WTF M$

Ye' old general discussion board. Basically, for everything that isn't covered elsewhere. Come here to shoot the breeze, shoot your mouth off, or whatever suits your fancy.
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alex.barylski
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Post by alex.barylski »

astions wrote:The final straw with me was when I replaced a motherboard and they (tried) told me that the Windows install was licensed to the Motherboard. I said well it's still using the same CPU, RAM and Hard-drives, what part of the motherboard is it licensed to!?!? After getting a supervisor on the phone they gave me an activation key. Uck.
I used Windows 98 for years...only recently did I switch from 98 to XP and thats when I started having troubles...

I reformat/reinstall quite frequently...and then one day I get...Bzzzzzt...activation key expired or some b$ like that...I ended up having to call tech support and speak to some guy who spoke broken English to finally get everything working again...

More and more I'm thinking I'll make a switch to *nix but good... :P

Just that...i've been a Windows user since almost day one...so it'll be tough to say good bye :(
Roja
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Post by Roja »

mabufo wrote:Would someone explain to me how this could possibly be an inconvenience?
I'm really hard pressed to see how you DONT see it as such:

1. They can disable the entire OS, remotely, if they detect that WGA isn't working.
2. WGA has had major, widely reported, Microsoft-confirmed, compatibility problems that included causing substantial unrecoverable data loss.
3. The WGA phones home multiple times a day, making it problematic to allow in high-security environments where a PC may not have a net connection on a regular basis - which Microsoft has already confirmed can flag the "WGA non-functional" flag. (see #1)
4. Even if you ignore all of those issues, changing out even a handfull of parts (motherboard, hardrive and video card, etc) can cause the WPA to trigger, requiring a phone call to Microsoft to get permission to keep running the OS you already bought and have been using legitimately. Lets not forget that the call gets routed to India (outsourced), and that you'll be on hold for many minutes - even in the best situation.

I've done you the service of answering honestly. Now, I'd like the same in return. Please explain how being forced to call to get permission to use your OS on a regular basis, having it phone home, and having it (inaccurately!) accuse you of being a pirate which causes your OS to disable ENTIRELY, not be an inconvenience?
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AKA Panama Jack
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Post by AKA Panama Jack »

mabufo wrote:Would someone explain to me how this could possibly be an inconvenience?
You need to start reading about the problems it has been causing. It apparently hooks into root files like some virii and worms. There are many people complaining about getting the blue screen of death after it installs itself, very slow operation, drivers just up and failing for no apparent reason, computers basically shutting down saying their computer has an invalid or unauthorised version of windows.

The latter happens to most people who have sent their laptop in for repair or upgraded anything on their computer. Just changing the motherboard is enough to cause your computer to FAIL and Microsoft will tell you that you need to buy another version of Windows if you have to replace your motherboard.

And the bad thing is if you have automatic updated enabled that virusware will be installed without you ever knowing about it. Plus it reports information about most of the hardware you are using back to microsoft. Why would they need to know your hard drive types, sizes and SERIAL numbers, serial numbers for the motherboard, CPU, graphic cards, ect. That is information that is sent to MS without you ever knowing it has been sent.

I have NEVER enabled the auto updates for windows. The last thing I want is for microsoft to install something on my computer without me knowing about it. Oh and if you have selected the "Auto download but let me chose to install" you will find out that critical updates are installed no matter what. They never ask you if you want them installed. They are just downloaded and installed and the WGA is classed as a critical update to force the unknowing into installing the program if they have any form of auto update enabled.
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mabufo
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Post by mabufo »

First off, I see no official statement about this WGA being a required fixture anywhere. All this hubbub about Microsoft requiring it has not been acknowledged by anyone at Microsoft - short of the tech support guy - who's advice I may add, I would not take.

Having said that, if you don't want it - take the propper steps not to install it. In fact, I've yet to see my windows update show me anything about the Windows genuine advantage bit. Nothing at all.

I have not heard anything about any problems with the WGA outside of this thread, honestly - it sounds a little blown out of proportion - and I have enough faith in microsoft that if these silly sounding problems persist steps will be taken to correct whatever problem there is. You guys take these blogs WAY too seriously - especially the heavily biased ones.
If they decide to impliment this feature into windows - there will be revisions made to it. But like I said, I have yet to encounter ANY problems whatsoever.
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AKA Panama Jack
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Post by AKA Panama Jack »

mabufo wrote:First off, I see no official statement about this WGA being a required fixture anywhere. All this hubbub about Microsoft requiring it has not been acknowledged by anyone at Microsoft - short of the tech support guy - who's advice I may add, I would not take.
You apparently don't know anything about how the Auto Update function in Windows XP works. If you have any of the auto update selections enabled that authorises Microsoft to install CRITICAL updates without notifying you about them. You can be notified of non-critical updates so you can decide if you want them installed or not but critical updates are installed no matter what. It looks like the WGA update has been classified as a critical update so it bypasses the customer authorisation if you have auto update enabled.

Like I said before read around. I have been reading about this on respectable sites and magazine sites. You can only put your head in the sand for so long before you suffocate.
alex.barylski
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Post by alex.barylski »

mabufo wrote:First off, I see no official statement about this WGA being a required fixture anywhere. All this hubbub about Microsoft requiring it has not been acknowledged by anyone at Microsoft - short of the tech support guy - who's advice I may add, I would not take.

Having said that, if you don't want it - take the propper steps not to install it. In fact, I've yet to see my windows update show me anything about the Windows genuine advantage bit. Nothing at all.

I have not heard anything about any problems with the WGA outside of this thread, honestly - it sounds a little blown out of proportion - and I have enough faith in microsoft that if these silly sounding problems persist steps will be taken to correct whatever problem there is. You guys take these blogs WAY too seriously - especially the heavily biased ones.
If they decide to impliment this feature into windows - there will be revisions made to it. But like I said, I have yet to encounter ANY problems whatsoever.
The point wasn't to convince you not to use M$...

I just brought it up...because it annoyed me...and I wanted to notify others...incase...their interested in it like I am...

Clearly you don't care...but many of us do...what do you care how I feel?

Do you work for M$? Are you Bill Gates nephew??? :P

Is your last name Allen??? :)

Cheers :)
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mabufo
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Post by mabufo »

Read around huh.. Well apparently they have removed the phone home feature:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1982591,00.asp
"Microsoft Removes WGA 'Phone Home' Component"
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Benjamin
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Post by Benjamin »

astions wrote:Well I think it's clear that these decisions are costing Microsoft money, which I think is a key to getting them to reconsider.
Hmm, interesting..
alex.barylski
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Post by alex.barylski »

Roja wrote:
mabufo wrote:Would someone explain to me how this could possibly be an inconvenience?
I'm really hard pressed to see how you DONT see it as such:

1. They can disable the entire OS, remotely, if they detect that WGA isn't working.
2. WGA has had major, widely reported, Microsoft-confirmed, compatibility problems that included causing substantial unrecoverable data loss.
3. The WGA phones home multiple times a day, making it problematic to allow in high-security environments where a PC may not have a net connection on a regular basis - which Microsoft has already confirmed can flag the "WGA non-functional" flag. (see #1)
4. Even if you ignore all of those issues, changing out even a handfull of parts (motherboard, hardrive and video card, etc) can cause the WPA to trigger, requiring a phone call to Microsoft to get permission to keep running the OS you already bought and have been using legitimately. Lets not forget that the call gets routed to India (outsourced), and that you'll be on hold for many minutes - even in the best situation.

I've done you the service of answering honestly. Now, I'd like the same in return. Please explain how being forced to call to get permission to use your OS on a regular basis, having it phone home, and having it (inaccurately!) accuse you of being a pirate which causes your OS to disable ENTIRELY, not be an inconvenience?
OMG....we actually agree on something :P
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mabufo
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Post by mabufo »

Microsoft has yet to even confirm the existance of a 'kill switch'. So really, what are you all going on about?
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Benjamin
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Post by Benjamin »

In case anyone is interested...

How to disable or uninstall the pilot version of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=921914
basdog22
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Post by basdog22 »

Omg i will print this topic and keep it as a reference...

My 2 cents are:

1. MS should / must protect their software (Best or worst, it is their software and they have the right to...)
2. MS should start respecting their customers. I never understood why i had to reactivate my OS just for some hardware changes... Unbelievable!!!
3. I don't know what happens in other countries but in Greece it goes like this:
When someone wants to get a new PC the choices are ... 1 . That's it... A new PC with cracked Windows and the price is lowered by $300 :wink: People that buy this PC never new and perhaps never will know that they use pirated software...
4. When someone pays >$300 for something that is supposed to work he expects it to work :twisted:

I have switched to Fedora core since last year and i am more than pleased. You see i got something for $10 and imagine... It works as it supposed to
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AKA Panama Jack
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Post by AKA Panama Jack »

mabufo wrote:Read around huh.. Well apparently they have removed the phone home feature:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1982591,00.asp
"Microsoft Removes WGA 'Phone Home' Component"
If you read futher they didn't remove it but they changed how often it phones home. They don't mention how often it will phone home in that article. In other reports they claim it has bee changed to anytime between every week and 1 month.
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AKA Panama Jack
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Post by AKA Panama Jack »

mabufo wrote:Microsoft has yet to even confirm the existance of a 'kill switch'. So really, what are you all going on about?
There have been many reports from people who have had the WGA installed on their computer how it has disabled a number of features and told them they have a certain number of days to get a valid activation. After that time windows may stop working. Sounds like a kill switch to me. And this is with people who have legitimate installs of Windows XP.
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mabufo
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Post by mabufo »

AKA Panama Jack wrote:
mabufo wrote:Microsoft has yet to even confirm the existance of a 'kill switch'. So really, what are you all going on about?
There have been many reports from people who have had the WGA installed on their computer how it has disabled a number of features and told them they have a certain number of days to get a valid activation. After that time windows may stop working. Sounds like a kill switch to me. And this is with people who have legitimate installs of Windows XP.
Well, it's nice to know we can all get behind fear mongering journalists. That guy had VERY FEW people who ran into bugs with their installation of the WGA. Sounds like a load of crap to me.
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