Microsoft sux

[The_Unbeliever]

WGA/WPA is the worst idea ever.

It deter honest people from using what they dearly paid for - but pirates is not deterred by that.

 

[.Froot.]

GRRRRRR GENUINE COPY GRRRRRRR
PIC

I've activated my old WindowsXP (switched over to Linux long ago) probably around 50 times or so over the 4 years I used it. Never had a problem...

 

[d0b33]

 

[The_Unbeliever]

I've activated my old WindowsXP (switched over to Linux long ago) probably around 50 times or so over the 4 years I used it. Never had a problem...

It is weird for sure.

Got an XP Home key on my lappy, installs fine, but as soon as I try to activate it - it fails.

Ah well... OpenSuSE works for /me

 

[LazyLion]

that message has never stopped me before.

Just click activation again, but this time choose "telephone" option... ask to speak to a customer rep... lie through your teeth at her... and she will give you the activation key.

 

[stefan9]

that message has never stopped me before.

Just click activation again, but this time choose "telephone" option... ask to speak to a customer rep... lie through your teeth at her... and she will give you the activation key.

Or buy a retail copy and you can activate as many times as you like as long as you are only using your copy one pc at a time.

But yeah the MS phone support are clueless its pretty easy to fool them to give you a new activation code. The one which has always worked for me is my mobo has blown and I had to get a replacement. Works each and every time.

 

[d0b33]

yeah the MS phone support are clueless its pretty easy to fool them to give you a new activation code. The one which has always worked for me is my mobo has blown and I had to get a replacement. Works each and every time.

Decisions, decisions...

Make a call, tell a lie and get a working key or apply a patch that only takes a second.... hmm

 

[Losticus]

Forget the patch - get the key - phone the people and say you've just reinstalled your system due to the many bugs that had invaded it. (As a result of poor XP coding). If they have a problem tell them to go fly a kite and say no I want my code!

 

[killadoob]

I've activated my old WindowsXP (switched over to Linux long ago) probably around 50 times or so over the 4 years I used it. Never had a problem...

+1

I just phone them and they activate it

Never seen that before.

Xp activation is done by a computer now anyhow, so you just tell them it installed on 1 pc and the computer lady will activate it

 

[DDV TECH]

I second that, had to re-license a clients pc on site after I cloned his HDD and installed it in a decent machine, the license utility picked up the hardware changes and I had to re-license, the MS hotline is automated and it took less than a minute to re-license…not bad. I have some volume license keys that I use for myself, so they never have to be registered like that.

 

[stoke]

I second that, had to re-license a clients pc on site after I cloned his HDD and installed it in a decent machine, the license utility picked up the hardware changes and I had to re-license, the MS hotline is automated and it took less than a minute to re-license…not bad. I have some volume license keys that I use for myself, so they never have to be registered like that.

Okay, cool, but what exactly have microsoft achieved here?
- They've wasted at least 10 minutes of your time.
- They've had to implement a complicated automated telephone system.
- They have increased the installation time and complicated the core drivers.
- They have not stopped piracy.
- They have FAILED!

 

[DDV TECH]

I merely commented that it does work. I also think it’s a pain in the ass, but so is having to renew your driver’s license. I don’t like MS, but this is what you have to do to give your client a legal system, I can only imagine how fast my business would go under if It had to come out that I loaded pirated software on a clients system just because I was too lazy to spend a minute (1) updating his license.

 

[DDV TECH]

I merely commented that it does work. I also think it’s a pain in the ass, but so is having to renew your driver’s license. I don’t like MS, but this is what you have to do to give your client a legal system, I can only imagine how fast my business would go under if It had to come out that I loaded pirated software on a clients system just because I was too lazy to spend a minute (1) updating his license.

 

[killadoob]

There are plenty of annoying things in life, yet we do them without bitching and moaning, why don't you guys moan at the people who pirate but instead you nail microsoft?

Without pirating microsoft would not need to TRY and protect its OS's.

 

[Arthur]

Microsoft spent approx $3.5 billion developing Windows XP. That's about R28 billion. And that's just the direct cost. The indirect cost (such as multi-year incentives to attract and keep the best software talent) is significantly higher. If only half the people who stole their software actually developed a conscience and some morality we the legit and legal users would not have to struggle with the barriers put in place to prevent the thefts ... it's the same with any other security barriers in the physical world...