Windows XP activation phone call -whats the point?

esuhl

superscaper wrote:

That doesn't change whether the copy of windows itself is activated or not

I realise that. My installation of Windows is legitimate and activated: Microsoft have no business continually spying on me, although I acknowledge their right to initially check that I have a valid licence.

superscaper wrote:

as for saving bandwidth, the amount of data sent is very tiny and insignificant in terms of average internet usage.

Again, I know that. I was just being pedantic; it's the principle dammit! I pay for the bandwidth, and Microsoft should EXPLICITY ask my permission before wasting even 0.00000001% of it.

Thanks for your helpful replies though - it's just that Microsoft wind me up sometimes. I wish Linux was easier to learn!!!

Skint1

[QUOTE

Thanks for your helpful replies though - it's just that Microsoft wind me up sometimes. I wish Linux was easier to learn!!![/QUOTE]

Maybe you should check out Ubuntu. I tried loads of distros before this one but I never got the hang of it. Been using Ubuntu for 4/5 months now . The reason I moved was WGA I paid for XP and I don't want Windows looking over my shoulder every time I do some thing. Check out the forums here.

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/

justpaper

yes ubuntu is the distro for linux newbies! if anyone whats to try out linux go with ubuntu,.

i cant wait to get Vista and all its updates lol,. M$ made pc users stupid,

back to the topic: i rang 3 times for activation, within 3 days, no problem, key words harddrive problems

GaryS

I use Unix at work (along with MVS, AIX, NT, etc) and thought that I would dual-boot my laptop with Linux.
Installed Ubuntu and added the KDE desktop, very impressive.

Back to Windows XP activation, recent problem required me to format HDD and reinstall from scratch, activated via net with no issues whatsoever.

superscaper

I think people get over excited about MS, WGA has never caused me any problems and I certainly can't have double standards by complaining about WGA while playing games on Steam. As for "spying" that's just an inflammatory word, you can just remove WGA if you're that bothered about it, I'd hardly call it spying when it's sending the exact same data as when you first activate XP anyway, it is purely hardware information to make sure it is running on the same computer. For anyone interested in what information is sent it's: BIOS MD5 Checksum, IP address, Hard drive serial number, Language version of the operating system, Operating system version, PC BIOS information (make, version, date), PC manufacturer, User locale setting, Validation and installation results, Windows or Office product key, Windows XP product ID.

If you consider any of that "personal" information then maybe you're a bit over sensitive. As for my own experiences I've upgraded my pc many times including motherboard and replacing broken hard drive and I've still been able to activate windows quite legitimately even with using OEM version, so I've got no complaints about MS wanting to clamp down on piracy so long as it isn't intrusive on my use, and in my experience and opinion it hasn't been. Whether it's effective against piracy, who cares! that's MS's problem as long as it doesn't start affecting me.

esuhl

As superscaper says, you can disable/uninstall WGA. Here's the link if anyone's interested:

http://www.support.microsoft.com/kb/921914