Microsoft has had to create a new build of Windows XP Professional for computer makers because the six-year-old operating system's continued popularity has nearly exhausted the supply of product activation keys. The new build, dubbed SP2c, includes no fixes or feature changes, but was created simply to address the shrinking pool of product keys. XP Pro SP2c, which has been released to manufacturing, will be made available to OEMs and system builders next month, said Microsoft.
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Member since:2006-10-12
For now, and if you're not one of the many people whose valid keys won't activate.
What happens when Microsoft decides to discontinue the product activation service for Windows XP (and, for that matter, Office XP) because it's no longer cost-effective? I don't recall them stating that they'd run it indefinitely (hint: because they haven't stated that).
Member since:2007-08-05
Member since:2005-08-11
Member since:2005-07-08
Thanks for puking out the standard BSA party line. 
Product Activation is only an issue if aren't using a pirated copy.
Properly pirated copies don't even have activation components in them. This is exactly why Product Activation and DRM is complete crap. It only stops very casual pirates and legitimate customers.
Screw your customers too many times and/or two hard and you've got a problem on your hands.
Member since:2005-07-06
I can assure you that there have been many instances of product activating not working with even legal products. It isn't as clear cut as 'this doesn't activate, therefore, it is pirated'. Infact, Microsoft has actually make things worse through its use - anyone ever used Quark - then you'll know what I mean.
Member since:2005-07-24
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Product Activation is only an issue if you wish to use a pirated copy.
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Wow. What naivety.
No. It's an issue for all their customers. Expect more onerous burdens to be borne by their customers, to prove that they are legit, before this is over.
They have a billion people in China to "figure out how to collect from in the next decade".
Member since:2006-04-22
Issue for ALL their customers? Aside from a small minority of people who complained and whined, this is a non-issue how many years on going? Fact is if you have a legit copy this is a non-issue. If you purchased certain corporate or OEM versions, this was a non-issue. If you did volume licensing this was a non-issue. If you wished to take your retail copy to school and pass around copies to your entire class...this was an issue.
In 6 years of working with numerous business, there has never been a single complaint or comment made by any person I have dealt with in regards to activation. In fact a good 90% never have even seen activation simply because their OS has been pre-activated by the MFR.
Where I did see a lot of griping was from people on the internet who it is very much obvious that they wished to use a pirated version they download. What is really naive is to think that Microsoft is alone. There are literally thousands of different applications out there that require the same, if not more. And let us not forgot how many applications require not only an activation, but an actual hardware dongle they need to attached to the serial or parallel port just to run the software they purchased.
What is naive is that I once thought that product activation was going to be this huge nightmare that was going to cause us countless hours of frustration. Again, I reiterate, in 6 plus years of dealing with well over 100 businesses in my area, we have yet to experience one single issue with this...so you are welcome to continue mindless ranting on this, you just might want to be a little more informed from people that actually WORK with this.
Member since:
2006-04-22
Product Activation is only an issue if you wish to use a pirated copy.