from (DELL,HP,ECT.) they are modified to look for a tatoo on the motherboard. If you use this disk and xp can not find the tatoo it will not load/activate. I am a system builder and buy oem products that are true oem from microsoft. they require no tatoo on the board and have not been altered there for i use them for system repairs and clean installs. Most older systems will not activate over the internet, but a phone call and two questions. I. E. how many machines is this copy of windows on( 1) and why (viruses) for example. and then every thing is good. hope this helps.

By: Argy

Argy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:29:39 +0000

i believe acting like this , microsoft just force users to use illegal software. If i have to activate windows every time i format my pc or have problems with oem software then it is easier for me to use a non legal windows installation