[driven]

I gotta love this ... when WGA gets it wrong.

My computer has the factory copy of Windows XP installed on my Dell Inspiron D810. It's been on there for over a year. Today Windows decides to tell me that I have a counterfit copy of Windows and that I'll no longer be able to get updates. <sigh>

Not sure how I'll fix this yet. If it weren't so sad it would be funny.

[Rumor]

I've heard a lot about this. WGA is crap and affects more legit people than hacked people.

[turtle777]

Haha, only in Windozeland.

-t

[Chuckit]

Now, that is truly a genuine advantage.

[Big Mac]

Why do you have it on, driven?

[bstone]

I assume there is a number to call? I recall once calling it, but that was years ago and the guy wasn't too helpful.

[powerbook867]

wow that sucks...but it looks like it might be getting even worse....

Vista to take hard piracy stand - Tech News & Reviews - MSNBC.com

[olePigeon]

You are not allowed to use the Internet because you do not have a Genuine Internet Connection. Please call 1-800-GET-MSNI.

[driven]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

Why do you have it on, driven?

The computer doesn't do much if it's off.

[seanc]

Strange. Download something like Magic Jelly Bean key finder to make sure the one on the bottom of your computer matches the one that Windows has. It may have been changed somehow

Edit: I had to call Microsoft to activate Windows after my last installation and the American man seemed very friendly and helpful

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by powerbook867

wow that sucks...but it looks like it might be getting even worse....

Vista to take hard piracy stand - Tech News & Reviews - MSNBC.com

Here's the kicker: Windows Ultimate -- the most expensive one of the lot at $400 -- will not have the anti-piracy crippling "feature." Windows Ultimate is also eligable for corporate licensing. Guess which one companies will buy to avoid all that crap with Enterprise and Small Business Professional?

Microsoft is as slick as Jerry Lewis' hair.

[seanc]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Here's the kicker: Windows Ultimate -- the most expensive one of the lot at $400 -- will not have the anti-piracy crippling "feature." Windows Ultimate is also eligable for corporate licensing. Guess which one pirates will buy, sell and download to avoid all that crap with Enterprise and Small Business Professional?

Microsoft is about as as stupid as <insert something stupid here>

Fixed

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Here's the kicker: Windows Ultimate -- the most expensive one of the lot at $400 -- will not have the anti-piracy crippling "feature." Windows Ultimate is also eligable for corporate licensing. Guess which one companies will buy to avoid all that crap with Enterprise and Small Business Professional?

Guess which version will also be available at every torrent site on the Net?

[Dakar]

My thoughts precisely.

[powerbook867]

All I can say is thank the Gods above for OS X....

Wow, did not know that about Windows Ultimate....these guys are about as smart as a box of hammers...

[Rumor]

At least it isn't called Vista Extreme.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by driven

The computer doesn't do much if it's off.

It's the safest mode for Windows.

You can't get any spyware, viruses or adware.

-t

[driven]

This is why I'll only use Apple machines at home. Not Windows. <sigh>

Anyway- It gets more bizarre. If I go to the WGA web-site and run their online tool it says my Windows is Genuine. However this stupid task bar icon keeps telling me it's pirated. Apparently it's not crippling anything (because Windows Update uses the web-version), it's just driving me nucking futs.

[powerbook867]

If you are feeling daring...here is how o disable it...

How to disable or uninstall the pilot version of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications

[driven]

I'll give it a try. Thanks!

[seanc]

There was a lawsuit against Microsoft a while back which won I think over the fact that WGA Notification is techincally spyware. Auto updates install it potentially without you granting it to, it cripples the functionality of your computer but unlike spyware you can't easliy get rid of it by using Adaware or Spybot.

[rickey939]

[ghporter]

WGA IS spyware, but they do give you notice (if you bother to read it) that it's being installed and what it does. At least they do now.

Call Microsoft's Activation 800 number and talk to someone about this. It's probably a goof in the WGA code, nothing more.

[driven]

Originally Posted by ghporter

WGA IS spyware, but they do give you notice (if you bother to read it) that it's being installed and what it does. At least they do now.

Call Microsoft's Activation 800 number and talk to someone about this. It's probably a goof in the WGA code, nothing more.

I didn't have an opportunity to read it. It was pushed to my laptop by my companies patch management solution.

I called Microsoft. The only thing they would do is acuse me of being a thief and said that WGA would only do that if it were a pirated copy of Windows. When I suggested that it was pre-installed by Dell at least a year ago and it's just now acting up they said that I should call Dell because perhaps someone pre-loaded a counterfit copy. <SIGH>

In any event I was able to boot into safe mode and unregister/blow away the DLLs involved. Boneheads.

If I'm going to get called a pirate and a thief I might as well just pirate the darn thing in the first place.

[turtle777]

As we all know, it's not a bug, it's a feature

-t

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Here's the kicker: Windows Ultimate -- the most expensive one of the lot at $400 -- will not have the anti-piracy crippling "feature."

Source???