Re: ok, let's clear this up MS - is Product Activation really restricted?

Steve N. wrote:
> kurttrail wrote:
>
>> Stephen wrote:
>>
>>> kurttrail wrote:
>>>
>>>>> Stephen wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> kurttrail wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Mtimerding wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On 30-May-2005, "Tim.T" <timatee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> For example, I didn't realise the number of times you could
>>>>>>>>>> activate it was
>>>>>>>>>> limited. I know this may be a precaution against piracy, but
>>>>>>>>>> MS should realise that people have to reinstall their OS for
>>>>>>>>>> many reasons, and just because they do it often
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I have to agree with Tim T, and disagree with all the
>>>>>>>>> replies to his post .... I too have run into the 'activation
>>>>>>>>> limit' as well, Not on one, but
>>>>>>>>> three different computers I own, 3 different vendors, with 3
>>>>>>>>> different copies of Windows XP. (2 have HOME on them, and this
>>>>>>>>> machine has
>>>>>>>>> PRO) ... As I am retired, and disabled, and thus have nothing
>>>>>>>>> better to
>>>>>>>>> to but play around on these computers and try different
>>>>>>>>> things, and as I usually screw up whatever it is I am trying,
>>>>>>>>> I tend to just format, reload Windows, and all my
>>>>>>>>> applications (until I blow it again) and reformat, start all
>>>>>>>>> over ....(Currently on my 5th system, in the last 7 years)
>>>>>>>>> ... and three times now, I have run into the 'Exceeded number
>>>>>>>>> of allowed activations on this copy of Windows' message when
>>>>>>>>> trying to activate. This last time, there was no phone number
>>>>>>>>> given or opportunity to activate via a different method. It
>>>>>>>>> just popped up a window telling me to enter a Product key
>>>>>>>>> from another/different copy of windows xp, and no other
>>>>>>>>> options. Fortunately, for me I had another (legal) copy of
>>>>>>>>> Windows XP Pro laying here,
>>>>>>>>> not being used ... so I just formatted again, reinstalled
>>>>>>>>> using that copy, and activated it. But,
>>>>>>>>> in this case, it was the copy of XP that came with this
>>>>>>>>> Alienware computer that
>>>>>>>>> would not activate again. (But, it had activated at least 5
>>>>>>>>> times since I got this
>>>>>>>>> computer 2 years ago) In fact, I had just reactivated it two
>>>>>>>>> weeks ago, before
>>>>>>>>> having to reformat again a week later.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Before this, it occured on a Micron computer, with it's OEM
>>>>>>>>> windows cd.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I also have a DELL system, with its copy of XP home downstairs
>>>>>>>>> for the
>>>>>>>>> kid to use.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> It seems to me, that the 'to many activations' message pops
>>>>>>>>> up, when trying to activate it somewhere around 3 times in a
>>>>>>>>> two week period.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I am not arguing it is right or wrong, or bashing Microsoft
>>>>>>>>> for it's WPA, but I am just disagreeing with the MANY people
>>>>>>>>> who post on this group
>>>>>>>>> and others that there is NO limit to activating on the same
>>>>>>>>> system, with OEM or Retail.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Because I know for a fact, as the original poster learned,
>>>>>>>>> THERE MOST DEFINATELY IS A LIMIT. (maybe it is imposed on what
>>>>>>>>> OEM you got your
>>>>>>>>> XP from, I don't know ...but the fact that it happened to me
>>>>>>>>> on 3 different machines from 3 different vendors tells me it
>>>>>>>>> apparently isnt all that rare.)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> There is no limit. The wording of the message is just
>>>>>>>> fallacious. And Dell systems are BIOS-Locked, so unless you
>>>>>>>> change the mobo, or flashed with a non-Dell BIOS you should
>>>>>>>> never need to activate it.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I'm not one to give MS any slack over PA, but it should like
>>>>>>>> you got something else going on, virus, or virus-like, maybe.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> What were you doing to get these computers to ask for
>>>>>>>> activation? --
>>>>>>>> Peace!
>>>>>>>> Kurt
>>>>>>>> Self-anointed Moderator
>>>>>>>> microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
>>>>>>>> http://microscum.com/mscommunity
>>>>>>>> "Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
>>>>>>>> "Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A copy of my WinXP Home got caught up in an "number of times"
>>>>>> Internet activation limit.
>>>>>
>>>>> The message that pops up is a horribly written message. I
>>>>> personally think it is done on purpose, but there really is no
>>>>> limit to the number of times you can activate.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> It isn't a virus .. it's some routine in WPA.
>>>>>
>>>>> Not a virus, then maybe you got a flakey BIOS, or hardware that is
>>>>> on the blink.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> don't know what triggers it .. someone suggests some sort of
>>>>>> 'three times in 90 days'.
>>>>>
>>>>> FUD.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> I wonder if they have a button at Microsoft,
>>>>>> because for one copy of mine which quickly reached that limit I
>>>>>> phoned in. Thereafter, I could activate over the Internet like
>>>>>> there was no tomorrow as if some magic button had been pushed in
>>>>>> their database for my product key .
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't think WPA is 'simple'. I think the software has a few
>>>>>> complications built in... or bugs!
>>>>>
>>>>> Certainly aren't quoting me. I don't think activation is simple.
>>>>> It is a pain in the ass. It can be buggy and flakey, but there
>>>>> really is no limit to the number of times you can activate. You
>>>>> may have to phone up MS to activate, and that is a pain in the
>>>>> ass, but there is no limit to the amount of times you can do that
>>>>> either.
>>>>>> No, I'm not pirating, I was tinkering alot, reinstalling a heck
>>>>>> of a lot.
>>>>>
>>>>> And I know how that is, and as long as you paid for you copies
>>>>> there really is little legal problem for you to circumvent PA for
>>>>> your own "fair use."
>>>>>
>>>>> There are ways around PA, and in your boat I'd avail myself of
>>>>> that option.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Peace!
>>>>> Kurt
>>>>> Self-anointed Moderator
>>>>> microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
>>>>> http://microscum.com/mscommunity
>>>>> "Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
>>>>> "Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"
>>>
>>> Well, in another thread I suggest a change in BIOS settings might
>>> somehow trigger a WPA event.
>>
>>
>> Yep, and sometimes driver changes too.
>>
>>
>>> There is definitely a WPA message that one has exceeded how many
>>> times one may activate.
>>
>>
>> "The message that pops up is a horribly written message. I personally
>> think it is done on purpose, but there really is no limit to the
>> number of times you can activate."
>>
>>
>>> Perhaps you have not seen it but it is there.
>>
>>
>> How many times do I have to repeat myself? Can you quote me saying
>> the message doesn't exist?
>>
>> THE MESSAGE IS WRONG! DECEPTIVE! ERRONEOUS! FALLACIOUS!
>>
>>
>>> It is not a virus, and people, including me, have experienced it.
>>
>>
>> I said that to one person, as a possiblility.
>>
>>
>>> I
>>> realize it is a bogus message as far as actual activation .. but it
>>> does block further attempts at activating over the Internet. A phone
>>> call, of course, 'fixes' it.
>>>
>>> In other words, I don't know how it works but I know what I saw and
>>> it told me I had exceeded my numerical limit. These guys aren't
>>> saying it happened for nothing - they actually got that message.
>>
>>
>> I understand that, and even some of the most fervent pro-PA MVPs in
>> this group would agree that the message does exist, but is very
>> poorly written, and doesn't accurately reflect MS's PA policy.
>>
>> The message should read something like "You have installed this copy
>> on a computer that has substantially different hardware than your
>> previous activation. Please call 800-555-5555 to explain this
>> difference and activate by phone."
>>
>> My personal opinion is that MS has left the message with its
>> deceptive word to get the uneducated consumer to buy another copy of
>> software. I can't prove this FRAUD, but I suspect it because this
>> wording has been a part of WIN XP since before it was released to
>> the public, and MS knows its misleading at best and has had 2
>> subsequent Service Packs to reword it, and hasn't.
>
> Three, if you count SP1, SP1a and SP2. Interestingly they chose to
> change the startup splash screen from displaying Windows xp
> Professional and Windows xp Home to just Windows xp with SP2. What is
> the purpose in that? Why would they go to the trouble of changing
> that and not something more meaningful and so potentially misleading,
> such as the "installed too many times" horsecrap message?
>
> BTW & FWIW, I have very recently installed OEM Pro SP1 and SP2 on the
> same exact hardware using the same OEM key no less than six times in
> less than a week and it has never failed to activate online. However,
> some months back I installed using the same key and installation media
> on the same hardware, replaced the HDD and did a clean install within
> two weeks and got the "installed too many times" horsecrap message,
> shut down, went to bed, started up in the morning and it activate
> online with no problem.
>
>>
>> It is my opinion that this fraudulent behavior is nothing new to MS.
>> It
>> is a proven predatory monopoly and a proven patent and copyright
>> infringer.
>
> Monopoly, yes, but patent and copyright infringement suits were
> settled out of court as I recall.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/11/14/HNorder_1.html

And the Eolas case is still in appeal, but the did lose that.

As for copyright infringement, I haven't found it yet but I'm fairly
certain they have lost at least one case.

>
>>
>> MS is not to be trusted.
>
> Maybe not, but WPA is definitely not to be trusted. You'd think that
> the maker of the world's most used software would be able to make
> their stinking WPA technology more consitent, reliable and accurate.
>
> Steve

Its like the Auto Industry is capable of building a car that will run
for a million miles, but why should they if you are willing to by a new
one every 100,000 miles.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"


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