[IP] more on Windows Genuine Advantage First hand Experience

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Rahul Tongia <tongia@andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: June 15, 2006 5:25:43 PM EDT
To: dave@farber.net
Subject: Re: [IP] Windows Genuine Advantage First hand Experience

Dave,

One more data point to add to this thread...

I had to update my MS-Office 2000 for the *critical* security update  
today, and even though the tools online supposedly allow you to  
download larger files that then don't require the installation CDs, I  
had dig out the CDs when it kept asking for a Data1.msi file.  Bleah.  
I don' keep installation CDs on me, and I doubt most people do, either.

I'm not saying I know an easy answer to how to manage anti-piracy  
with security, but it MUST be better than this!

Rahul

--On Thursday, June 15, 2006 11:04 AM -0400 David Farber  
<dave@farber.net> wrote:

> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Robert Grosshandler <rob@iGive.com>
> Date: June 15, 2006 10:26:52 AM EDT
> To: dave@farber.net
> Subject: Windows Genuine Advantage First hand Experience
>
> Yesterday, I had the pleasure of a system I purchased myself being
> targeted
> by WGA as being "bad".  The system had been repaired, who knows  
> what had
> been done to the drive.  Plus, it had been out of my hands for a   
> while,
> so
> it is possible the Windows product key had been "borrowed" and used
> elsewhere.
>
> The process to become "good" again was a bit tedious, but not  
> terrible.
> Mostly tedious because the keys used are so long.
>
> First, the system told me it was "bad" when I did Microsoft Update.
> Following the links in the page telling me of this unfortunate  
> news,  I
> found
> a link to a tool to let me re-enter the Product Key (from the  
> sticker  on
> the
> laptop).
>
> Reboot.
>
> Still bad.
>
> New screen from validation process, which had a very long key on  
> it,  plus
> localized toll free telephone number to call.
>
> Call the automated system.  Enter very long key. (Really good  
> automated
> system, fwiw.)  Still bad.
>
> Get automatically routed to a person (in India it sounded like, but no
> language issues.)
>
> Read code to person.
>
> He asked me how many computers were using this key (just this one),
> model of
> computer, where purchased, when purchased.  He did NOT ask me  
> personally
> identifiable info.
>
> He read me back long code.  Enter code.  System now "good".
>
> Throughout, I was given the presumption of innocence, never did I feel
> "guilty of stealing".
>
> Whole process took maybe a half hour, including the reboot.
>
> News from the front.
>
>
> Rob
>
> =================================
> Robert N. Grosshandler
> www.iGive.com
>
> Turn your online shopping into philanthropy for your favorite cause
>
>
> ---
> [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus]
>
>
>
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