Microshafted?!

That seems like exactly what it is for Michael. I started a thread and it is not going in any productive direction. Both sides have stated their views and now it is getting repetitive and I feel, insulting too. I feel people are getting carried away with the higher moral ground attitude. I had the consent of a moderator to end it so I did. Maybe you would rather it descend into something far more nasty?

 

Tenson, I believe it fair to say no one really cares if you use a whole harddrive of ikky software, but the general rule of thumb is don't show off about it, then you don't get the line eh?

 

I guess you are right Gary. Lesson learnt. I am just amazed at the way so many people have reacted. I do have rather a grudge against the trouble XP has put me through.

 

i feel there's a lot of pots calling a kettle black here. i don;t condone software piracy (i make my living writing the stuff) however i'm sure that microsoft have built a piracy cost into the price they charge for the existing software - and seeing as the vast majority of their customers are pc manufacturers who pay pennies per copy i can;t see how (given their enourmous profits) the piracy of windows that does occur is harming them. if they wanted to stop all windows piracy they have the perfect medium to do it via the live updates. instead of an annoying popup they could shut your pc down totally.
m/s HAS to make the most money it can for it's shareholders - the fact is has chosen not to kill all the illegal copies shows there's something in it for them.
cheers


julian

 

You stole XP.
You screwed it up.
This is somehow Microsoft's fault.

AFAICT that's about it. I suggest you invest some serious time in learning how GNU/Linux and other Unixes work. And when you screw up and have to start again you won't end up in this mess.

Paul

 

Tenson, I don't think the thread was/is in any danger of getting nasty. I did see that you were getting a lot of flak and decided you might prefer to just kill it off than take the heat.

Michael.

 

Tenson
You're forgiven everything for posting E-bay's postal address and phone number over on the other place!

 

Haha! Thank you

 

Agreed, this is like rocking horse **** how did you get it?

 

Google is a powerful friend!

By the way the WGA thing came back again, clever thing! Thanks to a nice guy I have 2 new genuine copies of XP on the way though so it doesn't really matter.

 

You're wrong pal. Speaking personally I felt your original expectation that you should be able to use it for free because it's unfinished was flawed as did others. When they took issue you got a bit tetchy which seemed even more risable. Now you're moaning about being criticised. What do you expect?

 

Microsoft have a near monopoly when it comes to operating systems. You can use a mac or Linux but most common apps won't run on it so you have to cough up £100 for Win XP.
£100 is a lot if you haven't got it.

I have a bent copy of XP pro on my laptop, but I bought a copy at full price two years ago and installed it on an earlier machine.
I'll be damned if Microsoft are getting £100 every time I change machines. Same goes for OSX. I'm using it currently on my iMac (and paid for it) and i certainly won't be paying more to apple if I change machines.

Even with rife piracy Microsoft and Mr Gates make vast profits. Gates has 95% of PC users by the balls and it takes but a small squeeze to extract £100, time after time.

What was that about theft?

 

And of course MS' business practices throughout their entire existence have been beyond reproach.

 

Rob - you don't have to get a new license (for XP or OS X) when you change machines. Just uninstall from the old machine and install on the new one. The license is transferable to a new machine, it would be absurd if it wasn't.

Michael.

 

Where is the windows uninstall button?

 

I don't think it's quite that simple Michael. Most new PCs don't come with source software for example. If you do get hold of a copy, you can't re-use/re-activate a non-corporate license as far as I understand. I want to rebuild my PC but all this aggro has so far stopped me.

 

OK, you can't "uninstall" XP but you can definitely re-use a license on a new (or rebuilt or whatever) PC. You might have to chat to MS on the phone to get the activation to work though (and obviously the activation will no longer be valid on the 'old' PC)

 

I've installed my copy of Windows XP no end of times, sometimes when you try to authorise it it gives you a reference number and asks you to phone them (call centre in India) - they never ask any questions - just give them the number on your screen and then they give you another massive code to put in which gets it all authorised.

I also have a little utility that I bought off ebay which enables me to switch off the need to get it authorised. Just install Windows XP and Service Pack 2 and then run the app - and no more bubbles appear telling me I have 30 days to authorise it. I can still run Windows update and install any updates with no problems at all.

 

Out of interest, what's the difference between the full normal retail version of XP Pro, and the 'Academic' versions I can see for sale on ebay?

Whay is is cheaper, and is it fully legal to use it on your home machine?

 

Here's the academic license info
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/licensing/education/default.mspx

It's a pretty broad license and lots of people should qualify for it. AFAIK the software is the same as the retail XP, only the license you accept is different.