XP updates
 

I use the automatic update feature for WinXP Home (Service Pack 2). It made me do the "Genuine Authorization" garbage awhile back, which was no big deal, as far as I'm concerned.

However, the latest update, which popped up yesterday, wants to do something else in that regard. I'm starting (okay, I'm NOT starting) to distrust those bastards at Microsoft.

If what I'm saying doesn't sound familiar, I'll run through it again and post the exact wording. When I read it, I get the urge to do a complete system backup.

Does anyone know what this latest so-called "authorization" is all about?

I got the same update today. It's like they think it's a help to you to find out whether your copy is legit.

A few months ago I made another upgrade to my computer. Windows decided I had to re-authorize because it wasn't sure it was the same computer. Fantastic! :rolleyes:

They are trying to wipe out the casual pirates, the people who don’t know they are pirates and buy prebuilt systems that have pirated versions of XP. This is not going to stop the real pirates, just the unknowing ones. If your legit, your fine, if your not, don’t install it.

I am legit, but I've heard scuttlebutt that if Microsoft decides you're not, you will have an omnipresent nag screen until you establish that you're legit to Bill Gates's satisfaction.

if your legit, you should have no problem, and if it complains give Microsoft a call, and harass them about it.

Thanks for the warning. I think I'll pass on this one. I barely got the service pack 2 installed.

In FantasyLand. I believe I mentioned that I have verified the legitimacy once; do I have to do it again whenever Microsoft feels like it?

Secondly, I have beaten my head against the wall trying to get large companies to correct their errors. Among them:

Macromedia--Wouldn't allow me to install DreamWeaver 3 on a new computer after I scrapped the old one. They never did cooperate.

Pacific Bell--Tried to charge me for a phone line I'd had them disconnect 8 months earlier. That one involved a 50 minute call to them, thirty of which were on hold, and the fifth person I talked to referred me back to the first person I talked to. If I hadn't had a neighbor who worked for them, I'd STILL be fighting it.

Intuit, which charges my credit card every year for a service I don't use. Don't ever give them a credit card number.

If you have faith in large corporations, that's fine. I don't.

Pain? Try it on 100-odd rolling systems of my own and customers, many of whom don't make it through the updates and WGA checks on their own out of sheer terror. Loads of fun. Over and over and over and over. Yes, it's usually the same version and product key as pre-installed by the mfg, but we need to make a random check anyway on a random 100% of the random systems. Random check _THIS_.

MS: The freedom to annoy.

(Enjoying a Cabernet more than I should.)