Customers who find themselves reinstalling Windows XP should be ready for a headache: Microsoft will no longer support activating the product over the Internet.
Microsoft to disable product activation over Net
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Eugenia Loli
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At first when I read the title, I was shocked. After reading the actual links, Its not as bad as it sounds. Infact, it may help curb some of the fake installs of Windows that a few users I know of have actually paid for.
The basic idea is this: Microsoft have a blacklist of keys at their end, if you’re detected as having one of these keys when you try to reinstall your OS you’ll need to call Microsoft up and explain why you have the key.
The only problem with this I can see is users who upgrade their hardware in the pc will also have to call Microsoft up, as they did before, however will Microsoft question these users too ?
I’ve moved from xp home to linux a few months ago, and this action (although i think its a good idea) has put me off from going back to windows.
Seems more to me like Micrsoft is punishing the honest.
People who use and get hacked versions of Windows XP, at least those in the know use the “corp” version that doesn;t require activation.
I remember when XP was in the beta stages and there was a crack to get around the activation. I cann see that happening again if Microsoft forces every version of XP or Longhorn to require activation.
The hackers will always find a way around these so called security measures. For honest Joe Customer it means a the headache of having to wait on hold until some M$ phone jockey gives you the magic key to unlock your version of windows. You gotta figure a keygren of this can be reverse-engineered much in the same manner Norton’s “phone challenge” piracy measure has been hurdled.
Makes me chuckle thinking they’re going to somehow lock down windows update. What a beautiful sight that will be thousands upon thousands of illegal copies of windoes unable to get the latest security updates. It would be quite ironic if they were all exploited in unison to DDoS M$ servers.
Reason # 4,653 to use linux. apt-get, apt-rmp, or urpmi, or whatever your distro’s equivalent, at least big brother is not preventing you from freely upgrading your system.
Note that this only applies to a CD Key used by a large OEM manufacturer such as Dell or HP. Regular OEM versions and retail versions are not affected. What people were doing is using a key reveealer to get the pre-loaded key and then using it to activate other copies of XP.
Its already a pain in the ass to activate XP i swap and tweak hardware all the time i hate doing it anymore since i have to call Microsoft with a 30 digit number not the best idea to fight piracy.
Sounds like what I end up doing anyway. Call in and they ask you a few useless questions, you tell them the answer they want to hear (true or not is not your business) and they give you the code to activate it. I’m just glad I don’t mess with it anymore, now if I wanted to I could just go get a new product key through my Microsoft tax (University, heh).
i’ve run tests with corporate versions of xp…most of the versions i use pass microsoft’s piracy checks (keygens were used for the keys…) I successfully downloaded microsoft’s spyware tool…passing the genuine.exe check. What is to stop users from generating their own keys?
punishing the honest seems to be the way in softwre biz.
just look at games i download warez versions of games that i have bougth cus then i dont need to use my cd everytime im going to play. and hl2 cus then i dont need to login to stem just to play in singelplayer mode. when i buy a laptop with winxp i reinstall with a warez version no activation i have the cd slipstreamd with all the uptodate drivers and service packs.
it really sad that the warez versions are alot less hazzel than legal versions
The customer representative will ask several questions, such as where the person bought the Windows XP system, to find out whether the certificate is authentic, the representative said.
This is awful. Microsoft is interogating their own customers just to allow them to use their software. I’m glad there is finally a little competition in the OS market these days because I’m sure someone could capitalize on Microsoft shooting themselves in the foot. Unfortunately I’m a little more cynical these days and I believe people will probably just put up with the hassle because they don’t know any better.
How deaf, or other people with disabilities would activate their account?
Read the bloody article, it only applies to pre-installed OEMs, and only the top 20. This is because the keys on many OEM machines have been yoinked off a single COA.
Average Joe won’t care, because they come preactivated, and average honest Joe doesn’t go around throwing a hissy fit at having to actually use the phone and answering a few questions.
There is saying in Portuguese which is:
“Se cair na rede, é Peixe”
In English, it’s something like:
“If it falls in the net, it’s fish.”
Looks like individual users will suffer most. I read @ other websites that the key seems to bind with your hardware. Upgrading the hardware(esp motherboard) will invalidate the original key. In this time and age, people do not stuck with the same hardware for a long time. Just think about waiting on the phone, being interrogated, and waited to get a new key, ….., need to call again if the Window crashed, etc.
Well, they are pushing individual users away and I am all for it. Let them cut off their customer base who make them big in the first place. My wish is that Linux OS desktop will rise and carve a big share of the market just like Mozilla/Firefox did because M$ slack off in their browser development.
“Read the bloody article, it only applies to pre-installed OEMs, and only the top 20”
You’re wrong. The sentence starts with “At first”. The question is : who’s next ?
That Windows XP needs to ‘call home’ is one of the (many) reasons I never used it. You get software with a new (pre-built) PC, you run Free software like Linux/*BSD, or you go out and buy something. That is, if you’re a honest user.
But after that, I think you SHOULD be able to re-install the software you have, in a stand-alone situation. New PC, install CD’s, and nothing else, no networking. Whatever the advantages of using the ‘net during install, if you can’t re-install without, it’s a no-no for me. The same with games or other software, or needing to call a MS employee over the phone. Entering a serial number is as far as I’ll go.
Maybe MS have good reasons for going down this road, but it’ll just annoy honest users even more, and cause systems NOT to be re-installed, cleaned from otherwise non-removable spyware or other crap, or CAUSE users to run pirated/hacked versions. In the long run, bad news for everyone that uses the ‘net.
Do as you like MS, I have already taken my business elsewhere. Typing this comment from distro-du-your Gentoo, some other distro tomorrow. Single remaining reason to dual boot with Win98SE are recent games. I know it is possible to run some popular shooters like UT2003 under Linux, but I just find these easier to get working under Windows. Maybe I’ll try Win2k (or even a tweaked Win2k3 install?) for that, but no Windows XP for me.
I hope someday MS will see the light, and realize that even PC’s running pirated copies need updates. Making it harder to optain updates for non-registered machines, will just increase the number of vulnerable/hijacked machines, and *everybody* suffers. Larger DDoS attacks, more spam, virusses, you name it. Thanks, guys.
I was fixing my cousin’s machine today when I saw that he had WMP 10 installed (license validation is required). I asked him where he found it and he said that he downloaded it from MS’s site.
Hes running WinXP Home SP2 /w activation crack.
Guys, I barely administer my own computers. I feel sorry for the tech guys that help friends and whatnot with their computers. *They* are to blame sometimes for pushing unlicensed Windows to their friends.
Windows XP should be ready for a headache???
You mean a larger headache
This only puts out people that own windows. Why do windows owners have this put on us. No matter what they do someone will be able to make an activation crack and the only people affected by this are the owners of the products tring to reinstall windows on there machines.
Never pay for windows and use activation cracks
OR
Pay for windows and get put on hold for 10-15mins to be able to reinstall windows?
As a windows OWNER i’m not happy
“Read the bloody article, it only applies to pre-installed OEMs, and only the top 20. This is because the keys on many OEM machines have been yoinked off a single COA.
Average Joe won’t care, because they come preactivated, and average honest Joe doesn’t go around throwing a hissy fit at having to actually use the phone and answering a few questions.”
______________________________________________________________
Gee Anonymous, read the blood article? Is that really nice? Here is a quote from the article:
“At first, it will be limited to the Windows XP software preinstalled on systems shipped by the top 20 PC sellers.”
The key word(s) here being “At first”.
I don’t think piracy of Win-XP is really that big a problem, but no doubt, Win-95R2 and 98 are running wild out there, and that’s the real story. I think MS just doesn’t want to see reinstalls happening, even though it’s the only good way to clean the thing out. I reinstall my Win-Me/2k web-surfing box every 90 days. I’d never put-up with that nonsense. Of course, I’d never use Win-XP or an iPod anyway.
I’ve been a cheerleader for Windows for a long time simply because some of the apps that run on it I consider to be Indispensable, but even *I* have limits.
Right now, the activation process is pretty painless – once I’ve activated it, I don’t even have to do anything when I reinstall .. it just does it automatically, and I hope it stays that way.
If it turns out I have to call MS every time I want to reinstall the OS (or install it in a virtual machine), I will go out and buy a Mac at the next available opprotunity and just live without whatever apps I happen to lose during the transition.
Smartpatrol wrote:
> Its already a pain in the ass to activate XP i swap and
> tweak hardware all the time i hate doing it anymore since
> i have to call Microsoft with a 30 digit number not the
> best idea to fight piracy.
whats really a pain in the ass is punctuation i mean who looks at those small dots anyway and the shift key is evil too ill just ignore it.
Looks like Redmond will have to learn the hard way, business rule #1:
Treat your customers like crap and they’ll go elsewhere.
Rule #2:
Crap on your OEM’s and they’ll cut your legs out from under ya!
Already a pain enough reinstalling XP for customers.
Can’t imagine why I remain with W2K Pro on the laptop (never mind it’s more responsive than XP). Legally licensed and no activation crap if I want to reload or change out hardware.
Yeap, Linux and Solaris 10 folks could really capitalize on Redmond’s series of dumb moves lately.
Redmond just can’t seem to stop shooting themselves in the foot anymore, getting to be pretty comical to watch them fall apart.
JT
”
How would deaf, or other people with disabilities activate their account?
WHAT?
”
I’ll explain this slowly. Deaf people cannot hear. Using a phone requires an ear that is capable of hearing last time i checked (have things changed this much :-P). I also don’t recall Windows mentioning a way for deaf people to activate by phone last time i had problems activating. do you need a clearer explanation?
That Microsoft would do this. I fired themlast month, got a Mac Mini for the family and installed Mepis on my laptop because I was sick and tired of fighting Windows. I mean I was really SICK and TIRED of having to reinstall the OS due to some sort of DLL hell / spyware / crapware/ virus / registry corruption. This wil probably convert a few more. Now when my mom calls looking for support I tell here that she is going to have to get a Mac that I no longer work on windows.
1. Pretty bad when even Microsoft has to post such admissions that their licensing is a disaster:
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/licensing/business.mspx
2. Then the Reg’ has field day with their latest stunt:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/24/ms_leaps_in_cactus/
3. This this guy creates this mockup of it, absolutely hillarious reading:
http://www.cheshirewebmill.co.uk/microsoft/
= priceless!
Plus I’ve just got to see how they are going to try to validate W2K licenses like they are doing with XP.
JT
I can’t imagine this being worth the effort. I buy my computers generally through dell (my computers and the company that I made decisions for). Because of our business volume licensing makes no sense and yes I have to reinstall every now and again. I really hope this won’t effect me badly but I fear the worst. It really is amazing when a software company can go this far out of their way for their needs and not their customers. I’m actually kind of surprised at this since they have changed so many other things in the face of the linux pressure (opening code, to see at least, etc).
Really is a dumb move.
This will be a pain for repair technicians (with all the adware, “computer janitor” would be a better title). Alot of times you need to do a repair install of Windows using an OEM cd (w/SP2 slipstreamed in). You then need to use the key on the COA sticker on the case. Since that key has never been used before, it will always activate without problems (assuming someone didn’t previously copy/use that key on a different pc within the last x days/months/nobody_knows). Now we can spend our time on the phone with Microsoft pleading our case, then reading/listening to a bunch of numbers.
I can see what they are trying to do- prevent people from copying keys off pc cases, most of which never get used. All you need is an OEM cd and a key from most any pc sitting around with a COA sticker on it.
I can also see Microsoft doing worse things with their activation scheme- how about “we are unable to verify your key, but for only $29.95 we can get you activated right away. Will that be VISA or MasterCard?”
back when i used windows, i used a couple excellent media products by sonic foundry, one of which was called vegas (now owned by sony). it was expensive and had product activation via the net and backup activation via the phone.
the key was generated by your hardware profile so a very similar situation as winxp, only years before. the product itself was pretty solid but the platform it was running on wasn’t. typical windows problems like degradation and pollution ultimately lead to instability and unusability. each fresh reinstallation required a new activation, of course, but how many times could i do this before being spotted as a potential criminal? 3 times. the call turned out rather pleasant as they reset my counter in their database. of course, i felt obliged to thank the support person but soon realized after the call that this just doesn’t feel right. i haven’t upgraded or ordered anything new from them since.
soundforge, sonic foundry’s flagship product from the early days, didn’t and still doesn’t have the same hardware profiling and activation scheme because they were smart enough to know their existing customers would flip if they did. maybe the convicted corporation should take notes on this very similar situation.
and for the love of jezebel, who the hell didn’t see this coming?
greed kills
I would have to agree with you on that one
key. gen.
keygen.
So we can do as we please.
That seems to be the attitude that Microsoft has adopted in recent years (some would say from the beginning).
It really is annoying people. Hell, even die-hard Windows fanboys, like Darius, is getting peeved (no offence meant, Darius).
Seeing that I’m on the Microsoft-bashing path this morning, let me just state that hardware support in Windows ain’t that great. Windows doesn’t want to detect my USB. Linux does. My copy is 100% legal btw. It’s also on SP2.
Anyway. I’ll stop now and get back to work.
E
I never thought about it before, but I guess MSFT keeps track of which product keys go to which manufacturers. My guess is they will ask what brand pc you have- if you say Dell, but the key did not come from a Dell- that key number will go into a black hole, never to be used again.
Activation is the sole reason my Windows partition runs Windows 2000 instead of Windows XP. I refuse to use any product that must be activated in this insane way.
In my opinion this step is a very rude one, especially for people who do not want to run Windows XP on their new computer, but they had to buy a license anyway.
Now it is really hard for them to sell the license (it already isn’t very nice that the license-sticker are already attached to the machines), or maybe even impossible. I don’t know how this is handeled in different countries, but afaik here in Germany, the customer has the right to sell the software license without the computer.
This whole product activation is already very annoying to me, and it even gets worse.
Anyway, I cannot imagine that there are that many illegal Windows XP copies, as averybody gets his/her license with a new computer. If this was about Office, I would agree that there are really many illegal copies, especially in the private sector at home. People should switch over to OpenOffice if they do not want to afford MS Office (which I don’t like anyway, it’s much too bloated in my opinion).
Hi I dual boot between Ubuntu and Windows XP but spend most of my time in windows. I am also an avid compter tech always upgarding and changing bits of hardware any way I own a legit verson of windows with a real cd key however the hassle of using it out weighs the benifits. I always install my XP CD that I downloaded 3 years ago it is corp edition and just allows me to play with my hardware and reinstall at least every 6 months without worring about Activation and speaking to some gimp on the phone. I think it is discusting that microsoft have made me use a pirate version of a product that I legitimetly own.
“And again, Joe consumer doesn’t care because he doesn’t go around throwing a hissy fit at having to pick up the phone. ”
Of course… and with every passing day, Joe consumer lose another right, and because he doesn’t care, tomorrow will lose another one… and greedy companies will be happy knowing they’re in charge and can do whatever they decide knowing few will complain.
Activation is a hate crime. And more companies are doing it.
Imagine installing a new sound card, some extra RAM and hooking up a different modem. If you go past the default number of changes, all of a sudden you get to re-activate all that software…
And I so don’t take the ‘non-transferable’ bit. If I buy something and after its useful life for me has ended, I sell it on eBay, why can I not do that with computers and software? What makes software so special that I could not sell it on? Don’t give me the yam about ‘valuable product’, if you read the EULA, every software vendor [that I bothered to look this up for] states that their software is not deemed fit for any purpose, not even the one they’re selling it to you for.
I have to treat something like it’s the Ten Commandments when even the company who created it won’t guarantee it will be even remotely useful [they’re saying it with so many words]? “Well your honor, since the company itself states its product is not fit for any purpose, I didn’t value it all that much myself…”
“How deaf, or other people with disabilities would activate their account?”
“Read the bloody article, it only applies to pre-installed OEMs, and only the top 20. This is because the keys on many OEM machines have been yoinked off a single COA. ”
Right…..so HP and Dell discriminate against disabled individuals?
“Average Joe won’t care, because they come preactivated, and average honest Joe doesn’t go around throwing a hissy fit at having to actually use the phone and answering a few questions.”
No, but average joe *does* throw a hissy fit if he has to sit on hold for up to an hour.
Try calling MS before telling us how easy it is to get through
Really…i like Microsoft in many cases…but this sucks. They are really digging their own grave with bad decisions like this.
Imagine country like India with 18 languages…will MS provide operator for each one of them…this is the worst idea for anti-piracy…
This so reminds me of a Dilbert strip, where the PHB installs auto-shrinking cubicles. In the last pane Dilbert, Alice and Wally stand in tiny boxes, and Wally smiles and says “It’s surprising how fast you get used to this”.
I wish people would get fed up with this product activation crap (as in HL2, original XP etc) and do something about it. But the pessimist in me says they don’t.
And that makes me a saaad panda.
(For the record, I have neither HL2 or XP, even though I’d really, really want to play HL2.)
As usual Microsoft treats its retail customers like thiefs. They wont dare to pull a stunt like that in the business market though. We the consumers can not do much about it so it looks like a win win situation for Microsoft.
Although the number may be very small at the moment, more and more customers will just move away from Microsoft if they continue treating customers like fools.
Whatch your language, mate.
People keep saying it is no big deal – that only a few OEMs versions will be affected. 80-90% of the PCs out there are OEM pre-installs and this will affect any of them when it comes time to reinstall for whatever reason.
I think it would be a big mistake on Microsoft’s part. However, I have yet to see a confirmation of this on any MS site. News.com citing Neowin citing some other 3rd party site is not MS confirmation.
I wonder if the adverts for XP will now state that having a phone is a requirement?
A lot of very knowledgeable and influential people are smelling blood in the water – Microsoft’s blood!
“I’ll explain this slowly. Deaf people cannot hear. Using a phone requires an ear that is capable of hearing last time i checked (have things changed this much :-P). I also don’t recall Windows mentioning a way for deaf people to activate by phone last time i had problems activating. do you need a clearer explanation?”
That’s because you don’t need anything special to support deaf people over the phone. Their are services that do this for them. It allows them to call a company or a service and NOT have to hear or speak. A person in the middle does that for them. This allows companies to support people with disabilities. You can’t expect a small startup to be able to support everyone, it’s not realistic. By having this service, they can.
– Windows XP pro $299, Home 199$
– MacMini 499$ (incl. OSX10.3/4 and iLife)
“And maybe you should reread the article again Mr. Anonymous and notice the the REAL keyword is ‘OEM’. They may be starting with the top 20 OEMs but it will be restricted to OEMs ONLY.”
Actually, that’s not true. While reading the article is great, research and experience is better. You see, they do this NOW for anybody. Even if you have a real CD. You see what happens is, after you have reactivated it X number of times via the net, you have to call up anyways. I’ve had to do that. And it sucks.
“And again, Joe consumer doesn’t care because he doesn’t go around throwing a hissy fit at having to pick up the phone.”
Joe Consumer? Hello, Joe Consumer is not the one that fixes his machine. Joe’s Son, Boy Consumer, is the one that does that.
But seriously, if your going to lump everyone together as “Joe Consumer”, than this Joe Consumer is pissed that I have to activate via the phone. So I guess that means your wrong.
From another poster:
“Try calling MS before telling us how easy it is to get through”
Actually, the several times I’ve been forced to call, I got through right away.
Well its nice to see Bill hasn’t stopped making MS Users life more exciting especially with the new activation standards. If annoying and degrading you clientele isn’t enough, the following snipette from the article says it all,
“The company has a plan to check that people’s operating systems are properly licensed before allowing them to download certain updates. The plan, known as the Windows Genuine Advantage initiative, was introduced in January.”
I guarantee that hacked WIndows XP PCs will still exist but lets just see what happens when these hacked Windows XP systems become compromised and are used to infected others and Security overall ends up suffering because Microsoft needs to be able “control their users” and Business and others berate MS for their poor Security Controls…
Everyone should do themselves a favor and switch to Linux and/or FreeBSD/OpenBSD and Stop the Microsoft Stupidity!
All I know is that Computer Techs don’t usually have the time to phone home to M$ after a fresh install is needed. 8 PCs on the bench and a boss breathing down yer neck about billable labor.. never gonna happen. All this ends up doing is confusing the dead-end users who don’t understand piracy – they just understand they bought Windows and it should work, period.
all the windows product activation scheme was meant for is to stop “unintentional” piracy (i.e. you buy windows, install it on your laptop, then install it on your home pc. that is illegal and “stealing”, even though most people dont realise it.) pretty much its sole reason for existance has alwas been to annoy the crap out of you guys, the home users.
once again they are punishing the peeple who actually bought their crapware. the stollen corpware doesnt even use activation, not to mention how easy it is to get a key that passes the microsoft genuine thing. sheer stupidity.
This is the difference between Apple and Microsoft.
– Bill has insomnia about that last NICKLE escaping his grasp. How best to screw his Loyal sheep. How dare they not give him the revenue he expects!
– Steve dreams of a better product.
This is a sure sign these guys have reached the high mark and the only way to go from here is down.
The competition has been beaten so badly over the years that the only thing MS has left is to go after the very people who buy their software.
In the end they will just make it easier for people to switch to less restrictive platforms.
EVERY single copy protection scheme ever tried has been a major PITA to the end user. We go from physically, intentionally damaged media plus custom OS in the 80’s to a decline in draconian protections in the 90’s, only to have it strike back even worse in the 00’s. One step forward, and about 50 or so back. Dongle/physical key protected software coming and going in popularity throughout the last two decades, but in the end, I think that we will revert to no copy protection as it is too much of a PITA to legitimate customers, and the miniscule piracy protection(assuming that this isn’t circumvented, which I find to be highly unlikely) drives these legitimate customers away, or into supporting protection removal schemes.
e.g. I fairly regularly change/modify hardware in my system, and STILL find that re-installing windows is an option that MUST be exercised occassionally, although not nearly as often as was the case in the past. Now the very :LAST thing that I’ll want to have to do is waste time on hold waiting for some imbecile to re-authorize my LEGALLY purchased software, unless of course, MS was willing to re-imburse me for wasted time and effort. (Good thing that I only use windows for games, and not anything productive.)
I am glad to see MS doing this. If they keep behaving this way, we’ll see more and more competition which is good for everyone, including it seems, Microsoft. We all win when there is competition and choice.
Personally, I’m a Mac guy now. I didn’t switch because of the viruses, security holes, spyware, etc. I got out of the Windows world just before all of those problems moved from ‘bad’ to ‘critical.’
Instead, I just wanted tech to be fun again. I wanted new and innovative things to play with. So I’m a Mac guy now. And I love it, partly because I don’t have the headaches Windows users face every day, but mostly because Apple is an innovative company in the way MS wishes they were.
So keep it up MS. More and more people will make the switch. And they will see what real innovation looks like.
This majorly sucks for me. I know people that buy a cheap presario at Best Buy/Compusa/etc and it usually comes infested with crappy software. Many times for friends I’ve wiped the drive, inserted my XP Home OEM SP2 CD and installed a clean copy of Windows using the key stuck on the side of the machine. They end up getting a lean copy with Windows without preinstalled junk and the system runs so much better. What I’ve been doing is totally legal too, I don’t understand why MS once again hurts the customers it benefits…
“back when i used windows, i used a couple excellent media products by sonic foundry… (snip) …soundforge, sonic foundry’s flagship product from the early days, didn’t and still doesn’t have the same hardware profiling and activation scheme because they were smart enough to know their existing customers would flip if they did”
I think the latest versions of all Sony media software (sony pictures digital) now use product activation. (soundforge/acidpro/vegas etc.)
It was one of the (many) reasons I did not purchase the Acid Pro 5 upgrade.
Needless to say, I don’t think it has stopped copying, casual or otherwise.
I think the latest versions of all Sony media software (sony pictures digital) now use product activation. (soundforge/acidpro/vegas etc.)
awe, that’s sad to hear. seems the windows world is generally heading this way. interesting bit of fate for such a costly path and the sadder part is many people i personally know will defend it to the end.
i personally don’t care what microsoft does. i used to care, but those days are over thanks to visionaries like stallman and all the amazing programmers in the opensource world. my blood pressure has fallen and my wallet has grown fatter. it’s much more fun to spend your hard earned cash on your own family
//I’ll explain this slowly. Deaf people cannot hear. Using a phone requires an ear that is capable of hearing last time i checked (have things changed this much :-P). I also don’t recall Windows mentioning a way for deaf people to activate by phone last time i had problems activating. do you need a clearer explanation?//
I don’t think he needs a clearer explanation, but you sure as hell need a sense of humor. His “WHAT?” comment was obviously meant as a joke.
//Try calling MS before telling us how easy it is to get through.//
I just called to reinstall Excel of Office 2003 … I was on hold for about 5 minutes.
Oh, the torture.
I mean, they will obviously have to expand their call center to deal with the much large volume.
Windows is for masochists.
Even though i whole heartedly criticize the decision of this Product activation crap…MAC isn’t much better. They are not better than Windows in any ways…Hell Apple doesn’t even let OS X to be installed on a hardware different than MAC in their EULA…How can you even justify MAC without being dishonest or biased?
I have a large number of Dells at work that I’ve reloaded (purchased w/ XP in the last 2-3 years) and never had to reactivate. I also reloaded my Sony laptop I got last October with no activation fuss. The kicker is that if you modify the Dell cds in any way (like slipstreaming a service pack) Dell says the product activation will kick in, so be warned. I’ve seen a couple variations of this article yesterday and today and it seems that the only OEMs they are implementing this policy for (so far) are the ones that have the system locked media. So, for the moment, it is pretty much a non-issue for most people. You just have to use the original install cds that came with your OEM system and you should be fine. (you did remember to keep those, right?)
Cheers
The evolution of my development with Microsoft – or was it a devolution – came to an abrupt end when I learned that they would begin requiring authentification with XP. As a consequence, the computers on this network, where they run Windows at all, run Windows 2000. I have never regretted my decision to take this step and now, with this news about their requiring an additional indignity on preinstalled systems, I feel vindicated even though I own no preinstalled boxes. Microsoft made a Linux SA of me although I’d not originally intended things to turn out that way. And to think that that had happened when all the time the authentification process had been instituted only for my sake.
“This is the difference between Apple and Microsoft.
– Bill has insomnia about that last NICKLE escaping his grasp. How best to screw his Loyal sheep. How dare they not give him the revenue he expects!
– Steve dreams of a better product. ”
Sorry to say that’s not quite acurate.
– Seve has insomnia about people using anything BUT Apple products.
Apple has that nasty little clause in their EULA which states you can only using OS X on Apple hardware. If an Apple clone was released (which aren’t possible because Steve was worried that it would eat into his revenue and loosen his control over everything Apple) you couldn’t legally use OS X on it.
If a person is in business they are always concerned about every last nickle and find a way to extract it. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are no different in this sence, they are just going about it in different ways.
*NOTE: I’m not saying either Bill or Steve are evil/wrong/stupid I’m just saying that they are both in business to make money.*
This news makes me exceedingly happy.
As the Penguinistas take over the world, and Microsoft is forced to screw loyal paying customers by assuming they are criminals first, paying customers second…
It can only make things better for the WORLD DOMINATION…
Muhahahahahahahahaha…
I say great work Gates and Ballmer. Please continue to “innovate” your customers…
-gc
“Even though i whole heartedly criticize the decision of this Product activation crap…MAC isn’t much better.”
No product activation on Mac or MAC, heh heh
“They are not better than Windows in any ways…”
No viruses to start…
“Hell Apple doesn’t even let OS X to be installed on a hardware different than MAC in their EULA…”
Ummm you can try installing MacOSX on a PC if you want…
“How can you even justify MAC without being dishonest or biased?”
OK have fun with yourself Wolf
Actually they are not abusing my patience any longer.
And I do my best so that they don’t abuse other people’s patience either: a 8 year old has asked me to delete Windows from his HD, and when his uncle, a friend of mine, saw it installed (SUSE 9.2) said that he found it better than WinXP (no wonder).
On top of that I am lobbying people who assemble computers and sell them to use Linux instead of Windows.
And maybe you should reread the article again Mr. Anonymous and notice the the REAL keyword is ‘OEM’. They may be starting with the top 20 OEMs but it will be restricted to OEMs ONLY.
And again, Joe consumer doesn’t care because he doesn’t go around throwing a hissy fit at having to pick up the phone.
MS bashers just love jumping on every opputunity to take everything out of context
———————————————————–
The wording “At first” is being applied to XP and OEM’s. Basic grammer. I have a couple of questions:
1) Can you assue the world that MS will not go beyond the OEM’s?
2) Have you ever looked at the genuine advantage program?
Now calling someone an MS basher is a little far fetched. You can go to several windows forums and see others critique about the same issue.
Now for the record, I have been using MS products since 1979/1980. I have seen enough of MS business practices for the last 25 years. As a consumer, business user and so forth, people are free to express their opinions about a product and/or company, as well as their practices. Now considering almost 3 decades of experience, I might be qualified to express an opinion on a posting board.
1) Do you remember Dr.Dos?
2) Do you remember how MS broke Dr.Dos with intentional malice (proven in court). Do you know how many users lost data?
3) What did MS do to Spyglass? Did they ever get paid from MS? If your wondering IE is based on Spyglass.
4) What about Netscape? Shall we go into that?
Like I said, questionable business practices.
If it makes you feel better, I have issues with the telecommunications providers in the U.S. And for the record, I have worked for several telecommunications companies in N. Amercia and I have some very harsh opinions about their questionable practices.
These are opinions based on experience.
On quote 1 below, bought xp oem off an online outfit (used pricegrabber, newegg lost at that time); anyways, no longer remember what the outfit was and my proof of purchase, the envelope with the cdkey (althoough i used the magic jellybean key finder to back up my key) is currently missing–quote 1 will probably kill me since I plan to re-install in a few days (same install since 2003 and mysterious errors and messages I can’t find a solution to keep popping up). So if the outfit I bought the oem copy from isn’t in the top 20 it won’t affect me now; but in the future it might. Will piss me off since I’ll be out 137 or so dollars. My retail copy of w2k is my fall back. Have too much windows software and games to change.
On quote 2, that’s just sad that an honest person has to be grateful to get to use their software. Felt the same way when I re-installed office 2000 standard AE after my laptop harddrive ‘died’. Had performed a couple of os changes, 98se, 2000 and had to activate through those times. Seemed office 2000 only allowed 3 reinstalls and activations or so. Thank god for office service pack 3; have never had to reactivate since.
++++++++++++++++++quote1+++++++++++++++++++++++===
The customer representative will ask several questions, such as where the person bought the Windows XP system, to find out whether the certificate is authentic, the representative said.
++++++++++++++++++++++quote2++++++++++++++++++++++++
i felt obliged to thank the support person but soon realized after the call that this just doesn’t feel right.
I can also see Microsoft doing worse things with their activation scheme- how about “we are unable to verify your key, but for only $29.95 we can get you activated right away. Will that be VISA or MasterCard?”
No, it will be Linux
All I know is that Computer Techs don’t usually have the time to phone home to M$ after a fresh install is needed. 8 PCs on the bench and a boss breathing down yer neck about billable labor.. never gonna happen.
Helping a customer to phone MS seams billable to me.
Anyone who has 8 PCs at home…need to get a life or better yet…a woman.
But it is like this.
Hopefully you people are aware.
If you reinstall Windows XP after a number of times
I believe the number is 7
you lose activation full stop.
The fact that you’ve reinstalled so many times on a period of 3-4 years because it is such a shiity operating system.
Seems not to come down to the equation.
I had to reinstall many times also because of viruses, worms and trojans. Sometimes other members of the family used my computer – specially when I travelled.
Windows XP has a sell-by-date you do know that – the more you use (and abuse) it – the slower and more unstable it becomes.
Those who lie saying it is no so – are under gross self-denial.
The majority of users (who never heard of Linux) knows that is a fact.
Maybe its a registry thing? Who knows.
So one day I’ve installed Linux and played with it – and guess what?
I hated that thing – I couldn’t even connect to the internet!
Let alone play a music CD.
So I wiped out the Red Hat installation to reinstall Windows XP
This time I was greeted with a “Sorry You’ve used your activation too many times – bye”
At the time I found myself with no choice but to go down the Linux road. Mandrake offer a smoother rider.
Despite the bumps and initial frustration – the ride was worthy.
I couldn’t go back to Windows XP now even if someone paid me.
People are not even remotely aware of how much trouble and headaches a non-Microsoft operating system spares.
Understand you are using an under-par operating system.
Sure you got games – but for that you can always get a console.
Sure you got 100x more commerical/proprietary apps – well that situation is changing very rapidly as we speak.
Unlike my case, you won’t need to sacrifice your Windows partition.
You can further enhance productivity and security by combining the best of both systems.
If you want to keep a competitive edge in future I would urge to at least try another OS.
Welcome to the world of Freedom and Choice.
This things that MS want to do are wonderfull, it will be nice to see all Windows Lover’s, calling to Bill and tell him that they have problems to activate windows.
And i really don’t believe that a company with arguments that they have 95 Desktop Market share, implement this with all agressive and block all piracy, i believe that in those 95% of Market Share 60% is piracy …
I don’t use windows, but i agree with policys against piracy.
That’s why i user other OS, like Gentoo GNU/Linux.
There seems to be no information on microsoft’s website confirming this news.Also Micorosoft needs to change its activation policy.We cant just be denied of activation if we have re-installed our OS “x” no. of times.Instead of treating good customers like thieves why doesn’t Microsoft improve upon other anti-piracy efforts like CD copyrighting,better internet authenticity detection and so on.
I always use warez corp keys even if the person has a windows licence – activating windows is like having my tooth fixed through the rectum.
Does EULA say anything about u having to use the key you have on your licence? Or is it legal to use any key you want if u have the licence? Personally i cant see BSA making a fuzz about your windows copy if u have the licence …. am i wrong?
even if you have a valid key and proof of purchase
you will be denied activation after X installs.
fuck them.
ok i could phone them
and beg and plead?
for what?
to say I run Vmware now
– and need an expensive Virtual Machine license instead?
This policy will change with time.Microsoft guys aren’t idiots.They know they will have to change this policy or we will see more people getting into linux.I think Microsoft should adopt Sun’s policy : give the OS free and only pay for updates,support and bug fixes.That way there would be no alternative because Windows XP has so many bugs that people will have to go for bug fixes and updates.(Microsoft’s genuine windows advatage active X conrol that installs on your PC ensures that you have a legitimate copy.)
To be noted:All Windows OS in the future will be available as OEM only.The first relese to implement this policy will be Windows XP x64 Edition that will be sold as OEM only.That means I will have to activate no matter what happens if I dont buy my PC from the 20 OEMs with Windows OS.Seems more like a monopoly to me.
Look,
Noone is asking you to ditch Microsoft (all at once)
But the more people tinker with *NIX OS’es
And I dont really care which or what distro ppl go for
The more everyone is doing something
to breaking away from the monopoly.
These guys don’t even respect you – as a user base.
In short – they think you are all suckers.
For how long are you going to allow them to take the piss?
A user base even that is part-time tinkering with a non-Microsoft OS
* will show up in the logs of webservers
* will increase the number of non-MS related websites
* will help combat the world plague of worm and viruses
because face it – we all know its the MS Operating System (the friendly host) is the sole contributor to these things:
Over 95% of the spam you receive
be sure comes from unsuspected Microsoft machines
the so called “army of zombies”
The so called computer zombies are ones who are ignorant of AV software some dont even invest in AV software.Microsoft isn’t treating the user base as thieves but wants to target those running pirated copies,unfortunately that is 60% of their user base.Microsoft is offering more and more over time.Microsoft Anti-Spyware,upcoming Anti Virus will make Windows XP a better OS to use.These quality upgrades(Yes they do have a quality when compared to solutions from Norton,Lavasoft etc.)cost a lot to Microsoft which is taken from the price we buy the product for.Of course microsoft doesnt allow freedom to choose our own gui,edit the kernel etc but the current open source leaders are taking no initiative reckoning with Microsoft’s monopoly and attracting users.
well Sunny,
I would too be very protective of Microsoft if they gave me a salary beyond my wildest dreams in rural Maharashtra.
Money buys naivity.
M$ enslaves businesses – and then nations.
If only you were half-aware of the nasty economy-destroying policies of Microsoft ..
– well maybe even then you wouldn’t care
I agree with that but when compared to commercial versions of Linux such as Mandrake Linux 10.1 x86x64(cost 119 euros) the upcoming Windows XP x64 edition (professional) would be for 130$ (OEM only,You buy it with a 10$ mouse at OEM sites).Well of course you get many apps with Linux but I would consider them of freeware quality.You can get many freeware apps from the internet for Windows but Linux doesnt have such alternatives.
Yes Microsoft destroys economies (Netscape etc.)but what was the outcome.We users got a free browser.Every browser out there was free and available to the common man.Thats what MS has done It has made available computing to the middle class masses which can pay for MS software as it contains many quality features.
Well I too reside in Maharashtra in Thane.
This is why I have a copy of the corporate version of Windows XP as well as the Home edition I purchased within a day or two of WinXP’s official release. Why shoyuld I have to phone home every time I want to install a different OS (Linux anyone?) or the system gets hosed? No to mention that I’m Deafhardofhearing and don’t even have a phone…thus needing to use a payphone if and when I have to reinstall…forget that jack! This is the reason I’m moving to Linux regardless of what Microsoft comes out with next.
-bornagainpenguin (…over a month in Fedora and loving it!)