Can I complain about the windows validation thing?

[de8212]

Sure I can. First of all, no pirating going on at all.

I had a 250GB ide had that used solely to backup data, edit video, etc. I got a 250GB SATA hard drive so I decided to swap them out. Keep in mind my OS is on a seperate 74GB raptor hard drive. SO I connected everything and booted into windows. Then I get the good old MS message saiying something like my components have had a major change and I would need to reactivate. I can't rememebr the exact message but it made mention of a significant change. Since when is simply adding an additional hd for storage (not OS) enough of a change that I have to go through this activation again.

Just venting.

 

[Leros]

Meh, when you bought Windows you agreed to this kind of crap. Its in the license. As much as it sucks, you agreed it to it.

 

[pcgeek11]

It must be. It isn't hard I don't know why this gets bltched about so much.

pcgeek11

 

[brucekatz]

Originally posted by: pcgeek11
It must be. It isn't hard I don't know why this gets bltched about so much.

pcgeek11

Now, you need to call MS for the validation number, it gets really annoying: on hold, listening to phone music, ..., need to explain..., begging for mercy....
So, I clone it if I need a bigger drive.

 

[pkme2]

If you using Microsoft Windows, one must comply with its rules of validation. Or, you can always use Linux.

 

[de8212]

Yeah I just needed to complain about it. I can understand if theres a major change but just simply adding a drive shouldn't do this.
And it is a pain to sit on the phone and call out the long validation # or whatever to a foreigner and explain why [Bmy][/b] hardware has changed/.
I may go ahead and reinstall windows so I am trying to hold off until then. also i was thinking about getting a new DVD burner so that will probably trigger it again.

 

[Forsythe]

Originally posted by: pkme2
If you using Microsoft Windows, one must comply with its rules of validation. Or, you can always use Linux.

But because of the way microsoft does buisness, through monopoly and "extortion" that's not always a possibility.
Hooray for piracy.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: pkme2
If you using Microsoft Windows, one must comply with its rules of validation. Or, you can always use Linux.

Damned conformist. Just because microsoft says "jump through all these hoops because you agreed to" dosent make it right! Theyre the only viable OS for the majority and therefore they should put the customer first!

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Soviet

Originally posted by: pkme2
If you using Microsoft Windows, one must comply with its rules of validation. Or, you can always use Linux.

Damned conformist. Just because microsoft says "jump through all these hoops because you agreed to" dosent make it right! Theyre the only viable OS for the majority and therefore they should put the customer first!

No they aren't.

If you don't like them or what they are doing or how they are doing it, USE SOMETHING ELSE. Vote with your wallet. And no, pirating Windows doesn't count (I'm not saying anyone does this or anything, so don't take offense). It's almost as good for MS if you pirate as if you buy.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: Soviet

Originally posted by: pkme2
If you using Microsoft Windows, one must comply with its rules of validation. Or, you can always use Linux.

Damned conformist. Just because microsoft says "jump through all these hoops because you agreed to" dosent make it right! Theyre the only viable OS for the majority and therefore they should put the customer first!

only viable OS? I have been setting up linux for family for a while now, it's so much easier to provide support.

 

[Robor]

Sure there's a lot of numbers to type in but it's not that bad. Most of the time you don't even need to talk to a live person. And even when I have had to speak to a person I've never been hassled by them. I'd say 5-10 minutes tops and activation is over.

 

[Nothinman]

But because of the way microsoft does buisness, through monopoly and "extortion" that's not always a possibility.

The only reason I can think of that would make me want to run Windows is for games and that's you're decision because it's not like you can't get by without them. Yes, I can come up with a few other niche products that require Windows but you can usually run them in WINE or VMWare until you find a suitable replacement.

Damned conformist. Just because microsoft says "jump through all these hoops because you agreed to" dosent make it right!

Right and wrong have nothing to do with it, it's the cost of doing business with MS, it's not like you didn't know those hoops weren't there when you bought your copy of Windows.

 

[EKKC]

1) buy dells
2) always use their dell oem discs (on dells, on non-dells you need the activation code, even then i think you're vilolating the EULA)
3) ...
4) profit?

 

[Forsythe]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

But because of the way microsoft does buisness, through monopoly and "extortion" that's not always a possibility.

The only reason I can think of that would make me want to run Windows is for games and that's you're decision because it's not like you can't get by without them. Yes, I can come up with a few other niche products that require Windows but you can usually run them in WINE or VMWare until you find a suitable replacement.

Damned conformist. Just because microsoft says "jump through all these hoops because you agreed to" dosent make it right!

Right and wrong have nothing to do with it, it's the cost of doing business with MS, it's not like you didn't know those hoops weren't there when you bought your copy of Windows.

I need certain windows dll's and frameworks and such. It's a pain. I need to have windows installed. And yes indeed for games aswell.

 

[bigdaddy51]

if YOU owned the software, wouldn't you want to protect it? Download Vista RC1, its free until June2007. 10 minutes on the phone iosn't all THAT bad, and I haver NEVER had MS say they wouldn't reactivate and besides, think of all the jobs it creates in India.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: bigdaddy51
if YOU owned the software, wouldn't you want to protect it?

To everybody saying things like this: the point is that activation shouldn't have been triggered by him adding a hard drive to a system. In fact, it shouldn't even be triggered if he CHANGED his boot drive and cloned it to the new one. I've read that activation should only be triggered if several things change at once - I think it's something like 3 or 4 of the 6(?) major system components hashed - CPU, motherboard, videocard, HD, optical and something else.

edit: fixed quote tag

edit2: answer bigdaddy's question: No, not really. I don't believe in the concept of Intellectual Property.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Raduque
I've read that activation should only be triggered if several things change at once - I think it's something like 3 or 4 of the 6(?) major system components hashed - CPU, motherboard, videocard, HD, optical and something else.

I think it depends on the piece of hardware. Some hardware causes a reactivation after 1 change, others can be stacked up.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: de8212
Sure I can. First of all, no pirating going on at all.

I had a 250GB ide had that used solely to backup data, edit video, etc. I got a 250GB SATA hard drive so I decided to swap them out. Keep in mind my OS is on a seperate 74GB raptor hard drive. SO I connected everything and booted into windows. Then I get the good old MS message saiying something like my components have had a major change and I would need to reactivate. I can't rememebr the exact message but it made mention of a significant change. Since when is simply adding an additional hd for storage (not OS) enough of a change that I have to go through this activation again.

Just venting.

Yeah, bit of a hassle. They tried their best to identify when a Windows install has jumped to new hardware without triggering any false positives. It's impossible to do perfectly but they didn't do too bad. Do the reactivate, and if you've hit your limit, do the phonecall thing and it should be no more than a few minute process.

 

[Smilin]

funny to hear so many people gripe about this when they put up with: bajillion digit CD keys, starforce copy protection, cd-checks before a program will run, valve's verify-every-run-for-a-single-player game yada yada.

It's really not that bad guys. Typically a "Yes, please verify over the internet" click of the mouse and done.

Go to Linux! they say and then start punching in all those CD keys as they install new games... :roll:

 

[Nothinman]

I need certain windows dll's and frameworks and such. It's a pain. I need to have windows installed. And yes indeed for games aswell.

Well you're the one that tied yourself to that vendor so you don't have much room to complain. And depending on the dlls and frameworks needed WINE might be an option anyway.

if YOU owned the software, wouldn't you want to protect it?

Depends on what you're actually protecting, thousands of OSS developers release software with the source available every day.

funny to hear so many people gripe about this when they put up with: bajillion digit CD keys, starforce copy protection, cd-checks before a program will run, valve's verify-every-run-for-a-single-player game yada yada.

Yea, I dislike the activation but I've also dealt with software that has some much worse protection schemes.

 

[pm]

I got this message a few days ago for the first time ever. I upgraded the CPU, motherboard, video card and memory. So I agree with MS's view... it was a major upgrade.

I clicked reactivate over the Internet and it took me all of 1 minute, no typing, to activate.

I honestly don't see the problem. I thought it was pretty painless.

 

[jlbenedict]

I got the the WGA notification just from upgrading a firmware on my Plextor DVD-r drive

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: de8212
Can I complain about the windows validation thing?

No.


I had my office desktop ask for a re-activation when I simply removed a driver for my video capture card. The driver removal seemed to remove a lot of other devices, and when they were sensed by Windows upon reboot, activation was required. This was an Action Pack version of XP Pro, and I expected I was going to have to call Microsoft, but it re-activated over the Internet.

I'm sure that everybody hates copy protection and activation. As pointed out earlier, there have been a lot nastier forms of protection in the past. MS's approach works pretty well, all-in-all.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Soviet

Originally posted by: pkme2
If you using Microsoft Windows, one must comply with its rules of validation. Or, you can always use Linux.

Damned conformist. Just because microsoft says "jump through all these hoops because you agreed to" dosent make it right! Theyre the only viable OS for the majority and therefore they should put the customer first!

No they aren't.

If you don't like them or what they are doing or how they are doing it, USE SOMETHING ELSE. Vote with your wallet. And no, pirating Windows doesn't count (I'm not saying anyone does this or anything, so don't take offense). It's almost as good for MS if you pirate as if you buy.

Nothing else is viable unfortunately or believe me i would ditch windows the for OS with the least hassle. Given the nature of an OS and how it requires drivers to be written for it and noone can be bothered writing drivers for other os's all the time, it dosent seem likely.

Originally posted by: nweaver
only viable OS? I have been setting up linux for family for a while now, it's so much easier to provide support.

Thats probably the whole reason you need to provide support in the first place. If i gave my family linux they would do the following:

A: Mistake it for windows
B: Harass me about whatever they just bought not working on it
C: Wonder why they cant find windows media player

This all boils down to greedy people! If there werent greedy people then noone would pirate things! and if noone pirated things then software would/should be cheaper and easier to use.

On top of that, corporations wouldnt be greedy either. In fact, life would be a totally different experience, i hate greedy people :frown:

 

[doornail]

It's only going to get worse. Kick 'em to the curb. I had to choose between intrusive activation or Linux when I wanted to upgrade from Win2K. I went Linux and couldn't be happier.