legit users screwed by xp activation hell :mad:

[redwing26]

Hi I would appreciate it if people would read my reply to a very good windows xp activation article as I would like to share my disgust from this day forth with microsoft and their utter disregard for their end users ....see my reply below ......Ive have covered the following below but I urge like minded users to think about what its like to be treated like you are

1. a thief
2. are extremely dumb and actually believe that xp activation actually benefits you and cannot see microsofts real motives ....however see below

article reply start---
Hi initially i must say that I think your article is very good ......and it shocked me to find the methods microsoft are using for the activation such as checking hardware configurations .......the minute I was read this I thought OMG what if i want to do some major upgrade on my machine and then offcourse I read the next few questions and find the article author obviously realised this as well.

Now to my situation.......I am passionate about PCs and I live in my house with my 2 parents who are pensioners ......anyway I was using windows millinium and I decided to buy a legitamate copy of xp pro oem for home use for myself and also put it on my parents machines , I assumed everything would be ok(silly me should have read the small print) and my computer with windows millinium on it was running fine so I decided to install xp pro on my fathers machine as it needed some maintenance after being running sometime ......anyway I installed it on my machine today and got the activation screen so I thought I would go through the process and it would be fine but to my utter disgust I only have a 30 day trial.......anyway one of my parents phoned up the support line while I got my installation id and he explained to them that theres just the 3 off us in the house and were all home users with no bussiness and the persons attitude was terrible .......they basically tried to say that it was for the benefit of customers(ME and others like me )and to help prevent piracy .....hmm kind of stupid considering we explained we have a legitamate copy......I then took the phone and became extremely angry ........basically microsofts solution is for people who are in low paid jobs or unemployed to purchase 1 copy per machine .......hence I was expected to buy 3 copys (HOW RIDICULOUS) which would total approximately £255 ....... At the end of the day we are a family who are FAR from rich as implied we dont get lots of cash; we all chip in together to make ends meet and it is unrealistic to expect anyone other than the extreme rich or software pirates to be able to use microsoft windows......the ironic thing is I have in the past said to people that microsoft isnt that bad.......that is until they have brought out this activation crap whos only purpose is to line the pockets of the microsoft directors. I personally will be more motivated to port to a linux flavour now and I also feel that it is about time users started boycotting the companies that quite frankly are treating users like thieves who are also severely dumb. One final thing .......I realise I made a mistake purchasing the oem version but the standard version was way out of my price range and is not worth the hefty price tag.........a more potent issue than that is the fact that microsoft are checking a systems spec and using it against legitamate users in a way that feels like spyware to me.

Regards
David

article reply end----

 

[Solaris17]

Actually that is kinda rediculouse i would be so angry.....

 

[aff1nity]

It sounds like linux would be perfect for you =)

I understand your pain about this whole microsoft windows ordeal, but if your parents don't do any kind of gaming or 3d design or any of that sort of thing that runs mostly on windows (which I suspect they don't) I can imagine working fine. Have you heard of ubuntu? Not only is it free, but it's also much easier to use than most linux distributions (still has a slight learning curve) but is based on Debian (and is very stable!) You also don't have to worry about your parents going off to some random site or link and getting infected with a virus.

Best of all it's free and the software included is actually fairly high quality. (OpenOffice... etc)

Not all is lost =) You can use one system for the programs that require windows and just have the other systems running linux (ubuntu or mandriva.)

 

[Solaris17]

^ well put exellent infact! A++

 

[Polaris573]

I can see it now...

Buy your copy of Windows Freedom version today! With new, imporved security protocols that log every action on your PC to provide maximum security and ease of use* to you, the end-user!



*Windows Freedom® runs best on Microsoft© hardware.

 

[Solaris17]

I can see it now...

Buy your copy of Windows Freedom version today! With new, imporved security protocols that log every action on your PC to provide maximum security and ease of use* to you, the end-user!



*Windows Freedom® runs best on Microsoft© hardware.

 

[Thermopylae_480]

I can see it now...

Buy your copy of Windows Freedom version today! With new, imporved security protocols that log every action on your PC to provide maximum security and ease of use* to you, the end-user!



*Windows Freedom® runs best on Microsoft© hardware.

*Cough... Patriot Act.

 

[wazzledoozle]

There are ways around activation.

In the time it took you to write all this, a simple google search could solve your problems.

But I wont stop you, go on, keep bitching.

And I second Ubuntu for ordinary tasks. You could even set it up to boot off a cd so nothing can get messed up.

 

[Thermopylae_480]

I would have to agree, in part, to wazz's reply. There are many ways to get around Windows activation; I would say that they are technically legal too. You have already purchased the program, you are not making any illegal copies, editing any code or distributing the product for profit or otherwise. You would have fooled a the annoying "feature" which supposedly protects you and is for your benefit. I feel its no different than not registering a game you have bought, just a little more evasive.

I have to disagree with your Unnesessarily harsh berating of redwing however. His post is in the correct location, he has not offended anyone with his thread, he has made perfectly clear what his problem is in a way that many of us can sympathize. He may not have been aware of ways to get around activation; it should not be assumed that he should be able to arrive to this conclusion on his own. I feel this site is primarily a tool to support, and share technological experiences; with a more human element than google offers. The purpose of this site would therefore be negated if we all went to google with our problems. This thread has, in additon, followed its correct form; An idea was proffered > it was discussed > and a solution was found. If it contained a human element in the original question, I feel that only enriches the experience offered by the website.

 

[PaulC2K]

Personally i think its a bit rich to expect Microsoft to be all friendly with someone who is effectively installing software onto machines which dont own a licence which allows them this privellage.
You get a CD and a licence for the installation onto 1 computer, thats microsofts view on things anyway, so to expect them to be fine with multiple installations per licence is too them as much of a joke as you expecting them to understand your financial circumstances.

Personally i understand your situation, I barely earn enough money just to cover CC repayments let alone to actually live a little, and it is a pain in the backside having to pay out for all those machines, with the exception of my current machine i've never installed a geniune OS since win98 (those before werent purchased by me, but were legit though) and had it not been for the fact that this machine came with the licence then that cycle wouldnt have ended either!
Personally i'd have said it might have just been easier to stick with WinME or something that once installed you were all set and didnt have anything to worry about.

p.s
3 computers in 1 house, and an extra $60 per licence sounds ridiculus to you?
Sell one and theres at least the licence fee for the other, are all 3 really used at the same time all that frequently??
not knocking you, just something to think about while your asking Microsoft to understand your situ.

 

[Polaris573]

Why can't you put software that you own. On more than one computer that you own. I could understand if you weren't allowed to put it on a friends computer. It's like buying gas in a gas can and having the gas station tell you to pay for it again if you put it in more than one lawnmower.

 

[PaulC2K]

Then what about businesses?
Do they only need to pay for 1 licence for the machines they install something onto?

Im no fan of microsoft here, but its not like they're doing something terrible while all the others say sure, stick it on every machine you own wink wink.
Games say you have to have the disc in the drive to play, if you dont have a disc you cant play it, so they stop you from running it on multiple devices at the same time. Other software companies also forbid you from using purchased software on more than one machine, what these companys are selling you is the right to use there software, for life, for a year, whatever, but its the right to use that peice of software on a specific machine of your choice.
Norton use the 365 days method for there AV software so come the end of the year you either pay for another years licence or just buy the new version, but they're selling you a service of which your paying to use to the agreement of they're terms & conditions.

btw, im more than aware you can install the game elsewhere and still play it, but an OS or AV software isnt something you'd stop using so you could run it elsewhere, so they dont need a 1 machine policy, but having that CD/DVD proves at least you have a right to run that software to there terms.

This goes much further than MS really, there just an easy target because almost everyone runs there OS and cos frankly they're a bunch of greedy.......

 

[DevilDriver]

I have to agree with PaulC2K.
Its not like this is a new thing, or a hiden fact. Its the way its been since the release of xp. when you purchase any copy of xp other than a VLK version you have purchased the right to install the oc on one machine, and one machine only.
Do I agree with this policy? NO. but its the way it is
Read any EULA and you will see that you do not own the software you have purchased, but rather a licence to use the software under there terms.

 

[Thermopylae_480]

I guess it comes down to, if you don't like the activation don't be a part of the problem and buy the liscense for additional computers. I'm sure Microsoft will put the additional Billions in profit to keeping Windows stable and IE secure . Personally I don't think it would hurt Microsoft's sales if the uped the amount of computers you could install your purchased copy of windows on to 3. It would be and excellent public relations gesture since most people have about 2-3 computers, and it is unrealistic to think the majority of global citizens can afford to pay the equivalent $268 for the an OEM 3 pack of Windows XP HOME. Or the $438 OEM 3 Pack of XP Pro. Lets face it, the only reason they can charge so much is because they have a virtual monoply for the IBM Compatable PC market. Yes I know there are alternative OSs, but if you want to use most main stream apps, you are still stuck with Windows.

 

[trog100]

nice plan really.. windows must be the most pirated piece of software on ther planet.. has been for years.. microsoft could be considered to be one of the riches and most monopolistically powerfull companies on the planet..

kinda put the two together and it kinda suggests "permitted" piracy kinda helped MS become what it is today.. the really clever bit is now we are all dependant on windows (and we are really) they somehow manage to make all the (dependant) users actually pay rip off prices for it..

or more accurately pay to use it.. one copy (payment) per machine of course.. he he

trog

 

[redwing26]

Hi folks thanks for your replys .............and I appreciate peoples honest opinions , Im actually in the process of installing gentoo although ubuntu seems like it would be good so I may go with that. Also Im glad that in general the users of the forum saw my post for what it is, which is to highlight my experience in the hope that other users in a similiar situation may avoid the traps that I have fallen into and also to highlight(argubly) how quite a large number of home users and others feel.

I cant go back to the site where I initially started the thread basically because I felt that there were some provocative comments and I didnt want the site where the initial article was to descend into a flame war; I took quite a bit of flak on this site (which is to be expected I guess) for stating a valid opinion.......however if your interested here is the link

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1137816876

Im going to start a thread about ubunto its just I installed gentoo ....I have an ati radeon 128 and my display is corrupted and also my internet doesnt work after install even though i read the docs (i will learn eventually i guess ) , I also intend to install wine to try and get my windows games working

Some really good views and common sense ideas on this forum

Regards
David

 

[Steven B]

i dont know anyone who buys more than 1 copy of xp for more than 1 machine, except for businesses and corporations.... thats all im saying.

 

[aff1nity]

Oooh... gentoo? Even though I haven't tried that, I heard it's a harder linux OS to start with, since it involves much more initial customization than mandriva or ubuntu, which both have easier install processes (I'm pretty sure) But good luck!

 

[Solaris17]

^ ya i whanted to try Gentoo sooo bad i have the distro but i tried to install it once and was like....bout that...restart.

 

[trog100]

they tried this kinda stuff when XP first got announced.. bad press got em to loosen things off a bit.. most folks get their copy of windows when they get there new computer and that is only intended to be used on the machine it came installed with..

the current thing anti-piracy wise is the new authenification software that gets installed as soon as u attempt to update anything.. security updates still work but nothing else will if the mothership dosnt like your system/key combination..

combine the authenification software with auto updates and MS have acces to your machine anytime they like.. in theory they could just switch it off if they thought u were running a pirate version of windows.. perhaps thats the next step... he he he

trog

 

[Thermopylae_480]

In my opinion corportate invasion of personal privacy is almost as bad as the government doing it.

 

[Dippyskoodlez]

Oooh... gentoo? Even though I haven't tried that, I heard it's a harder linux OS to start with, since it involves much more initial customization than mandriva or ubuntu, which both have easier install processes (I'm pretty sure) But good luck!

If your wanting to learn, dont try gentoo...

Id say ubuntu, or maybe mandriva...

 

[AMDCam]

Oh thermo, I hope you don't mean that. The good thing is you're american so you have the right to insult us, but that probably means you're a democrat too. I'm not gonna hijack the thread and turn this political, but blatent insults to our government just pisses me off. Sorry

 

[mex]

Well I have to say I have read through all of your comments and there is a lot of controversy and defiantly two ends to this issue.

The Bottom line for Microsoft is the more copies of an OS they push people into buying the more money they are going to make. I am sure that some of that money is going to go back into research and design and keep technology evolving. However, they run the company to be successful and make money which is what they are doing.

But on the other hand there are people that can’t even afford to buy a single copy of a Microsoft OS and that means they are forced to break the law. And that to me is outrages! This is especially true when Microsoft actually Give free software to secondary schools including Microsoft’s full range so that young people will become familiarized with Microsoft products and therefore more likely to buy MS in the future! That’s great if you can afford it but what have MS done if you can’t?

I own legitimate copies for all my computers but that’s because I don’t want to support any black market for this type of thing. But if Microsoft don’t start doing something soon they will be equally responsible for supporting fraud by making there home used software unaffordable to everyone! There must be a compromise.

I would like to see MS to be a little more forgiving with there OS and perhaps increase there licensing to at least 3 computers per copy of Home edition or lowering the cost of a basic version so everyone can enjoy it. Let’s face it without Microsoft where would we be But they must be reasonable!!

 

[djbbenn]

I got caught up on activation on the weekend... I changed hardware more than 3 times on my main system, so it wouldn't activate. Personally, I think that's very wrong. You bought the OS; it's retarded that they limit you on how many time you can change hardware and still install the OS!

-Dan