Validate Microsoft

another rant against Microsoft

Published on July 31, 2005 By averjoe In Personal Computing

The latest game Microsoft is playing is using so-called validation software to rummage through your home computer to make sure it is using a legal copy of Microsoft before it allows you to update.

This rummaging and tagging of your computer is suppose to happen only if you want your operating system to get the latest upgrades or tweaks to the Microsoft operating system in order to make it “function” better (is that possible?).

Microsoft said it was not going to force one to go through this procedure and that no matter what that critical security updates would be allowed to be downloaded and installed on all systems using the Windows operating system.

If you try to update your Windows running computer with these critical security updates without having your system rummaged through and tagged you will find it difficult to do. In fact, it is so difficult that I reckon most will decide to take the easy way out and let Microsoft rummage through and tag their system.

Microsoft makes my ass ache with all their validating of software. I mean you already must go through a pain in the ass procedure to “authenticate” your copy of Windows XP Home Edition or Professional in order to use it on the Internet otherwise not only will you not be able to use the Internet after thirty-days but the operating system will become unusable.

I’m happy to say that I use a copy of Windows XP offline, with no attention of ever using Windows XP online that works only because of a crack that some enterprising programmer/ hacker provided online.

Thank goodness for the programmer or computer enthusiast that in his/her leisure time provide cracks for overly protected software where the respective corporations are milking every little bit of profit from the public (is way beyond the cost of development and reasonable return).

I have no problem with Microsoft trying to authenticate that a legal copy of its operating systems is being used, but I do have a problem with it trying to regulate how many machines in one single family residence their software can be used on. I have a problem with them building a time bomb within their software so that unless you register it online it will become inoperable within a certain time period. What if you don’t want to use your copy of Windows XP online?

Now Microsoft wants to rummage through and then tag every machine running Windows in order for one to get non-critical updates (wink, wink). Of course as I said they make it difficult to go to their website to get the critical updates without being able to rummage and tag.

Microsoft should immediately make it possible for one to get the critical updates without going through the rummaging (checking out your machine to make sure it is running a legal copy of their operating system) and tagging (installing a unique key that will indicate that your machine was rummaged through and proven to be using a legal copy of their operating system) process. When I go to their update site I should be presented with the critical updates and the offer to rummage and tag my system in order to get less critical updates to my operating system.

I will be ending this nonsense with Microsoft hopefully soon by using a flavor of Linux most of the time online. Finding drivers that work with wireless technology and a few other things is the only thing really stopping me from using it online most of the time right now.

I still think certain things about Linux will keep the average computer user from migrating to it at this time, but hopefully people are working on making it more average user friendly (like Suse and Mandrake Linux- Mandrake Linux changed its name but I can’t think of it right now).

May I suggest they make the installing and removing of software much easier and try to limit all those various dependencies that a lot of Linux software need. It is always the case that if you install a program A you’ll need a program B for Linux.

Until things get a little easier Linux will remain a system primarily used by the computer programmer, computer enthusiast, or computer geek.

In the meantime something must be done about all the ridiculous hoops that Microsoft is trying to make its customers jump through. Apple anyone?

Comments (Page 2)

Jafo

on Jul 31, 2005

I just played with IE and found a way to disable the validation (very easy to do, but I won’t post instructions, because that’s probably not allowed).

Yes it is, on both counts.....thanks.....

BONEHEADdb

on Jul 31, 2005

If you have nothing to hide, this kind of verification shouldn't bother you.

N.W.O.

Phoon

on Jul 31, 2005

People are going to bitch and complain no matter what I guess.
You just don't see that the pirating makes it bad for the honest users.

Perhaps you would like to have your Tylenol not be safety sealed too so it is easier to poison...

bakerstreet

on Jul 31, 2005

"Perhaps you would like to have your Tylenol not be safety sealed too so it is easier to poison..."

As long as I don't ahve to ask permission from the company to open it, I'm cool with it being sealed. A more apt analogy would be purchasing my Tylenol, and then having to have someone check it for me every time I open it, and not for my own welfare, but because it threatens their bottom line.

Again, I wouldn't mind activation if it had a damn thing to do with it. In reality, though, the fact that they issue NON-activation versions to corporations cause the vast majority of their problems. You can't buy those in a box at Best Buy, so I fail to see how those of us who buy our OS retail are suspect.

They need to plug their holes where the holes are. If they issue copies that require activation to everyone, you won't see me griping. As long as it is the non-activation "XP Corporate" version that pirates circulate around the Internet, I fail to see how they think the retail versions are their problem.

Hitch427

on Jul 31, 2005

I do agree that pirating makes it bad for honest users, Phoon. I would have no problem if Microsoft took steps to eliminate pirating. The problem is that they’re not! This isn’t even phasing the pirates!

Bichur

on Aug 01, 2005

Jafo

on Aug 01, 2005

phasing

'fazing' .... Spell checker

aufisch

on Aug 01, 2005

I know what you mean Phoon, but for me, my activation 'gripe' is not just with Microsoft. I can't afford new software at the moment, but I heard about the new activation for recent Adobe products. I wouldn't like it either, and it really doesn't matter which company enforces it. To be really honest with you, I even don't quite like SDC and its activation process. I find all these a bit 'intrusive'.

All by itself it might not be a big thing, and I certainly wont spend sleepless nights over it, but in combination with the fact that we are already listed and registered with every credit/debit-card payment, every on-line banking, customer cards which keep a record of what you bought and when......., we turn into transparent people. Information is power. The more information you have about a person, the easier it is for you to influence this person by feeding to the persons needs (does that make sense?). Gmail is most likely the most blunt and open 'user' of such information for people gullible enough to subscribe to it.

As I said, I don't wear a tin-foil hat, but I am a free thinker and I like to step back a bit and try to look at the big picture and I am worried where it all will head in 20years time. After all we are all supposed to become good and regular consumers...

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central

Hitch427

on Aug 01, 2005

bah... you win this time, Jafo..

paxx

on Aug 02, 2005

Many people don't like being tied to a vendor for life once we buy their product.

Exactly. What if Microsoft stops supporting XP and authenticating it a couple of years from now? What if I wanted to reformat my old computer then and reinstall XP, say 5 years, or 10 year, or even 20 years from now? It is unlikely XP will validate or authenticate by then. What if Microsoft don't even exist anymore by then?
I purchase a license to use a Microsoft product. I should be able to ue that license any time I want or under any circumpstances. What if I have to reinstall Windows on a laptop somewhere where there is no Internet or no telephone?
I know these are rare unlikely circumstances, but still possible. There is something inherently wrong with being tied to a product manufacturer for life in order to use a software legally purchased.

And besides, as somebody else said, all these steps only inconvenience the legitimate users. Pirates aren't even phased by this. They just welcome the new challenge.

Corky_O

on Aug 02, 2005

You do know that MS was contemplating a subscription based OS for Vista (Longhorn at the time) - yes?

It was a discussion only on the MSDN, but if pirates keep it up, they may eventually go this route. We would then have to pay annually.

Seems to me that the starting $300 price tag for XP Pro (which works out to $60/year including updates on the extended support program) - is not too bad for a useful tool.

XP Home at $200 works out to $40/year including updates.

As far as justifying cracks, well that seems like rationalizing illegal activity to me. Perhaps an interesting idea until you get in trouble.

Dracil

on Aug 02, 2005

Until you compare it to OS X 5 license packs for $199, which works out to $40/license for a lifetime.

just john

on Aug 02, 2005

There is always a way around most of the validation processes. I am legit on my software at my office, however, many times the validation process is far too difficult and time consuming. In those cases I will opt to use a cracked copy to save time.

Microsoft activation is a joke. First of all you can activate a retail product twice. After some determined period of time, you can activate it again without any red flags. If you wanted to activate more, simply call in your activation and tell the operator that your HD crashed and they will activate it right away.

Validation is great. We spend a lot of money on software each year. We pay for software maintenance (I know that is an old term). So if I am doing everything right, you should have to too. I feel this way even if it means I can't save a few minutes by using a cracked version. Quit crying and buy your software.

NightTrainthedark

on Aug 02, 2005

Wizop Paxx nailed it.

Corky_O

on Aug 02, 2005

Until you compare it to OS X 5 license packs for $199

It is not about a comparison for me, it is a matter of whether I want to spend that much money on that particular tool, and whether it will do the job I need it to do.

I would imagine that for Mac users, the decision process would be similar.

I do not purchase an automobile based solely on it being cheaper than the other brand, I purchase the automobile based on (1) practicality, (2) features, (3) comfort, (4) price range, and (5) overall versatility for the job I need it to do.

I certainly would not purchase a stolen one.

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