A Load'O Crap... just pissed
 

Don't get me wrong, I like Microsoft and their products. I believe if someone comes out with a better OS people will switch. Now here’s the aggravation. I'm a hardware junkie and I enjoy modding my computer. Today I installed a new Plextor DVD/CD RW +- (kick ass) burner. On reboot I get a pop up message from Microsoft that too many changes have occurred on my system since the original install of the OS and I have 3 days to reactivate my legally purchased, and previously activated, Win XP Home. What god damn business is it of Microsoft what I do to my system? I of course had to re-activate and it went quickly and with out incident. So now Microsoft has the latest configuration of my personal system. I don't know, it just frosts my ass.:mad:

Yeah, its their phone-home anti-piracy thing. If it senses too many changes in the computer, it disables the OS until it is re-registered. This is one of the things MS caught the most flak over when they first announced it. Personally, I run Linux on most of my machines, and all of my Windows boxen have non-phone-home versions, so it isnt a problem.

That is exactly the trend computing seems to be heading to.
If Microsoft has its way (with palladium *ahem* Trusted Computing) Consumers will slowly but surely lose control over their own hardware.

To cast a doubt on Microsofts intentions however I must mention that is technically not proven that Microsoft has your system info. If they are completely legit about it, they could use a hash of identifying components and use that for checking your activation code. That hash would only with great difficulty reveal your system specs. (note: this is only a possibility. It is also very well possible they have your complete system info)

That being said: I immediately removed my MS Office XP from my system when it complained I had upgraded my videocard. I am now a happy Open Office user :D

Presumably the 'phone-home' functionality has been removed by hackers so windows can be installed illegally. This was to be expected of course. But it goes to show that the honest user is most affected.
Microsoft was correctly critisized for this move...

/side-note: I must admit I have no solution that would prevent large scale software piracy. And you can't blame any software maker for trying.

According to MS the has code is generated by parts of component ID numbers so the hash can not be reversed.

I hate Microsoft all together and I hate them even more when they came out with that. Linux is the way to go and it works great for me.