As of February 28, Windows users who purchased their PC will no longer be able to reinstall without calling Microsoft and answering a series of questions (http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_Closes_Activation_Loophole/1109293194). The move is part of an anti-piracy effort to close 'a loophole that enabled unscrupulous resellers to use Windows XP product keys that were stolen from large OEMs.' Specifically, Certificate of Authenticity (COA) labels on PCs are often unused because OEMs preinstall Windows and bypass product activation. The product keys can therefore be stolen and reused. First WGA (http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/17/1318212&tid=125), and now this.
I'm suprised this hasn't come up here yet.
Heres the link, its up on alot of sites.
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/25/0350219&tid=201&tid=109&tid=164

Thankfully and regretfully, we are under Microsoft's Open License program, so we never have to deal with this "activation" crap.

Fucking annoying calling those assholes, if the automated thing worked right it would be nice, but instead you have to go through all of it to tell you that you have to talk to a live person, then it's someone from India.

Not that I'm bitter and angry or anything...

Thankfully and regretfully, we are under Microsoft's Open License program, so we never have to deal with this "activation" crap.

Same here.

The one time I did have to call, I was connected to their Asia outsource crap tech support and I had to repeat everything I said like 10 times.

Hmm, does this affect existing Win XP Pro CDs that can install without an existing OS?

Hmm, does this affect existing Win XP Pro CDs that can install without an existing OS?I'm told Microsoft has ended official support for Windows XP versions below SP1, but we really don't know the extent of how much they can "end" support.

I suspect you can still activate those.

OK someone explain this to me please.

I have an XP disk and I have to reinstall windows does this mean I can't use it now without calling and answering a bunch of questions?

OK someone explain this to me please.

I have an XP disk and I have to reinstall windows does this mean I can't use it now without calling and answering a bunch of questions?

No. Now you have to send them a shot of your sperm.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blgates2.htm

i believe this only applies to the OEM's XP installs, where they were bypassing the activation process when they would install the OS, letting some employees bottle up some key's and sell them privately

all this means is you have to listen to some guy over in india tell you an activation code every time you reformat, takes me on average 5 minutes to get it done

Fucking annoying calling those assholes, if the automated thing worked right it would be nice, but instead you have to go through all of it to tell you that you have to talk to a live person, then it's someone from India.

Not that I'm bitter and angry or anything...


AMERICA Online is the same. Was helping my mother cancel her account, and had to talk with one of the rudest CS reps I have ever encountered, and it definitely pushed me to a more intolerant view of them. India is supposed to be all nice and polite, the way they portray them in the varied media; deal with the customer service folks and you not only get a different idea altogether, but it makes you want to actively campaign against the company that outsourced jobs to them.

But I'm not bitter, either.....heh:p

America Online is just annoying. I tried to cancel a dial-up account I needed for a few days, and they refuse to cancel my account. So I decided not to deal with their CS and just fax a cancellation letter to them and asked them to e-mail me a cancellation number. Problem solved.