MS - WGA program
e-nation
state college, pa
more info here.
What do you think of MS's new Windows Genuine Advantage program? I downloaded an XP update today and clicked install before i realized what i was doing-- not that it matters really, but it encouraged me to do a little research (emphasis on "a little"... hehe). Looks like updates are no longer going to be available for MS OS users unless you let MS software dig into your OS and validate it as "genuine" so it can store a "key" on your system. sounds shady to me.
your opinions? comments?
anyone used their "genuine" validation yet? i've seen it on some d/l's for a while now.
What do you think of MS's new Windows Genuine Advantage program? I downloaded an XP update today and clicked install before i realized what i was doing-- not that it matters really, but it encouraged me to do a little research (emphasis on "a little"... hehe). Looks like updates are no longer going to be available for MS OS users unless you let MS software dig into your OS and validate it as "genuine" so it can store a "key" on your system. sounds shady to me.
your opinions? comments?
anyone used their "genuine" validation yet? i've seen it on some d/l's for a while now.
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Comments
are you saying that your OS validity was, as anyone's could be, in question? and when you allowed win-update to check, it validated as genuine?
and what of this "way around it"?
i'm thinking-- perhaps it's time to check out linux once and for all!
comments?
They have every right to protect the software they sell. Nobody has ever been forced to use it.
True, It's theirs to protect.
That said, They could sell it a hell of a lot cheaper so most could afford buying a copy for each of their pc's.
They would still make millions upon millions and people wouldn't be so inclined to make hot copies of it.
And then MS wouldn't be spending all that money on checking copyright infringement.
And in the end-- Everyone, Including all schools would have pc's with Windows on them if they would only make it more affordable.
That's what Bill stated that he wanted for the world..... A pc with windows on it in every home, school, business to connect the world together.
I'm going to learn linux myself. I think Win XP home & pro are the last MS products I'll ever buy. Each new version MS puts out is more expensive.
Its the best £65 I've ever spent on my PC and I dont think thats an excessive amount of money at all. XP Pro OEM is now abound £80. Price of 2 console games.
That's what I'm saying.
For some interesting reading check here.
http://www.boingboing.net/2005/07/28/microsoft_genuine_ad.html
I have it on good authority that it works. As to how long it will work, that I don't know.
I'd go full linux, but it still doesn't offer me enough in the DVD-mastering software so it just doesn't do what I need it to yet. Though, it's getting closer. As it sits I'll keep windows around since the patches now are just security fixes and honestly I'm not worried about my system at all since I have enough other measures in place to keep my rig locked down. But next year when the Mac86's come out I'll be making the jump it'll be time for a good hardware update anyway. Might as well get a much better OS while I'm at it since I'm certainly not jumping to Longhorn.
why don't we see other software products storing "keys" on our machines?
regarding being "forced to use it", what if we purchased our systems "used", not knowing what the previous owner might have done regarding the OS. and then we find that it's "invalid", or if we've purchased it "new" and find that the validity the builder's OS was in question?
Other software products do use key's it's nothing new they are just serial numbers. The diff being winblows is now keeping a list of valid serial numbers when you update that's all.
As for your other question - sucks to be you. The legal side of it is if you purchase a system with a pre-installed OS they must give you the CD for the OS .
Hackers Crack Genuine Advantage
The new anti-piracy program, Genuine Advantage, that Microsoft implemented to scan computers to determine if their copy of the OS is a legal one before allowing downloads, has apparently already been hacked. There's a simple JavaScript that can be pasted into the address bar on the browser before the system scan that will fool it into thinking the copy of the OS on the system is a genuine one. You can read more about it here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=050802TI-Genuine_Advantage
not that there aren't already myriad ways to identify someone the moment he or she goes online. it's often fun to just play the cynic. we've probably all been guilty of it at least once or twice. hehe.
:shoot:
is the pirate OS user then simply denied the update, or is there more to it?
No it drops a file on your system that allows you to bipass further authentication checks, well until they decide they want further authentication. It only checks to see if that flag is on when you go to do an update. Not at any other time so it's not like they are tracking you or anything.
You are denied the update and then you get a blurb about how if you have an invalid code you should check with the retailer blah, blah, blah piracy is wrong etc...etc... if you have any questions call 1-800...etc...etc...
If however you do the little java trick you can get the updates.
Oh I should mention it's only blocking you from further software patches and not security updates. Those are still attainable even with a bad serial number.