LXer: MS to OEMs: Get legit on Vista, or the OS is toast

LXer · 06-05-2007, 03:31 AM

Published at LXer:

Last week, Microsoft sent certified letters to its OEM partners regarding Vista's anti-piracy technology -- or, more accurately, what happens if they dare ship a system with a "non-genuine" copy of Vista. The answer: The system is crippled for 30 days, then hosed entirely until you pony up for a license. This is apparently what Microsoft means when it warns of a "diminished user experience."

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Cogar · 06-05-2007, 02:51 PM

Good article.

Quote:

This would be fine if Microsoft were a reasonably competent organization and Windows Genuine Advantage worked flawlessly. True pirates deserve to be punished. But Microsoft isn't and WGA doesn't – at least, judging by the many letters I got from Cringesters who bought legit OEM copies of XP from major manufacturers, only to have WGA label them as pirates.

I think we all knew that the system would make errors. I also believe everyone knows that Microsoft will be unresponsive. They will tell you that OEM software is supported by the OEMs (computer equipment assemblers like Dell) and not Microsoft and politely hang up on you.

Quote:

At press time, Microsoft's Vista validation forums contained about 600 similar complaints – including several from people whose validated systems suddenly failed the WGA test after installing third-party security software.

How dare someone use non-Microsoft software?