Windows copy protection.

[Fidelio]

I'm not condoning piracy. In fact, my one windows xp CD is currently installed on precisely one machine. But I have installed it, at various times, on 3 different machines, sometimes two at once, and have activated over the internet about 10 times. And somewhat gingerly, I clicked on 'update' which I was allowed to do on two separate PCs running the same disk. , After about 10 installs on different machines, I had to phone up, but it still let me install it again, after speaking to an automated voice. All without cracks or keygens.

I'm running linux now out of choice, and my one windows PC is, once again legit, and I need to keep it, because I need Cubase. But looking back, I'm just astonished I got away with it. Is all this 'windows genuine advantage stuff' just smoke and mirrors or what?

[guinra]

When you change hardware configs (or rarely, when I've installed VMWare or any other device that adds hardware, particularly NICs), Windows may prompt you to reactivate. MS allows a grace activation in such instances because they know some people change hardware quite a bit. However, I always thought there was a limit to how many times you could do it.

I'm sure though that when you reactivate with a new hardware profile, the others are invalided, and would not be valid in the future (say for an upgrade to Vista).

[igknighted]

I'm not condoning piracy. In fact, my one windows xp CD is currently installed on precisely one machine. But I have installed it, at various times, on 3 different machines, sometimes two at once, and have activated over the internet about 10 times. And somewhat gingerly, I clicked on 'update' which I was allowed to do on two separate PCs running the same disk. , After about 10 installs on different machines, I had to phone up, but it still let me install it again, after speaking to an automated voice. All without cracks or keygens.

I'm running linux now out of choice, and my one windows PC is, once again legit, and I need to keep it, because I need Cubase. But looking back, I'm just astonished I got away with it. Is all this 'windows genuine advantage stuff' just smoke and mirrors or what?

Man, I've reinstalled windows (xp) on the same computer like 10 times and every time after about 3 I have had to call up and talk to a live person. Granted I've never actually gotten a question harder than "how many computers is this installed on" and they've never not believed me, but still...

[Chrisj303]

I read a little while back, that legally Microsoft can not refuse to activate your copy of windows.


TR_606

[sloggerkhan]

I think they are mostly getting serious about that kind of thing with Vista.

[M$LOL]

Man, I've reinstalled windows (xp) on the same computer like 10 times and every time after about 3 I have had to call up and talk to a live person. Granted I've never actually gotten a question harder than "how many computers is this installed on" and they've never not believed me, but still...

Just copy wpa.dbl from System32 onto a memorystick and restore it whenever you reinstall Windows so you won't have to re-activate.

[igknighted]

Just copy wpa.dbl from System32 onto a memorystick and restore it whenever you reinstall Windows so you won't have to re-activate.

Hahaha, nice... i'll remember that.

[guinra]

I've heard about that before, but I don't think it passes the new genuine check, does it?