Comments on: Microsoft piracy check comes calling

Expands program to alert people who run illegal copies of Windows and starts a campaign to fight Office piracy.

[CentrOS]

If Windows was worth the price...

maybe people would be more inclined to buy it instead of copy it
from their friends...

[kamwmail-cnet1]

Another little boy justifying it's thievery.

typical little boy bla bla bla.
Obviously windoze is worth it, or you would be loading your PC with OS X or Linux.

[irenic_030]

Hi

Its eaasy to cancel that WGA validation tool just download the file that ive downloaded and now i dont have any more problem at the present time...

This file Works for me...

Promise it really works for me....

just try it...maybe you coukd be one of us!!!!

Windows Genuine Advantage Validation v1.5.526.0 Cracked

http://9down.com/story.php?sid=6489...

it cancels the validation tool..you can download updates from microsoft and programs

and it cancels Bill Gates Trick to monopolize this world

[Buzz_Friendly]

I am e?ffn tired

of proving I own my MS software. It causes me to download yet more meaningless crap and does absolutely nothing for me. I know if I bought my software or not. Not many people forget paying $300+ for MS Office. I don?t have to constantly prove I own my car or my house or my shoes why the heck to I have to constantly prove I own my MS software.
I see a Mac Mini in my future.

[nmcphers]

That's a lot

$300+ dollars huh? I paid $21 for Office 2003 Pro. No, not from a pirate, directly from Microsoft. My company has an arrangement with them. Ofcourse I'm supposed to uninstall it if I stop working for this company. Unless ofcourse I accidentally forget to do so. It could happen.

[The_Nirvana]

Drivers license and Registration please...

"I don?t have to constantly prove I own my car or my house or my shoes why the heck to I have to constantly prove I own my MS software."

You do have to prove your ownership from time to time for all those things you have mentioned. Besides, I don't think you can either copy or download your car, shoes or the house.

[john55440]

I don't care what MS does to pirates...

I don't care what Microsoft does to pirates, as long as the verification method is reliable and unintrusive for honest users.

[David Arbogast]

Agreed.

I bought my workstation copy of XP and it is legally licensed. Microsoft is not taking away ANY of my "freedoms," as some would try to suggest...

Bring it on. Out of control piracy is just one more thing contributing to the cost of Windows anyhow.

Some of us buy what we want with the money we earn through hard work, and have no sympathy for lawbreakers who justify their crimes by preaching the evils of successful corporations.

[OldTenor]

You should care because....

My 1st Windows XP pro was a full price purchase almost 3 years ago. Now Microsoft has called me a thief. If you really think the MS verification method is reliable and unintrusive, for God's sake, see a shrink.
As for me, I'm going UNIX, and Gates go go....well, take a guess.

[fboor]

WHO CARE USING MS?

Who care using MS. go open source!

[David Arbogast]

WHO WANT TINKER OPEN SOURCE?

No thanks. I'd rather spend my time working and BUY my operating system instead of spending my time fiddling with my operating system rather than earning money by working.

[KDDogg]

OK 'til it stops working

Last month Windows update told me I needed to validate (again); the tool would download but not install. A google on the error message found a forum (on MSN I believe) full of unhappy MS customers with the same problem. A MS MVP threw gas on the flames by posting that, you guessed it, pirated software won't pass.

[David Arbogast]

Major Problem with your statement

So... pirates aren't getting the service they neglected to pay for. Golly... don't I feel bad.

Major problem with your statement:
<...full of unhappy MS customers with the same problem. A MS MVP threw gas on the flames by posting that, you guessed it, pirated software won't pass.>>

News flash: If they are running pirated software then they are NOT Microsoft customers. I still doubt this statement because the tool is designed not to block updates at all. But even if it is true, who the heck even cares? Thieves don't get good customer service?? GOOD!

[SeizeCTRL]

um... ok

Great, now when are they going to release Windows Geniune Security or Windows Geniune Reliability? That way I will be alerted at start up that my copy of Windows may contain holes, bugs and other things that would allow people to take over my machine or install spyware/spam without my knowledge.

I agree with the guy that said if Windows was worth the price...

[baswwe]

How do I get more copies of win XP running?

any web links?

[amitpagarwal]

Screenshots of Microsoft Piracy Check

Screenshots of the WGA Notifications

http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/04/wga-notifications-this-copy-of-windows.html

Participated

We didnt choose to participate, it is mandatory.

[little.willie]

Not my experience

I have Windows XP Pro 64 at home with automatic updates turned off. When I manually visited the Windows Update site and Selected the "Custom" option I saw a list of available updates, including the new WGA tool. I simply unselected it and proceeded to download/install the remaining updates.

[mxrss]

Thats bull

come on they offer student versions of software that are made for college students that is discounted to an extreme. You are just trying to justify something, admit it and the below poster is right there are many viable alternatives. If you are going to use a tool then pay the person who wrote it they were once in college--but now they have children to feed.

Last i checked a student version of Office that are special. only costs 149$ and include everything except MS Access (but if you have MySQL or MSSQL 2005 Express who really needs it). Also Student versions of Visual Studio and any other software you can think of exists. Almost forgot MS gives away fullworking versions of VS under the express name for nothing.

Most are discounted between 100$ to as high as 1400$ (windows server platform Enterprise). Even the cals for schools and the result student user are at a high discount. Not to mention if you goto the MS events you can usually get software from them for free.

- Mike

[jane6453]

It's sooo annoying!

My PC took a power spike and as can imagine, the troubleshooting was a nightmare. Windows kept corrupting and I couldn't figure out if I had blown the motherboard, the hard drive or both. I had to reinstall Windows several times. Did you know that there is a limit to the number of times it can be installed? I swapped out components until I got it running at 2am. I was then greeted with a message that said something like "You have exceeded the number of allowed insatallations. Windows cannot be validated." It was the first time ever that I wanted to put my fist through my monitor. Had to call the next day and literally BEG MS to allow the validation. This will also happen after a certain number of components have changed. I don't feel that I should have to contact MS if I need to upgrade or repair my computer.

[David Arbogast]

Fool

I don't believe your story one bit.

1. You have 30 days to activate Windows after an install.

2. Each copy of Windows can be activated multiple times without problems even after major hardware changes.

Your story just doesn't hold water. In order for it to be true, you would have had to install and activate windows numerous times while repairing your PC. In addition, each time you reinstalled Windows, you would have had to replace a major hardware componenet.

Based on what you said, your mistake was installing Windows a dozen times after a dozen hardware changes, and Activating it each time. (You must have been working on this for DAYS.)

More likely, you installed XP on other PCs and got angry when you couldn't get your primary workstation to activate again.

Regardless... you need to refine your rebuild procedures. You clearly wasted enormous amounts of time and energy. And you need to UNDERSTAND how activation works before you madly start clicking the Activate button.

Still... this message is likely just another anti-MS troll.

[umbrae]

WGA does not work... why should this?

Just as a funny note...

The version of XP at my office always fails WGA checks, even though it is a full licensed and legal copy. However, I have 3 pirated copies of XP at home that always pass. I bought legal copies of XP when WGA was coming worried that I would take an outage, but WGA always passed them so I never got around to installing the legal copies. Of course, 2 of those machines will be Linux is a couple weeks. :)

First, I think MS needs to learn how to target ACTUAL pirated copies before it starts freaking out customers by annoying popups. It used to be Windows was just prone to spyware... now it IS spyware.

Boycott Vista :)

[David Arbogast]

Are people crazy? Or stupid?

<<However, I have 3 pirated copies of XP at home that always pass.>>

If you assume you are anonymous on the Internet, you are living in the past. You have just admitted a crime and stated that you have stolen property in your home.

Why do some people just seem really REALLY REALLY stupid?

*shakes head*

[OldTenor]

same here

My two legal copies fail MS wGA test, while my son's
pirated copies always pass.
I know I'm honest, but I have to wonder if Microsoft is.

[dragonbite]

Piracy is stealing, and stealing is illegal (last I knew)!

Piracy is illegal, and countries need to take it seriously. It's stealing the same Napster's peer-to-peer was!

Most computers come with Windows pre-installed and with some software to use plus there are discounts for some programs and open source / shareware programs available (I use WorkBench instead of MS Projects).

Many people steal because it's easy, cheap and "cool"! They could get a "legal" version but that would take effort, possibly some money and be considered "geeky".

Unfortunately it's difficult to chase down piracy, from sharing your software with friends, buying it from those "discount" spammers or from getting a cheap computer from a shady (or not so shady) company!

In each of these examples the actual "pirate" is a different person (the user, spammer/"seller" or computer seller).

[SeizeCTRL]

LOL

Thank you Preacher John for that wonderful speech.

[Jeff419]

^@#^@%^@#^% Bill Gates!!

I've only actively been using computers for anything besides porn and e-mail for about a year and I already hate windows. It's just stupid. There has to be a better way. Is there anywhere I can get info about open source operating systems. I'm ready to convert!!

[David Arbogast]

Get a Clue

You can't figure out Windows?

HAHAHAHAHAHA....

And now you are "READY" to convert, but you've not even READ any information on Open Source?

HAHAHAHAHAHA....

Talk about a troll....

[mxrss]

Your a moron

i doubt you know anything much less how to use google the fault lies with you and not your opperating system.

[Jackson Cracker]

look in the mirror

You don't even know the difference between "your" and "you're".

[mxrss]

@()#*)@# Bill Gates

i doubt you know anything much less how to use google the fault lies with you and not your opperating system.

[SpinelessWonder]

Microsoft - The Modern Day Feudal Lords

They come to collect the taxes you owe and if you can't pay they will take what they want.

M$ Windows pricing is dumb. Who can simply afford to spend $800 on 4 legal copies of Windows XP Pro for a family of four's computers? Microsoft's actions regarding priacy are getting more and more heavy handed. Where does it stop? Consumers are not like F!&*king wet washcloths that can so easily be wrung out!

Microsoft needs to implement some type of household licensing so that people can upgrade their home computers reasonably.

Microsoft needs to lower the pricing of the OS, plain and simple. They justify their ever increasing prices with all the new whizbang features that most people don't really give a damn about. The OS doesn't need to be packed to the rim with every new possible feature. If people really want those features, then they would be willing to buy them as a seperate standalone add-on. Trim the bloat from the OS. Stop bundling functionality that isn't critical so the prices can be lowered.

Everyone boycott Windows Vista!!

[David Arbogast]

Get A Clue

Microsoft is free to charge what they want... If you have 4 PCs to upgrade, you can pay to upgrade them, or you can fall back to something "Free." Or better yet, buy some cheap Dell machines for $200 each and have new hardware AND a clean OS install for the same price.

Just because you use Windows in no way gives you the right to set the pricing. All you are doing is whining and complaining...

Hey, I think BMWs should be cheaper too... but I don't ***** to the world about it, because BMW can charge what they want, and I have other choices.

Same goes for Microsoft and Windows.

[AECRADIO]

MicroSLOP and WinBLOWS.......

Since the first rendition of windows oh so many years ago, this bloated, overly priced crap is STILL a stinkin' DOS program overlaid with so much add-on garbage 90% of the population does not care about nor use.

Those that think Winblows is not a DOS program, look for the COMMAND line, it's there.
Comand lines are DOS relative only, this isn't Unix, Xenix or Linux, but the same cheap DOS based OS so many have complained about...Like the BSOD(Blue Screen Of Death) that was ALWAYS happening to WinBLOWS machines.

MicroSLOP has NOT introduced anything NEW, just pushed more DOS on us with the lie about how 'great' the 'new' windows OS is or was.

I never have ANY automatic updates checked, I'm not giving MicroSLOP the ability to snoop in MY computer at any time.

Turn OFF ALL automatic updates, even install on demand can provide this company access if you click on the wrong icon or worse.

Downloading anything on my property without my express permission or consent will be pursued in court as a COMPUTER CRIME and CRIMINAL ESPIONAGE and will be sued to the fullest extent of the law.

Danasoft is another criminal company with those damn web IP GIFs that show up on sites as well.

Too bad the feds don't see spyware and adware as some form of computer crime, not like a 10 year old child gainging access to NASA sites, then it's big time crime news when the feds jam a machine gun in the kid's face and drag him off to prison, only then are the feds concerned, anything else gets no attention from OUR ELECTED leaders...remember this when you VOTE!

SCREW MicroSLOP!

[VectorDan]

agree - WinXP is overpriced

If it wasn't for the fact that WinXP is largely ovepriced, my dad and I would be glad to have a real copy, but why should we spend $400 on 2 copies??? And now this update - the WGA; very annoying as it is, i will not get genuine, wasting $200. I completly agree with SpinelessWonder, all these extra nicks and nacks M$ builds into the OS's - half the world's M$ users probably wouldnt care less. WinXP is simply what it is - an operating system used to run other programs. Thats it!!! (Boycott Windows Vista!!!)

[M$_Victim]

My experience with WGA?....

My troubles with M$ began after I downloaded their little "Windows Genuine Advantage" utility and then tried to download some of the free stuff they offered up to participate.

None of it will install (Saying that I need to validate windows), and M$ support are scratching their heads, because I have sent countless verifications of my product ID number. (the number itself, Screenshots of my number, and even been asked to (and have) downloaded activeX controls to verify my number.) All of these methods, each time have revealed that I have a legit copy of windows (OEM installed by Hewlet Packard).

I'm still going 'round with their support center to resolve this. I keep telling them that it must be their software, (Because it's the only stuff I can't download) and they keep telling me I need to prove that my copy of windows is O.K., even though I have - REPEATEDLY.

I'd un-install the WGA utility, forget about the free stuff, and write off my experience as just another botched download, but the WGA utility is UN-INSTALLABLE.

After researching public reaction to the WGA Program (Which is how I ended up here), I'd also like to say....

I have seen endless debates regarding WGA, on whether or not it is O.K. to pirate software. - It isn't

It also isn't O.K. for M$ to breathe down my neck because I asked why one of their programs wasn't downloading properly.

I have also looked at debates among I.T. professionals about the ethics of M$ "Peeking" into their systems, and wanting to know just what is being sent back to M$. - Ethical? I don't know, but they do look. When there is a problem with WGA (like what I'm dealing with), they suggest you go to a support page that sends you an activeX control that peers into your system and generates a report. The bit of this report you can see details everything from what bios version you have to what browsers, and programs you have installed. Who knows what's on the whole report, because the ActiveX control sends that back to them. I have read a story on another website (http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,2180,1684754,00.asp) which says that a German audit firm confirms no personal information is sent to M$, but to me the programs I use and what hardware I have is as personal as it gets, short of sending back actual file content. For me, that's the same as if my landlord asked for entry into my house to take an inventory of everything in my home.

If M$ is going to start acting like creeps, I see a Mac in my near future.

So far the whole experience, including everything I've looked up on the subject, reminds me of one of those old movies where some hulking Nazi says "May I Zee Your Papers Please?"

[keldon85]

Can't uninstall .......

I can think of one feature built into windows that uninstalls this quite easily, and will 'Restore' your PC back to its state before the installation ;)