Happened again :)... Have to call Microsoft. Activation just sucks!

[Tha Bloo Monkee]

I generally don't complain about much, if anything, so perhaps that's why I don't see the point of complaining about this.

Yes, we're all genuine complainers who just love to complain, and you're Mr Perfect.

As I said, I don't find it a BIG deal, it's just a nuisance I shouldn't have to put up with. It's one of those things I would rather not have to do.

[gadean]

activation isn't a big deal. as an IT professional I find myself in mixed software environments where I have to activate Windows over the phone several times a week. It's not much of a chore and quite honestly I can't say I mind much. It could be far worse and far more troublesome. Imagine speaking to a real person in broken English and repeating yourself only after going through a maze of menu options and waiting music. Oh whoa, this sounds like my cable company!

My hat goes off to Microsoft. I don't see why you would complain about it. Even more so, in a home (or relaxed business) environment you can activate Windows over the internet. Is it really that big of a deal?

[Tha Bloo Monkee]

... you can activate Windows over the internet.

See, this is when I have to call Microsoft; when it doesn't work over the internet.

Is it really that big of a deal?

No.

[JustGeorge]

activation isn't a big deal. as an IT professional I find myself in mixed software environments where I have to activate Windows over the phone several times a week. It's not much of a chore and quite honestly I can't say I mind much. It could be far worse and far more troublesome. Imagine speaking to a real person in broken English and repeating yourself only after going through a maze of menu options and waiting music. Oh whoa, this sounds like my cable company!

My hat goes off to Microsoft. I don't see why you would complain about it. Even more so, in a home (or relaxed business) environment you can activate Windows over the internet. Is it really that big of a deal?

The core issue here is that they are wasting our time making people jump through hoops like this. You may not think that its a big deal, but those 15min phone calls add up over time and if you're doing IT work, its time that you could be spending fixing actual problems vs dealing with a slow as hell automated process or some contracted software Nazi trained to treat you like a criminal the minute they pick up. This in conjunction with redundant WGA checks when visiting WU make my blood boil sometimes. Bottom line: Your time matters and Microsoft is demanding far too much of it. For all their BS talk about how important the user "Experience" is they haven't come close to mastering it.

Edited March 4, 2008 by VRam

[Dirhael]

I bet those wondering why people are bothered by this have never called in only to be told that "sorry, but we're closed for the day. Call back tomorrow." Yeah, I'm sure that they have open 24/7 over there in the US, but it doesn't work that way with Microsoft over here.

[5Horizons]

I had to phone activate my recent install of Vista and it was no big deal. It didn't take even close to 15 minutes. You just type in the numbers instead of speaking them and then a customer rep asks you how many computers it's installed on and reads you the activation key. In fact, going back in my call logs, it took exactly 5 minutes and 34 seconds. Not that big of a deal.

[solardog]

Ive swapped out quite a few things and have never so much as heard a peep from MS. I always been surprised by this. I actually just built a brand new system and used my copy of Vista on it as well...activated it no problem. I know thats not supposed to happen but it did. Its not pirated or cracked ..it a copy of Vista I bought a Fry's and have been using for over a year now on 2 seperate pcs at this point...not at the same time. I dont get how this can happen...not complaining, but how?

[jkyle]

Its bad when (all of the following have happened)

You call to activate and get a busy signal for hours and have to wait till the next day to activate.

You call to activate and cant understand the ms rep and have to call back again and hope to get a more understandable person.

You have to reactivate because you updated a driver. How many months did ms leave this one unfixed?

And yes Windows Genuine Advantage is such a warm and fuzzy name for a program that only annoys legit customers. Check any torrent sight and you can get any flavor of vista you want.

So

1) It does not stop the piracy of windows

2) It does annoy the hell out of legit users.

3) It does prevent legit users from using software they legally purchased.

Wow I dont see why people dont love it.

[djDaemon]

I don't see why everybody complains. Call them up and get it taken care of. If you get so worked up over having to make a less than 15 minute call, you have more serious issues than just needing to activate Windows.

You're obviously the exception to the rule, and just because you don't see the obvious problem with this situation doesn't mean its not valid, and yet you're suggesting exactly that.

I've had to re-activate my desktop 2 times, and my laptop once. With my laptop, all I did was install more RAM. For something as common and minor as adding memory, its insulting to have to call, and the length of the call is irellevant. Its similar to being asked to show a receipt as you leave a store (which is illegal, by the way, but I'm guessing you do it anyway). Its the whole you're guilty until proven innocent concept that is at the core of a lot of problems in modern society. And, as has been pointed out, it does nothing to stop piracy.

On my most recent re-activation of my desktop, after I had installed a new HDD (the first re-ac was for added RAM), I was told by the automated system that I would have to talk to a representative, after already having been on the phone for several minutes. The rep told me that I could not activate that copy of Vista anymore, simply because the system said so. I explained what upgrades I had made, etc, though that didn't matter - I simply was not going to be allowed to re-activate.

I had to call back and go through the entire process again, then escalate my call to a supervisor before it was resolved. After paying that much for a piece of software, that is completely and totally reprehensible.

Meanwhile, everyone who has a pirated copy of Vista was enjoying their Saturday morning sipping coffee and surfing the web.

And you think this whole system is fine? Give me a break.

[Julius Caro]

Whoever thinks a 15-minute-long wall is justifiable is just nuts. (almost) None of my phone calls last longer than a minute!!!

[Neo003]

I just love activating windows (haven't done for a long time now), telling them you MoFo need to fix this damn thing. I just love getting my anger out on them (after activating windows of course), free therapy anyone.

[gigapixels Veteran]

You're obviously the exception to the rule, and just because you don't see the obvious problem with this situation doesn't mean its not valid, and yet you're suggesting exactly that.

I've had to re-activate my desktop 2 times, and my laptop once. With my laptop, all I did was install more RAM. For something as common and minor as adding memory, its insulting to have to call, and the length of the call is irellevant. Its similar to being asked to show a receipt as you leave a store (which is illegal, by the way, but I'm guessing you do it anyway). Its the whole you're guilty until proven innocent concept that is at the core of a lot of problems in modern society. And, as has been pointed out, it does nothing to stop piracy.

On my most recent re-activation of my desktop, after I had installed a new HDD (the first re-ac was for added RAM), I was told by the automated system that I would have to talk to a representative, after already having been on the phone for several minutes. The rep told me that I could not activate that copy of Vista anymore, simply because the system said so. I explained what upgrades I had made, etc, though that didn't matter - I simply was not going to be allowed to re-activate.

I had to call back and go through the entire process again, then escalate my call to a supervisor before it was resolved. After paying that much for a piece of software, that is completely and totally reprehensible.

Meanwhile, everyone who has a pirated copy of Vista was enjoying their Saturday morning sipping coffee and surfing the web.

And you think this whole system is fine? Give me a break.

I believe you're the exception here. I have never heard of anybody needing to go to a supervisor to re-activate Vista... I think you simply got an idiot operator that didn't know what he/she was talking about.

Look, you can say it's insulting, but I say you're taking it too personal. No, I don't want to be walked over by corporations that have the "guilty until proven innocent" mindset, but I don't see the point of getting worked up over a small call you may have to make to re-activate some software. Nor do I see the point of actually taking the time to complain about it online where it won't do anything to resolve the issue anyway.

If you have a problem with it, start a petition or a calling campaign against Microsoft to try and convince them otherwise... But complaining about it on a forum just seems utterly pointless to me.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

I can see how WGA stops a fair amount of users who don't understand how to bypass it, but the knowledgeable Windows users can easily bypass WGA with a few clicks of the mouse. I can see why they keep it, but they need to make it stronger and detect something on your computer to show it passed before, and never ask again

[(Spork)]

ive updated drivers new HD ram hell CPU ! only been asked for Activation 1 time BIG DEAL it takes 10 - 15 min deal with it and stop the FREAKING crying ! FFS

people bitch and moan about some of the most stupid ****

[abcdefg]

BIG DEAL it takes 10 - 15 min deal with it and stop the FREAKING crying ! FFS

people bitch and moan about some of the most stupid ****

Yea quit moaning and just crack it.

[Neo003]

Yeah :) even craking take less time than activating thru MS.

[solardog]

Holy friggin crap this finally happened to me and I gotta say, I do not like it. So whats this for? Stopping pirates? Thats like banning guns...results in only criminals having guns..its idiotic. The only result in this is normal, everyday non-pirate people turning in their guns and reactivating Vista..while the pirates are running around with Vista Ultimate and uzis!

[UncleSpellbinder]

I've added a new HDD, added more RAM, totally swapped out my RAM, updated drivers plenty of times... I've never once had to re-activate besides when I swapped my motherboard.

Like someone said earlier..."Lucky you - geez"

I, too, have added a new HDD, added more RAM, totally swapped out my RAM, updated drivers plenty of times. With the exception of the drivers, I've had to call to activate each time (New HDD, add ram and just yesterday I swapped out my ram).

[dysmatik]

ad0be is even worse, trust me.

[Pharos]

Ya know, pirates don't have to deal with that GENUINE ADVANTAGE thingy and they never have to call to activate! NEVAR! EVAR!

Therefore, you could very well give me that serial key of yours which in turn will get you full access to an awesome link to an awesome site where you can download a little file, and I guarantee you will NEVAR waste those 15-minutes of your worthless precious life EVAR again!

Deal? NO? Thought so.

Seriously though, you prolly wasted more time writing this thread and getting all worked up about it than just calling the 800 number and talking with the nice Indian lady. :p

[dysmatik]

never had to deal with any of these kind of issues with my mac or linux machines :D

but seriously, I had to call microsoft recently for this very thing and I thought their customer service was pretty nice.

when I had to call ad0be they asked me tons of questions, had to explain why numerous times, and damn near denied my activation, practically accusing me of piracy, which I'm not doing.

last time I'll ever do business with them.

Besides, I'm going to switch to ubuntu eventually, just haven't had time to ready all my files for moving. No activiation issues with open source :D

[CelticWhisper]

I'm in a similar boat to dysmatik.

People, it's true that Microsoft "has every right to try to stop piracy," but that doesn't mean that you don't also have every right to say "Sorry, I don't consider Windows XP/Vista/7/whatever to be worth the trouble of activation to use, so I will take my money to your competitor." They cannot annoy you with activation if you aren't using their product in the first place.

The usual responses then arise, "But I need Windows for $APPLICATION (usually a game)." If activation bothers you that much, put principle ahead of personal enjoyment, bite the bullet, and do without. You think I don't want to play Half-Life 2, Portal, Bioshock and Mass Effect PC? They sound great. However, the activation on those games (or other online authentication/intrusive copy-prevention) is a deal-breaker. I really, really want to play them and am bummed that I haven't, but I am willing to make the sacrifice of some fun in order to avoid giving money to organizations that use this sort of copy-prevention. Additionally, as far as I know, these games only run on Windows, which necessitates me putting up with yet another level of activation and intrusive copy-prevention.

Now people say "But you're only one person, the companies will shrug and go on doing what they do because they're still making money." Yeah, and one vote doesn't count come election year, and one non-recycled can here and there can't hurt the environment, and with all those forests, what's one tree cut down really going to do? The argument's been made and debunked countless times, and the answer is that if more people were willing to put principle ahead of personal satisfaction, it wouldn't just be a matter of "one guy" anymore and it would force those companies engaging in, well, anything their customers don't like to seriously take time and evaluate whether it's the best idea or not. They could drop the activation and risk piracy, or they could keep it and risk losing their revenue anyway as their customers walk away and tell them to stuff it.

As for those users who have legitimate business software that they need Windows for - call and complain to the manufacturer of that software that you want a Linux/UNIX/Mac/etc. version instead. Same principle applies - if enough people demand it that the company stands to lose business over it, they'll provide what is asked if they're smart.

The point is: Money doesn't grow on trees, not even for corporations, and they need a continuous stream of revenue from their customers in order to exist. To you XP users who are bothered by activation, don't buy Vista. Ever. To you Vista users who are bothered by activation, don't buy Windows 7. Ever. Unless they promise, and follow through on the promise, to remove activation completely. Microsoft supposedly has enough cash in the bank to operate for a year or more without making a single sale. To this I say, so what? A year isn't forever, and even if their sales only drop but don't disappear completely (because, seriously, the odds of all MSFT sales going dark overnight are basically nil), it might take longer, but eventually it's going to become clear as day that "activation = lost profits" and they have no choice but to drop activation if they want to stay in business. But only if people actually do something about it.

Edited May 10, 2008 by CelticWhisper

[uniacidz]

Whoever thinks a 15-minute-long wall is justifiable is just nuts. (almost) None of my phone calls last longer than a minute!!!

bull**** none last more then a minute.

Takes a minute just to select the correct IVR Option.

Slight exaggeration i think on your part buddy

[zhangm Supervisor]

I have a solution. Since Genuine Advantage only kicks in when it thinks that you've installed on another computer, we'll just have Microsoft install an employee in your home to monitor your computer usage. He'll be able to tell much more accurately whether you've really installed on multiple hardware platforms or not.

[Astrum]

I have a solution. Since Genuine Advantage only kicks in when it thinks that you've installed on another computer, we'll just have Microsoft install an employee in your home to monitor your computer usage. He'll be able to tell much more accurately whether you've really installed on multiple hardware platforms or not.

And that must be MS female to check new bigger hard drive!