1> Windows decides to freak out due to (I'm guessing) my new GPU
1> engages paranoia mode
1> makes me re-activate
1> with stupid voice recognition that doesn't understand me
1> GRRR
1> then after enough frustration, I jsut pulled up the on screen keypad and fumbled that twice before getting all the numbers in
3> I also read the comments :)
1> my phone's on screen keypad really just blows
1> it's a good thing the phone offers voice recognition
3> gee 1>, yet another reason why I don't use doze
1> apparently Microsoft finalyl did something over that Lenovo OEM key that leaked out LAST AUGUST
1> what do you have to do if you have that key?
1> find another OEM key and punch that one in
1> :)
3> are you have fun re-activating? :)
1> yeah
1> only this copy happens to be legit
2> Are you to the point of having to ring microsoft yet?
1> already did so
3> ah, what fun
2> Because you have used out the free retries.
1> I've never had activation problems out of pirate copies
1> nah, apparently OEM only lets you internet activate a few times
1> then you have to call the automated hotline
3> in Microsoft's eyes, every customer is a potential thief!
2> Its getting harder 1>
1> it's bad enough that Microsoft won't suppoort you if you have OEM Windows anyway
1> you have to call (in my case) a little company in Texas that didn't make Windows
1> :)
3> perhaps if you sent them some money?
1> 3>, I'm sure that worldwide (or even just counting civilization), there are more users of pirate copies of Windows than there are people who paid for it
3> but what do I know? I use FC1
3> it would be interesting to know the exact statistics
2> Really not 1>
2> The numbers have pirated at about 20 to 30 percent of the MS market.
1> 2>, You figure the infinite rearm thing is here to stay?
2> Nop its not here to stay.
2> Have you not worked it out yet.
1> yeah
1> why would MS make it so easy to reset the rearm count?
2> under 2 years XP will end.
2> Then people will wake up want the activation thing really means.
1> http://badgerherald.com/blogs/arts/amateurgourmand/cookie-monster-diet.jpg
1> hehe
2> Its like unlimited use keys. They disappeared. 1>
3> what if some people want to keep using XP?
2> Stiff
2> Pirate will be the only option.
2> Unless you have legal volume keys. But that still will not help you.
3> my distrust of microsoft is merited
3> but now I know in my marrow :)
2> Vista and Windows 7 don't have any unlimited use volume keys.
2> Microsoft is a slow closing trap.
4> thats not true
*4> holds up a disc labeled "windows 7 crack"
4> behold, my unlimited volume key
2> Sorry 4> even that is not
3> I'm sure they could pull all sorts of tricks
2> Windows Live Mail and other items of MS are developing dial home features.
4> but who the fuck uses windows live shit?
2> It will not stop just with Mail.
2> Ie the trail ground.
1> 2>, I was clinically dead for about 10 seconds
1> BIOS Flash day is a very dangerous day
1> :)
1> I couldn't manage to get the original BIOS ROM from ZT Systems, so I used AMI's Winflash utility to pull it straight out of my BIOS, which froze Windows
1> rebooted
1> tried again, successful this time
1> modified the ROM, Flashed it, rebooted OK, realized I made a typo in my modification
1> edit the ROM again
1> flashed it
1> reboot, moment of truth
1> and here I am
1> yay
1> I hate flashing a BIOS, hate it
1> I doubt my adrenal gland could go into overdrive like that if I was being chased by Michael Myers
1> it's like either it works, or you just destroyed a $200 motherboard
1> major shoot your own foot potential
1> Well, now that I'm wide awake.....
*1> goes to clean the room before the buzz wears off
1> 3>, Why did I do it? Because I'm sick and tired of Product Activator harassing me about something I damned well paid for
*1> does his Daffy Duck impersonation
1> Woo hoo woo hoo woohooo!!!!
1> Microsoft ought to warn people that these OEM Windows step up promo discs want reactivated everytime someone walks past you and coughs
1> I don't know why these discs are special
1> normal OEM gives you three non-motherboard hardware changes every month
1> the OEM step up discs seem to only give you one
1> a driver update can set it off
1> replacing your video card can set it off
1> probably RAM and hard drive too
1> jono, You Ubuntu guys need to take a lesson
1> this is probably the only thing you could add to 10.04 that would make it more of a pain in the ass
1> :D
2> MAK keys are worse.
2> Each activate causes a count down.
1> MAK keys are the devil
1> I have a few for Windows Server
1> yeah, one shot for internet activation and if you must reinstall you have to call MS
2> MAK are not exacly one shot.
1> even if your system hardware is identical to when you installed it last time
2> I have like 50 for 23 licend bundle.
1> What sucks is for retail activation
1> you have to speak to a live person at Microsoft to transfer the license to a PC with a different motherboard
2> retail activation is turning into MAK
1> Microsoft considers OEM to be for one motherboard and one only
2> I am already missing the Old XP VLK
1> if your mobo fails, you have to replace it with an identical model
1> or sweet talk them and hope that works
2> That is what is written in the licence.
2> MAK trip on change of primary network card. 1>
1> well, primary network card is the one on the motherboard in most PCs
1> of course it's not really meant to be installed on a normal desktop PC I guess
2> To be correct MAK trip on cange of the MAC number on the primary network card.
2> Note network card on motherboard MAC number is settable.
1> right, otherwise you could install the same MAK license on infinite systems
1> if they had the same model NIC
2> Say hello hell if a virus gets smart and starts randomising MAC addresses.
1> lmao
1> that would be truly funny
1> 2>, I've changed my MAC address manually to get free wifi before
1> sniff for whoever else is on the wifi system already and clone their MAC
1> usually gets you through a paywall without paying
1> that works at the local coffee house
2> Note the network card check in windows 7 has runined virtual machine runners day.
2> No longer can you run multiable copies of the same image
2> With different mac addresses talking directly to each other.
1> I bought a goddamned $5 cup of coffee, let me on your damned wifi
1> you know? :)
2> Not a problem really.
1> lots of the big chains give you free wifi access if you buy a coffee
1> not this dude
1> first thing that pops up in your browser is a walled garden page wanting your credit card
1> I'm just not having any of it
1> :P
1> so yeah, that would suck if spoofing my MAC address caused Windows to deactivate
1> :)
1> it doesn't do that on XP
1> I know that much'
2> Its a feature introduced in Windows 7 1>
1> "feature"
2> Just like the once every 90 day dial home of OEM versions of Windows 7
2> Failure to dial home go into limp mode.
1> OEM with SLIC never calls home I believe
1> OEM without SLIC does every 90 days
1> with any sufficiently complicated system, you can game it after sitting back and watching how it works long enough
2> Windows 7 SLIC still dials home.
1> it's why DRM fails eventually
1> all DRM
2> Instead of 90 its 180
1> ahhhh
1> why did they bother killing the Lenovo key?
1> if all you need do is enter another key
1> 5 minutes of inconvenience?
1> that'll show 'em :P
2> Don't worry black screens of death are coming.
1> if they start that up, they net a bunch of real OEM SLIC users
1> right?
1> the setup is identical
2> No its not.
1> that's why SLIC mods work, you use real custoemrs as human shields
2> Remember what I said about mac address on network card.
1> hmmm
1> yeah, what about it?
2> They also take motherboard serial number as well.
2> So yes the activation key from MS is the same.
2> But the detial ID the system the CID is not.
1> oh, so basically this looks like Operation Human Shield until they come up from behind and shoot you in the head
1> :D
1> cool
1> so they can still shut down all the pirates without warning at any moment
1> but they're letting it work for now, why?
2> marketing.
1> so they can hit them all at once with a "Buy a new serial" screen one day
1> after they get comfy usign Windows 7 for free?
2> By the way. They did not disactivate the Lenovo key on true Lenovo hardware.
1> hmmm
1> Lenovo said they wouldn't be using that key on real Lenovo hardware
1> right?
2> Pirates it was a warning shot.
1> should be easy to tell who the pirates are then
1> anyoen using the key is a pirate
2> Lenovo has had the full CID list.
1> ahhh
2> So every machine in the factory activated.
1> so even if they did ship real systems with that key, Microsoft could still get only the pirates
1> with the blacklisting
2> Yep.
1> yikes
1> I better back up my real BIOS ROM
1> :D
2> And here is the best bit people don't know.
2> If you back up activation of XP and try to restore a few SP latter it don't work.
1> Microsoft's OEM discs are crippled btw
1> they won't accept mass OEM keys for different versions
2> Reason the activation data has had to change with SP updates.
1> they will turn themselves into better versions with anytime upgrade though
1> so the components are obviously there
2> Gets more evil Windows 7 it will be contect to MS server and send you key and cid for new update of code.
2> Only one problem the licence they don't have to tell you they are doing this.
2> Until after they have disabled your machine.
1> so Service Pack 1's biggest feature is a lot of Black Screens of Death?
1> is what you mean
2> Not yet.
2> Looks like they will wait for SP2
2> Not enough market pentration yet.
1> yeah, the bitch about SPs is that you can skip them, but tonce one is out, you only get like a year of hotfix support for the RTM or last SP
1> whatever the case may be
1> so you will install it eventualyl or be out of support
2> Windows 7 is designed to get the pirates once and for all.
2> Lot are saying they have cracked it.
1> so you can make the SLIC and SLP identical to an OEM machine
1> but your MAC isn't, so they can flag you anyway
2> Yep 1>
2> Next I expect to see is having to ask permission to change harddrives.
2> Ie using motherboard network and harddrive as lock.
1> nah
1> hard drives fail too often
1> they'd get swamped with pissed custoemrs
1> *customers
2> About once every 3 years.
2> That is about perfect for how often MS wants you buying a new OS.
1> the more hardware they tie it to, the more angry customers they will have
1> because the higher chance that an anchored hardware piece fails
2> If you read your Windows Licence you are legally anchored to the hardware.
1> just the motherboard
1> right?
1> that's the only thing that could permanently deactivate you
1> right?
2> Wording leaves it up to MS own selection.
2> So what ever MS want to lock you to.
1> so this is the policy, but they'd be within their rights to change their mind
1> if they want to say you replacing your optical disc drive counts, then it does
2> Yep all you are stating is policy.
1> yuck
2> Not what they are legally allowed todo. Yes for the 5 changes they use to count optical disc drives.
1> this deal gets worse the more you read into it I guess
1> (not that anyone does)
2> I did.
2> and kinda went I am out of here Linux looks good.
1> the ATI drivers are really the only thing keeping me out of Linux full time
1> they are bad when you're using Linux apps
1> they barely work with Wine at all
1> maybe you get lucky here and there
1> but it's hardly first rate support
2> At least they are improving.
1> I don't really care if it's proprietary or not so much that one of them works
1> maybe by the tiem Microsoft bombs people with the Black Screen, they will?
1> :)
2> Lot of pirates think they can beat MS.
1> and they have so far
2> Really they exist because MS lets them exist.
2> Because most pirates cause more copies of windows to be sold.
1> right, better to turn a blind eye to it than leave a bunch of people using Linux
1> it's not something they want to have going on, but it's not the worst thing that they could let happen
1> from their pov
1> worst thing that could happen is they clamp down and lose a third of Windows users
1> http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10280251-17.html
1> heh
1> 2>, Ultimate jsut gives a few features nobody uses and cuts out your extended support cycle, right?
1> you're actually paying another $20 for Bitlocker and to lose 5 years of Extended Support
1> most people don't even have a TPM or any need for the extra languages
1> so buying Ultimate jsut means that they pay more and lose security updates after 2015
5> most people don't have a TPM?
5> nowadays i can't even avoid getting one with a laptop
1> neither of my desktops have them
5> you're lucky
1> so the only thing 7 Ultimate would give me over Pro is it costs more and I lose Extended Support
1> :P
1> I think it's mainly just there so people will spend an extra $20 for it
2> 1>: Ultimate and pro give you double the support of home . 1>
2> Ie Ultimate and Pro have the same Extended support
1> nope
1> Ultimate has no Extended support
1> jsut Mainstream support
2> Read closer.
1> Pro and Enterprise have Extended
2> If you have Ultimate you can install Pro
2> And then get the same support as Pro.
2> The extra features in ultimate that are not in Enpterprise don't have extended
1> 2>, so what will become of Ultimate users that don't get extended support?
1> ahhh
1> so you still get security hotfixes in Ultimate after 2015?
1> 2>, The two biggest limitations I see in Home Premium are RAM and no group policy editor
1> no gpedit makes it real frustrating
2> No file locking 1>
2> in home either.
2> So Home is less safe on a network if you value your files.