Product activation....flaw.

[Shadowriath]

Activation is unlimeted given that you never change the
hardware in your system or build a new one. Now it will
allow to do so a given number of times. So by the end of
one year one person keeping up with hardware update's and
timely formating of drives WILL surpass this limet with
out failure..not to meantion occasional windows failures
requireing a reinstall or just swaping secound hard
drives. Problem now is this forces the end user to take
on unwanted or needed messure's..two of which MS wants
them to. Either buy another copy of WinXP (most will opt
not to), or call for a new number via lengthy and
confusing phoneing costing the end user alot.

Now this can be fooled by just copying the "wpa.dbl" and
replaceing every so many days once you have reached this
point.

-----------------

The avg. person is only going to buy a product once and
only one copy regaurdless how many times they will use
it. This is inevatiable and unavoidable.

[Len Segal]

The "average user" does NOT continually upgrade their system. The "average
user" buys a box from a store and adds tons of software, but doesn't ever
open the box.

"Power users" do tend to continually upgrade their systems. If they do it
within 120 days of a previous install, they will need to re-activate. They
may be required to call MS and explain that they just did a major HW update.
The call is usually to a toll-free number, takes ~5 minutes and is quite
cordial.

This is really a non-issue for most users and a minor inconvenience to a
small minority of users.

--

Regards,
Len Segal, MCP
Microsoft - MVP
--------------
My reply address is intentionally wrong to reduce SPAM Email.
NOTE: We do not respond to unsolicited Email support questions,
please post questions in newsgroup.

"Shadowriath" > wrote in message
...
> Activation is unlimeted given that you never change the
> hardware in your system or build a new one. Now it will
> allow to do so a given number of times. So by the end of
> one year one person keeping up with hardware update's and
> timely formating of drives WILL surpass this limet with
> out failure..not to meantion occasional windows failures
> requireing a reinstall or just swaping secound hard
> drives. Problem now is this forces the end user to take
> on unwanted or needed messure's..two of which MS wants
> them to. Either buy another copy of WinXP (most will opt
> not to), or call for a new number via lengthy and
> confusing phoneing costing the end user alot.
>
> Now this can be fooled by just copying the "wpa.dbl" and
> replaceing every so many days once you have reached this
> point.
>
> -----------------
>
> The avg. person is only going to buy a product once and
> only one copy regaurdless how many times they will use
> it. This is inevatiable and unavoidable.

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

This is the information myths are made from.
The call, which is toll free most places, takes about 5 minutes.

Your information about wpa.dbl is incorrect or misleading at best.
It will not work for a format.

See these links for the real facts instead of the myths you post:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Please post links to support your "facts"

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
Please respond to newsgroup only for everyone's benefit.


"Shadowriath" > wrote in message
...
> Activation is unlimeted given that you never change the
> hardware in your system or build a new one. Now it will
> allow to do so a given number of times. So by the end of
> one year one person keeping up with hardware update's and
> timely formating of drives WILL surpass this limet with
> out failure..not to meantion occasional windows failures
> requireing a reinstall or just swaping secound hard
> drives. Problem now is this forces the end user to take
> on unwanted or needed messure's..two of which MS wants
> them to. Either buy another copy of WinXP (most will opt
> not to), or call for a new number via lengthy and
> confusing phoneing costing the end user alot.
>
> Now this can be fooled by just copying the "wpa.dbl" and
> replaceing every so many days once you have reached this
> point.
>
> -----------------
>
> The avg. person is only going to buy a product once and
> only one copy regaurdless how many times they will use
> it. This is inevatiable and unavoidable.

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Shadowriath wrote:
> Activation is unlimeted given that you never change the
> hardware in your system or build a new one. Now it will
> allow to do so a given number of times. So by the end of
> one year one person keeping up with hardware update's and
> timely formating of drives WILL surpass this limet with
> out failure..not to meantion occasional windows failures
> requireing a reinstall or just swaping secound hard
> drives. Problem now is this forces the end user to take
> on unwanted or needed messure's..two of which MS wants
> them to. Either buy another copy of WinXP (most will opt
> not to), or call for a new number via lengthy and
> confusing phoneing costing the end user alot.
>
> Now this can be fooled by just copying the "wpa.dbl" and
> replaceing every so many days once you have reached this
> point.
>
> -----------------
>
> The avg. person is only going to buy a product once and
> only one copy regaurdless how many times they will use
> it. This is inevatiable and unavoidable.

You have been grossly misinformed. Take the time to learn a bit about WPA
before making uninformed statements.

302806 - Description of Microsoft Product Activation:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;302806

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

302878 - Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Product Activation:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;30287

Windows Product Activation (WPA):
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm



--
Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

For a better way to access these newsgroups look here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp

[§kullywag©-]

On Sun, 8 Jun 2003 03:16:09 -0400, "Len Segal" >
wrote:

>The "average user" does NOT continually upgrade their system. The "average
>user" buys a box from a store and adds tons of software, but doesn't ever
>open the box.
>
>"Power users" do tend to continually upgrade their systems. If they do it
>within 120 days of a previous install, they will need to re-activate. They
>may be required to call MS and explain that they just did a major HW update.
>The call is usually to a toll-free number, takes ~5 minutes and is quite
>cordial.
>
>This is really a non-issue for most users and a minor inconvenience to a
>small minority of users.

I take it you do not service/repair PCs on the side. I also take it
you have never met a person who tried to "get rid of" Internet
Explorer by deleting the program folder. Or lose their system to a
virus almost weekly. I've come across HUNDREDS of problems like this.
They are not "stupid" people......just PC illiterate. Hell, I've
known people how have trashed their system checking their email.
People who do not have a "working knowledge" of PCs are DEADLY to an
OS.

In MY experience, "Power Users" generally know what they are doing,
and have the need to wipe/install less often than the novice. I have
one box that's been running XP since the day XP came out, and another
that has a 3 yr old copy of Win98SE running fine.




§kullywag©-

[Len Segal]

I fully agree with you. The original point however was someone's assertion
that "the average user" continually upgrades hardware! I still contend that
they don't upgrade hardware frequently, but the certainly do install all
sorts of software (much of which causes damage to other software or is virus
laden).

--

Regards,
Len Segal, MCP
Microsoft - MVP
--------------
My reply address is intentionally wrong to reduce SPAM Email.
NOTE: We do not respond to unsolicited Email support questions,
please post questions in newsgroup.

"§kullywag©-" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 8 Jun 2003 03:16:09 -0400, "Len Segal" >
> wrote:
>
> >The "average user" does NOT continually upgrade their system. The
"average
> >user" buys a box from a store and adds tons of software, but doesn't ever
> >open the box.
> >
> >"Power users" do tend to continually upgrade their systems. If they do it
> >within 120 days of a previous install, they will need to re-activate.
They
> >may be required to call MS and explain that they just did a major HW
update.
> >The call is usually to a toll-free number, takes ~5 minutes and is quite
> >cordial.
> >
> >This is really a non-issue for most users and a minor inconvenience to a
> >small minority of users.
>
> I take it you do not service/repair PCs on the side. I also take it
> you have never met a person who tried to "get rid of" Internet
> Explorer by deleting the program folder. Or lose their system to a
> virus almost weekly. I've come across HUNDREDS of problems like this.
> They are not "stupid" people......just PC illiterate. Hell, I've
> known people how have trashed their system checking their email.
> People who do not have a "working knowledge" of PCs are DEADLY to an
> OS.
>
> In MY experience, "Power Users" generally know what they are doing,
> and have the need to wipe/install less often than the novice. I have
> one box that's been running XP since the day XP came out, and another
> that has a 3 yr old copy of Win98SE running fine.
>
>
>
>
> §kullywag©-

[Gerhard Nowak]

This is really a non-issue for most users and a minor inconvenience to a
>small minority of users.


Of course not! There are only americans in america and nobody in the rest
of the world!