OFB Community Mailing Lists

[Wade A Smith]

> Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 22:51:19 -0500
> From: "Fred A. Miller" <fmiller at lightlink.com>
> Subject: [CS-FSLUG] Do you still trust Bill Gates?
> To: "CS-FSLUG" <christiansource at ofb.biz>
> Message-ID: <200502252251.19658.fmiller at lightlink.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;  charset="us-ascii"
> 
> http://www.cnet.com/4520-6033_1-5673945-1.html?tag=nl.e501
> 
> -- 
> The only bug free software from MickySoft is still shrink-wrapped
> in their warehouse..."

I was reading this last night.   

http://news.com.com/Microsoft+to+disable+product+activation+over+Net/2100
-1011_3-5589504.html?tag=nefd.top

Microsoft to nix some Net product activation
Published: February 24, 2005, 4:44 PM PST
By Robert Lemos 
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Customers who find themselves reinstalling Windows XP should be ready for
a headache: Microsoft will no longer support activating the product over
the Internet for PCs which have Windows pre-installed. 

<snip> 

 The change is the latest attempt by Microsoft to target software pirates
who try to sell stolen copies of Windows XP or the certificates of
authenticity that mark the software as legitimate. The company has a plan
to check that people's operating systems are properly licensed before
allowing them to download certain updates. The plan, known as the Windows
Genuine Advantage initiative, was introduced in January. 

Starting Feb. 28, Microsoft's product security will require that
customers who need to reinstall their operating system call a customer
service representative to get a code that will reactivate their Windows
XP system. New systems shipped from the top 20 PC makers, also known as
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), will be preactivated, stated a
memo posted to the blog Aviran's Place. The Microsoft representative said
the memo was authentic. 

"To reduce the illegal trafficking of these OEM product keys, Microsoft
will 'disable' the ability to activate these direct OEM Product Keys over
the Internet," the memo stated. "When a customer or reseller tries to
activate using a Product Key found on the list of 'disabled' keys, the
online product activation wizard will instruct them to call Microsoft,
where a customer service representative can assist them further." 

The customer representative will ask several questions, such as where the
person bought the Windows XP system, to find out whether the certificate
is authentic, the representative said.