Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool

[Marko Jotic]

how many of these are microsoft going to put out?
its like the fourth now
how paranoid are they?
why do they lie and call it critical?
I have genuine software here and its annoying to see new "Windows
Genuine Advantage Validation Tool" every couple of weeks
what advantage?


--
Marko Jotic
"Common sense is anything but common".
From the notebooks of Lazarus Long. Robert A. Heinlein.
Handmade knives, antique designs, exotic materials at
http://www.knifeforging.com/

 

[Gary]

how many of these are microsoft going to put out?
As many as they want.

its like the fourth now

Ya so.

how paranoid are they?

How paranoid are you?

why do they lie and call it critical?

Maybe it is to them.

I have genuine software here and its annoying to see new "Windows Genuine
Advantage Validation Tool" every couple of weeks

Then close your eyes.

what advantage?

You will still be able to get updates and they can find pirates.

 

[Nevermind]

how many of these are microsoft going to put out?
its like the fourth now
how paranoid are they?
why do they lie and call it critical?
I have genuine software here and its annoying to see new "Windows
Genuine Advantage Validation Tool" every couple of weeks
what advantage?

Where do Microsoft call Windows Genuine Advantage critical? I have
never seen it listed in the list of critical updates on the update page.
I do not even have it installed, since I do my updates manually.

 

[Marko Jotic]

Where do Microsoft call Windows Genuine Advantage critical? I have
never seen it listed in the list of critical updates on the update page.
I do not even have it installed, since I do my updates manually.

Every one has been a critical update for me

--
Marko Jotic
"Common sense is anything but common".
From the notebooks of Lazarus Long. Robert A. Heinlein.
Handmade knives, antique designs, exotic materials at
http://www.knifeforging.com/

 

[DanS]

You will still be able to get updates and they can find pirates.

Wrong !

They are not 'finding pirates'. They are finding mostly people that have
purchased a second-hand computer and were unaware that the version of XP on
their PC was not 'valid', and then trying to shake them down for $$ to
'make their XP genuine'.

The next most common scenario is that they had taken the PC for repair at a
local computer shop and that shop had used a 'pirated' version to 'fix' the
PC.

The persons that ARE aware of an illegitimate version of XP being installed
on their PC's are NOT installing WGA, and continuing on with no problems
caused by this.

 

[Leythos]

They are not 'finding pirates'. They are finding mostly people that have
purchased a second-hand computer and were unaware that the version of XP on
their PC was not 'valid', and then trying to shake them down for $$ to
'make their XP genuine'.

The next most common scenario is that they had taken the PC for repair at a
local computer shop and that shop had used a 'pirated' version to 'fix' the
PC.

The persons that ARE aware of an illegitimate version of XP being installed
on their PC's are NOT installing WGA, and continuing on with no problems
caused by this.

Ignorance is never an excuse. The SPA and many other groups that monitor
abuses of licenses and copyright clearly state that ignorance is not a
defensible position.

 

[Ghostrider]

Ignorance is never an excuse. The SPA and many other groups that monitor
abuses of licenses and copyright clearly state that ignorance is not a
defensible position.

Nor should deceptive, fraudulent and unethical practices that
prey upon the uneducated that become victimized under the tenets
of zero-tolerance perpetrated by the errors of others should go
unpunished amongst their practitioners. The same vigor that is
being placed to enforce the zero-tolerance of piracy should also
be used to insure that there shall be zero mistakes in rendering
a service. If this cannot be achieved, then there should be some
mitigation of the consequences of being blissfully ignorant (but
not stupidly ignorant).

 

[Leythos]

Nor should deceptive, fraudulent and unethical practices that
prey upon the uneducated that become victimized under the tenets
of zero-tolerance perpetrated by the errors of others should go
unpunished amongst their practitioners. The same vigor that is
being placed to enforce the zero-tolerance of piracy should also
be used to insure that there shall be zero mistakes in rendering
a service. If this cannot be achieved, then there should be some
mitigation of the consequences of being blissfully ignorant (but
not stupidly ignorant).

If you follow another post, about Possible Piracy, in one of the groups,
there is a very nice person that failed WGAN and has actually been in
communication with the pirate that worked on her computer. They were
paid to fix it, around $250, and then provided her with a Windows XP
Prog installation and setup on her existing computer. Until this week
she was unaware that it was pirated as the company seemed reputable -
it's a local vendor to her location.

As result of several Usenet messages and several emails, the company,
under threat (and because of properly educating this nice person)
actually offered her a XP Home edition CD/Media/COA as long as she
signed off all future claims - the person told them they installed Prof
on her computer and that nothing less than a Prof license would be
acceptable. They refused. She has reported the pirating company to MS,
will be reporting them to the SPA, and is contacting the local
authorities on Friday.

So, it seems that instead of feeling like they were screwed by
Microsoft, that the nice person knows they were screwed by the vendor
and holds no apparent ill will towards MS for telling them their
installation was pirated.

I don't know how this will end up, but they are going to update me as
things change/come about - I'm expecting the pirate company to offer XP
Prof OEM with COA to settle, but once the local authorities get
involved, if they have a technical type, it may not help her get a legal
installation. That being the case, for all that they've done, by doing
it the right way, I may just send them a OEM XP Prof + COA as a present.

It's good to hear when things like piracy is detected and the victim
actually does something about it - rather than complain like a sheep
would.

 

[GHalleck]

If you follow another post, about Possible Piracy, in one of the groups,
there is a very nice person that failed WGAN and has actually been in
communication with the pirate that worked on her computer. They were
paid to fix it, around $250, and then provided her with a Windows XP
Prog installation and setup on her existing computer. Until this week
she was unaware that it was pirated as the company seemed reputable -
it's a local vendor to her location.

As result of several Usenet messages and several emails, the company,
under threat (and because of properly educating this nice person)
actually offered her a XP Home edition CD/Media/COA as long as she
signed off all future claims - the person told them they installed Prof
on her computer and that nothing less than a Prof license would be
acceptable. They refused. She has reported the pirating company to MS,
will be reporting them to the SPA, and is contacting the local
authorities on Friday.

So, it seems that instead of feeling like they were screwed by
Microsoft, that the nice person knows they were screwed by the vendor
and holds no apparent ill will towards MS for telling them their
installation was pirated.

I don't know how this will end up, but they are going to update me as
things change/come about - I'm expecting the pirate company to offer XP
Prof OEM with COA to settle, but once the local authorities get
involved, if they have a technical type, it may not help her get a legal
installation. That being the case, for all that they've done, by doing
it the right way, I may just send them a OEM XP Prof + COA as a present.

It's good to hear when things like piracy is detected and the victim
actually does something about it - rather than complain like a sheep
would.

Real heart-wrenching. But Microsoft still handles this issue
of piracy in a frankly, brutal manner. The wrong people are
being terrorized and further victimized by the mechanics of
the computer business world. Microsoft needs to warrant the
validity of its products and it is being paid for this since
the sale price of a retail version of XP factors in loss of
profit from piracy, theft, etc., as well as goodwill sales
and distribution along with contributions to SPA and police
agencies. With WGA, and upon receiving the verification of a
WGA-confirmed invalid copy, Microsoft should simply replace
it with a bona fide copy. All of the enforcement task forces
and private Gestapo such as SPA that are involved do have the
means (as well as the funds) to use these invalid copies along
with the WGA data to crack down on the real criminals. Actions
like this would make more people feel better than worse.

And, BTW, I find that most victims really expect something to
be done but they are made to complain like sheep because they
see nothing done or feel that anybody really cares about them.

 

[Leythos]

Microsoft needs to warrant the
validity of its products and it is being paid for this since
the sale price of a retail version of XP factors in loss of
profit from piracy, theft, etc., as well as goodwill sales
and distribution along with contributions to SPA and police
agencies. With WGA, and upon receiving the verification of a
WGA-confirmed invalid copy, Microsoft should simply replace
it with a bona fide copy.

I completely disagree with your view - there is no reason that Microsoft
or any other vendor should have to replace pirated media with a valid
copy because the purchaser of the pirated media was unable to make a
good purchase.

There is nothing forcing people to purchase on eBay or from a pirate
shop in the neighborhood, etc... They are doing it to save a buck and/or
because they have not done any research on their purchase.

If you expect MS to replace a pirated copy of XP for free, then you
should also expect GM/Ford to replace stolen cards that have been
purchased, with new cars when the police take them from the purchaser.

It's utter BS to expect MS to absorb the cost of a pirated copy because
the user was uncaring enough to make a bad purchase.

If MS was offering free software to anyone that had a pirated copy,
heck, I would purchase 1000 pirated copies just so I could get 1000 free
licenses from MS - see how stupid that sounds!

 

[alanglloyd]

Leythos wrote:

Ignorance is never an excuse. The SPA and many other groups that monitor
abuses of licenses and copyright clearly state that ignorance is not a
defensible position.

Ignorance of the _law of copyright_ is no excuse, but ignorance of a
pirated copy being used can be a valid legal excuse if it is a
reasonable assumption that a genuine copy has been supplied. It is a
reasonable assumption that one is buying a genuine copy if it has the
hologram and is from a recognised software supplier. But it might not
be.

SPA have always overstated their case, and used threats unsupported by
a legal basis, to pursue their valid pursuit of a non-pirated
application environment.

Alan Lloyd

 

[Leythos]

Leythos wrote:


Ignorance of the _law of copyright_ is no excuse, but ignorance of a
pirated copy being used can be a valid legal excuse if it is a
reasonable assumption that a genuine copy has been supplied. It is a
reasonable assumption that one is buying a genuine copy if it has the
hologram and is from a recognised software supplier. But it might not
be.

I could see that, but most every poster of a pirated copy that anyone
has been able to determine is pirated, didn't get a Holographic CD,
didn't get a real COA Sticker, etc.... So, without the simple items that
can be validated before purchase in most cases, like a copy of the COA
with the numbers blanked out, to prove that it looks like a real COA,
you don't really know what you are purchasing - and it seems that most
people don't even think about it, mostly because Microsoft didn't
provide users an automated way to check, so they got use to not having
to care about owning pirated software.

Being lazy and complacent is still not an excuse.

 

[GHalleck]

If MS was offering free software to anyone that had a pirated copy,
heck, I would purchase 1000 pirated copies just so I could get 1000 free
licenses from MS - see how stupid that sounds!

Actually, Leythos, please do that. It makes you a bona fide
pirate/privateer and I would very much like to see you swing
from the nearest, highest yardarm. It is people like these
that need to be eliminated and one less predator is a step
in the right direction. One less Windows XP "loser" is not
and guess who is going to turn in that predator...when that
loser becomes enfranchised.

 

[Leythos]

Actually, Leythos, please do that. It makes you a bona fide
pirate/privateer and I would very much like to see you swing
from the nearest, highest yardarm. It is people like these
that need to be eliminated and one less predator is a step
in the right direction. One less Windows XP "loser" is not
and guess who is going to turn in that predator...when that
loser becomes enfranchised.

You know I was kidding and trying to make a point, I actually buy extra
licenses for clients and myself just to make sure we're always covered.

The people that need to be eliminated are the ones taking advantage of
the ignorant purchasers. Once the ignorant purchasers get screwed the
first time they (most) won't make that mistake again. The only thing we
can hope is that the are ethical enough to go after the pirate through
the legal system - in some cases it could be a much stiffer crime if it
takes place across state lines.

I always encourage people to file a claim with the BSA/SPA, the vendor,
and then with their local LE group.

 

[Rhonda Lea Kirk]

Real heart-wrenching. But Microsoft still handles this issue
of piracy in a frankly, brutal manner. The wrong people are
being terrorized and further victimized by the mechanics of
the computer business world. Microsoft needs to warrant the
validity of its products and it is being paid for this since
the sale price of a retail version of XP factors in loss of
profit from piracy, theft, etc., as well as goodwill sales
and distribution along with contributions to SPA and police
agencies. With WGA, and upon receiving the verification of a
WGA-confirmed invalid copy, Microsoft should simply replace
it with a bona fide copy. All of the enforcement task forces
and private Gestapo such as SPA that are involved do have the
means (as well as the funds) to use these invalid copies along
with the WGA data to crack down on the real criminals. Actions
like this would make more people feel better than worse.

And, BTW, I find that most victims really expect something to
be done but they are made to complain like sheep because they
see nothing done or feel that anybody really cares about them.

Well, I read the thread in question, and violet's problem has nothing to
do with WGA.

Here's the entire thread:

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...96ef26170a4/00653e66473b9029#00653e66473b9029

or

http://makeashorterlink.com/?V51812C3D

You will note that she passed validation, to wit:

"I clicked on the validation key. It did not give me the gold colored
bar at
the top of my screen (for active X), however, the next screen that came
up
said...thanks for validating "

So although this situation just stinks, it's not on point regarding all
the issues and complaints about WGA.

rl
--
Rhonda Lea Kirk

Insisting on perfect safety is for people
without the balls to live in the real world.
Mary Shafer Iliff

 

[DanS]

There is nothing forcing people to purchase on eBay or from a pirate
shop in the neighborhood, etc... They are doing it to save a buck and/or
because they have not done any research on their purchase.

So the woman that got the XP installed by the seemingly reputable local
shop for $250 was saving a buck ?!?!

 

[Leythos]

So the woman that got the XP installed by the seemingly reputable local
shop for $250 was saving a buck ?!?!

No, she thought she was paying for services and the software, when she
was really only paying for services and an illegal installation of XP
Prof.

After working with her on licensing and what the COA looks like, she has
learned what to look for and how to determine if she's getting a real
license - now it's up to the local LEO and the local court system.

 

[Noozer]

If you follow another post, about Possible Piracy, in one of the groups,
there is a very nice person that failed WGAN and has actually been in
communication with the pirate that worked on her computer. They were
paid to fix it, around $250, and then provided her with a Windows XP
Prog installation and setup on her existing computer. Until this week
she was unaware that it was pirated as the company seemed reputable -
it's a local vendor to her location.

...and I ask again, HOW is the the WGA a "SECURITY UPDATE". It's NOT, it
should never have been described as one.

A simple, "System check" or other description closer to the truth should
have been used.

 

[Gary]

"With WGA, and upon receiving the verification of a
WGA-confirmed invalid copy, Microsoft should simply replace
it with a bona fide copy."

Are you for real? If you buy a stolen car should Ford give you a new one
because you were stupid?

 

[Gary]

Simple: To you it may be a "System check" but to Microsoft its a "Security
Update" all depends on your point of view.