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WARNING: Device Driver Updates Causing Vista Deactivation
According to James Bannan over at APC Magazine, even a simple device driver update could result in an installation of Windows Vista to be deactivated. This could be especially problematic on an overseas business trip, as Vista is bumped back into reduced functionality mode when it fails to activate within three days.
Excerpt from APC Magazine:
"When the machine is first activated, Windows establishes a baseline based on the installed hardware, but interestingly the information is not gathered
from hardware IDs (which are not necessarily unique), but from hardware information as reported by device drivers. Any changes away from this
baseline are weighted depending on the change (for example, a new CPU counts much higher than new RAM) and once the baseline threshold
is passed, Windows deactivates and a new activation request is generated".
The issue has to do with how Windows uses device drivers as the basis for the activation information, since device drivers can and do get upgraded over time. In such a case, the hardware information could be reported back to Windows as a physical hardware change.
Also:
So what this essentially means is that keeping your drivers up-to-date is a potentially very risky process, with all changes monitored and changes weighted cumulatively.
James concluded that legitimate purchases are unfairly penalised and left to live with Windows Activation. Pirates on the other hand, will probably apply an official workaround available for OEMs and get a fully-functional pirated copy of Vista Ultimate that does not require activation — or even a product key.
Re: WARNING: Device Driver Updates Causing Vista Deactivation
Oh I just love FUD.. and media FUD is the best type of FUD you can get because it's contagious, and Joe Public loves to gulp it up in bucket loads.
I leave my Windows Update set to 'automatically download but let me choose when to install'. And I would never install when I am on a business trip, or when I have a critical deadline looming. Easy.
Re: WARNING: Device Driver Updates Causing Vista Deactivation
I have had this problem on my VMC. I have it set to notify only and yet a couple of times while I've been away and the family has been using the VMC something has happened to start the de-activate countdown.
Its like the folders set-up where Vista tells you how to set up your system and there is no "expert" mode. It's a real PITA.
Re: WARNING: Device Driver Updates Causing Vista Deactivation
From this article it sounds like the problem is across all 3 versions of Vista (OEM, upgrade & Full). I can understand this problem occurring for OEM versions of Vista, but not upgrade and Full versions..
Re: WARNING: Device Driver Updates Causing Vista Deactivation
That's one of the problems. It doesn't affect OEM versions of Vista as no activation is required. That's how the activation process was cracked by the hackers. They fool Vista into thinking that it is an OEM version.
Re: WARNING: Device Driver Updates Causing Vista Deactivation
I copped it too on one of my copies of Vista. Fortunately I had a spare but I'll be buggered if I'm ringing MS on my phone bill to sort out the other license. I just installed OpenSuse instead. That's what they get. That's also the reason I didn't bother finishing v2.0 of Crunchie as it was that instance of Vista (my development machine) that barfed and told me I was a pirate even though the shiny golden holographic disk was sitting right next to me... too bad MS.. YOU SUCK!
Someone should write an antivirus program that identifies and removes windows Vista as the biggest viral threat to modern computing yet seen.
Quote:
So what this essentially means is that keeping your drivers up-to-date is a potentially very risky process
FUD some of it may be (aside from the legit reports listed above), but the quoted comment has always been true.
Re: WARNING: Device Driver Updates Causing Vista Deactivation
I had to call M$ when I swapped motherboard and had to type some ridiculous numbers.
Why they make it hard for legitimate users and easy for pirates?
MacOS Leopard did not ask me for any activation
Re: WARNING: Device Driver Updates Causing Vista Deactivation
Quote:
Originally Posted by vlad
I had to call M$ when I swapped motherboard and had to type some ridiculous numbers.
Why they make it hard for legitimate users and easy for pirates?
MacOS Leopard did not ask me for any activation
Re: WARNING: Device Driver Updates Causing Vista Deactivation
Quote:
Originally Posted by arkay
I coped it too on one of my copies of Vista. Fortunately I had a spare but I'll be buggered if I'm ringing MS on my phone bill to sort out the other license. I just installed OpenSuse instead. That's what they get. That's also the reason I didn't bother finishing v2.0 of Crunchie as it was that instance of Vista (my development machine) that barfed and told me I was a pirate even though the shiny golden holographic disk was sitting right next to me... too bad MS.. YOU SUCK!
Someone should write an antivirus program that identifies and removes windows Vista as the biggest viral threat to modern computing yet seen.
FUD some of it may be (aside from the legit reports listed above), but the quoted comment has always been true.
-Arkay.
No No No, it would be better if EVERY anti virus provider stopped producing software that runs on Vista, then when MS is left with no choice but to be the only supplier of anti virus protection and has to deal with the entire virus onslaught by themselves for free, then we will see how many gaping holes they will have the guts to leave in their OS's.
Re: WARNING: Device Driver Updates Causing Vista Deactivation
I think this feature has stuck my brother a couple of months ago.
He had a just bought a brand new Compaq laptop, then one day the modem started acting up. I took a look but could not solve it (probably an auto driver update), he wasn't too fussed as his broadband application was days from completion, so we disabled the modem (1 change down) to stop all the stupid errors.
A couple of days later we installed activated the wireless adapter to his broadband modem/router (2 changes).
A couple of weeks later he went on holidays to Thailand, he returned home, keen to unload his photos onto his laptop. What do you know Vista is now disabled...... What do you bet another auto driver update happened before he went on holiday and auto installed (3 changes).
The sad thing in all this is that he called MS after we tried the automated internet reactivation which refused to work. We got call forwared to automated support, having to enter a ridiculous set of numbers and then jot down an equally ridiculous set of numbers, which didn't work, we then elected an operator (from india of course) and they still could not get vista to reactivate. They gave us a number for tech support. He called this number and after a short conversation they hung up on him claiming he had an illegal copy of Vista !!!!!!!!
He then had to return the laptop to Harvey Normal and engage in a screaming match with the manager to get them to take it back..... in the end they ferried out a better spec laptop ! I suppose after all that he ended up better off, but all the same it is completly ridiculous that normal law abiding people get treated this way
Re: WARNING: Device Driver Updates Causing Vista Deactivation
Yep, not long after getting my htpc and upgrading it to premium, I installed another stick of RAM. Sure enough I had to ring M$ for another code. Like so many things these days, honest folk get nailed while the villains prosper.
According to James Bannan over at APC Magazine, even a simple device driver update could result in an installation of Windows Vista to be deactivated. This could be especially problematic on an overseas business trip, as Vista is bumped back into reduced functionality mode when it fails to activate within three days.
