WGA=Windows Guinine Advantage Removal

**Modulok**

Read here for instructions

I read somewhere that MS will turn off pcs in the fall after a 30day time period to obtain legit copies of windows.

another reason to love linux Grin

Blue|Fusion

**Modulok** · Posted: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 18:32:25 Post Subject:

yup...soon enough I will covert stuff at home to linux...

I have a squid proxy setup at work now for out internet monitoring and caching. My boss is starting to love the possibilies with linux.
--And he just knows what I tell him :-x

T-shirt

Hellfire · Rated XXX Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 3473

Maybe I'm one of the few...but what's the problem with a company putting in safe guards to ensure you've got a legit piece of equipment/software? Piracy is bad, and that is what this is trying to put a stop to.

Plus it's not just Microsoft that is doing it. Adobe has the same kind of scheme, and is going to be doing the same thing. I'm sure other companies are going to be doing it as well.

Now as for the reporting back to MS, I would agree that should be removed. But disabling the software if you do have a legit copy is valid.

**Modulok** · Posted: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 21:07:42 Post Subject:

Hellfire you are right, they have a valid point in not letting you use stolen software. The fact is people will steal software no matter what, there will always be someone better that can and will crack any protection.

The point that you pay hundreds of dollars on their software is steep enough, when they actively install stuff that makes your pc run slower and "phones home" every boot up is just wrong in my book.

I have a legit copy of winxp and still deny the install of WGA. There was an article on how they used a "pilot" version of WGA which "phoned home" more than the one at bootup.

I will not buy vista for $XXX.

/end of rant

Hellfire · Rated XXX Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 3473

Well as I said, I won't disagree that it's bad about the "phone home" aspect of it. I'm sure they'll change it so it only revalidates every other month or 90 days.

As for the slow-down, is that only when it's contacting MS? Because I don't see a slowdown otherwise. Maybe I'm in a minority at that...I still boot up in about 25-30 seconds (after post).

DragonMaster · Rated NC-17 Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 134

Just don't install the Windows Update patch (Automatic update should not be set to full auto, but to warn, then download. Then you'll be able to prevent auto-update from downloading WGA verification)

Anyways, I have Linux everywhere except one comp with WinXP SP2 legit dual-boot with SuSE 10.1. (Except an older comp with Win2k only)

**Modulok** · Posted: Sun, 02 Jul 2006 10:52:23 Post Subject: MS Denies Kill Switch

Microsoft Denies WGA Kill Switch

I know if you do not activate your copy of windows after 30days you cannot login.

Funny thing happened...friend of mine didnt activate win server 2003 in time. when he tried to login he HAD TO activate...he could not over the net b/c his nic was disabled and he couldnt get in....had to reinstall...haha...luckily it was just for a class and not a production server.

DragonMaster · Rated NC-17 Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 134