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Microsoft Closes Activation Loophole
betanews.com ^

Posted on 02/24/2005 9:44:46 PM PST by Next_Time_NJ

Microsoft is closing a loophole that enabled unscrupulous resellers to use Windows XP product keys that were stolen from large OEMs. The result: customers who purchase Windows on a new PC will not be able to activate, nor reinstall their operating system without first calling Microsoft.

(Excerpt) Read more at betanews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Technical
KEYWORDS: activation; business; convictedmonopoly; loophole; lowqualitycrap; microsoft; userfriendly
This is good and bad. Bad for us because if we do a system whipe and reinstall windows your going to have to call MS everytime. Good for MS because all the OEM dealers are going to go out of business. Its also good for us because now people that work for say Bestbuy cant steal CD keys and sell your a dead version of windows.
1 posted on 02/24/2005 9:44:47 PM PST by Next_Time_NJ
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To: Next_Time_NJ
"This is good and bad. Bad for us because if we do a system whipe and reinstall windows your going to have to call MS everytime."

Agreed.
2 posted on 02/24/2005 9:48:14 PM PST by Texas_Jarhead
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To: Next_Time_NJ
Has anyone found a list of these "top 20 worldwide PC makers" whose OEM keys are being disabled for internet activation?

I think this sucks, but I'll think it sucks even more if the place I got my keys from is on the list, and if this is retroactive to back when I got my keys.

3 posted on 02/24/2005 9:53:36 PM PST by ThePythonicCow (Welcome home, Vietnam Vets.)
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To: ShadowAce
Big Brother XP ping!
4 posted on 02/24/2005 9:58:36 PM PST by JoJo Gunn (More than two lawyers in any Country constitutes a terrorist organization. ©)
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To: Next_Time_NJ

XP activation is a joke.

There are readily available programs which will produce valid keys which are not on any list.

The algorithm used for the creation of XP keys has been broken. Nothing short of producing a new OS with a new algorithm for keys will fix the problem


5 posted on 02/24/2005 10:14:21 PM PST by WackySam ("There's room for all God's creatures- right next to the taters")
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To: JoJo Gunn

Another bend over and take it from Microsoft!! So what else is new. Maybe one day people will finally get tired of their tactics and move to a more secure stable operating system. However, the technical support folks who depend on the poor quality of Microsoft operating system will scream as it is their ticket to their job!!


6 posted on 02/24/2005 10:16:49 PM PST by georgiarat
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To: Next_Time_NJ

Why shouldn't I be able to get a copy of XP for $1.00? Bill Gates is rich. He does not need any more money.


7 posted on 02/24/2005 10:17:38 PM PST by BJungNan (B is da B, Jung is True. Nan is Man)
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To: Next_Time_NJ

This is what, 3 years late now?


8 posted on 02/24/2005 10:20:22 PM PST by bahblahbah
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To: BJungNan

Because your buying the license to use the software, not the software itself. Your paying $99.99 or $199.99 to use the software. Remember, you dont own your copy of windows.. you just buy the license to use it.


9 posted on 02/24/2005 10:26:29 PM PST by Next_Time_NJ (NJ demorat exterminator)
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To: Next_Time_NJ

Too Late.


10 posted on 02/24/2005 10:27:45 PM PST by Jimbaugh (They will not get away with this. Developing . . . . .)
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To: Next_Time_NJ

Remember, you dont own your copy of windows..

--\ I use mine like i own it! I'm getting my moneys worth out of MS.


11 posted on 02/24/2005 10:29:36 PM PST by 1FASTGLOCK45
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To: Next_Time_NJ

I've had to call MS twice for reinstallations of Office 2K. In both cases, I got right through and got a code without a problem. I don't like having to do it, but I understand that they don't want people stealing their products.


12 posted on 02/24/2005 10:32:01 PM PST by Poser (Joining Belly Girl in the Pajamahadeen)
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To: Next_Time_NJ
Because your buying the license to use the software, not the software itself. Your paying $99.99 or $199.99 to use the software. Remember, you dont own your copy of windows.. you just buy the license to use it.

Wow, I am going to have to go back to that street vendor that sold me the copy and get my money back. He never told me the CD I bought was only a license. Imagine that, you pay $1.20 and you can't even get the real thing.

13 posted on 02/24/2005 10:45:30 PM PST by BJungNan (B is da B, Jung is True. Nan is Man)
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To: Next_Time_NJ
Bad for us because if we do a system whipe and reinstall windows your going to have to call MS everytime.

Microsoft environments (Windows is an environment that INCLUDES an operating system, not just an OS) are so reliable that one should never need to wipe their drive and re-install. </sarcasm>

Seriously, truly robust systems like the HP Nonstop servers (Tandem) used for financial transaction switch software have to be rebooted less often than Windows needs reinstallation.

14 posted on 02/25/2005 12:24:43 AM PST by Lexinom
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To: Next_Time_NJ

>>Because your buying the license to use the software, not the software itself. Your paying $99.99 or $199.99 to use the software. Remember, you dont own your copy of windows.. you just buy the license to use it.

I disagree to an extent. What you say is legally true, however, if you lose your windows disc, they won't send you another one.. you have to go out an buy a new copy.. Having said that, do you even really buy a lincense??


15 posted on 02/25/2005 2:45:39 AM PST by 1stFreedom (1)
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To: Next_Time_NJ
Because your buying the license to use the software, not the software itself.

Do I own the media it comes on?

16 posted on 02/25/2005 5:18:28 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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