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MS new validation policy
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MS new validation policy
 by Justin Hall
Microsoft has started a new policy of authenticating the Windows operating system. Previously when a user has installed Windows they had to activate the OS with Microsoft online or by phone. One could understand why Microsoft put the activation process into place, with all the pirating that was taking place with early verisons of Windows.
Now Microsoft has taken authentication of the Microsoft Validation to a whole new level. Starting now, they will be checking your operating system every month. Now, I'm not saying this development is bad or good. I'm just wondering what impact this has on our daily lives. Ever since I received an email stating this new policy I've been wondering why Microsoft felt the need to validate each copy of Windows every month and have come up with a couple of reasons why...
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Re: MS new validation policy
there are pros and cons to everything. I, and Im sure Im not alone - dont like the fact that a company you have paid to use their product, feel that have to 'check up on you'. And doing it helps them provide better service just doesnt cut it. There are less invasive ways to do that.
Being a constant traveller in the gaming and Lan crowd, I am always intrigued that there's an attitude of amusement towards what MS(or anyone) do thats overbearing to try reduce piracy. The wii, psp, DS and x360 have already been modchipped, the ps3 isnt far off. Torrenting ripped movies, music and software is so prevalent it is commonplace. People have no sense or concern that they are doing anything wrong.
It may or may not be a poor excuse, but I have had many many people say to me - "Bill Gates is the richest man is the world with XXXbillion - this wont hurt !!" and they have no qualms with ripping MS off ! 
When paying $770 retail for an OS license, I can *easily* see why the average user balks at this price, and then contemplates appropriating it via other means.
At the end of the day, I think its human nature to take the option that is easiest/least costly. i dont think human nature can ever be changed, but piracy can be reduced by embracing things like less restrictive electronic distribution and exploring ways to reduce costs to consumer.
it's a tricky one.
still, monthly check ups suck. I'll love to hear what the Apple crowd will say about this, given their recent walloping of DRM.
lolz....open source looks better each day. If only it was more accessible to the 'average user'
astro |
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By
Auldar
on
3rd May 2007, 02:20 PM
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Re: MS new validation policy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Astrotoy7
still, monthly check ups suck. I'll love to hear what the Apple crowd will say about this, given their recent walloping of DRM.
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I can hear the new ads already..
The PC guy (who intentionally looks suspiciously like Bill Gates) is strapped to a chair in a hospital gown. A "Doctor" is going over him with a fine tooth comb and a magnifying glass.. The "Mac" guy (from the axed series "Ed") is standing next to him looking comfortably and casually dressed saying.. "Hey PC.. What are you doing?"
"I'm getting "examined", to make sure I haven't pirated my software - I have to do this once a month, but I find this whole experience very invasive to my..er..privacy"
At which point the "Doctor" puts on a rubber glove, and we get a close up look of PC's face, looking very uncomfortable..
Funny stuff :P
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Re: MS new validation policy
So do we actually own the software, or is Big Brother always watching?
Crap to say the least.
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By
DDH
on
3rd May 2007, 02:49 PM
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Re: MS new validation policy
Quote:
Originally Posted by drewhiggins
So do we actually own the software, or is Big Brother always watching?
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You have purchased a licence to use the software according to a set of conditions. If this is one of the conditions, and you don't like it, then your only choice is not to use it.
Having said that, the idea of being watched over sucks 
Feel free for soemone to correct me if I'm wrong (its happened before  ), I thought that there were two licence types, KMS and VA (current version 1.0) one needed constant checks to a server / M$ and the other doesn't. Are we sure the author is not confusing these  and creating a story?
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Re: MS new validation policy
This sounds like one small step closer to the inevitable shift to subscription versions of Windows.
If Microsoft thought they could get away with it right now they would stop selling Windows and offer it on a subscription basis for a monthly or yearly fee, then they could legitimately answer the inevitable "I purchased the software and now own it, how can you do this?" with the answer of "no, you don't own it at all, you just rent it from us".
Personally, I don't really mind about this small step to monthly activation, I don't currently use any pirated copies of Windows, but I lament the fact that it is a small step towards the point when I will have to pay more than once for my copy of Windows.
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Re: MS new validation policy
I can see why they're doing it , and I support every effort by MS to crack down on piracy. If everybody paid for the software, it would probably only cost a few hundred dollars.
But the more I think about this 'monthly' validation thing, the more I get worried about the example it sets.
Think of how many apps you have installed - then consider that all of them start implementing this 'monthly' validation thing... You'll definitely start having performance problems. My machine already takes far too long to boot up!
I just worry about the precedence it sets. I trust MS to do the right thing - but I don't trust others. And you can't make one law for MS, and one law for the rest.
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By
Circuit
on
3rd May 2007, 03:24 PM
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Re: MS new validation policy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Auldar
I can hear the new ads already..
The PC guy (who intentionally looks suspiciously like Bill Gates) is strapped to a chair in a hospital gown. A "Doctor" is going over him with a fine tooth comb and a magnifying glass.. The "Mac" guy (from the axed series "Ed") is standing next to him looking comfortably and casually dressed saying.. "Hey PC.. What are you doing?"
"I'm getting "examined", to make sure I haven't pirated my software - I have to do this once a month, but I find this whole experience very invasive to my..er..privacy"
At which point the "Doctor" puts on a rubber glove, and we get a close up look of PC's face, looking very uncomfortable..
Funny stuff :P
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I'd love to see that ad on television
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Re: MS new validation policy
I accept that anti-piracy is necessary and even desirable despite my skepticism about any intention by M$ to make software cheaper but privacy in this day and age is becoming a thing of the past and M$ are a party to this invasion of your right to it. I suppose we are all victims of Microsoft's success and the fact that as a result we have very few options. I don't know where the answer is but I'll say this much... I'd hate to be employed by the PR department of Microsoft! I reckon I'd be hiding down a very deep hole! |
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By
ancall
on
3rd May 2007, 06:31 PM
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Re: MS new validation policy
Quote:
Originally Posted by bonjupiter
...If everybody paid for the software, it would probably only cost a few hundred dollars. ...
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With respect I disagree. The price has nothing to do with the cost (or even lost profits). The fact is MS has created a product that for at least 85% of the market has no real subsitute. Sure it costs a lot of money to develop an OS but the market underneath MS is fragmented and competitors such as Apple, linux, UNIX or anything else cannot gain sufficient momentum to challenge.
Consider linux, even though free and a good enough product it is fragmented into different distributions, non standard apps has no popular market appeal and critically minimal manufacturer support base - who is going to lookup "man" pages when they want to install a new app? If it was a real competitor people would use it in preference to pirating a copy of Windows.
Its enough to make one want buy a Mac ...with a copy of MS Office of course!
ancall
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Last edited by ancall; 3rd May 2007 at 10:57 PM.
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By
mcopas
on
3rd May 2007, 09:35 PM
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Re: MS new validation policy
There doesn't seem to be anything new about this at all.
Windows Genuine Advantage has been phoning home regularly for a while now.
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By
paulm2
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4th May 2007, 02:29 PM
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Re: MS new validation policy
"We may also share aggregate data with others, such as hardware and software vendors and volume licensees to help protect their license keys."
This seems to imply that M$ checks other vendors software while they are at it.
Very disturbing.
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By
arkay
on
4th May 2007, 02:56 PM
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Re: MS new validation policy
Haha.. Well. It doesn't happen on my Linux boxes Personally I far rather read a "man" page or two and learn how to use linux than put up with this commercial stand over crap from an organisation that has never proved itself trustworthy from a consumer perspective.
Cheers,
Arkay. |
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Re: MS new validation policy
Without talk of piracy, there is always the vista time stop tool that locks the activation time to 30 days.
Works very well.
Interestingly I am about to reinstall my VMC, and I wonder if it would be best to reinstall the timestop tool or not.
P.S. This isn't piracy, although would be against the EULA - but who really cares about that, MS have the authority to trash your system according to their EULA.
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By
slimf
on
9th May 2007, 02:04 PM
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Re: MS new validation policy
Ive always been OK about Microsoft protecting their operating systems by adding validation to them - but this time they have gone to far.
I purchased an OEM Vista 32bit for my brand new work PC about 2 months ago.
I installed vista - and activated it all OK.
Been running well until last night when i turned the PC on and vista kindly informed me that as my hardware had changed I needed to activate - and that I had TWO days to do it. (my machine hasnt had its case off since i finished building it, so i have no idea why it said this!)
Easy enough I thought - so i clicked on Validate online. I was then promptly told that the install key had been used on another computer and that I had two choices. 1. Purchase a new copy or 2. use another key!
Tough titties as far as they were concerned!
So I decided to try to activate by calling them.. The automated system told me the same thing - that it had been used on other hardware! I did however have the option to speak to Mr Indian.
Mr Indian asked me if I had 'given' my copy of Vista to someone else to use - I relied absolutly not (why would I - I purchased the damn thing with my own money so I WOULDNT HAVE ACTIVATION ISSUES!). In fact, I purchased two copies.. A 32 bit version for my work PC and a 64 bit version for my Media Center (which i havnt used YET)
He activated it for me, but now I feel like MS has formed an opinion of me and I feel like ive been branded a criminal when infact ive done NOTHING of the sort.
My guess is that some punk with a bloody key generater stumbled across my key and used it.. I dont suppose I will ever know.
If someone at MS ever reads this - TREAT LEGAL CLIENTS WITH RESPECT - They respected you enough to spend HUNDREDS of dollars on your software. Get your technical issues with activation systems FULLY sorted out before releasing it on paying clients. Branding a paying client as a pirate just might put ideas into their heads.
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