Microsoft changes WGA software in response to consumer backlash

zekrahminator · Feb 24, 2007, 02:43 PM

The most recent version of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) software was met with a lot of complaints. The worst one by far was how WGA claimed that a copy of Windows was pirated when it wasn't (especially among corporate owners). There were also several instances when a simple hardware change (such as a WiFi card or a video card) made WGA demand a re-activation of Windows. Microsoft has listened to the consumer, and in response to these recent complaints, is morphing WGA to better fit the consumer. Instead of registering a copy of Windows as either Genuine or non-Genuine, it will now register it as Genuine, non-Genuine, or "unsure". There are no details of the functionality of an "unsure" copy of Windows. WGA is also much more relaxed when it comes to a recent hardware change. You can download the latest version of WGA here.

Source: The Register

BXtreme · Feb 24, 2007, 02:44 PM

finally, ms comes to the road lol.

C.Ash · Feb 24, 2007, 03:34 PM

Finding a way around WGA isn't that difficult..

killatia · Feb 24, 2007, 04:29 PM

i want wait and see what ms will do about "unsure" vistas.

Completely Bonkers · Feb 24, 2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Microsoft has listened to the consumer, and in response to these recent complaints...

I think the story is more like... MS was about to receive some BIG LAWSUITS from companies that were losing productivity due to working copies of Windows suddenly going "non-genuine".

Can you imagine a big bank... a trader... dealing in millions of dollars per minutes... and in the middle of a deal... boom... his PC goes down due to WGA.

That WOULD be grounds for lawsuits in the MILLIONS per case.

WarEagleAU · Feb 24, 2007, 05:39 PM

Not sure if this will solve the problem. While I agree piracy of Windows is an issue, this WGA software is a pain in the butt to the extreme. They need to fix it. With all the folks working there and all the money, you'd think Billy would make something that would actually work properly.

Completely Bonkers · Feb 24, 2007, 06:30 PM

In short (agreeing with Russian)... MS has gone downhill since Gates left and Balmer too over.

SPHERE · Feb 24, 2007, 08:22 PM

sigh.. why dont they just give up... open source is the way to go micro$haft!! make all the money you want off of support

im fine and happy with my copy of xp without wga lol

Completely Bonkers · Feb 24, 2007, 08:46 PM

That video is hilarious

1./ Fat Basssssd, lost his breath, couldn't even talk after jumping around for 30 secs. LOL

2./ That was "canned" girl-screaming. There is NO WAY IN THIS WORLD there would be ANY convention that Balmer attends that would be full of girls

3./ What an idiot

4./ Bring back Bill Gates

PVTCaboose1337 · Feb 24, 2007, 10:44 PM

Zek, why did you include a link to WGA? You know that no one has a genuine copy of xp...

magibeg · Feb 24, 2007, 11:17 PM

You guys cant hate microsoft all the time, you have to give them credit that they did bring the PC to the masses (although it is just a stolen version of some old mac OS that wasn't patented). Its good to see that Microsoft can infact listen to consumers occasionally, though it was most likely big business that made the change as opposed to people like us. I'ld say the change is a step in the right direction.

Pinchy · Feb 24, 2007, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russianboy

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...31931514285011

That is the current CEO of MS.

is all this stuff real? Is Bill Gates no longer the head?

Pinchy · Feb 25, 2007, 12:17 AM

He looks like a retard!

Pinchy · Feb 25, 2007, 12:45 AM

touche

spectre440 · Feb 25, 2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zekrahminator

Microsoft has listened to the consumer

that's gotta be a first...

Pinchy · Feb 25, 2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectre440

that's gotta be a first...

I dont think they want to, i think they really have to for their own good

SPHERE · Feb 25, 2007, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectre440

that's gotta be a first...

yeah right they figured out they would make slightly more money if they did this lmao

mysticjon · Feb 25, 2007, 10:31 AM

i was on the fone for ms to get a real product key for vista ultimate....im happy

even though my vista copy isnt "legal" who cares i wouldnt pay 500+ for an OS, but instead i paid 10 usd for a product key...yeah may sound like a rip off, but oh well im still happy

not gunna pay 89.99 for valid product key on newegg...MS keeps me happy...so i have nothing to say

Pinchy · Feb 25, 2007, 10:32 AM

I dont get it, how did u get a product key off MS without buying it

mysticjon · Feb 25, 2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinchy

I dont get it, how did u get a product key off MS without buying it

PM me ill give u details

AshenSugar · Feb 25, 2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Completely Bonkers

That video is hilarious

1./ Fat Basssssd, lost his breath, couldn't even talk after jumping around for 30 secs. LOL

2./ That was "canned" girl-screaming. There is NO WAY IN THIS WORLD there would be ANY convention that Balmer attends that would be full of girls

3./ What an idiot

4./ Bring back Bill Gates

not canned grrl, more like "making fun of him grrl" i have seen this chix/women screem like they are excited in pariody of some smuch on stage....it can get quite funny really !!!!!!

and nobody has a ligit copy of xp....ROFL

BXtreme · Feb 25, 2007, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PVTCaboose1337

Zek, why did you include a link to WGA? You know that no one has a genuine copy of xp...

i have one

Xp pro x64 and Xp pro 32bit, real !

AshenSugar · Feb 25, 2007, 11:27 AM

anybody want to buy a vlaid xp pro licence?

Feb 24, 2007, 02:43 PM	#1
zekrahminator McLovin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: My house. Posts: 6,280 (2.35/day) Thanks: 105 Thanked 340 Times in 246 Posts System Specs	Microsoft changes WGA software in response to consumer backlash The most recent version of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) software was met with a lot of complaints. The worst one by far was how WGA claimed that a copy of Windows was pirated when it wasn't (especially among corporate owners). There were also several instances when a simple hardware change (such as a WiFi card or a video card) made WGA demand a re-activation of Windows. Microsoft has listened to the consumer, and in response to these recent complaints, is morphing WGA to better fit the consumer. Instead of registering a copy of Windows as either Genuine or non-Genuine, it will now register it as Genuine, non-Genuine, or "unsure". There are no details of the functionality of an "unsure" copy of Windows. WGA is also much more relaxed when it comes to a recent hardware change. You can download the latest version of WGA here. Source: The Register Last edited by W1zzard; Feb 25, 2007 at 10:40 AM.

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Feb 24, 2007, 02:44 PM	#2
BXtreme Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 925 (0.40/day) Thanks: 13 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts System Specs	finally, ms comes to the road lol. __________________ Solaris Utility DVD 3.0

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Feb 24, 2007, 03:34 PM	#3
C.Ash Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Columbia, Missouri Posts: 203 (0.09/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts System Specs	Finding a way around WGA isn't that difficult..

Feb 24, 2007, 04:29 PM	#4
killatia Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: hudson, fl. Posts: 205 (0.07/day) Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts System Specs	i want wait and see what ms will do about "unsure" vistas.

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Feb 24, 2007, 05:39 PM	#6
WarEagleAU Bird of Prey Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gurley, AL Posts: 9,994 (3.98/day) Thanks: 3,810 Thanked 557 Times in 521 Posts System Specs	Not sure if this will solve the problem. While I agree piracy of Windows is an issue, this WGA software is a pain in the butt to the extreme. They need to fix it. With all the folks working there and all the money, you'd think Billy would make something that would actually work properly. __________________ =-TheEagle-= http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=62454 “You crazy? Surfing any website without an antivirus is like freaking with a dirty woman without protection” -OzzmanFloyd120 - Edited for content and clarity

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Feb 24, 2007, 06:30 PM	#7
Completely Bonkers Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,415 (1.05/day) Thanks: 582 Thanked 533 Times in 374 Posts System Specs	In short (agreeing with Russian)... MS has gone downhill since Gates left and Balmer too over. __________________ ... some things in life just drive you bonkers. Especially the rubbish you see in forum posts

Feb 24, 2007, 08:22 PM	#8
SPHERE Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: arizona (cave creek) Posts: 835 (0.28/day) Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts System Specs	sigh.. why dont they just give up... open source is the way to go micro$haft!! make all the money you want off of support im fine and happy with my copy of xp without wga lol

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Feb 24, 2007, 08:46 PM	#9
Completely Bonkers Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,415 (1.05/day) Thanks: 582 Thanked 533 Times in 374 Posts System Specs	That video is hilarious 1./ Fat Basssssd, lost his breath, couldn't even talk after jumping around for 30 secs. LOL 2./ That was "canned" girl-screaming. There is NO WAY IN THIS WORLD there would be ANY convention that Balmer attends that would be full of girls 3./ What an idiot 4./ Bring back Bill Gates __________________ ... some things in life just drive you bonkers. Especially the rubbish you see in forum posts

Feb 24, 2007, 10:44 PM	#10
PVTCaboose1337 Graphical Hacker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 7,478 (2.80/day) Thanks: 798 Thanked 1,174 Times in 834 Posts System Specs	Zek, why did you include a link to WGA? You know that no one has a genuine copy of xp... __________________ CPU-Z validation sig pics temporarily blocked

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Feb 24, 2007, 11:17 PM	#11
magibeg Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,367 (0.53/day) Thanks: 126 Thanked 200 Times in 151 Posts System Specs	You guys cant hate microsoft all the time, you have to give them credit that they did bring the PC to the masses (although it is just a stolen version of some old mac OS that wasn't patented). Its good to see that Microsoft can infact listen to consumers occasionally, though it was most likely big business that made the change as opposed to people like us. I'ld say the change is a step in the right direction. __________________ Arguing with the moderators is like shaking your fist at God. There's nobody there; and if there is, he's not listening. And if he's listening, all you're doing is pissing him off Fold for Tech Power Up!!

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Feb 25, 2007, 12:17 AM	#13
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Feb 25, 2007, 12:45 AM	#14
Pinchy Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 4,650 (1.80/day) Thanks: 302 Thanked 360 Times in 344 Posts System Specs	touche __________________ mATX rig: TT Lanbox Lite, GA-G33M-DS2R, q9300, 4GB G.Skill Pi PC8000, 2x640GB Samsung F1's in RAID 0, LG 20x DVD+/RW, HIS IceQ HD4670 512MB, Gigabyte G-Power PRO, TT 450W TR2 RX Modular PSU HTPC: i-Cute iBox, GA-MA780GM-S2H, 4850e, 2GB G.Skill PC6400, 1x640GB WD SE16, Onboard HD3200, D-link XtremeN PCIe, Leadtek WinFast DVR3100 H Tuner, 450W Vantec PSU Server: Custom made case, EPIA Mini-ITX mobo, 1GHz VIA, 1GB PC2700 SO-DIMM, 1TB WD, Gigabit PCI LAN card, 60W 12V AC adapter

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Feb 25, 2007, 10:31 AM	#18
mysticjon Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: CA, USA Posts: 293 (0.12/day) Thanks: 4 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts System Specs	i was on the fone for ms to get a real product key for vista ultimate....im happy even though my vista copy isnt "legal" who cares i wouldnt pay 500+ for an OS, but instead i paid 10 usd for a product key...yeah may sound like a rip off, but oh well im still happy not gunna pay 89.99 for valid product key on newegg...MS keeps me happy...so i have nothing to say

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Feb 25, 2007, 10:32 AM	#19
Pinchy Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 4,650 (1.80/day) Thanks: 302 Thanked 360 Times in 344 Posts System Specs	I dont get it, how did u get a product key off MS without buying it __________________ mATX rig: TT Lanbox Lite, GA-G33M-DS2R, q9300, 4GB G.Skill Pi PC8000, 2x640GB Samsung F1's in RAID 0, LG 20x DVD+/RW, HIS IceQ HD4670 512MB, Gigabyte G-Power PRO, TT 450W TR2 RX Modular PSU HTPC: i-Cute iBox, GA-MA780GM-S2H, 4850e, 2GB G.Skill PC6400, 1x640GB WD SE16, Onboard HD3200, D-link XtremeN PCIe, Leadtek WinFast DVR3100 H Tuner, 450W Vantec PSU Server: Custom made case, EPIA Mini-ITX mobo, 1GHz VIA, 1GB PC2700 SO-DIMM, 1TB WD, Gigabit PCI LAN card, 60W 12V AC adapter

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Feb 25, 2007, 11:27 AM	#23
AshenSugar Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: ashentech.com Posts: 1,699 (0.70/day) Thanks: 11 Thanked 28 Times in 25 Posts System Specs	anybody want to buy a vlaid xp pro licence?

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