Microsoft will be changing to name of it's activation and validation system from "Windows Genuine Advantage" to "Windows Activation Technologies" according to a report by Mary-Jo Foley. However, the "Genuine" brand isn't completely disappearing. A press release states that Microsoft will continue to deliver genuine updates and notifications for XP users. The program has been criticized for its punishment tactics and false-positive results, even though Microsoft has fixed some of these problems in Vista SP1.
According to Microsoft, Windows 7's activation will be built on the same software protection platform that was part of Vista, with some minor tweaks made for Windows 7.
"In Windows 7 we modified this process: When customers choose to activate later they will see a dialog box highlighting how activation helps them identify if their copy of Windows is genuine and be allowed to proceed immediately without a 15-second delay. In Windows 7 we've made changes so that users will see more informative notifications messages and be able to more easily complete the tasks they need to.", said Joe Willians, general manager, Worldwide Genuine Windows in a Q&A session.
Bully for you.
The GA isn't *strictly* just to stop pirates. Its to let people know their corner shop PC store has sold them a PC with a dodgy copy on. People who genuinely KNOW their copy is dodgy tend to find ways around it.
I don't think I own a non legit copy of windows now because I cba to build machines any more so normally get windows with. I normally disable or refuse to install GA and GA Notifications etc as much as possibly because I generally know if the software is legit or not and dont need something using up rescourses to tell me.
You don't get annoyed all the time by the non-genuine notifications and you don't have to patch it every few months.
The whole problem is only created by the fact that Windows is way too expensive.
You can still buy it. I bought about 95% of all items that I formerly pirated. This includes Windows. Now I get TechNet Direct and never worry again. I'll have a copy of Win7 Ultimate when it comes out.
I don't think I own a non legit copy of windows now because I cba to build machines any more so normally get windows with. I normally disable or refuse to install GA and GA Notifications etc as much as possibly because I generally know if the software is legit or not and dont need something using up rescourses to tell me.
Yea. This was primary being used to try to shut down the places making illegal copies of Windows. One big "red flag" to when a shop was doing that is if they refuse to provide a copy of the installation media for the OS installed. I know a friend reported a local shop because they were pirating Windows and they were shut down soon afterwards. Their machines were dodgy sometimes too. I also know a few customers who got dodgy copies from their local tech shops.
Wait a second, that's not exactly how that work. You have OEM license that come with the label and the disk. But there also COA License where you only get the label without the CD. The COA cost a lot less to me and to my customers. And if they insist on getting the disk, I make them a copy.
People buy the system without knowing they are are using a pirated copy of Windows.
How very drole and original.
It's a much less pretentious name, so good move for them. A company in the position of MS should do everything possible not to seem arrogant. MS's arrogance, in particular Steve Ballmer's arrogance, has done more to hurt MS' image than the shoddy quality of Vista. MS should try to be a little more honest, because it isn't fooling anyone with Seinfeld commercials or other goofy marketing schemes. "Genuine Advantage" ... people laughed at that as soon as they heard it. Who believes that kind of equivocation besides marketing people and Steve Ballmer? WGA wasn't an advantage, it was an unpleasant nuisance for legit customers.
Let em sit there with an unsecure system or get a legit license.
*EDIT*
But that comment leaves those who were swindled as ricknl stated above... dang.
Plus people don't even need automatic update because of services like..
http://windizupdate.com/
And programs like..
http://www.windowsupdatesdownloader.com/
Let em sit there with an unsecure system or get a legit license.
Unsecured systems can affect everybody, unfortunately (zombie PCs, spamming, DoS attacks, etc).
Bang on. All this talk of pirates being shafted, bull. Since XP, pirates have been enjoying all the benefits any Windows OS has to offer and it will continue through Win7 and beyond.
I actually assume:
1. Globally there are more pirated copies of windows in use than legitimate.
2. Most of these systems are in fact MORE likely to be infected by trojan/dos bots. They pirated windows , they're likely to use other dodgy software that often comes infected.
3. Therefore it's actually MORE important to get them security updates as they're the ones hosing everyone else off the internet.
At one point I was calling them every other day for activation due to my reinstalls. Activation is supposed to be automatic if it is installed on the same hardware. Wasn't for me with Vista. Oh and WGA != Windows Activation...
"But it already has internet activation, idiot!"
No. What I mean is when you've used up your Internet activations due to troubleshooting hardware problems, you'll need to use the phone to tell them your PID and answer questions to get a new serial number of some sort in return to activate. But why the phone? This is a disadvantage to the deaf population. We embrace the internet because it's deaf-friendly. Why on earth can't Microsoft use a webform or application that we can answer questions to and punch in our generated PID code in? Such fail.
Plus I've read TTY relay doesn't work very well with an automated talking computer.
Plus I've read TTY relay doesn't work very well with an automated talking computer.
You can skip the automated system and go directly to an out-sourced human.
"But it already has internet activation, idiot!"
No. What I mean is when you've used up your Internet activations due to troubleshooting hardware problems, you'll need to use the phone to tell them your PID and answer questions to get a new serial number of some sort in return to activate. But why the phone? This is a disadvantage to the deaf population. We embrace the internet because it's deaf-friendly. Why on earth can't Microsoft use a webform or application that we can answer questions to and punch in our generated PID code in? Such fail.
It is usually only a couple of questions although I've noticed them changing them up a bit. To simplify the matter I usually start off by indicating that it is my only install and that I have installed it previously. That usually gets them to skip to the point of the call and give me my dang activation code.
Now, StarBucks need to stall calling it a "small" rather than a "tall"
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