Sign in required to access KB articles form 'Help and Support'

I used 'Help and Support' in Windows XP Pro to search for information. When
I selected a KB article, I was required to sign in to access the article. I
emailed Microsoft for an explanation of WHY it was necessary to sign in to
access KB articles, especially with the customer reaction to the 'phone
home' feature of WGA, and received a reply that asked for my PID!

Phil Weldon

The sign-in is for the Microsoft Passport accounts....but they've linked
that in to the MSKB system. (a pain, I agree, but if you let the thing
"remember password, the logon will be automatic).

"Phil Weldon" wrote in message
nk.net...
I used 'Help and Support' in Windows XP Pro to search for information.
When
I selected a KB article, I was required to sign in to access the article.
I
emailed Microsoft for an explanation of WHY it was necessary to sign in to
access KB articles, especially with the customer reaction to the 'phone
home' feature of WGA, and received a reply that asked for my PID!

Phil Weldon

They have too many customers and want to get rid of some of them.

John

Phil Weldon wrote:

I used 'Help and Support' in Windows XP Pro to search for information. When
I selected a KB article, I was required to sign in to access the article. I
emailed Microsoft for an explanation of WHY it was necessary to sign in to
access KB articles, especially with the customer reaction to the 'phone
home' feature of WGA, and received a reply that asked for my PID!

Phil Weldon

'John' wrote:
| They have too many customers and want to get rid of some of them.
_____

That was my feeling also, especially after the reply from customer support
asked for even MORE identifying information.

Phil Weldon

"John John" wrote in message
...
| They have too many customers and want to get rid of some of them.
|
| John
|
| Phil Weldon wrote:
|
| I used 'Help and Support' in Windows XP Pro to search for information.
When
| I selected a KB article, I was required to sign in to access the
article. I
| emailed Microsoft for an explanation of WHY it was necessary to sign in
to
| access KB articles, especially with the customer reaction to the 'phone
| home' feature of WGA, and received a reply that asked for my PID!
|
| Phil Weldon
|
|
|

'Andrew Murray' wrote:
| The sign-in is for the Microsoft Passport accounts....but they've linked
| that in to the MSKB system. (a pain, I agree, but if you let the thing
| "remember password, the logon will be automatic).
_____
First WHY should identification be necessary at all to use reference
material?
Second, it seems to me that if a password is necessary, that implies that
selecting 'remember password' is poor security practice. But hey, what else
is new?

Phil Weldon

"Andrew Murray" wrote in message
...
| The sign-in is for the Microsoft Passport accounts....but they've linked
| that in to the MSKB system. (a pain, I agree, but if you let the thing
| "remember password, the logon will be automatic).
|
| "Phil Weldon" wrote in message
| nk.net...
| I used 'Help and Support' in Windows XP Pro to search for information.
| When
| I selected a KB article, I was required to sign in to access the
article.
| I
| emailed Microsoft for an explanation of WHY it was necessary to sign in
to
| access KB articles, especially with the customer reaction to the 'phone
| home' feature of WGA, and received a reply that asked for my PID!
|
| Phil Weldon
|
|
|
|
|