WGA Returns with a Vengeance?

R

Rich Tate

Supreme [H]ardness
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Jun 9, 2005
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It looks as though Microsoft may be turning up the heat on pirated users with their updated version of Windows Genuine Advantage.

WGA Notifications, which was updated last month, cannot be permanently removed from the Windows Update list as a potential download, said David Lazar, director of Microsoft's Genuine Windows program, in an e-mail interview. That's true, even if Automatic Updates (AU) is set to the most restrictive posture of checking for updates but letting the user choose whether to download and install them -- and the Hide update option is selected.
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I just don't understand. Once I activate Windows and validate my copy (which is now required to download updates, anyway), why does Microsoft need to continually check to make sure my copy is legit? I'm not going to magically start using a pirated version after I've gone through the trouble of installing Windows, updating, and getting all my programs installed as well.
 
I dont care so much about that so much as we desperately need a sp3 out. Any of you reinstalled lately and noticed how LONG the patch list is these days for a sp2 install if you are not on a fast dsl or cable (6mbps down) It takes forever to get all the patches downloaded and installed.
 
Slipstream the SP and updates my friend. I learned my lesson. It had been so long since I reinstalled XP from my OEM copy that I forgot it was an SP1 CD. Like you said, that list was long and the night I chose to install XP was the worst one. Updates were coming in at no more than 50KB a sec. It was PAINFUL!!

I slipstreamed the service pack and updates and a Windows XP install is so much quicker now. It will be annoying having to download the updates and extracting them all. I wrote a script to do it at the time so it wasn't too bad. I do it with Office as well. You do have to make sure that you keep a good copy of the CD or image when you are done because you will need it for any repairs. You can use any other media after installing with a slipstreamed copy.

Anyway, you might want to give it a shot if you one that has to reinstall every once in a while for testing or whatever.
 
tesfaye said:
You can use any other media after installing with a slipstreamed copy.
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I mean't to write: You CAN'T use any other media after installing with a slipstreamed copy.

I guess edits are disabled for front page news threads?
 
Same way as you would slipstream SP2 onto an earlier disc - via a tool such as nLite. I understand it supports integrating at least some hotfixes, as well as 3rd party programs for auto-install, usually via unattended setups, ie: Firefox, MPC, whatever.

http://www.nliteos.com/
 
i don't understand his words right...... but i'm now unable to de-select it from the list? i'm going to be FORCED to download/install it (if my Auto-Update is anything BUT off)?
 
lol, Microsoft Winblows... Microsoft should suck less, and don't they keep freaking records of people who have already proven their version genuine?
 
I agree 100%.

Microsoft, you want to be paranoid? FINE!

Do it and be done with it!

Install the stupid waste of resources, check my system, and then get the hell out of my face.

I'm so sick of this thing getting in the way every single time I go to download a simple file from Microsoft's site.

Just how many times do you need to validate me?

~~!~~


Torquemada XP said:
I just don't understand. Once I activate Windows and validate my copy (which is now required to download updates, anyway), why does Microsoft need to continually check to make sure my copy is legit? I'm not going to magically start using a pirated version after I've gone through the trouble of installing Windows, updating, and getting all my programs installed as well.
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TechLarry said:
I agree 100%.

Microsoft, you want to be paranoid? FINE!

Do it and be done with it!

Install the stupid waste of resources, check my system, and then get the hell out of my face.

I'm so sick of this thing getting in the way every single time I go to download a simple file from Microsoft's site.

Just how many times do you need to validate me?

~~!~~
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I guarantee its not every single time. And, it's a single click, if you aren't running a pirated version after you've already installed the WGA.

The majority of people I see complaining about WGA are warez'ing the product. I'm sorry, that's my story, and i'm sticking to it. Of course, now everyone will "claim" they are running a legit version, just to prove me wrong, but, the fact of the matter is, WGA is NOT a hassle after you first get it installed.
 
CyberDeus-RagDoll said:
I guarantee its not every single time. And, it's a single click, if you aren't running a pirated version after you've already installed the WGA.

The majority of people I see complaining about WGA are warez'ing the product. I'm sorry, that's my story, and i'm sticking to it. Of course, now everyone will "claim" they are running a legit version, just to prove me wrong, but, the fact of the matter is, WGA is NOT a hassle after you first get it installed.
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So why do I have to be repeatedly verified after the first time when I install, register, and get verified? I'm legit and I think this system is ass.
 
Microsoft still actively gives a shit about XP? I thought they'd throw this one away and work on Vista only crap. Although I don't know if the WGA is something that is active across all versions of windows.
 
Regardless of the pirates complaining and what not, this hurts legit users. I like to know I have at least some control over my system, and what leaves it, and having my OS phone home every 24 hours (or was it 60 min) (with nothing I can do to stop it), makes me feel as if I don't even own my computer (notice computer, I am well aware that I don't own my OS, I just bribed MS so they would lend it to me). Makes linux seem very appealing, even with all the software difficulties...
 
Yeah, there's a nice article above on installing and using Ubuntu. Despite some possible driver issues it still sounds like a less annoying OS.

As for "Automatic Updates" I set to OFF. (ie. AU service Disabled) I don't want my computer doing things behind my back.
 
nother conspiracy to monitor your every move. Digitally signed drivers, frequent WGA checks, web 2.0. Fucking government.
 
I don't really see what the problem is here. They want to check if my licensed version is legal. Fine! Its not like I own the OS. I just paid to use it. If it screws up, and say my copy is illegal, I'll call them and make some noise. Those who think its such a big deal, go use Linux. ITS FREE and ain't half bad. Just don't complain when you spend 2 (maybe 3) weeks trying to get stuff to work and have to download the all the programs you want to use in the first place (as demonstrated with the 30 day with Linux article). Don't like that either? Go get a Mac and play Photoshop, then gloat about how "better" a Mac is.

Just 2 cents form a programmer who knows the pain of people steal his software.
 
ecktt said:
I don't really see what the problem is here. They want to check if my licensed version is legal. Fine! Its not like I own the OS. I just paid to use it. If it screws up, and say my copy is illegal, I'll call them and make some noise. Those who think its such a big deal, go use Linux. ITS FREE and ain't half bad. Just don't complain when you spend 2 (maybe 3) weeks trying to get stuff to work and have to download the all the programs you want to use in the first place (as demonstrated with the 30 day with Linux article). Don't like that either? Go get a Mac and play Photoshop, then gloat about how "better" a Mac is.

Just 2 cents form a programmer who knows the pain of people steal his software.
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Well, it was first a key, that's not so bad, then you need to verify it with MS, ok, I can stand that, oh, you want to install a program that verifies it again....ooookaaayyy, I guess it can't hurt....oh, you want to phone home? Oh hell no, you want to validate AGAIN?! WTF, I validated 4 times already, why do you want me to validate for the 5 fekking time?! I bought the retail OS separate from the machine and it is not valid? WTF?!

See why it is the bane of our existence? We shouldn't have to validate over and over and over and over again. They are treating us all like criminals, well, criminals are at least innocent until proven guilty....
 
people seem to miss who ms is targeting. they could really care less if johnny basementnerd is pirateing a copy of windows. what they care about is companies (mostly foreign) who dont own a single legit copy, but have windows on every machine.
 
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