xp registration vs. windows update

blueznl · Post by **blueznl** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 3:02 pm

is it just me, or is it correct that windows xp suddenly forces re-registration since the last windows update?

(also, why does it suddenly need all kinds of services TURNED ON?!? m$, what the fuck are you doing!?!?!? i like my pc the way it is, i only need fixes for stuff you couldn't get right the first time, and i certainly don't want to switch all sorts of bullshit back on for verification / validation)

on top of that, this is MY machine, i decide what i use as hardware and software, damnit, i paid for your crap, now you want me to call in every five minutes if i change the hardware?!?!?!?!

thefool · Post by **thefool** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 3:15 pm

this is MY machine

No! If you install windows you get a part of an evil organization called MicroSoft. They will force your machine to participate in a massive attack against all linux servers.

yes the windows update touches some things i would like it not to tuch. maybe NOT to update would be most secure?

Codemonger · Post by **Codemonger** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 5:42 pm

I agree its a total joke, Do they really ask you to reregister ? Its all because PC's are soo fast nowadays I guess they think yout won't notice some extra services. Oh someone should kick these guys in the ass, it's unfortunate that the majority of people (home users) couldn't care less about what the OS is doing as long as things run ... I think Microsoft has taken their software protection way too far. At least they could make their protection fun like the old TSR game Hillsfar, I'm pretty sure it came with a cool looking wheel that you rotated different layers to get the code to play the game. Now that would be fun.

MS registration is very silly. I hope they change sometime in future because I personally would hate to see Linux become the leader ...

(

said the last remark to stir some controversy)

Post by **Dare2** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 6:44 pm

Maybe the two camps (MS/Windows and Linux) are so set in their ways, and so focussed on each other that they can't change.

Maybe the next OS that wins the home-market will come from out of the blue and leave them both shell-shocked.

That would be a nice outcome.

What would be the attributes of such an OS?

Among other things, for end-user and developer, maybe:

Easy to use, eg, windows.
Feel like you own it and it don't own you. Eg, linux.
Provides integration for/between apps.
Has a suite of standard apps for users.

What else?

Doobrey · Post by **Doobrey** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 7:22 pm

Dare2 wrote: Maybe the next OS that wins the home-market will come from out of the blue ..

You mean MorphOS?

blueznl · Post by **blueznl** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 9:17 pm

ok, i had a chance to look into it, here's what happens...

the new windows update functionaility features a two level check: 1. it filters out known illegal serials (like sp1) but 2. it also checks your serial agains a list of known serials at m$. i dunno if their database stores your last config or not (if not now, pretty sure it will in the future), also it adds the global id info now (switch of those serial numbers of your processor now, people)

now, if you run an ILLEGAL copy, you're in trouble, there's no advance warning that you can no longer update, fortunately it appears you are not locked out from your computer immediately (something that sp2 most likely WILL do to you)

but hey, if you use a LEGAL copy, but your number is listed amongst their 'dangerous / known illegit / known to be cracked' numbers, then you're forced to re-register

also, you may be in trouble if you use a 'company wide license / serial'

sooooo... effectively, microsoft has hampered pirates, however it probably will mean that large numbers of pc's will no longer see any updates, ie. welcome to a new wave of virusses, worms, trojans and whatever, this will be so good for their reputation...

(and trust me, there's no info in advance on the issue, i read through the patch / update info as i always do, and there's nothing in there)

so, wht now? update my serial, then call microsoft ten times while i update each and every virtual machine on my pc... thanks m$...

oh wait, you want me to buy additional licenses for those?!?

PB · Post by PB » Sun Aug 01, 2004 12:23 am

> MicroSoft [...] will force your machine to participate in a massive attack
> against all linux servers.

That's not really a joke... you know how M$ bought out Virtual PC from
Connectix? Well, M$ removed support for running Linux with it! If you
want to run Linux with Virtual PC you need an older Connectix version.

PB · Post by PB » Sun Aug 01, 2004 12:34 am

> if you use a LEGAL copy, but your number is listed amongst their
> 'dangerous / known illegit / known to be cracked' numbers

Not defending M$, but come on: how can a legit serial become listed with
illegal serials? I don't think this is a real issue at all. That's starting to
border on paranoia now. I've paid for a lot of Windows products in my
life (Windows, Visual Basic, etc) and there's no conceivable reason that
my legit serials would be "out there" for pirates to use.

> so, wht now? update my serial, then call microsoft ten times while i update
> each and every virtual machine on my pc

This is why I won't buy XP. But even if I did, and had to call M$ to register
with every update, I'd abuse them while doing it. I'd swear, bitch, complain,
and trash them. Because at the end of the day, if you're legit, they HAVE to
register your legit serial no matter what you say to them. You have the upper
hand. If they refuse to register due to your abuse, you can sue them for not
honouring their license and therefore causing loss of PC use to you. Simple.

Max.Â² · Post by **Max.Â²** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 9:39 am

PB wrote:> MicroSoft [...] will force your machine to participate in a massive attack
> against all linux servers.

That's not really a joke... you know how M$ bought out Virtual PC from
Connectix? Well, M$ removed support for running Linux with it! If you
want to run Linux with Virtual PC you need an older Connectix version.

Not accurate; Microsoft doesn't list the various *xes as supported guest OS, but they claim they don't do anything to prevent installing it and also there are KB articles describing how to install Linux on Virtual PC.

The technology will run almost any x86 operating system in a Virtual PC environment, Huffman [Microsoft's product manager for the Virtual PC] stressed. "So Linux can be installed on a virtual machine on Virtual PC. There has been some misunderstanding about this: You absolutely can run Linux in Virtual PC," she said.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1378274,00.asp

I bought Virtual PC a few weeks ago and am quite satisfied, how it runs Linux. And the price of ~130 USD compared to the old Connectix price of >220 USD is really nice.

Max.Â² · Post by **Max.Â²** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 9:41 am

[quote="PBBut even if I did, and had to call M$ to register
with every update, I'd abuse them while doing it. I'd swear, bitch, complain,
and trash them. Because at the end of the day, if you're legit, they HAVE to[...][/quote]

I had to register once via phone, but it was not a human on the other side, but a voice server.

Beach · Post by **Beach** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 5:08 pm

I have successfully used RadHat 9, Mandrake 10, and Damn Small Linux with Virtual PC 2004. I had to change my video for RedHat but the other distros worked without a tweak.

blueznl · Post by **blueznl** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 6:07 pm

pb, certain programs are on the net that generate ranges of valid serial numbers, some of the corporate licenses (those that do not require activation) have numbers within those ranges, ie. people belonging to a company that has one of those numbers / licenses cannot get their upgrades without entering new serials / registration codes, or by completely reinstalling

i do know of 1 case

me myself, i'm stuck in a similar way, to get rid of that stupid activation every time i do a major upgrade, i used a corporate edition and serial of xp pro, even though i am the owner of a few original xp's... well, now i have to patch up things again due to this !#$%^&*(! crap...

i must say i am getting extremely reluctant to install sp2, i wonder what kind of stuff they will screw up... let me guss:

1. any and all codecs (they did in the last update, hoppa, had to do a reinstall of the power dvd... after the lastest patch suddenly the dvd player software could no longer recognize my dvd's)

2. any and all 'external' firewall and nat software... i'm running a mixed config on my gateway, i'm very worried that i have to do a complete reinstall (as i had to do when sp1 came out)

3. euh... and whatever suits m$'s fancy

can you tell i'm unhappy with m$ at the moment? you bet i am! i'm not paying for their crap to be any further humiliated... sorry m$, gonna go linux within the year where ever possible...

(am i tired of their crap, they'd better fix all those security holes first)

blueznl · Post by **blueznl** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 10:00 pm

things are getting better and better, the update is hiddin in the update for ie... duh?!? and it looks like there was one more update that was quickly taken of the site again... more duh and huh?!?

blueznl · Post by **blueznl** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 10:12 pm

thanks m$... releasing crappy patches is great! read on...

- anybody will get v5 updater, sooner or later

- those who had an early version of the updater are screwed (i have one machine that now will have to suffer a complete reinstall)

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/securi ... 4-025.mspx

gotta' love that company... think i'm going to reinstall dos...

thefool · Post by **thefool** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 10:37 pm

do u have linux installed?

i have both linux and windows.
Then i just boot my computer with linux when i get tired of m$

3 posts in a row, u must be really mad at microsoft