Apart from all the other valid comments in this thread re: wga, the corporate, sme and soho implications would be massive. Not all business users regularly update their OS's either because of permissions, proxies or other reasons. If they all suddenly got 'turned off' there would be hell to pay.
WGA Turning Off PCs in the Fall
- Thread starter dafloppyone
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JayMax said:
good point.
also some medical equipment is running on Windows O/S (scary eh...)
- stuff like that doesn't get patched on the same cycle of domestic kit because the application has to be retested on the patched configuration and recertified for use.
As business PC's will be fed off WSUS, I guess it depends if MS forces a WSUS server to accept the WGA spyware.
I guess I can firewall off PC access to MS IP's if it comes to that
- sorry MS, you've just done a Sony, bad dog, no biscuit.
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No. Definately not.Phaser said:
PS: Microsoft's WGA won't be disabling pirate copies. It has just been one big media storm. First it was the "WGA spyware" headlines, then "Microsoft gets sued due to WGA spyware" then just in case the media outfits didn't get enough hits they made up a 100% false headline of "WGA to disable pirate copies by the end of the year."
Soldato
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Indeed, Microsoft categorically state that they will not be doing this. They claim its not entirely possible and that they wouldnt even if they could.NathanE said:
Indeed. I was speaking to a friend who actually does contract work for Microsoft and WGA flagged his laptop as unlegit. It took about half hour to sort out on the phone but now it's seen as legit. Just goes to show that the WGA system _does_ currently suffer from false-positives and therefore is in no position to begin 'disabling' computers. But even with that issue aside, there is a lot of business politics involved and currently Microsoft realises there is zero benefit in clamping down that hard even if it were possible.malfunkshun said:
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A ZDNet blog quoted a Microsoft support employee as saying the Windows Genuine Advantage Notification application would become mandatory by the fall, and that users without it installed would see their copies of the operating system stop working after 30 days. A Microsoft spokesperson has now responded to these claims, albeit with a rather ambiguous statement:
"No, Microsoft antipiracy technologies cannot and will not turn off your computer," said a spokeswoman with Waggener Edstrom, Microsoft's public relations firm. "The game is changing for counterfeiters. In Windows Vista, we are making it notably harder and less appealing to use counterfeit software, and we will work to make that a consistent experience with older versions of Windows as well."
Computerworld believes the spokeswoman is denying the "kill switch" rumors, but she talks about turning computers off - not rendering Windows unworkable. Additionally, she suggests using counterfeit copies of Windows XP will become "notably harder and less appealing" over time. This statement makes Microsoft's stance none too clear
"No, Microsoft antipiracy technologies cannot and will not turn off your computer," said a spokeswoman with Waggener Edstrom, Microsoft's public relations firm. "The game is changing for counterfeiters. In Windows Vista, we are making it notably harder and less appealing to use counterfeit software, and we will work to make that a consistent experience with older versions of Windows as well."
Computerworld believes the spokeswoman is denying the "kill switch" rumors, but she talks about turning computers off - not rendering Windows unworkable. Additionally, she suggests using counterfeit copies of Windows XP will become "notably harder and less appealing" over time. This statement makes Microsoft's stance none too clear
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Soldato
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You should only be concerned if your not running a legitimate copy of windows.
And no WGA doesnt disable your Pc, it just nags you to death a reincarnation of the paperclip perhaps.
And no WGA doesnt disable your Pc, it just nags you to death a reincarnation of the paperclip perhaps.
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I am running a fully lit copy of Win XP Home and I have installed WGA. You say its spyware? should i be uninstalling it?
Cheetah Designs said:
It's not spyware really but it has spyware like behavior. When installed it logs back to Microsoft what software you have installed etc and some people don't like the idea of Microsoft having a database about them. No harm will come to your computer from having it installed. For more info read this. In future updates WGA wont phone home everyday but every fortnight I believe
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Deleted member 58846
Deleted member 58846
Can I just say this to all you folks who say your not going to instal WGA from Microsoft....
Shut your eyes for a moment after reading this........ Think that you Work for Microsoft who deals with all this piracy in Windows Operating Systems...Now your in Microsoft's shoes ask yourself this one question..
"If you had the choice would you want somthing you designed to be obtained illigally and loosing billions of pounds a year?" ...
Microsoft would rather have half the population have "Genuine Windows", than have to deal with most the world with "Non Genuine Windows".
When you have answered that question rethink this post..........
My answer to it, Certainly NOT.... people who can offord a computer system can offord an operating system.. Thats my moto. Thats weather its Widows 95, 98, xp or vista when it arrives... Just think about it people what your acctually saying before you post.
Shut your eyes for a moment after reading this........ Think that you Work for Microsoft who deals with all this piracy in Windows Operating Systems...Now your in Microsoft's shoes ask yourself this one question..
"If you had the choice would you want somthing you designed to be obtained illigally and loosing billions of pounds a year?" ...
Microsoft would rather have half the population have "Genuine Windows", than have to deal with most the world with "Non Genuine Windows".
When you have answered that question rethink this post..........
My answer to it, Certainly NOT.... people who can offord a computer system can offord an operating system.. Thats my moto. Thats weather its Widows 95, 98, xp or vista when it arrives... Just think about it people what your acctually saying before you post.
zen62619 said:
With the concerns raised its quite clear they stand to lose more money by doing this.
I installed WGA once before, and its never been on again since, its a busy little ap, that annoys you like crazy, i spent ages trying to stop the annoyances until i gave up and just totally removed it.
That said, i've seen it on a couple of brand new XP installs screw up and say your copy of windows is invalid.
Quite simply, if MS force this upon users, i know i for one (as many will) will be taking another look at using Linux.
Now that said, i've seen dodgy copies of XP and i've seen plenty of legit copies to, and to be honest, the pirated copies actually seem faster to me, because you don't get all the nagging annoyances of activation and genuine advantage.
I'm happy with my legit (WGA disabled) copy. I still personally hate having that ap running.
Deleted member 58846
Deleted member 58846
If you have a legit operating system why is people going mental over tis wga thing, for a perfect legit customer he has no problems. .......
basmic said:http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/ - for all your Windows Updates needs.
I have moved from IE to FF since using the above link. I have to say, it certainly seems more stable. If it had a few more things tweaked/sorting out, I'd be a truly happy person.
Yep it's great, I've had more issues with MS's update than that version (and it doesn't work with IE so that's a bonus
).zen62619 said:
MS actually tried something similar a long while ago with win95 or win98, and got a large consumer revote over it and threat of legal action and backed off.
With WGA they tried the carrot and switch tactic more, although in reality WGA is has no real carrot, but they've managed to pass it off in a more user freindly way this time which so far has caused less outrage.
Still if they ever do make WGA genuinely mandatory and manage to stop 3rd party update sites like above I'd hope someone takes them to court over it, at the end of the day that is the only way to control companies like that who will forever try their luck and impinge on your rights bit by bit (for profit) until they are checked themselves by legal means.