Re: Validation of XP

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nl wrote:
On Mon, 2 Jul 2007 13:08:02 -0700, Desperateparents
<Desperateparents@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

We have 3 PC's at home. We each have a copy of the XP CD, all
purchased and real.

My 12 year old has had problems requiring frequent reinstall's etc. I
suspect she gets nasty files via chat.

Anyway. She now gets a message saying the CD has been used too many
times and cannot be used again. Why? We paid for it?

How do I fix this, or rather how does Microsoft fix this. My 12 year
old's immediate reaction was "Why do we use this platform if they
cheat us out of our software?".

Help!

If my 12 year old's PC needed constant re-installation of the OS, I
would tell him not to blame microsoft but (a) to stop downloading crap
off the net that screws up his machine and (b) that either he or his
parent (wait! That'd be me!) should install decent
antispy/virus/nastyware as a basic preventative measure.

And I should add that if you find nastyware that screws up your OS on
your kid's machine there's a good chance that there are some pretty
unsavoury websites in the history as well (I speak from experience).

I cannot stand those people who preach at other PC parents about how
to raise their kids, so I won't. I just tell you that frequent
reinstalls are a symptom of very poor 'PC hygiene' which needs to be
addressed urgently. Be grateful for the wake-up call from Microsoft,
even if that's not how they meant it.

In the meantime, when the OS says you can't install it anymore
(unusual unless your kid's given the XP authorisation number to
someone else with a non-legit copy of Windows) phone up the helpline
the verification routine gives you and plod through the manual
verification procedure. no-one wll give you a hard time. It is there
to help prevent piracy by making manual authorisations a
time-consuming pain in the ass.

hth

So it's the user's fault that MS has released an OS that is prone to
viruses/malware? I agree that everyone should practice safe surfing habits
but MS is certainly to blame for all this mess Granted, we will never be
truly rid of viruses but it certainly shouldn't be as big a problem as we
see today.


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