windows genuine advantage / Linux

M

mdlsFREAK

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 10, 2005
Messages
279
Hey guys whats up... Ok so ive had my rigg fer about 2 years now and only recently windows genuine advantage has been giving me crap about having pirated windows xp pro...to the fullest extent of my knowledge it was bought legit...but if it is pirated how do i continue getting updades.....Also ive though about just using linux, but i have no experience with it....is there a non-cmd driven version?...can i run it totaly independent of windows?..thanx alot guys..

-cheerz
 
mdlsFREAK said:
Hey guys whats up... Ok so ive had my rigg fer about 2 years now and only recently windows genuine advantage has been giving me crap about having pirated windows xp pro...to the fullest extent of my knowledge it was bought legit...but if it is pirated how do i continue getting updades.....Also ive though about just using linux, but i have no experience with it....is there a non-cmd driven version?...can i run it totaly independent of windows?..thanx alot guys..

-cheerz
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If Windows is telling you that, you may need to just break down and call M$ tech support to have it resolved.

For linux, I would have to recomend Ubuntu Or Kubuntu (I like Kubuntu best). They are very friendly, and should let you do any daily tasks from the gui, and most of the configuration there too. They have access to the Debian package management tools, and the bulk of the Debian software repositories.

http://www.kubuntu.org/
http://www.ubuntu.com/
 
ok so im downloading kubuntu now...is this like an entire OS complete with all nessesary apps...
 
mdlsFREAK said:
ok so im downloading kubuntu now...is this like an entire OS complete with all nessesary apps...
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Oh yeah, it is. It even has a very nice full office suite. Also, you can use the built in package manager to install additional apps if you want them.
With any luck, it will already have all device drivers for all your hardware. The Live-CD should let you test it before installing.
 
nice..can i run windows apps on it...(hang in with the noob questions, sorry.lol)
 
mdlsFREAK said:
nice..can i run windows apps on it...(hang in with the noob questions, sorry.lol)
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Windows apps? Well... yes and no. If you install a package called "wine", then you can get some windows apps to run. It varies from app to app. Well organized apps that come with their own dependencies often run, while apps that scatter themselves or rely on a single version of Windows may not.
 
mdlsFREAK said:
nice..can i run windows apps on it...(hang in with the noob questions, sorry.lol)
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Some of them, through a program called WINE. However, your best bet is finding native Linux versions or alternatives, as WINE is only a beta program and its compatibility is still a bit spotty.
 
using wine you might be able to run a few, but don't expect alot. Their tends to be alternative applications you can get for Linux that will do what you need, except when it comes to games.
 
WINE has been mentioned alot and it is an ok solution BUT there are very few cases where WINE is needed when faced with a native equivelent

Take NERO, you could run/install in in Linux using WINE, or you could use the native-NERO program (ONLY if you bought NERO and not got it with CDRW) or you could use (usually better then any windows progs) linux native.

GNOME == GnomeBaker/Graveman
KDE == K3b
there are other desktop non-specific BUT since you are going the k/ubuntu route the desktop-natives are better solutions

Try to find an OSS-equiv for yr programs first before try the WINE route

WinAmp == XMMS/BMP
WinZip/WinRAR == ArchiveManager (for gnome)
...

IF there is some "killer app" then sure go for WINE


Games are a different story tho
 
my main concerns are: flstudio6, audacity, bitspirt, firefox, winamp, black ice, photoshop...ect
 
mdlsFREAK said:
my main concerns are: flstudio6, audacity, bitspirt, firefox, winamp, black ice, photoshop...ect
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Since you’re concerned about running programs that cost you hundreds of dollars. (You did pay for those programs right?) Then I seriously suggest you contact Microsoft about your problem and get it resolved. Even if you have to buy a new copy of XP the cost pales in comparison to what you paid for the programs you need to be able to run.


If you didn’t pay for any of that and I personally have my doubts that you did. Then I would follow everyone suggestions and install Linux and learn to use the alternative software available to for it.
 
flstudio6 - nope, but some intereresting Free Sofware for music exists. If you're particularly attached to this this, you might get it running under WINE.

audacity - started as a Linux project

bitspirt - it's a BT client - there's plenty to go around

firefox - started as a Linux project

winamp - unless you're attached to some particular Viz plugin, you wont notice the switch to XMMS

black ice - Linux's firewall (free & already part of the kernel) is superior to anything you'll find in Windows - I'm not 100% about point and drool interfaces to it, tho

photoshop - there's always The GIMP, or you might try running under WINE.
 
isnt there a way to turn off windows genuine advantage through the add-ons link?
 
mdlsFREAK said:
isnt there a way to turn off windows genuine advantage through the add-ons link?
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M$ has pretty much ingrained it into the updater, so if you want any updates, it's one of the updates you have to accept. I'm afraid instuctions on hacking it are likely to be a forbidden topic on this board.
 
Circumventing the WGA Check is illegal and discussion of such things if forbidden in this forum.

If you want to run Windows then you need to pay Microsoft for a license. If you have already bought a license then you need to contact Microsoft about your problem. Those are the only options you have when it comes to Windows.

Either pay with you wallet for a license or pay with your time to learn Linux.
 
Langford said:
M$ has pretty much ingrained it into the updater, so if you want any updates, it's one of the updates you have to accept. I'm afraid instuctions on hacking it are likely to be a forbidden topic on this board.
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Though it has been ingrained onto the website itself. If you set Automatic Updates to Notify but do not Download/Install you can choose not to install the Genuine Advantage Software.

In reality though if you paid for your Windows copy just contact MS and take care of it through them. You do have your "unique" CD-Key right?

-Rannoch

EDIT: Google search for ways to turn off the annoying notification at least until you get your copy reactivated since it's to late to choose not to download the software.
 
Against the "Our Corporate Overlords Have Bought Out The Government And Want To Protect Us From Terrorism" law...


duh.
 
eeyrjmr said:
GNOME == GnomeBaker/Graveman
KDE == K3b
there are other desktop non-specific BUT since you are going the k/ubuntu route the desktop-natives are better solutions
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K3b works fine in Gnome, or any Windowing manager. It just needs handful of supporting libs, which any modern packaging manager should handle.

http://flickr.com/photos/tom61/160233263/
 
Whatsisname said:
illegal according to what law
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Ok I suppose I may have worded that incorrectly.

Removing and or disabling WGA may be perfectly legal. However his reason for wishing to remove it is because his copy of XP was determined to be “counterfeit”. In other words it was obtained and is being operated illegally. So disabling the WGA on his system may only be illegal because he is illegally operating the system. So yea in his case it may be no more illegal then it is for him to boot it up to surf the net but illegal none the less. At the very least it is what? Theft and possession of stolen property?

I don’t know and could care less if disabling it on a legally purchased and operated copy of XP is in violation of any law.
 
tom61 said:
K3b works fine in Gnome, or any Windowing manager. It just needs handful of supporting libs, which any modern packaging manager should handle.

http://flickr.com/photos/tom61/160233263/
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Yer well that is true, its just that it means having KDE libs on yr system when there really isn't any need. IF you are use to GTK, QT looks ugly and equally if you are use to QT, GTK looks ugly and cumbersum

Ther was a time with GNOME that IF you wanted a decent CD-burning software you had to do the share-libs thing, but with graveman and gnomebaker two very good pieces of software (still not close to K3b) really no need now
 
Just so you know, you can set up Windows to install all of the critical updates for you even if you don't pass their validation. The only thing you'll miss out on is the craptactular updates that do things like install their Draconian DRM onto your machine.
 
If you'd like to download Windows updates in an alternative browser such as Opera or Firefox that doesn't have ActiveX, for whatever reason, I'd suggest checking out WindizUpdate. They have a plugin that you download, it installs, you restart your browser, then you scan for updates. It compiles a list containing the locations of commonly updated files as well as their version numbers. Nothing is sent back to the website without your approval so you can make sure they're not grabbing sensitive data.

In case you're worried about the security implications of getting windows updates from a third party:

WindizUpdate is a new website, only online since middle Jan 2005 - that is why there is no information on it. As we have nothing to hide, the Delphi 3 source to the component is available on request, providing that:
* no part of it is redistributed in any format
* your findings are published, so verifying the accuracy of the claims posted at windowsupdate.62nds.com

An explanation of the security issue.

The WindizUpdate component contains an auto-installation feature. An authentication code is required before the component will install the requested software. However it is possible for a person to determine the algorithm being used, and so convince the component to install software from other sources.

Opera 8 Beta
The plugin is new, and is still under development; and suggestions are welcome. We're having an unexpected technical problem getting the plugin operating with build 7401
Click to expand...

Note that this issue was fixed, according to the author (later on in the thread that I pulled this from.)

.....SNIP.....

If you're running IE, you're already compromising the security of your computer. Firefox is open-source: if you want to find a security problem with it, there's no need to disassemble the program to look at the code. Open source makes it EASIER to find security problems... and only a few have been found. Compare that to the MS browser.

We've moved clients away from IE, and things have never been better. No search bars; no adware; no malware. It's already paid for itself.
Click to expand...

I certainly wouldn't recommend this on a mission critical server or anything, and of course you shouldn't do anything like this without having a fairly recent backup of any and all important data (which you really should have regardless). Definately at-your-own-risk. Anyhow, its worked for me for quite a while with no adware, no viruses, no strange things popping up on my firewall sending stuff to Kyrgyzstan, no unauthorized credit card charges, etc. Works fine in Opera 9 preview.

As far as I know, there's nothing illegal about getting the updates from somewhere else. Not any more illegal than downloading the individual update exe's and rolling them out over your network, or getting your updates from the IT department as opposed to directly from MS. Also, there's nothing illegal about bypassing WGA and the entire Windows Update system by using this method. Nowhere in the EULA does it state that you must download all Windows Updates. Nowhere in the EULA does it state that you have to subject yourself to 'product verification scans' in order to continue using the software.
 
WGA was required to install non-critical updates starting many months ago. The WGA tray notification isn't required (but it is installed if you have automatic critical updates enabled) and I don't have it installed on any of my systems. I don't really care since my installs have already been validated once. A useless tray icon is something I want to avoid though.

It's possible to remove the WGA tray notification and that's left as an exercise for the reader to search for. ;)
 
mdlsFREAK said:
isnt there a way to turn off windows genuine advantage through the add-ons link?
Click to expand...
the rules said:
(18) You will not discuss, suggest, engage, or encourage any ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. Links provided to locations that deal with any such activity are also expressly forbidden.
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I somehow think disabling windows genuine advantage would violate that rule, since I would believe that the most recent EULA probably prohibits us from doing so. However, you have a choice to not install it, when you use automatic updates, from what I have heard.
 
ameoba said:
Against the "Our Corporate Overlords Have Bought Out The Government And Want To Protect Us From Terrorism" law...


duh.
Click to expand...

But apparently not against the "microsoft is teh evil corprashun and responsible for Union Carbide, Chernobyl, and the great gonorrhea outbreak of '78, thereby making it okay to steal from them" law. :rolleyes: If you don't like the licensing terms, use something else.
 
I don't mind the licensing terms or even the Genuine Advantage crap but it looks to me like Microsoft has made the activation trigger more strict with their updates. The other day I added another 1gb of ram and it triggered the activation process, then it said I had activated too many times and needed a new code. This was the first hardware change I had made in about six months. I seem to remember reading when XP came out that you were allowed to make something like six hardware changes before it would trigger the activation. This I find a major harrassment for people who like to change hardware frequently. Needless to say I phoned Microsoft and gave them a piece of my mind. :)
 
Gatticus said:
Needless to say I phoned Microsoft and gave them a piece of my mind. :)
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so you phoned and harassed some low paid phone support guy/girl? Way to go chief :rolleyes:
 
IanG said:
That's why I run a software firewall.
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I do one better: I don't install unnecessary junk. :D

It's a very bad sign in any case. This "pilot" will almost certainly be a standard part of Vista. Why is MS putting such an obnoxious program out there? Greed, stupidity, arrogance, ...?
 
oh well..haha...i guess it all worked out in the end ....im typing this on my new insprion e1705 i got for graduation...thanx fer the help guys
 
Getting a new Laptop is certainly cheaper than a free phone call to MS to get your legitimate license straightend out .
 
osalcido said:
so you phoned and harassed some low paid phone support guy/girl? Way to go chief :rolleyes:
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Got the phone number to Microsoft's complaint line handy? Didn't think so.
 
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