[CS-FSLUG] "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification" via autoupdate?

[Nathan T.]

I've seen some plausible false positives, but in many cases WGA seems  
accurate. Where I work we get phone calls every once in a while with  
someone complaining that their copy of Windows is reporting as  
illegitimate, at that point we ask them to bring it in and of those  
that don't shy away, every single occurrence I can think of involved  
a computer that didn't bear a Windows license sticker for the version  
they had installed. That's not to say the sticker being on the case  
proves innocence, I for one wouldn't soil my $300 Silverstone case  
with a Windows license sticker or "Intel Inside" case badge, so we  
assume the best of the customer and ask them where they got their  
copy of Windows from. Almost every time customers say they got their  
copy of Windows when they bought the computer second hand off an  
anonymous stranger, their kids installed it, their kids friend  
installed it, or a friend of a friend who's technically inclined  
installed it for them at no cost out of the goodness of their heart.  
None of these people have ever admitted to pirating copies.  
Interestingly the real pirates I've come across, those who had no  
problem admitting their copy of Windows was illegitimate, have never  
had problems with WGA, and maybe one or two people since I got my job  
had evidence enough to convince me that they got false positives.

I haven't had problems with WGA, but I block it as a matter of  
principle. WGA just like DRM is just another anti-consumer extension  
of the "trusted computing" idea (companies can control what you do,  
legal or not, without you having a say). By the way, I have a full  
boxed (not OEM) copy of Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit edition, I  
am legally allowed to transfer it from one computer to another, but  
thanks to product activation and WGA now if I want to do that I have  
to call Microsoft and wait for their approval.


On 31-Mar-07, at 5:51 PM, Tim Young wrote:

> I install the Windows Genuine stuff on my computers. Linux email
> client,"Pine" sends (or at least "sent") an email off every time  
> someone
> installed it. I am careful to adhere to most EULAs, as much as  
> possible,
> and I do not mind it people check that. I have reinstalled my OSes a
> number of times and have not yet needed to call up Microsoft to have
> them reactivate a license key. So far, I have not had any problems  
> with it.
>
> - Tim Young