Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.ati (
More info?)
"J. Clarke" <jclarke@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:cnqjbk11dj0@news2.newsguy.com...
> Son of Blahguy wrote:
>
> >
> > "Nerdillius Maximus" <nobody@nowhere.net> wrote in message
> > news:4OUnd.75811$5K2.66707@attbi_s03...
> >>
> >> "J. Clarke" <jclarke@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
> >> news:cnngt50k0e@news3.newsguy.com...
> >>> Nerdillius Maximus wrote:
> >>>
> >> snip
> >>>
> >>> Having a CD and being able to install without an authentication server
> >>> are
> >>> not the same. I have a Windows XP CD. I can install but if
Microsoft's
> >>> authentication server ever ceases to exist I won't be able to run that
> >>> new
> >>> install more than 30 days.
> >>
> >> I have a legitimate copy of XP Pro, and I managed to get around this. I
> >> know
> >> you could do it too, info's out there. I didn't like M$' activation
> >> policy either. So I did it out of principle. I'll gladly pay for the
> >> product if I can install it and run it without having to jump thru what
I
> >> feel are unreasonable and time-wasting hoops in order to be able to
> >> change hardware or install on another box, after all, since I'm the
only
> >> one using it and I'm not pirating it out left and right at all, I feel
it
> >> is simply my right
> >> to fair use. And I have zero qualms about cracking copy-protection
> >> schemes so I can back up CDs, after all, I paid for the content, so
> >> essentially I feel it's mine to duplicate for backup purposes if I so
> >> choose without having to pay for a new copy. Laws aimed to combat
piracy
> >> only really hurt the honest folks and often cross the line of Fair Use,
> >> and that's where I draw mine. If anything, copy-protection or
> >> inconvenient authentication procedure acts as an incentive to pirate.
> >> Since cracks appear practically right after release, I would think
> >> authors/publishers would get the picture
> >> by now. What's next, books that can only be read once or only by the
> >> buyer?
> >> Burning them all, perhaps?
> >>
> >>
> >
> > You can actually activate XP online 4 times a year, and apparently there
> > is no check on the number of times you activate it by phone either.
> > If you get the "Your hardware has changed, please reactivate" message
and
> > have SP1 installed you get 1 online reactivation (I assume this is if
you
> > have used up your 4 already).
But assuming someone's living way out in the boonies with really poor phone
service, this really stinks. Well, scratch that. It really stinks anyway!
(Hence it must be cracked...)
> FWIW, I used up my 4 long ago--it's a blasted annoyance calling Microsoft.
> I was kind of surprised though when out of a clear blue sky one morning I
> cranked up the machine and it gave me "Your hardware has changed, please
> reactivate" and when I tried to reactivate it took it online with no
> problem. I was kind of hoping that Microsoft had figured out that
> activation was costing them more in support calls than it was saving them
> in piracy prevention.
I can't really see it's saved them much in terms of piracy prevention if at
all...from the looks of things it's been spread like *insert favorite
raunchy simile here* (peanut butter on Wonder bread, with a yomama or two
thrown in, just because it wouldn't be the same without the good ol' gal
there, all in good fun, ok?).
>
> > XP pro allows you 2 licenses. 1 for desktop PC and one for laptop.
> >
> > I think you can change about 9 items before you get the reactivate
message
> > (do have the list somewhere).
That list of hardware checks can be made very much shorter as well...
>
> --
> --John
> Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
> (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
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