What happens when you get locked out of your XP system because of the stupid M$ activation?

[rc5]

This may happen even if you have a device with bad contact(Say one or two cards don't seat correctly in their slots). I can imagine some smart viruses may take the advantage of that like what they did with flashable motherboards.

Is that yet another reason why you should use a pirated and hacked version of windowsXP than paying for it?

 

[Psychoholic]

I really think people assume that anything will cause you to reactivate. From the reports I've seen, and remember no one has seen what the end result will be when it's officially released, only major changes will trigger it.

If viruses were able to take advantage of it, so what??? Viruses can take advantage of your system now, no matter what OS you run. That's why we have virus utilities and most people use common sense when handling items of unknown origin.

It is never okay to pirate. If you don't like MS policy don't use the OS. That's like saying I like a Viper, but I don't like the stereo. I just going to go and steal someone else's.

 

[GambiT]

I don't get your analogy of the Viper...

 

[flyers1]

I'll tell you how to fix it:

Step1: Format c:

Step2: Install another OS....preferably Linux

 

[Psychoholic]

<< I don't get your analogy of the Viper... >>


Instead of paying for it.

Let me say this again in more detail. You like everything about something except for one small detail, so you let that be the reason you decide to steal it.

Is it really that hard to follow???



<< I'll tell you how to fix it:

Step1: Format c:

Step2: Install another OS....preferably Linux >>


Great, another member of Trolls-R-Us and thread-crappers anonymous.

 

[ToBeMe]

• I'll tell you how to fix it:
  
  Step1: Format c:
  
  Step2: Install another OS....preferably Linux

Yep.......that^^^^ in itself will fix your Office problems.....
Geesh......will it ever stop??????
Three years ago when I first ran Linux I thought the MS &quot;Zealots&quot; were bad.......LOL! Seems like these days ewvery copy of Linux must include mind altering subliminal information that turns everyone whom uses it into an MS bashing, Linux Zealot!

Get a grip guys......Linux isn't for everyone and trolling like that only serves to bait flame wars!

 

[Psychoholic]

What annoys me is lately they have seemed to get worse. Every MS thread is turning into troll bait. I have noticed and and applaud the Microsoft users for being adult enough not to crap in the threads that contain Linux questions.

 

[ToBeMe]

I use both and admire each for what they can do for specific things!

What I don't like, is &quot;Zealots&quot; from either side! Same way with Intel &amp; AMD.......they're both good and NEED each other to keep each other honest!

 

[Psychoholic]

<< What I don't like, is &quot;Zealots&quot; from either side! >>


You're not calling me a zealot are you???
I have no problem with zealots, there are just appropriate places for those debates. If those rules were followed thread-crapping wouldn't happen.

Where the hell is rc5 anyway. I wanted to hear his take on what I had to say in response to his question.

 

[flyers1]

<< Great, another member of Trolls-R-Us and thread-crappers anonymous. >>



Good one. Anyway, it was meant to be a valid answer to the question. Install another OS. If not Linux, then win2k. I have both and I like them both as I have stated in other threads. I agree that you shouldn't be forced to use a hacked version of an OS for fear that the next hardware change may render your PC usless until you call MS for support.

In all honesty, I think this is all a bit too early. The friggin OS hasen't been officially released yet people!



<< Get a grip guys......Linux isn't for everyone and trolling like that only serves to bait flame wars! >>



Did I not say to install another OS? I guess maybe I didn't make myself too clear here but another dosen't HAVE to mean Linux. it was just a suggestion Loosen up alittle people...

 

[Psychoholic]

<< Good one. Anyway, it was meant to be a valid answer to the question. Install another OS. If not Linux, then win2k. I have both and I like them both as I have stated in other threads. I agree that you shouldn't be forced to use a hacked version of an OS for fear that the next hardware change may render your PC usless until you call MS for support. >>


You could have stopped after you mentioned another OS, you didn't have to add &quot;preferably Linux&quot;. You meant what you did and are now backpedaling. Be proud of who and what you are. If you decide to be a thread-crapper at least have a backbone.



<< In all honesty, I think this is all a bit too early. The friggin OS hasen't been officially released yet people! >>


Now that is a worthwhile comment. I also mentioned the same thing.

:Q Leave your evil thread-crapping ways and join a debate in the appropriate threads. :Q

 

[ToBeMe]

<< preferably Linux >>


^^^LOL!^^^

All I'm stating is that both are good in their own right! Linux has a lot of advantages........geared mainly toward &quot;geeks&quot; or at least persons with more than &quot;entry level&quot; knowledge and expierience! Windows is a very &quot;easy&quot; OS and very compatabile! Honestly, most Windows problems occur when people like us start &quot;tweaking&quot; on it! I've personally preloaded many, many new systems with Windows variations and have had very little problems with new users corupting it.......mainly because they aren't on them like we are! No matter what is said......Linux demands more than Windows to be able to run it as your only OS......and quite frankly, the vast majority don't care to know that much and won't invest the time to learn it! I know......I've seen it several times over!

 

[flyers1]

<< Now that is a worthwhile comment. I also mentioned the same thing. >>


Thank you for your approval...Oh great one.

Another thing I wanted to add was that I wonder if this whole system &quot;signature&quot; thing could even be legal. Why do I have to send MS a description of my PC to use their OS? Isn't that alittle bit invasive? I'd be suprised that IF it does REQUIRE sending personal info to them to use the OS if it would even be legal?

Just more food for thought.

 

[Psychoholic]

<< Thank you for your approval...Oh great one. >>


You're welcome, whatever I can do to help.



<< Another thing I wanted to add was that I wonder if this whole system &quot;signature&quot; thing could even be legal. Why do I have to send MS a description of my PC to use their OS? Isn't that alittle bit invasive? I'd be suprised that IF it does REQUIRE sending personal info to them to use the OS if it would even be legal? >>


Yes, it can be and is legal. This isn't the first time I've seen something like this used before. We have software that is keyed to a certain machine and cannot be moved to another with contacting the vendor. That has been around for years. The only difference is this time it's the OS, and the OS is a Microsoft product which gives people a reason to gripe.

As far as personal information goes I would be more worried about credit card comapnies and the like tracking purchases. Exactly what good will it do Microsoft to know what brand hard drive you have in your computer??? None. Exactly what could they do with that information if they had it??? Nothing.

Provide me one piece of solid evidence that shows what Microsoft will do with this information if they even obtain it in the first place. Don't give me any BS theories and conspiracy stories. I want cold hard facts.

This whole thing is just an excuse for the MS-haters to bitch and whine.

 

[CQuinn]

flyers1,

on one hand, if system &quot;signatures&quot; were illegal then we couldn't have things like
the registry or sytem configuration files, since they work on the basis of being
able to identify unique characteristics of each system.

on the other hand, it has already been pointed out that WPA does not send a
description of the PC to anyone. The whole idea is that since there are unique
characteristics in each PC, a simple hash variable can be created based on that.
This variable in turn can be used as the seed value in creating an activation
key.

 

[doug]

For someone's experience with Office XP see this Anchordesk column:

It gives a warning of going into &quot;Reduced Functionality Mode&quot;
http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2779746,00.html

It goes into &quot;Reduced Functionality Mode&quot;
http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2780798,00.html

 

[flyers1]

linkified

Interesting post there doug. I wonder what the Windows XP version of that will say. I just hope, for MS's sake, that they do a good job at implementing whatever mechanism decides to render your OS and/or Office suite useless. Talk about backlash??

 

[Shadow07]

Yes, and well ALL trust ZDNET, The Register, CNET, etc. Give me a break. I have been running Office XP ever since Beta 2, and I have never seen that message. I have installed it on a few computers and never had a problem with it. I have also installed the Enterprise Edition (Open License) and am yet to get this problem.

If you do happen to get locked out, then call Microsoft. I have friends who have already had these types of problems, and have had no problems getting back into their systems.

 

[skace]

Rofl, I liked this comment: &quot;Perhaps it was something to do with the &quot;smart tags.&quot; Perhaps Bill Gates did not own the airline you were using.&quot;

Ah well, looks like the paranoid masses are growing eh? pretty soon you will have to tell us all we are ALL dilusional fools, activating is fun, and there is software 10x worse than this so we should be happy. I wonder what a mass exodus to Linux would do for its OS growth...

 

[Psychoholic]

<< I wonder what a mass exodus to Linux would do for its OS growth... >>


First, there would have to be a viable solution to migrate to.

 

[rbV5]

<< Is that yet another reason why you should use a pirated and hacked version of windowsXP than paying for it? >>



No, either buy it or don't use it, pretty simple.

 

[skace]

&quot;First, there would have to be a viable solution to migrate to. &quot;
It's like arguing which came first: the chicken or the egg.
Before people move there has to be a perfectly viable solution
Before a perfectly viable solution comes there has to be demand

Someone has to take the innitiative. Suck it up and make the demand.

 

[Psychoholic]

<< Someone has to take the innitiative. Suck it up and make the demand. >>


I didn't say I wanted to, just that there needs to be. At least for me. There's too much invested in what I have here to jump to a platform with mediocre support at best. I would need to see what Linux, or any OS for that matter, could offer me over what I have now. I have stability, security, excellant software and hardware support, and ease of use. How would Linux better that???

 

[skace]

&quot;I have stability, security, excellant software and hardware support, and ease of use. How would Linux better that???&quot;
Better stability, more secure, dedicated up-to-the-minute software and hardware support, ease of use, flexability, versatility, and potential/desire to be better than it already is?

 

[Noriaki]

<< dedicated up-to-the-minute software and hardware support >>

Uhmm...how so? You have a bunch of programs that make changes every day and it's more like: &quot;Well this might work for you, but then again it might not, and if it doesn't don't bitch at me because I don't really care&quot;.

Even with a commercial package like RedHat support isn't as good as from Microsoft.

Ease-of-use is all in what you are used to. I promise for minimum 95% of the people with computers, Windows is much easier to use. If you get used to Linux it can be easy to use, but it's all about what you are used to.
DOS can be easy to use if you are used to it.

Versatility/Flexibility. I dunno about that one either. Theres too much stuff Linux just can't do. I can't play many of my games there, USB stuff still doesn't work very well. Maybe this isn't important to Linux's overall vision. But it's important to me, and many other people.

It is a very flexible OS in that it runs everything from toasters to PCs, but just looking at it from a PC viewpoint, there is much that it lacks that is desirable in a desktop OS.
Not really Linux's fault in the games department true, but still it's a problem.