Implications of MSFT's Inane New SPP (Software Protection Platform)

C

Chad Harris

The problem is not that MSFT is addressing piracy with a legal staff
dedicated to it full time under the direction of Nancy Anderson, Associate
General Counsel.

Of course MSFT faces a huge, sprawling piracy problem as evidenced by the
maps and literature they hve circulated at their meetings from booths
attended by their attorneys and other employees over the years. It is
complicated by the fact that many governments don't cooperate fully, and
there is a similar situation in India in respect to patents for
pharmaceuticals and in medicine in general in respect to HIV and the Avian
Flu pandemic and Mr. Gates is building on his learning curve in this area
right now.

Microsoft and its partners and its system builders certainly have crucial
concerns over the systemic implications of piracy.

The problem is that MFST is choosing to address piracy in an erratic fashion
that has already shown substantial evidence of inflicting massive collateral
damage and friendly fire on their customers. I hope that if they don't
change this concept that has already proved to cause significant problems
with WGA in its new incranation as SPP, that they are forced to back off the
way they usually are-- they face money loss. If they had been able to make
precise surgical tools, that would be one thing. But they already know that
they are killing Vista and Longhorn Server on boxes that have fully
legitimate licenses and they don't seem to care. This is evidenced if you
read Ed Bott's account of how stupidly they fielded the calls and messages
from a major Windows author, expert, and writer of columns on Microsoft's
site.

I don't have any doubt there will be substantial litigation and possibly
class action suits for Nancy Anderson's legal team at Microsoft, and while
many suits are baseless--these will not be and they will be filed by high
quality legal talent.

Ed Bott is doing a stellar job of tracking this, analyzing, and critiquing
this and Ed Bott co-authors one of the most complete and authoritative
Windows references for every operating system including the one that has
pre-sold nearly a million copies, "Windows Vista Inside Out" by Microsoft
Press
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9361.asp

Ed Bott's Bookstore
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?page_id=993

Ed Bott's Three Blogs

Ed Bott's Microsoft Report
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

Ed Bott's Windows Expertise/Tips, tricks, news, and advice about Windows and
Office
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

Ed Bott's Media Central
http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/index.php

Ed Bott's Columns on MSFT's Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bott.mspx

The author of one of the major books on Windows OS's and numerous
articles for MSFT over the year Ed Bott has taken MSFT to task for their
sloppy work with WGA repeatedly in the last few months and the same sloppy
work with SPP and MSFT has had totally ignorant spokes persons speak to
different questioners that are quoted on Ed's two blogs currently with the
most inane and no knowledgable defenses of WGA which does not work correctly
and SPP which will not work correctly immaginable. They are making a fool
of themselves with the implemenation of WGA and SPP and they are going to
learn to back off when it hits them in the area they worship--their money.

See and note in these articles the inane responses of MSFT representatives
to the author of one of the best selling major books on their major
Operating System software and others--one more example of MSFT's perception
of the public as stupid and their tin ear contempt for the public who are
their customers and put Windows on 97% of the boxes on the planet.

I want people to note this conversation because it speaks volumes about
MSFT's inane contracted support and MSFT's oversight of it and MSFT's
attitude as to how little it means when they represent themselves to their
customers--this is a conversation that Ed Bott had with "MSFT PSS" probably
Convergys of Ohio contracting:

From Ed Bott at http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

"I called Microsoft support to see if there is a hidden option to say, "yep,
I've got updates turned to manual: it's okay." The rep said, "No and why
wouldn't you want to get the latest updates to Windows."

I responded with the issues relating to WGA. He spent some time telling me
that WGA was a good thing, etc. I reiterated that I have accepted all the
updates except WGA and just want to review the updates before they're
installed on my machine.

He told me that "in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory
and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the 30
days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you might
as well install WGA now." [emphasis added]

I'm wondering if Microsoft has the right to disable Windows functionality or
the OS as a whole (tantamount to revoking my legitimate Windows license) if
I do not install every piece of software that they send it updates.

That can't be true, can it? I'm always suspicious of any report that comes
from a front-line tech support drone, so I sent a note to Microsoft asking
for an official confirmation or, better yet, a denial. Instead, I got this
terse response from a Microsoft spokesperson:

As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program expands
in the future, customers may be required to participate. [emphasis added]
Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can best
meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any changes to
the program.

That's it. That's the entire response.

Uh-oh. Currently, Windows users have the ability to opt out of the Windows
Genuine Advantage program and still get security patches and other Critical
Updates delivered via Windows Update. The only thing you give up is the
ability to download optional updates. Hackers have been working overtime to
find ways to disable WGA notification. If WGA becomes mandatory, would it
mean that Microsoft could prevent Windows from working if it determines -
possibly erroneously - that your copy isn't "genuine"? That's a chilling
possibility, and Microsoft refuses an easy opportunity to deny that that
option is in its plans.

Over at Ed Bott's Windows Expertise, I've been soliciting feedback from
Windows users who've been burned by WGA. So far, I've received 20 comments.

Here's a sampling:

a.. I have an XP Media center with a promise RAID 0 4-disc array. When I
installed the WPA it broke the drivers for the array by causing failed
delayed writes (half of the array just "disapears".) If I do a system
restore to before the installation of the WPA everything goes back to
working just fine.
b.. ince installing WPA : I've had blue screens and a total inability
to boot. I had to run the XP repair function to get the computer to boot. I
had a damaged boot sector on the hard drive. I am running two drives on a
RAID 1 config.
c.. I purchased a SEALED OEM copy of XP Professional. WGA said the license
key was already used. I called MS and they said I should uninstall and buy
another copy. I told them I wasn't made of money and hung-up.
d.. Microsoft rejected the product key that came with the ThinkPad I'm
using. I had to call in and they gave me another code to enter which
supposedly worked but now I get the blue screen of death about every other
time I reboot. I've also lost all internet connectivity.
e.. I sent my Compaq Presario notebook for service repair, and it fails
the WGA check. I have a legal version of windows xp professional on it. But
I have no way to correct this problem.
What's most disturbing about this whole saga is Microsoft's complete lack of
transparency on the issue. And before the ABM crowd jumps in with
predictable "What did you expect?" comments, let me argue that Microsoft
actually has a fairly good track record on transparency issues in recent
years. Windows Product Activation is very well documented, and when a
similar uproar occurred in 2001, it was squelched quickly by some fairly
prominent postings from high-level executives who provided details without a
lot of spin. Likewise, the Microsoft Security Response Center has done an
exceptional job at providing quick responses to security issues. (Just ask
Adam Shostack.)

Currently, no one at Microsoft is blogging about this fiasco. No executive
has been quoted on the record about it. There are very few technical details
available, and those that have been published are being tumbled through the
spin machine and spit out as press releases.

If Microsoft really does plan to turn WGA into a kill switch in September,
be prepared for an enormous backlash."

From Ed Bott on October 5, 2006:

UAC Good; SPP Not So Good
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

"SPP, on the other hand, is the successor to Windows Genuine Advantage. Both
initiatives have in common a reliance on Orwellian language that appears to
be in the customer's benefit but is actually a horrible inconvenience and
potentially a nightmare. Despite Microsoft's attempts to spin the new
program, there's no advantage for the Windows customer, and the only thing
being protected is Microsoft's revenue stream."

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Guess there will be a WGA "Kill Switch After All"
Published October 4, 2006 by Ed Bott
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1495

Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Search on WGA
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

October 4, 2006 For Vista, WGA gets Tougher
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148

Ed Bott Blog Readers Burned by WGA
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1370#comments

WGA is a Mess
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1476

Microsoft Kill Switch in Windows Vista and threat to disable Windows (the
so-called Microsoft Software Protection Platform)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and Customers
from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft’s Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and Customers
from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

White Paper: Software Protection Platform: Innovations for Windows Vista
and Windows Server "Longhorn" Oct. 2006 (.doc file, 2.7 MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Phil Liu of Microsoft has reported problems with the Windows Genuine
Advantage authentication method for Volume License Key (VLK) customers and a
temporary work-around.

"Just a heads up on an issue related to (Volume) VLK validation. On Monday
and Tuesday of this week (Oct 2-3), some VLK customers may have experienced
problems with WGA validation. If a Windows XP system with a VLK recently
began failing validation or reporting as non-genuine, then they may
experiencing this problem. The problem was the result of an issue on the
Microsoft server side, and we are still investigating the cause. We regret
any inconvenience this may have caused you, and I am personally working to
get the information you need to resolve this issue.

We do have steps available that affected customers can take to correct the
problem, and we’ll continue to work on solutions and post them on this
forum."

Customers who are affected can:
1.. Delete the data.dat file from Cocuments and SettingsAll
UsersApplication DataWindows Genuine Advantagedata (The drive letter will
depend on where the OS was installed)
2.. Revisit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/validate.aspx to
confirm that the machine is now genuine.
3.. Run wgatray.exe /b from the command line to ensure that the latest
validation is updated for WGA Notifications. This command may not be present
on the user’s machine and should not be considered an error if it is not.
Please ensure that this is run as an Administrator. A reboot may be required
to remove all non-genuine notifications."
CH
 
S

SAM-R

And the reason you understand this is because you must be insane.
Chad Harris said:
The problem is not that MSFT is addressing piracy with a legal staff
dedicated to it full time under the direction of Nancy Anderson, Associate
General Counsel.

Of course MSFT faces a huge, sprawling piracy problem as evidenced by the
maps and literature they hve circulated at their meetings from booths
attended by their attorneys and other employees over the years. It is
complicated by the fact that many governments don't cooperate fully, and
there is a similar situation in India in respect to patents for
pharmaceuticals and in medicine in general in respect to HIV and the Avian
Flu pandemic and Mr. Gates is building on his learning curve in this area
right now.

Microsoft and its partners and its system builders certainly have crucial
concerns over the systemic implications of piracy.

The problem is that MFST is choosing to address piracy in an erratic
fashion that has already shown substantial evidence of inflicting massive
collateral damage and friendly fire on their customers. I hope that if
they don't change this concept that has already proved to cause
significant problems with WGA in its new incranation as SPP, that they are
forced to back off the way they usually are-- they face money loss. If
they had been able to make precise surgical tools, that would be one
thing. But they already know that they are killing Vista and Longhorn
Server on boxes that have fully legitimate licenses and they don't seem to
care. This is evidenced if you read Ed Bott's account of how stupidly
they fielded the calls and messages from a major Windows author, expert,
and writer of columns on Microsoft's site.

I don't have any doubt there will be substantial litigation and possibly
class action suits for Nancy Anderson's legal team at Microsoft, and while
many suits are baseless--these will not be and they will be filed by high
quality legal talent.

Ed Bott is doing a stellar job of tracking this, analyzing, and critiquing
this and Ed Bott co-authors one of the most complete and authoritative
Windows references for every operating system including the one that has
pre-sold nearly a million copies, "Windows Vista Inside Out" by Microsoft
Press
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9361.asp

Ed Bott's Bookstore
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?page_id=993

Ed Bott's Three Blogs

Ed Bott's Microsoft Report
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

Ed Bott's Windows Expertise/Tips, tricks, news, and advice about Windows
and Office
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

Ed Bott's Media Central
http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/index.php

Ed Bott's Columns on MSFT's Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bott.mspx

The author of one of the major books on Windows OS's and numerous
articles for MSFT over the year Ed Bott has taken MSFT to task for their
sloppy work with WGA repeatedly in the last few months and the same sloppy
work with SPP and MSFT has had totally ignorant spokes persons speak to
different questioners that are quoted on Ed's two blogs currently with the
most inane and no knowledgable defenses of WGA which does not work
correctly
and SPP which will not work correctly immaginable. They are making a fool
of themselves with the implemenation of WGA and SPP and they are going to
learn to back off when it hits them in the area they worship--their money.

See and note in these articles the inane responses of MSFT
representatives
to the author of one of the best selling major books on their major
Operating System software and others--one more example of MSFT's
perception
of the public as stupid and their tin ear contempt for the public who are
their customers and put Windows on 97% of the boxes on the planet.

I want people to note this conversation because it speaks volumes about
MSFT's inane contracted support and MSFT's oversight of it and MSFT's
attitude as to how little it means when they represent themselves to their
customers--this is a conversation that Ed Bott had with "MSFT PSS"
probably
Convergys of Ohio contracting:

From Ed Bott at http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

"I called Microsoft support to see if there is a hidden option to say,
"yep,
I've got updates turned to manual: it's okay." The rep said, "No and why
wouldn't you want to get the latest updates to Windows."

I responded with the issues relating to WGA. He spent some time telling me
that WGA was a good thing, etc. I reiterated that I have accepted all the
updates except WGA and just want to review the updates before they're
installed on my machine.

He told me that "in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory
and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the
30
days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you
might
as well install WGA now." [emphasis added]

I'm wondering if Microsoft has the right to disable Windows functionality
or
the OS as a whole (tantamount to revoking my legitimate Windows license)
if
I do not install every piece of software that they send it updates.

That can't be true, can it? I'm always suspicious of any report that comes
from a front-line tech support drone, so I sent a note to Microsoft asking
for an official confirmation or, better yet, a denial. Instead, I got this
terse response from a Microsoft spokesperson:

As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program expands
in the future, customers may be required to participate. [emphasis added]
Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can best
meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any changes
to
the program.

That's it. That's the entire response.

Uh-oh. Currently, Windows users have the ability to opt out of the Windows
Genuine Advantage program and still get security patches and other
Critical
Updates delivered via Windows Update. The only thing you give up is the
ability to download optional updates. Hackers have been working overtime
to
find ways to disable WGA notification. If WGA becomes mandatory, would it
mean that Microsoft could prevent Windows from working if it determines -
possibly erroneously - that your copy isn't "genuine"? That's a chilling
possibility, and Microsoft refuses an easy opportunity to deny that that
option is in its plans.

Over at Ed Bott's Windows Expertise, I've been soliciting feedback from
Windows users who've been burned by WGA. So far, I've received 20
comments.

Here's a sampling:

a.. I have an XP Media center with a promise RAID 0 4-disc array. When I
installed the WPA it broke the drivers for the array by causing failed
delayed writes (half of the array just "disapears".) If I do a system
restore to before the installation of the WPA everything goes back to
working just fine.
b.. ince installing WPA : I've had blue screens and a total inability
to boot. I had to run the XP repair function to get the computer to boot.
I
had a damaged boot sector on the hard drive. I am running two drives on a
RAID 1 config.
c.. I purchased a SEALED OEM copy of XP Professional. WGA said the
license
key was already used. I called MS and they said I should uninstall and buy
another copy. I told them I wasn't made of money and hung-up.
d.. Microsoft rejected the product key that came with the ThinkPad I'm
using. I had to call in and they gave me another code to enter which
supposedly worked but now I get the blue screen of death about every other
time I reboot. I've also lost all internet connectivity.
e.. I sent my Compaq Presario notebook for service repair, and it fails
the WGA check. I have a legal version of windows xp professional on it.
But
I have no way to correct this problem.
What's most disturbing about this whole saga is Microsoft's complete lack
of
transparency on the issue. And before the ABM crowd jumps in with
predictable "What did you expect?" comments, let me argue that Microsoft
actually has a fairly good track record on transparency issues in recent
years. Windows Product Activation is very well documented, and when a
similar uproar occurred in 2001, it was squelched quickly by some fairly
prominent postings from high-level executives who provided details without
a
lot of spin. Likewise, the Microsoft Security Response Center has done an
exceptional job at providing quick responses to security issues. (Just ask
Adam Shostack.)

Currently, no one at Microsoft is blogging about this fiasco. No executive
has been quoted on the record about it. There are very few technical
details
available, and those that have been published are being tumbled through
the
spin machine and spit out as press releases.

If Microsoft really does plan to turn WGA into a kill switch in September,
be prepared for an enormous backlash."

From Ed Bott on October 5, 2006:

UAC Good; SPP Not So Good
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

"SPP, on the other hand, is the successor to Windows Genuine Advantage.
Both
initiatives have in common a reliance on Orwellian language that appears
to
be in the customer's benefit but is actually a horrible inconvenience and
potentially a nightmare. Despite Microsoft's attempts to spin the new
program, there's no advantage for the Windows customer, and the only thing
being protected is Microsoft's revenue stream."

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Guess there will be a WGA "Kill Switch After All"
Published October 4, 2006 by Ed Bott
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1495

Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Search on WGA
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

October 4, 2006 For Vista, WGA gets Tougher
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148

Ed Bott Blog Readers Burned by WGA
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1370#comments

WGA is a Mess
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1476

Microsoft Kill Switch in Windows Vista and threat to disable Windows (the
so-called Microsoft Software Protection Platform)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers
from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

White Paper: Software Protection Platform: Innovations for Windows Vista
and Windows Server "Longhorn" Oct. 2006 (.doc file, 2.7 MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Phil Liu of Microsoft has reported problems with the Windows Genuine
Advantage authentication method for Volume License Key (VLK) customers and
a temporary work-around.

"Just a heads up on an issue related to (Volume) VLK validation. On Monday
and Tuesday of this week (Oct 2-3), some VLK customers may have
experienced problems with WGA validation. If a Windows XP system with a
VLK recently began failing validation or reporting as non-genuine, then
they may experiencing this problem. The problem was the result of an issue
on the Microsoft server side, and we are still investigating the cause. We
regret any inconvenience this may have caused you, and I am personally
working to get the information you need to resolve this issue.

We do have steps available that affected customers can take to correct the
problem, and we'll continue to work on solutions and post them on this
forum."

Customers who are affected can:
1.. Delete the data.dat file from Cocuments and SettingsAll
UsersApplication DataWindows Genuine Advantagedata (The drive letter will
depend on where the OS was installed)
2.. Revisit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/validate.aspx to
confirm that the machine is now genuine.
3.. Run wgatray.exe /b from the command line to ensure that the latest
validation is updated for WGA Notifications. This command may not be
present on the user's machine and should not be considered an error if it
is not. Please ensure that this is run as an Administrator. A reboot may
be required to remove all non-genuine notifications."
CH
 
C

Chad Harris

The only insane entities in this discussion so far are

1) the implementation by MSFT of SPP that is erratic and will elicit a
ground swell of hate and opposition

2) anyone who doesn't understand it.

Be specific Sammy-R on what precisely you think is insane about what I said.
Or maybe you can't. Great post.

CH




SAM-R said:
And the reason you understand this is because you must be insane.
Chad Harris said:
The problem is not that MSFT is addressing piracy with a legal staff
dedicated to it full time under the direction of Nancy Anderson,
Associate General Counsel.

Of course MSFT faces a huge, sprawling piracy problem as evidenced by the
maps and literature they hve circulated at their meetings from booths
attended by their attorneys and other employees over the years. It is
complicated by the fact that many governments don't cooperate fully, and
there is a similar situation in India in respect to patents for
pharmaceuticals and in medicine in general in respect to HIV and the
Avian Flu pandemic and Mr. Gates is building on his learning curve in
this area right now.

Microsoft and its partners and its system builders certainly have crucial
concerns over the systemic implications of piracy.

The problem is that MFST is choosing to address piracy in an erratic
fashion that has already shown substantial evidence of inflicting massive
collateral damage and friendly fire on their customers. I hope that if
they don't change this concept that has already proved to cause
significant problems with WGA in its new incranation as SPP, that they
are forced to back off the way they usually are-- they face money loss.
If they had been able to make precise surgical tools, that would be one
thing. But they already know that they are killing Vista and Longhorn
Server on boxes that have fully legitimate licenses and they don't seem
to care. This is evidenced if you read Ed Bott's account of how stupidly
they fielded the calls and messages from a major Windows author, expert,
and writer of columns on Microsoft's site.

I don't have any doubt there will be substantial litigation and possibly
class action suits for Nancy Anderson's legal team at Microsoft, and
while many suits are baseless--these will not be and they will be filed
by high quality legal talent.

Ed Bott is doing a stellar job of tracking this, analyzing, and
critiquing this and Ed Bott co-authors one of the most complete and
authoritative Windows references for every operating system including the
one that has pre-sold nearly a million copies, "Windows Vista Inside Out"
by Microsoft Press
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9361.asp

Ed Bott's Bookstore
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?page_id=993

Ed Bott's Three Blogs

Ed Bott's Microsoft Report
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

Ed Bott's Windows Expertise/Tips, tricks, news, and advice about Windows
and Office
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

Ed Bott's Media Central
http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/index.php

Ed Bott's Columns on MSFT's Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bott.mspx

The author of one of the major books on Windows OS's and numerous
articles for MSFT over the year Ed Bott has taken MSFT to task for their
sloppy work with WGA repeatedly in the last few months and the same
sloppy
work with SPP and MSFT has had totally ignorant spokes persons speak to
different questioners that are quoted on Ed's two blogs currently with
the
most inane and no knowledgable defenses of WGA which does not work
correctly
and SPP which will not work correctly immaginable. They are making a
fool
of themselves with the implemenation of WGA and SPP and they are going to
learn to back off when it hits them in the area they worship--their
money.

See and note in these articles the inane responses of MSFT
representatives
to the author of one of the best selling major books on their major
Operating System software and others--one more example of MSFT's
perception
of the public as stupid and their tin ear contempt for the public who are
their customers and put Windows on 97% of the boxes on the planet.

I want people to note this conversation because it speaks volumes about
MSFT's inane contracted support and MSFT's oversight of it and MSFT's
attitude as to how little it means when they represent themselves to
their
customers--this is a conversation that Ed Bott had with "MSFT PSS"
probably
Convergys of Ohio contracting:

From Ed Bott at http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

"I called Microsoft support to see if there is a hidden option to say,
"yep,
I've got updates turned to manual: it's okay." The rep said, "No and why
wouldn't you want to get the latest updates to Windows."

I responded with the issues relating to WGA. He spent some time telling
me
that WGA was a good thing, etc. I reiterated that I have accepted all the
updates except WGA and just want to review the updates before they're
installed on my machine.

He told me that "in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory
and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the
30
days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you
might
as well install WGA now." [emphasis added]

I'm wondering if Microsoft has the right to disable Windows functionality
or
the OS as a whole (tantamount to revoking my legitimate Windows license)
if
I do not install every piece of software that they send it updates.

That can't be true, can it? I'm always suspicious of any report that
comes
from a front-line tech support drone, so I sent a note to Microsoft
asking
for an official confirmation or, better yet, a denial. Instead, I got
this
terse response from a Microsoft spokesperson:

As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program
expands
in the future, customers may be required to participate. [emphasis added]
Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can
best
meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any changes
to
the program.

That's it. That's the entire response.

Uh-oh. Currently, Windows users have the ability to opt out of the
Windows
Genuine Advantage program and still get security patches and other
Critical
Updates delivered via Windows Update. The only thing you give up is the
ability to download optional updates. Hackers have been working overtime
to
find ways to disable WGA notification. If WGA becomes mandatory, would it
mean that Microsoft could prevent Windows from working if it determines -
possibly erroneously - that your copy isn't "genuine"? That's a chilling
possibility, and Microsoft refuses an easy opportunity to deny that that
option is in its plans.

Over at Ed Bott's Windows Expertise, I've been soliciting feedback from
Windows users who've been burned by WGA. So far, I've received 20
comments.

Here's a sampling:

a.. I have an XP Media center with a promise RAID 0 4-disc array. When I
installed the WPA it broke the drivers for the array by causing failed
delayed writes (half of the array just "disapears".) If I do a system
restore to before the installation of the WPA everything goes back to
working just fine.
b.. ince installing WPA : I've had blue screens and a total inability
to boot. I had to run the XP repair function to get the computer to boot.
I
had a damaged boot sector on the hard drive. I am running two drives on a
RAID 1 config.
c.. I purchased a SEALED OEM copy of XP Professional. WGA said the
license
key was already used. I called MS and they said I should uninstall and
buy
another copy. I told them I wasn't made of money and hung-up.
d.. Microsoft rejected the product key that came with the ThinkPad I'm
using. I had to call in and they gave me another code to enter which
supposedly worked but now I get the blue screen of death about every
other
time I reboot. I've also lost all internet connectivity.
e.. I sent my Compaq Presario notebook for service repair, and it fails
the WGA check. I have a legal version of windows xp professional on it.
But
I have no way to correct this problem.
What's most disturbing about this whole saga is Microsoft's complete lack
of
transparency on the issue. And before the ABM crowd jumps in with
predictable "What did you expect?" comments, let me argue that Microsoft
actually has a fairly good track record on transparency issues in recent
years. Windows Product Activation is very well documented, and when a
similar uproar occurred in 2001, it was squelched quickly by some fairly
prominent postings from high-level executives who provided details
without a
lot of spin. Likewise, the Microsoft Security Response Center has done an
exceptional job at providing quick responses to security issues. (Just
ask
Adam Shostack.)

Currently, no one at Microsoft is blogging about this fiasco. No
executive
has been quoted on the record about it. There are very few technical
details
available, and those that have been published are being tumbled through
the
spin machine and spit out as press releases.

If Microsoft really does plan to turn WGA into a kill switch in
September,
be prepared for an enormous backlash."

From Ed Bott on October 5, 2006:

UAC Good; SPP Not So Good
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

"SPP, on the other hand, is the successor to Windows Genuine Advantage.
Both
initiatives have in common a reliance on Orwellian language that appears
to
be in the customer's benefit but is actually a horrible inconvenience and
potentially a nightmare. Despite Microsoft's attempts to spin the new
program, there's no advantage for the Windows customer, and the only
thing
being protected is Microsoft's revenue stream."

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Guess there will be a WGA "Kill Switch After All"
Published October 4, 2006 by Ed Bott
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1495

Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Search on WGA
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

October 4, 2006 For Vista, WGA gets Tougher
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148

Ed Bott Blog Readers Burned by WGA
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1370#comments

WGA is a Mess
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1476

Microsoft Kill Switch in Windows Vista and threat to disable Windows (the
so-called Microsoft Software Protection Platform)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers
from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

White Paper: Software Protection Platform: Innovations for Windows Vista
and Windows Server "Longhorn" Oct. 2006 (.doc file, 2.7 MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Phil Liu of Microsoft has reported problems with the Windows Genuine
Advantage authentication method for Volume License Key (VLK) customers
and a temporary work-around.

"Just a heads up on an issue related to (Volume) VLK validation. On
Monday and Tuesday of this week (Oct 2-3), some VLK customers may have
experienced problems with WGA validation. If a Windows XP system with a
VLK recently began failing validation or reporting as non-genuine, then
they may experiencing this problem. The problem was the result of an
issue on the Microsoft server side, and we are still investigating the
cause. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused you, and I am
personally working to get the information you need to resolve this issue.

We do have steps available that affected customers can take to correct
the problem, and we'll continue to work on solutions and post them on
this forum."

Customers who are affected can:
1.. Delete the data.dat file from Cocuments and SettingsAll
UsersApplication DataWindows Genuine Advantagedata (The drive letter will
depend on where the OS was installed)
2.. Revisit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/validate.aspx to
confirm that the machine is now genuine.
3.. Run wgatray.exe /b from the command line to ensure that the latest
validation is updated for WGA Notifications. This command may not be
present on the user's machine and should not be considered an error if it
is not. Please ensure that this is run as an Administrator. A reboot may
be required to remove all non-genuine notifications."
CH

 
C

Chad Harris

By the way Sam-R lol the word "inane" was not meant to be "insane" as you
misread--try a sixth grade vocabulary or English course lol.

Your post was a pretty INANE admission that you haven't got a high school
level vocab.

More great evidence that the US is largely illiterate in 2006.

LOL It just dawned on me that since Sam-R doesn't have the word "inane" in
his vocabulary, he thought there was a what is frequent here--a typo in the
subject.

Lol to the 64th:

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1) - Cite This Source
in?ane /?'ne?n/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[i-neyn]
Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

-adjective 1. lacking sense, significance, or ideas; silly: inane questions.
2. empty; void.
-noun 3. something that is empty or void, esp. the void of infinite space.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Origin: 1655-65; < L inanis]

-Related forms
in?ane?ly, adverb


-Synonyms 1. pointless. See foolish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc.
2006.


CH


SAM-R said:
And the reason you understand this is because you must be insane.
Chad Harris said:
The problem is not that MSFT is addressing piracy with a legal staff
dedicated to it full time under the direction of Nancy Anderson,
Associate General Counsel.

Of course MSFT faces a huge, sprawling piracy problem as evidenced by the
maps and literature they hve circulated at their meetings from booths
attended by their attorneys and other employees over the years. It is
complicated by the fact that many governments don't cooperate fully, and
there is a similar situation in India in respect to patents for
pharmaceuticals and in medicine in general in respect to HIV and the
Avian Flu pandemic and Mr. Gates is building on his learning curve in
this area right now.

Microsoft and its partners and its system builders certainly have crucial
concerns over the systemic implications of piracy.

The problem is that MFST is choosing to address piracy in an erratic
fashion that has already shown substantial evidence of inflicting massive
collateral damage and friendly fire on their customers. I hope that if
they don't change this concept that has already proved to cause
significant problems with WGA in its new incranation as SPP, that they
are forced to back off the way they usually are-- they face money loss.
If they had been able to make precise surgical tools, that would be one
thing. But they already know that they are killing Vista and Longhorn
Server on boxes that have fully legitimate licenses and they don't seem
to care. This is evidenced if you read Ed Bott's account of how stupidly
they fielded the calls and messages from a major Windows author, expert,
and writer of columns on Microsoft's site.

I don't have any doubt there will be substantial litigation and possibly
class action suits for Nancy Anderson's legal team at Microsoft, and
while many suits are baseless--these will not be and they will be filed
by high quality legal talent.

Ed Bott is doing a stellar job of tracking this, analyzing, and
critiquing this and Ed Bott co-authors one of the most complete and
authoritative Windows references for every operating system including the
one that has pre-sold nearly a million copies, "Windows Vista Inside Out"
by Microsoft Press
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9361.asp

Ed Bott's Bookstore
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?page_id=993

Ed Bott's Three Blogs

Ed Bott's Microsoft Report
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

Ed Bott's Windows Expertise/Tips, tricks, news, and advice about Windows
and Office
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

Ed Bott's Media Central
http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/index.php

Ed Bott's Columns on MSFT's Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bott.mspx

The author of one of the major books on Windows OS's and numerous
articles for MSFT over the year Ed Bott has taken MSFT to task for their
sloppy work with WGA repeatedly in the last few months and the same
sloppy
work with SPP and MSFT has had totally ignorant spokes persons speak to
different questioners that are quoted on Ed's two blogs currently with
the
most inane and no knowledgable defenses of WGA which does not work
correctly
and SPP which will not work correctly immaginable. They are making a
fool
of themselves with the implemenation of WGA and SPP and they are going to
learn to back off when it hits them in the area they worship--their
money.

See and note in these articles the inane responses of MSFT
representatives
to the author of one of the best selling major books on their major
Operating System software and others--one more example of MSFT's
perception
of the public as stupid and their tin ear contempt for the public who are
their customers and put Windows on 97% of the boxes on the planet.

I want people to note this conversation because it speaks volumes about
MSFT's inane contracted support and MSFT's oversight of it and MSFT's
attitude as to how little it means when they represent themselves to
their
customers--this is a conversation that Ed Bott had with "MSFT PSS"
probably
Convergys of Ohio contracting:

From Ed Bott at http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

"I called Microsoft support to see if there is a hidden option to say,
"yep,
I've got updates turned to manual: it's okay." The rep said, "No and why
wouldn't you want to get the latest updates to Windows."

I responded with the issues relating to WGA. He spent some time telling
me
that WGA was a good thing, etc. I reiterated that I have accepted all the
updates except WGA and just want to review the updates before they're
installed on my machine.

He told me that "in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory
and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the
30
days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you
might
as well install WGA now." [emphasis added]

I'm wondering if Microsoft has the right to disable Windows functionality
or
the OS as a whole (tantamount to revoking my legitimate Windows license)
if
I do not install every piece of software that they send it updates.

That can't be true, can it? I'm always suspicious of any report that
comes
from a front-line tech support drone, so I sent a note to Microsoft
asking
for an official confirmation or, better yet, a denial. Instead, I got
this
terse response from a Microsoft spokesperson:

As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program
expands
in the future, customers may be required to participate. [emphasis added]
Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can
best
meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any changes
to
the program.

That's it. That's the entire response.

Uh-oh. Currently, Windows users have the ability to opt out of the
Windows
Genuine Advantage program and still get security patches and other
Critical
Updates delivered via Windows Update. The only thing you give up is the
ability to download optional updates. Hackers have been working overtime
to
find ways to disable WGA notification. If WGA becomes mandatory, would it
mean that Microsoft could prevent Windows from working if it determines -
possibly erroneously - that your copy isn't "genuine"? That's a chilling
possibility, and Microsoft refuses an easy opportunity to deny that that
option is in its plans.

Over at Ed Bott's Windows Expertise, I've been soliciting feedback from
Windows users who've been burned by WGA. So far, I've received 20
comments.

Here's a sampling:

a.. I have an XP Media center with a promise RAID 0 4-disc array. When I
installed the WPA it broke the drivers for the array by causing failed
delayed writes (half of the array just "disapears".) If I do a system
restore to before the installation of the WPA everything goes back to
working just fine.
b.. ince installing WPA : I've had blue screens and a total inability
to boot. I had to run the XP repair function to get the computer to boot.
I
had a damaged boot sector on the hard drive. I am running two drives on a
RAID 1 config.
c.. I purchased a SEALED OEM copy of XP Professional. WGA said the
license
key was already used. I called MS and they said I should uninstall and
buy
another copy. I told them I wasn't made of money and hung-up.
d.. Microsoft rejected the product key that came with the ThinkPad I'm
using. I had to call in and they gave me another code to enter which
supposedly worked but now I get the blue screen of death about every
other
time I reboot. I've also lost all internet connectivity.
e.. I sent my Compaq Presario notebook for service repair, and it fails
the WGA check. I have a legal version of windows xp professional on it.
But
I have no way to correct this problem.
What's most disturbing about this whole saga is Microsoft's complete lack
of
transparency on the issue. And before the ABM crowd jumps in with
predictable "What did you expect?" comments, let me argue that Microsoft
actually has a fairly good track record on transparency issues in recent
years. Windows Product Activation is very well documented, and when a
similar uproar occurred in 2001, it was squelched quickly by some fairly
prominent postings from high-level executives who provided details
without a
lot of spin. Likewise, the Microsoft Security Response Center has done an
exceptional job at providing quick responses to security issues. (Just
ask
Adam Shostack.)

Currently, no one at Microsoft is blogging about this fiasco. No
executive
has been quoted on the record about it. There are very few technical
details
available, and those that have been published are being tumbled through
the
spin machine and spit out as press releases.

If Microsoft really does plan to turn WGA into a kill switch in
September,
be prepared for an enormous backlash."

From Ed Bott on October 5, 2006:

UAC Good; SPP Not So Good
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

"SPP, on the other hand, is the successor to Windows Genuine Advantage.
Both
initiatives have in common a reliance on Orwellian language that appears
to
be in the customer's benefit but is actually a horrible inconvenience and
potentially a nightmare. Despite Microsoft's attempts to spin the new
program, there's no advantage for the Windows customer, and the only
thing
being protected is Microsoft's revenue stream."

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Guess there will be a WGA "Kill Switch After All"
Published October 4, 2006 by Ed Bott
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1495

Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Search on WGA
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

October 4, 2006 For Vista, WGA gets Tougher
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148

Ed Bott Blog Readers Burned by WGA
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1370#comments

WGA is a Mess
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1476

Microsoft Kill Switch in Windows Vista and threat to disable Windows (the
so-called Microsoft Software Protection Platform)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers
from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

White Paper: Software Protection Platform: Innovations for Windows Vista
and Windows Server "Longhorn" Oct. 2006 (.doc file, 2.7 MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Phil Liu of Microsoft has reported problems with the Windows Genuine
Advantage authentication method for Volume License Key (VLK) customers
and a temporary work-around.

"Just a heads up on an issue related to (Volume) VLK validation. On
Monday and Tuesday of this week (Oct 2-3), some VLK customers may have
experienced problems with WGA validation. If a Windows XP system with a
VLK recently began failing validation or reporting as non-genuine, then
they may experiencing this problem. The problem was the result of an
issue on the Microsoft server side, and we are still investigating the
cause. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused you, and I am
personally working to get the information you need to resolve this issue.

We do have steps available that affected customers can take to correct
the problem, and we'll continue to work on solutions and post them on
this forum."

Customers who are affected can:
1.. Delete the data.dat file from Cocuments and SettingsAll
UsersApplication DataWindows Genuine Advantagedata (The drive letter will
depend on where the OS was installed)
2.. Revisit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/validate.aspx to
confirm that the machine is now genuine.
3.. Run wgatray.exe /b from the command line to ensure that the latest
validation is updated for WGA Notifications. This command may not be
present on the user's machine and should not be considered an error if it
is not. Please ensure that this is run as an Administrator. A reboot may
be required to remove all non-genuine notifications."
CH

 
C

Chad Harris

Sam--

Where were you when the sixth grade happened?

CH


SAM-R said:
And the reason you understand this is because you must be insane.
Chad Harris said:
The problem is not that MSFT is addressing piracy with a legal staff
dedicated to it full time under the direction of Nancy Anderson,
Associate General Counsel.

Of course MSFT faces a huge, sprawling piracy problem as evidenced by the
maps and literature they hve circulated at their meetings from booths
attended by their attorneys and other employees over the years. It is
complicated by the fact that many governments don't cooperate fully, and
there is a similar situation in India in respect to patents for
pharmaceuticals and in medicine in general in respect to HIV and the
Avian Flu pandemic and Mr. Gates is building on his learning curve in
this area right now.

Microsoft and its partners and its system builders certainly have crucial
concerns over the systemic implications of piracy.

The problem is that MFST is choosing to address piracy in an erratic
fashion that has already shown substantial evidence of inflicting massive
collateral damage and friendly fire on their customers. I hope that if
they don't change this concept that has already proved to cause
significant problems with WGA in its new incranation as SPP, that they
are forced to back off the way they usually are-- they face money loss.
If they had been able to make precise surgical tools, that would be one
thing. But they already know that they are killing Vista and Longhorn
Server on boxes that have fully legitimate licenses and they don't seem
to care. This is evidenced if you read Ed Bott's account of how stupidly
they fielded the calls and messages from a major Windows author, expert,
and writer of columns on Microsoft's site.

I don't have any doubt there will be substantial litigation and possibly
class action suits for Nancy Anderson's legal team at Microsoft, and
while many suits are baseless--these will not be and they will be filed
by high quality legal talent.

Ed Bott is doing a stellar job of tracking this, analyzing, and
critiquing this and Ed Bott co-authors one of the most complete and
authoritative Windows references for every operating system including the
one that has pre-sold nearly a million copies, "Windows Vista Inside Out"
by Microsoft Press
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9361.asp

Ed Bott's Bookstore
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?page_id=993

Ed Bott's Three Blogs

Ed Bott's Microsoft Report
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

Ed Bott's Windows Expertise/Tips, tricks, news, and advice about Windows
and Office
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

Ed Bott's Media Central
http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/index.php

Ed Bott's Columns on MSFT's Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bott.mspx

The author of one of the major books on Windows OS's and numerous
articles for MSFT over the year Ed Bott has taken MSFT to task for their
sloppy work with WGA repeatedly in the last few months and the same
sloppy
work with SPP and MSFT has had totally ignorant spokes persons speak to
different questioners that are quoted on Ed's two blogs currently with
the
most inane and no knowledgable defenses of WGA which does not work
correctly
and SPP which will not work correctly immaginable. They are making a
fool
of themselves with the implemenation of WGA and SPP and they are going to
learn to back off when it hits them in the area they worship--their
money.

See and note in these articles the inane responses of MSFT
representatives
to the author of one of the best selling major books on their major
Operating System software and others--one more example of MSFT's
perception
of the public as stupid and their tin ear contempt for the public who are
their customers and put Windows on 97% of the boxes on the planet.

I want people to note this conversation because it speaks volumes about
MSFT's inane contracted support and MSFT's oversight of it and MSFT's
attitude as to how little it means when they represent themselves to
their
customers--this is a conversation that Ed Bott had with "MSFT PSS"
probably
Convergys of Ohio contracting:

From Ed Bott at http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

"I called Microsoft support to see if there is a hidden option to say,
"yep,
I've got updates turned to manual: it's okay." The rep said, "No and why
wouldn't you want to get the latest updates to Windows."

I responded with the issues relating to WGA. He spent some time telling
me
that WGA was a good thing, etc. I reiterated that I have accepted all the
updates except WGA and just want to review the updates before they're
installed on my machine.

He told me that "in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory
and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the
30
days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you
might
as well install WGA now." [emphasis added]

I'm wondering if Microsoft has the right to disable Windows functionality
or
the OS as a whole (tantamount to revoking my legitimate Windows license)
if
I do not install every piece of software that they send it updates.

That can't be true, can it? I'm always suspicious of any report that
comes
from a front-line tech support drone, so I sent a note to Microsoft
asking
for an official confirmation or, better yet, a denial. Instead, I got
this
terse response from a Microsoft spokesperson:

As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program
expands
in the future, customers may be required to participate. [emphasis added]
Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can
best
meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any changes
to
the program.

That's it. That's the entire response.

Uh-oh. Currently, Windows users have the ability to opt out of the
Windows
Genuine Advantage program and still get security patches and other
Critical
Updates delivered via Windows Update. The only thing you give up is the
ability to download optional updates. Hackers have been working overtime
to
find ways to disable WGA notification. If WGA becomes mandatory, would it
mean that Microsoft could prevent Windows from working if it determines -
possibly erroneously - that your copy isn't "genuine"? That's a chilling
possibility, and Microsoft refuses an easy opportunity to deny that that
option is in its plans.

Over at Ed Bott's Windows Expertise, I've been soliciting feedback from
Windows users who've been burned by WGA. So far, I've received 20
comments.

Here's a sampling:

a.. I have an XP Media center with a promise RAID 0 4-disc array. When I
installed the WPA it broke the drivers for the array by causing failed
delayed writes (half of the array just "disapears".) If I do a system
restore to before the installation of the WPA everything goes back to
working just fine.
b.. ince installing WPA : I've had blue screens and a total inability
to boot. I had to run the XP repair function to get the computer to boot.
I
had a damaged boot sector on the hard drive. I am running two drives on a
RAID 1 config.
c.. I purchased a SEALED OEM copy of XP Professional. WGA said the
license
key was already used. I called MS and they said I should uninstall and
buy
another copy. I told them I wasn't made of money and hung-up.
d.. Microsoft rejected the product key that came with the ThinkPad I'm
using. I had to call in and they gave me another code to enter which
supposedly worked but now I get the blue screen of death about every
other
time I reboot. I've also lost all internet connectivity.
e.. I sent my Compaq Presario notebook for service repair, and it fails
the WGA check. I have a legal version of windows xp professional on it.
But
I have no way to correct this problem.
What's most disturbing about this whole saga is Microsoft's complete lack
of
transparency on the issue. And before the ABM crowd jumps in with
predictable "What did you expect?" comments, let me argue that Microsoft
actually has a fairly good track record on transparency issues in recent
years. Windows Product Activation is very well documented, and when a
similar uproar occurred in 2001, it was squelched quickly by some fairly
prominent postings from high-level executives who provided details
without a
lot of spin. Likewise, the Microsoft Security Response Center has done an
exceptional job at providing quick responses to security issues. (Just
ask
Adam Shostack.)

Currently, no one at Microsoft is blogging about this fiasco. No
executive
has been quoted on the record about it. There are very few technical
details
available, and those that have been published are being tumbled through
the
spin machine and spit out as press releases.

If Microsoft really does plan to turn WGA into a kill switch in
September,
be prepared for an enormous backlash."

From Ed Bott on October 5, 2006:

UAC Good; SPP Not So Good
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

"SPP, on the other hand, is the successor to Windows Genuine Advantage.
Both
initiatives have in common a reliance on Orwellian language that appears
to
be in the customer's benefit but is actually a horrible inconvenience and
potentially a nightmare. Despite Microsoft's attempts to spin the new
program, there's no advantage for the Windows customer, and the only
thing
being protected is Microsoft's revenue stream."

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Guess there will be a WGA "Kill Switch After All"
Published October 4, 2006 by Ed Bott
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1495

Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Search on WGA
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

October 4, 2006 For Vista, WGA gets Tougher
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148

Ed Bott Blog Readers Burned by WGA
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1370#comments

WGA is a Mess
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1476

Microsoft Kill Switch in Windows Vista and threat to disable Windows (the
so-called Microsoft Software Protection Platform)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers
from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

White Paper: Software Protection Platform: Innovations for Windows Vista
and Windows Server "Longhorn" Oct. 2006 (.doc file, 2.7 MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Phil Liu of Microsoft has reported problems with the Windows Genuine
Advantage authentication method for Volume License Key (VLK) customers
and a temporary work-around.

"Just a heads up on an issue related to (Volume) VLK validation. On
Monday and Tuesday of this week (Oct 2-3), some VLK customers may have
experienced problems with WGA validation. If a Windows XP system with a
VLK recently began failing validation or reporting as non-genuine, then
they may experiencing this problem. The problem was the result of an
issue on the Microsoft server side, and we are still investigating the
cause. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused you, and I am
personally working to get the information you need to resolve this issue.

We do have steps available that affected customers can take to correct
the problem, and we'll continue to work on solutions and post them on
this forum."

Customers who are affected can:
1.. Delete the data.dat file from Cocuments and SettingsAll
UsersApplication DataWindows Genuine Advantagedata (The drive letter will
depend on where the OS was installed)
2.. Revisit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/validate.aspx to
confirm that the machine is now genuine.
3.. Run wgatray.exe /b from the command line to ensure that the latest
validation is updated for WGA Notifications. This command may not be
present on the user's machine and should not be considered an error if it
is not. Please ensure that this is run as an Administrator. A reboot may
be required to remove all non-genuine notifications."
CH

 
S

SAM-R

What does your rants on this forum have to do with helping people with
problems with 5744?
Chad Harris said:
The problem is not that MSFT is addressing piracy with a legal staff
dedicated to it full time under the direction of Nancy Anderson, Associate
General Counsel.

Of course MSFT faces a huge, sprawling piracy problem as evidenced by the
maps and literature they hve circulated at their meetings from booths
attended by their attorneys and other employees over the years. It is
complicated by the fact that many governments don't cooperate fully, and
there is a similar situation in India in respect to patents for
pharmaceuticals and in medicine in general in respect to HIV and the Avian
Flu pandemic and Mr. Gates is building on his learning curve in this area
right now.

Microsoft and its partners and its system builders certainly have crucial
concerns over the systemic implications of piracy.

The problem is that MFST is choosing to address piracy in an erratic
fashion that has already shown substantial evidence of inflicting massive
collateral damage and friendly fire on their customers. I hope that if
they don't change this concept that has already proved to cause
significant problems with WGA in its new incranation as SPP, that they are
forced to back off the way they usually are-- they face money loss. If
they had been able to make precise surgical tools, that would be one
thing. But they already know that they are killing Vista and Longhorn
Server on boxes that have fully legitimate licenses and they don't seem to
care. This is evidenced if you read Ed Bott's account of how stupidly
they fielded the calls and messages from a major Windows author, expert,
and writer of columns on Microsoft's site.

I don't have any doubt there will be substantial litigation and possibly
class action suits for Nancy Anderson's legal team at Microsoft, and while
many suits are baseless--these will not be and they will be filed by high
quality legal talent.

Ed Bott is doing a stellar job of tracking this, analyzing, and critiquing
this and Ed Bott co-authors one of the most complete and authoritative
Windows references for every operating system including the one that has
pre-sold nearly a million copies, "Windows Vista Inside Out" by Microsoft
Press
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9361.asp

Ed Bott's Bookstore
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?page_id=993

Ed Bott's Three Blogs

Ed Bott's Microsoft Report
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

Ed Bott's Windows Expertise/Tips, tricks, news, and advice about Windows
and Office
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

Ed Bott's Media Central
http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/index.php

Ed Bott's Columns on MSFT's Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bott.mspx

The author of one of the major books on Windows OS's and numerous
articles for MSFT over the year Ed Bott has taken MSFT to task for their
sloppy work with WGA repeatedly in the last few months and the same sloppy
work with SPP and MSFT has had totally ignorant spokes persons speak to
different questioners that are quoted on Ed's two blogs currently with the
most inane and no knowledgable defenses of WGA which does not work
correctly
and SPP which will not work correctly immaginable. They are making a fool
of themselves with the implemenation of WGA and SPP and they are going to
learn to back off when it hits them in the area they worship--their money.

See and note in these articles the inane responses of MSFT
representatives
to the author of one of the best selling major books on their major
Operating System software and others--one more example of MSFT's
perception
of the public as stupid and their tin ear contempt for the public who are
their customers and put Windows on 97% of the boxes on the planet.

I want people to note this conversation because it speaks volumes about
MSFT's inane contracted support and MSFT's oversight of it and MSFT's
attitude as to how little it means when they represent themselves to their
customers--this is a conversation that Ed Bott had with "MSFT PSS"
probably
Convergys of Ohio contracting:

From Ed Bott at http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

"I called Microsoft support to see if there is a hidden option to say,
"yep,
I've got updates turned to manual: it's okay." The rep said, "No and why
wouldn't you want to get the latest updates to Windows."

I responded with the issues relating to WGA. He spent some time telling me
that WGA was a good thing, etc. I reiterated that I have accepted all the
updates except WGA and just want to review the updates before they're
installed on my machine.

He told me that "in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory
and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the
30
days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you
might
as well install WGA now." [emphasis added]

I'm wondering if Microsoft has the right to disable Windows functionality
or
the OS as a whole (tantamount to revoking my legitimate Windows license)
if
I do not install every piece of software that they send it updates.

That can't be true, can it? I'm always suspicious of any report that comes
from a front-line tech support drone, so I sent a note to Microsoft asking
for an official confirmation or, better yet, a denial. Instead, I got this
terse response from a Microsoft spokesperson:

As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program expands
in the future, customers may be required to participate. [emphasis added]
Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can best
meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any changes
to
the program.

That's it. That's the entire response.

Uh-oh. Currently, Windows users have the ability to opt out of the Windows
Genuine Advantage program and still get security patches and other
Critical
Updates delivered via Windows Update. The only thing you give up is the
ability to download optional updates. Hackers have been working overtime
to
find ways to disable WGA notification. If WGA becomes mandatory, would it
mean that Microsoft could prevent Windows from working if it determines -
possibly erroneously - that your copy isn't "genuine"? That's a chilling
possibility, and Microsoft refuses an easy opportunity to deny that that
option is in its plans.

Over at Ed Bott's Windows Expertise, I've been soliciting feedback from
Windows users who've been burned by WGA. So far, I've received 20
comments.

Here's a sampling:

a.. I have an XP Media center with a promise RAID 0 4-disc array. When I
installed the WPA it broke the drivers for the array by causing failed
delayed writes (half of the array just "disapears".) If I do a system
restore to before the installation of the WPA everything goes back to
working just fine.
b.. ince installing WPA : I've had blue screens and a total inability
to boot. I had to run the XP repair function to get the computer to boot.
I
had a damaged boot sector on the hard drive. I am running two drives on a
RAID 1 config.
c.. I purchased a SEALED OEM copy of XP Professional. WGA said the
license
key was already used. I called MS and they said I should uninstall and buy
another copy. I told them I wasn't made of money and hung-up.
d.. Microsoft rejected the product key that came with the ThinkPad I'm
using. I had to call in and they gave me another code to enter which
supposedly worked but now I get the blue screen of death about every other
time I reboot. I've also lost all internet connectivity.
e.. I sent my Compaq Presario notebook for service repair, and it fails
the WGA check. I have a legal version of windows xp professional on it.
But
I have no way to correct this problem.
What's most disturbing about this whole saga is Microsoft's complete lack
of
transparency on the issue. And before the ABM crowd jumps in with
predictable "What did you expect?" comments, let me argue that Microsoft
actually has a fairly good track record on transparency issues in recent
years. Windows Product Activation is very well documented, and when a
similar uproar occurred in 2001, it was squelched quickly by some fairly
prominent postings from high-level executives who provided details without
a
lot of spin. Likewise, the Microsoft Security Response Center has done an
exceptional job at providing quick responses to security issues. (Just ask
Adam Shostack.)

Currently, no one at Microsoft is blogging about this fiasco. No executive
has been quoted on the record about it. There are very few technical
details
available, and those that have been published are being tumbled through
the
spin machine and spit out as press releases.

If Microsoft really does plan to turn WGA into a kill switch in September,
be prepared for an enormous backlash."

From Ed Bott on October 5, 2006:

UAC Good; SPP Not So Good
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

"SPP, on the other hand, is the successor to Windows Genuine Advantage.
Both
initiatives have in common a reliance on Orwellian language that appears
to
be in the customer's benefit but is actually a horrible inconvenience and
potentially a nightmare. Despite Microsoft's attempts to spin the new
program, there's no advantage for the Windows customer, and the only thing
being protected is Microsoft's revenue stream."

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Guess there will be a WGA "Kill Switch After All"
Published October 4, 2006 by Ed Bott
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1495

Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Search on WGA
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

October 4, 2006 For Vista, WGA gets Tougher
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148

Ed Bott Blog Readers Burned by WGA
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1370#comments

WGA is a Mess
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1476

Microsoft Kill Switch in Windows Vista and threat to disable Windows (the
so-called Microsoft Software Protection Platform)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers
from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

White Paper: Software Protection Platform: Innovations for Windows Vista
and Windows Server "Longhorn" Oct. 2006 (.doc file, 2.7 MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Phil Liu of Microsoft has reported problems with the Windows Genuine
Advantage authentication method for Volume License Key (VLK) customers and
a temporary work-around.

"Just a heads up on an issue related to (Volume) VLK validation. On Monday
and Tuesday of this week (Oct 2-3), some VLK customers may have
experienced problems with WGA validation. If a Windows XP system with a
VLK recently began failing validation or reporting as non-genuine, then
they may experiencing this problem. The problem was the result of an issue
on the Microsoft server side, and we are still investigating the cause. We
regret any inconvenience this may have caused you, and I am personally
working to get the information you need to resolve this issue.

We do have steps available that affected customers can take to correct the
problem, and we'll continue to work on solutions and post them on this
forum."

Customers who are affected can:
1.. Delete the data.dat file from Cocuments and SettingsAll
UsersApplication DataWindows Genuine Advantagedata (The drive letter will
depend on where the OS was installed)
2.. Revisit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/validate.aspx to
confirm that the machine is now genuine.
3.. Run wgatray.exe /b from the command line to ensure that the latest
validation is updated for WGA Notifications. This command may not be
present on the user's machine and should not be considered an error if it
is not. Please ensure that this is run as an Administrator. A reboot may
be required to remove all non-genuine notifications."
CH
 
A

Adam Leinss

The problem is not that MSFT is addressing piracy with a legal
staff dedicated to it full time under the direction of Nancy
Anderson, Associate General Counsel.

Of course MSFT faces a huge, sprawling piracy problem as evidenced
by the maps and literature they hve circulated at their meetings
from booths attended by their attorneys and other employees over
the years. It is complicated by the fact that many governments
don't cooperate fully, and there is a similar situation in India
in respect to patents for pharmaceuticals and in medicine in
general in respect to HIV and the Avian Flu pandemic and Mr. Gates
is building on his learning curve in this area right now.

Excellent article! It shall be referenced in my blog!

Adam
 
M

Mike

Chad Harris said:
The problem is not that MSFT is addressing piracy with a legal staff
dedicated to it full time under the direction of Nancy Anderson, Associate
General Counsel.

Yeah yeah yeah. We've heard *all* of this before. I remember when XP's
"draconian anti-piracy measures" (activation) was going to be the downfall
of Microsoft.

Get over it. Get used to it.

Mike
 
M

MICHAEL

Mike said:
Yeah yeah yeah. We've heard *all* of this before. I remember when XP's "draconian
anti-piracy measures" (activation) was going to be the downfall of Microsoft.
Get over it. Get used to it.

Just go ahead and bend over, grab your
ankles- squeal like the loyal pig Microsoft
so loves.

You'd make an excellent Washington Page.


-Michael
 
C

Chad Harris

Sam I do believe that I have helped people in the TBT on their group, and
here on this one since Vista was pulled out in the Beta deliver room.

I also believe that I don't exactly answer to you.

I raised a very valid question--I know you have no idea what I was talking
about--but there is a significant legal line that MSFT has crossed in their
new policy--I provided their white paper and their announcment of it and Ed
Bott's excellent commentary.

Actually 5744 as you call it is tantamount to what's going into esrow in
about 2.5 weeks to RTM and ship to enterprises sometimes between Nov 1 and
Nov 7 with an RTM target date. That policy is going to start shutting down
a lot of Windows Vista boxes, and when it does maybe someone will explain to
you what the issue is.

If you can't understand from the links to Ed Bott's posts, why this is a
significant issue, then it's not my job to help you.

There was no rant--I raised a legitimate issue. I don't have to defend my
posts. I know when and whether I've helped people with Vista, Office, XP,
IE and other MSFT group topics and that's enough for me.

If you think you can start paying me what I want, then we'll consider
whether I answer to you but it's not going to happen in your lifetime.

CH


SAM-R said:
What does your rants on this forum have to do with helping people with
problems with 5744?
Chad Harris said:
The problem is not that MSFT is addressing piracy with a legal staff
dedicated to it full time under the direction of Nancy Anderson,
Associate General Counsel.

Of course MSFT faces a huge, sprawling piracy problem as evidenced by the
maps and literature they hve circulated at their meetings from booths
attended by their attorneys and other employees over the years. It is
complicated by the fact that many governments don't cooperate fully, and
there is a similar situation in India in respect to patents for
pharmaceuticals and in medicine in general in respect to HIV and the
Avian Flu pandemic and Mr. Gates is building on his learning curve in
this area right now.

Microsoft and its partners and its system builders certainly have crucial
concerns over the systemic implications of piracy.

The problem is that MFST is choosing to address piracy in an erratic
fashion that has already shown substantial evidence of inflicting massive
collateral damage and friendly fire on their customers. I hope that if
they don't change this concept that has already proved to cause
significant problems with WGA in its new incranation as SPP, that they
are forced to back off the way they usually are-- they face money loss.
If they had been able to make precise surgical tools, that would be one
thing. But they already know that they are killing Vista and Longhorn
Server on boxes that have fully legitimate licenses and they don't seem
to care. This is evidenced if you read Ed Bott's account of how stupidly
they fielded the calls and messages from a major Windows author, expert,
and writer of columns on Microsoft's site.

I don't have any doubt there will be substantial litigation and possibly
class action suits for Nancy Anderson's legal team at Microsoft, and
while many suits are baseless--these will not be and they will be filed
by high quality legal talent.

Ed Bott is doing a stellar job of tracking this, analyzing, and
critiquing this and Ed Bott co-authors one of the most complete and
authoritative Windows references for every operating system including the
one that has pre-sold nearly a million copies, "Windows Vista Inside Out"
by Microsoft Press
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9361.asp

Ed Bott's Bookstore
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?page_id=993

Ed Bott's Three Blogs

Ed Bott's Microsoft Report
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

Ed Bott's Windows Expertise/Tips, tricks, news, and advice about Windows
and Office
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

Ed Bott's Media Central
http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/index.php

Ed Bott's Columns on MSFT's Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bott.mspx

The author of one of the major books on Windows OS's and numerous
articles for MSFT over the year Ed Bott has taken MSFT to task for their
sloppy work with WGA repeatedly in the last few months and the same
sloppy
work with SPP and MSFT has had totally ignorant spokes persons speak to
different questioners that are quoted on Ed's two blogs currently with
the
most inane and no knowledgable defenses of WGA which does not work
correctly
and SPP which will not work correctly immaginable. They are making a
fool
of themselves with the implemenation of WGA and SPP and they are going to
learn to back off when it hits them in the area they worship--their
money.

See and note in these articles the inane responses of MSFT
representatives
to the author of one of the best selling major books on their major
Operating System software and others--one more example of MSFT's
perception
of the public as stupid and their tin ear contempt for the public who are
their customers and put Windows on 97% of the boxes on the planet.

I want people to note this conversation because it speaks volumes about
MSFT's inane contracted support and MSFT's oversight of it and MSFT's
attitude as to how little it means when they represent themselves to
their
customers--this is a conversation that Ed Bott had with "MSFT PSS"
probably
Convergys of Ohio contracting:

From Ed Bott at http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

"I called Microsoft support to see if there is a hidden option to say,
"yep,
I've got updates turned to manual: it's okay." The rep said, "No and why
wouldn't you want to get the latest updates to Windows."

I responded with the issues relating to WGA. He spent some time telling
me
that WGA was a good thing, etc. I reiterated that I have accepted all the
updates except WGA and just want to review the updates before they're
installed on my machine.

He told me that "in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory
and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the
30
days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you
might
as well install WGA now." [emphasis added]

I'm wondering if Microsoft has the right to disable Windows functionality
or
the OS as a whole (tantamount to revoking my legitimate Windows license)
if
I do not install every piece of software that they send it updates.

That can't be true, can it? I'm always suspicious of any report that
comes
from a front-line tech support drone, so I sent a note to Microsoft
asking
for an official confirmation or, better yet, a denial. Instead, I got
this
terse response from a Microsoft spokesperson:

As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program
expands
in the future, customers may be required to participate. [emphasis added]
Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can
best
meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any changes
to
the program.

That's it. That's the entire response.

Uh-oh. Currently, Windows users have the ability to opt out of the
Windows
Genuine Advantage program and still get security patches and other
Critical
Updates delivered via Windows Update. The only thing you give up is the
ability to download optional updates. Hackers have been working overtime
to
find ways to disable WGA notification. If WGA becomes mandatory, would it
mean that Microsoft could prevent Windows from working if it determines -
possibly erroneously - that your copy isn't "genuine"? That's a chilling
possibility, and Microsoft refuses an easy opportunity to deny that that
option is in its plans.

Over at Ed Bott's Windows Expertise, I've been soliciting feedback from
Windows users who've been burned by WGA. So far, I've received 20
comments.

Here's a sampling:

a.. I have an XP Media center with a promise RAID 0 4-disc array. When I
installed the WPA it broke the drivers for the array by causing failed
delayed writes (half of the array just "disapears".) If I do a system
restore to before the installation of the WPA everything goes back to
working just fine.
b.. ince installing WPA : I've had blue screens and a total inability
to boot. I had to run the XP repair function to get the computer to boot.
I
had a damaged boot sector on the hard drive. I am running two drives on a
RAID 1 config.
c.. I purchased a SEALED OEM copy of XP Professional. WGA said the
license
key was already used. I called MS and they said I should uninstall and
buy
another copy. I told them I wasn't made of money and hung-up.
d.. Microsoft rejected the product key that came with the ThinkPad I'm
using. I had to call in and they gave me another code to enter which
supposedly worked but now I get the blue screen of death about every
other
time I reboot. I've also lost all internet connectivity.
e.. I sent my Compaq Presario notebook for service repair, and it fails
the WGA check. I have a legal version of windows xp professional on it.
But
I have no way to correct this problem.
What's most disturbing about this whole saga is Microsoft's complete lack
of
transparency on the issue. And before the ABM crowd jumps in with
predictable "What did you expect?" comments, let me argue that Microsoft
actually has a fairly good track record on transparency issues in recent
years. Windows Product Activation is very well documented, and when a
similar uproar occurred in 2001, it was squelched quickly by some fairly
prominent postings from high-level executives who provided details
without a
lot of spin. Likewise, the Microsoft Security Response Center has done an
exceptional job at providing quick responses to security issues. (Just
ask
Adam Shostack.)

Currently, no one at Microsoft is blogging about this fiasco. No
executive
has been quoted on the record about it. There are very few technical
details
available, and those that have been published are being tumbled through
the
spin machine and spit out as press releases.

If Microsoft really does plan to turn WGA into a kill switch in
September,
be prepared for an enormous backlash."

From Ed Bott on October 5, 2006:

UAC Good; SPP Not So Good
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

"SPP, on the other hand, is the successor to Windows Genuine Advantage.
Both
initiatives have in common a reliance on Orwellian language that appears
to
be in the customer's benefit but is actually a horrible inconvenience and
potentially a nightmare. Despite Microsoft's attempts to spin the new
program, there's no advantage for the Windows customer, and the only
thing
being protected is Microsoft's revenue stream."

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Guess there will be a WGA "Kill Switch After All"
Published October 4, 2006 by Ed Bott
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1495

Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Search on WGA
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

October 4, 2006 For Vista, WGA gets Tougher
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148

Ed Bott Blog Readers Burned by WGA
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1370#comments

WGA is a Mess
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1476

Microsoft Kill Switch in Windows Vista and threat to disable Windows (the
so-called Microsoft Software Protection Platform)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers
from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

White Paper: Software Protection Platform: Innovations for Windows Vista
and Windows Server "Longhorn" Oct. 2006 (.doc file, 2.7 MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Phil Liu of Microsoft has reported problems with the Windows Genuine
Advantage authentication method for Volume License Key (VLK) customers
and a temporary work-around.

"Just a heads up on an issue related to (Volume) VLK validation. On
Monday and Tuesday of this week (Oct 2-3), some VLK customers may have
experienced problems with WGA validation. If a Windows XP system with a
VLK recently began failing validation or reporting as non-genuine, then
they may experiencing this problem. The problem was the result of an
issue on the Microsoft server side, and we are still investigating the
cause. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused you, and I am
personally working to get the information you need to resolve this issue.

We do have steps available that affected customers can take to correct
the problem, and we'll continue to work on solutions and post them on
this forum."

Customers who are affected can:
1.. Delete the data.dat file from Cocuments and SettingsAll
UsersApplication DataWindows Genuine Advantagedata (The drive letter will
depend on where the OS was installed)
2.. Revisit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/validate.aspx to
confirm that the machine is now genuine.
3.. Run wgatray.exe /b from the command line to ensure that the latest
validation is updated for WGA Notifications. This command may not be
present on the user's machine and should not be considered an error if it
is not. Please ensure that this is run as an Administrator. A reboot may
be required to remove all non-genuine notifications."
CH

 
C

Chad Harris

Nope. I would rather join a class action suit and enjoy the result. And
you will soon find that MSFT will be backing it's little tushie up as the
often do.

CH
 
M

MICHAEL

Chad, you and I have had some disagreements. However,
you have been very effective in helping users- with detailed
information, that I rarely see others take the time to give.

I reckon, you can rant on a bit and mix in OT political blather-
but, you do make some very valid points regarding Vista.
Some may have seen the same old thing from you several
times- I think it is very important for others who haven't,
to be exposed to some of your insightful posts. Speaking
out can be a very good thing, indeed.

Carry on.


-Michael

Chad Harris said:
Sam I do believe that I have helped people in the TBT on their group, and here on this one
since Vista was pulled out in the Beta deliver room.

I also believe that I don't exactly answer to you.

I raised a very valid question--I know you have no idea what I was talking about--but there
is a significant legal line that MSFT has crossed in their new policy--I provided their white
paper and their announcment of it and Ed Bott's excellent commentary.

Actually 5744 as you call it is tantamount to what's going into esrow in about 2.5 weeks to
RTM and ship to enterprises sometimes between Nov 1 and Nov 7 with an RTM target date. That
policy is going to start shutting down a lot of Windows Vista boxes, and when it does maybe
someone will explain to you what the issue is.

If you can't understand from the links to Ed Bott's posts, why this is a significant issue,
then it's not my job to help you.

There was no rant--I raised a legitimate issue. I don't have to defend my posts. I know
when and whether I've helped people with Vista, Office, XP, IE and other MSFT group topics
and that's enough for me.

If you think you can start paying me what I want, then we'll consider whether I answer to you
but it's not going to happen in your lifetime.

CH


SAM-R said:
What does your rants on this forum have to do with helping people with problems with 5744?
Chad Harris said:
The problem is not that MSFT is addressing piracy with a legal staff dedicated to it full
time under the direction of Nancy Anderson, Associate General Counsel.

Of course MSFT faces a huge, sprawling piracy problem as evidenced by the maps and
literature they hve circulated at their meetings from booths attended by their attorneys
and other employees over the years. It is complicated by the fact that many governments
don't cooperate fully, and there is a similar situation in India in respect to patents for
pharmaceuticals and in medicine in general in respect to HIV and the Avian Flu pandemic and
Mr. Gates is building on his learning curve in this area right now.

Microsoft and its partners and its system builders certainly have crucial concerns over the
systemic implications of piracy.

The problem is that MFST is choosing to address piracy in an erratic fashion that has
already shown substantial evidence of inflicting massive collateral damage and friendly
fire on their customers. I hope that if they don't change this concept that has already
proved to cause significant problems with WGA in its new incranation as SPP, that they are
forced to back off the way they usually are-- they face money loss. If they had been able
to make precise surgical tools, that would be one thing. But they already know that they
are killing Vista and Longhorn Server on boxes that have fully legitimate licenses and they
don't seem to care. This is evidenced if you read Ed Bott's account of how stupidly they
fielded the calls and messages from a major Windows author, expert, and writer of columns
on Microsoft's site.

I don't have any doubt there will be substantial litigation and possibly class action suits
for Nancy Anderson's legal team at Microsoft, and while many suits are baseless--these will
not be and they will be filed by high quality legal talent.

Ed Bott is doing a stellar job of tracking this, analyzing, and critiquing this and Ed Bott
co-authors one of the most complete and authoritative Windows references for every
operating system including the one that has pre-sold nearly a million copies, "Windows
Vista Inside Out" by Microsoft Press
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9361.asp

Ed Bott's Bookstore
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?page_id=993

Ed Bott's Three Blogs

Ed Bott's Microsoft Report
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

Ed Bott's Windows Expertise/Tips, tricks, news, and advice about Windows and Office
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

Ed Bott's Media Central
http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/index.php

Ed Bott's Columns on MSFT's Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bott.mspx

The author of one of the major books on Windows OS's and numerous
articles for MSFT over the year Ed Bott has taken MSFT to task for their
sloppy work with WGA repeatedly in the last few months and the same sloppy
work with SPP and MSFT has had totally ignorant spokes persons speak to
different questioners that are quoted on Ed's two blogs currently with the
most inane and no knowledgable defenses of WGA which does not work correctly
and SPP which will not work correctly immaginable. They are making a fool
of themselves with the implemenation of WGA and SPP and they are going to
learn to back off when it hits them in the area they worship--their money.

See and note in these articles the inane responses of MSFT representatives
to the author of one of the best selling major books on their major
Operating System software and others--one more example of MSFT's perception
of the public as stupid and their tin ear contempt for the public who are
their customers and put Windows on 97% of the boxes on the planet.

I want people to note this conversation because it speaks volumes about
MSFT's inane contracted support and MSFT's oversight of it and MSFT's
attitude as to how little it means when they represent themselves to their
customers--this is a conversation that Ed Bott had with "MSFT PSS" probably
Convergys of Ohio contracting:

From Ed Bott at http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

"I called Microsoft support to see if there is a hidden option to say, "yep,
I've got updates turned to manual: it's okay." The rep said, "No and why
wouldn't you want to get the latest updates to Windows."

I responded with the issues relating to WGA. He spent some time telling me
that WGA was a good thing, etc. I reiterated that I have accepted all the
updates except WGA and just want to review the updates before they're
installed on my machine.

He told me that "in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory
and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the 30
days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you might
as well install WGA now." [emphasis added]

I'm wondering if Microsoft has the right to disable Windows functionality or
the OS as a whole (tantamount to revoking my legitimate Windows license) if
I do not install every piece of software that they send it updates.

That can't be true, can it? I'm always suspicious of any report that comes
from a front-line tech support drone, so I sent a note to Microsoft asking
for an official confirmation or, better yet, a denial. Instead, I got this
terse response from a Microsoft spokesperson:

As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program expands
in the future, customers may be required to participate. [emphasis added]
Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can best
meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any changes to
the program.

That's it. That's the entire response.

Uh-oh. Currently, Windows users have the ability to opt out of the Windows
Genuine Advantage program and still get security patches and other Critical
Updates delivered via Windows Update. The only thing you give up is the
ability to download optional updates. Hackers have been working overtime to
find ways to disable WGA notification. If WGA becomes mandatory, would it
mean that Microsoft could prevent Windows from working if it determines -
possibly erroneously - that your copy isn't "genuine"? That's a chilling
possibility, and Microsoft refuses an easy opportunity to deny that that
option is in its plans.

Over at Ed Bott's Windows Expertise, I've been soliciting feedback from
Windows users who've been burned by WGA. So far, I've received 20 comments.

Here's a sampling:

a.. I have an XP Media center with a promise RAID 0 4-disc array. When I
installed the WPA it broke the drivers for the array by causing failed
delayed writes (half of the array just "disapears".) If I do a system
restore to before the installation of the WPA everything goes back to
working just fine.
b.. ince installing WPA : I've had blue screens and a total inability
to boot. I had to run the XP repair function to get the computer to boot. I
had a damaged boot sector on the hard drive. I am running two drives on a
RAID 1 config.
c.. I purchased a SEALED OEM copy of XP Professional. WGA said the license
key was already used. I called MS and they said I should uninstall and buy
another copy. I told them I wasn't made of money and hung-up.
d.. Microsoft rejected the product key that came with the ThinkPad I'm
using. I had to call in and they gave me another code to enter which
supposedly worked but now I get the blue screen of death about every other
time I reboot. I've also lost all internet connectivity.
e.. I sent my Compaq Presario notebook for service repair, and it fails
the WGA check. I have a legal version of windows xp professional on it. But
I have no way to correct this problem.
What's most disturbing about this whole saga is Microsoft's complete lack of
transparency on the issue. And before the ABM crowd jumps in with
predictable "What did you expect?" comments, let me argue that Microsoft
actually has a fairly good track record on transparency issues in recent
years. Windows Product Activation is very well documented, and when a
similar uproar occurred in 2001, it was squelched quickly by some fairly
prominent postings from high-level executives who provided details without a
lot of spin. Likewise, the Microsoft Security Response Center has done an
exceptional job at providing quick responses to security issues. (Just ask
Adam Shostack.)

Currently, no one at Microsoft is blogging about this fiasco. No executive
has been quoted on the record about it. There are very few technical details
available, and those that have been published are being tumbled through the
spin machine and spit out as press releases.

If Microsoft really does plan to turn WGA into a kill switch in September,
be prepared for an enormous backlash."

From Ed Bott on October 5, 2006:

UAC Good; SPP Not So Good
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

"SPP, on the other hand, is the successor to Windows Genuine Advantage. Both
initiatives have in common a reliance on Orwellian language that appears to
be in the customer's benefit but is actually a horrible inconvenience and
potentially a nightmare. Despite Microsoft's attempts to spin the new
program, there's no advantage for the Windows customer, and the only thing
being protected is Microsoft's revenue stream."

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Guess there will be a WGA "Kill Switch After All"
Published October 4, 2006 by Ed Bott
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1495

Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Search on WGA
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

October 4, 2006 For Vista, WGA gets Tougher
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148

Ed Bott Blog Readers Burned by WGA
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1370#comments

WGA is a Mess
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1476

Microsoft Kill Switch in Windows Vista and threat to disable Windows (the
so-called Microsoft Software Protection Platform)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and Customers
from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and Customers from
Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

White Paper: Software Protection Platform: Innovations for Windows Vista and Windows
Server "Longhorn" Oct. 2006 (.doc file, 2.7 MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Phil Liu of Microsoft has reported problems with the Windows Genuine Advantage
authentication method for Volume License Key (VLK) customers and a temporary work-around.

"Just a heads up on an issue related to (Volume) VLK validation. On Monday and Tuesday of
this week (Oct 2-3), some VLK customers may have experienced problems with WGA validation.
If a Windows XP system with a VLK recently began failing validation or reporting as
non-genuine, then they may experiencing this problem. The problem was the result of an
issue on the Microsoft server side, and we are still investigating the cause. We regret any
inconvenience this may have caused you, and I am personally working to get the information
you need to resolve this issue.

We do have steps available that affected customers can take to correct the problem, and
we'll continue to work on solutions and post them on this forum."

Customers who are affected can:
1.. Delete the data.dat file from Cocuments and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataWindows
Genuine Advantagedata (The drive letter will depend on where the OS was installed)
2.. Revisit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/validate.aspx to confirm that the
machine is now genuine.
3.. Run wgatray.exe /b from the command line to ensure that the latest validation is
updated for WGA Notifications. This command may not be present on the user's machine and
should not be considered an error if it is not. Please ensure that this is run as an
Administrator. A reboot may be required to remove all non-genuine notifications."
CH


 
C

Chad Harris

Michael Thanks.

Believe me on the football posts, it was meant in fun--and I only directed
it to you because of the go panthers. It wasn't meant with any serious
intensity--I follow a lot less now than I used to, but when there is
potential for the Mannings to play against each other or as there was but
didn't happen for the Hasselbecks to play against each other, or some drama
with a particular team or player then I get interested.

The politics is a little venting--I follow it closely--of course there are
unlimited political blogs all over the place from the universities--salon
and NYTimes types, and they don't have a real appropriate place in here but
they are more like a slogan and I might lol not win some analogy contests
using MSFT and the political landscape.

I understand their stance that MSFT and other companies sell to China and
can't be held responsible for what the dictator and his regime does about
the internet and freedom to surf with their software, search, or the
browser, but I think it is, in fact a little more complictaed than that.
When MSN turned over searches to the Chinese government, I don't for a
moment think that there aren't scores of savy people within MSFT who knew
exactly where China was going when they linked those searches to
individuals, and many of the results are well documented and it's not
pretty and didn't turn out to be safe for some of those people and their
families. I would have expected them to say to the Chinese government they
wouldn't turn over individual searches, but I know commerce and looking the
other way met in a powerful nexus for MSFT.

I also think that if someone hasn't read the group for a while , they might
see a concern I raised like SPP as MSFT bashing or pro-piracy and it was
neither. I'm hardly the lone ranger taking notice--this issue announced this
week by MSFT is getting huge play on the web as people get wind of it--MSDN
bloggers haven't had that much to say about it. Maybe they're encouraged
not to.

To me it is the aggresive length they want to go to, coupled with the
obvious prlbems they have had in IDing pirates on machines and someone like
Ed Bott (co author of Windows Vista Inside Out) is a terrifically
knowledgable Windows user/teacher/author and looks at an issue very closely
and carefully before he raises it.

He also does a nice MCE blog.

Ed Bott’s Media Central
http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/

I didn't raise the SPP issue as a promiscuously frequent MSFT basher. It's
obvious at least I spend a little time with their software. I know they
hate piracy and I know they have a near impossible job in many areas outside
the US, and I see their maps and stats in kits I get from them. I would
have stopped short of a "kill switch" though, unless I could be certain that
it wouldn't impact one box that has legit Windows on it.

And WGA which was the predecessor has turned out to be a horror story in
this regard for some legitimate Windows users.

They are expanding this type of approach now to Enterprise volume licenses,
and I think it has the potential to shut down production by mistake--not a
good tac to follow for them IMHO.

The emerging DRM situation with respect to MSFT and many of the content
providers is going to be interesting, and for me a little complicated to
watch. The movie industry is facing some real tough dynamics with
competition from so many fronts and their major sales are DVDs via bricks
and mortar stores and the web. It will be very interesting to watch out how
their point gaurd Dan Glickman who was a Clinton cabinet member and whose
son is a major movie producer handles the download issues for the movie
industry.

New Movie Czar
http://www.worldmagblog.com/blog/archives/006152.html

Thanks for the kind words.

Take care,

CH




MICHAEL said:
Chad, you and I have had some disagreements. However,
you have been very effective in helping users- with detailed
information, that I rarely see others take the time to give.

I reckon, you can rant on a bit and mix in OT political blather-
but, you do make some very valid points regarding Vista.
Some may have seen the same old thing from you several
times- I think it is very important for others who haven't,
to be exposed to some of your insightful posts. Speaking
out can be a very good thing, indeed.

Carry on.


-Michael

Chad Harris said:
Sam I do believe that I have helped people in the TBT on their group, and
here on this one since Vista was pulled out in the Beta deliver room.

I also believe that I don't exactly answer to you.

I raised a very valid question--I know you have no idea what I was
talking about--but there is a significant legal line that MSFT has
crossed in their new policy--I provided their white paper and their
announcment of it and Ed Bott's excellent commentary.

Actually 5744 as you call it is tantamount to what's going into esrow in
about 2.5 weeks to RTM and ship to enterprises sometimes between Nov 1
and Nov 7 with an RTM target date. That policy is going to start
shutting down a lot of Windows Vista boxes, and when it does maybe
someone will explain to you what the issue is.

If you can't understand from the links to Ed Bott's posts, why this is a
significant issue, then it's not my job to help you.

There was no rant--I raised a legitimate issue. I don't have to defend
my posts. I know when and whether I've helped people with Vista, Office,
XP, IE and other MSFT group topics and that's enough for me.

If you think you can start paying me what I want, then we'll consider
whether I answer to you but it's not going to happen in your lifetime.

CH


SAM-R said:
What does your rants on this forum have to do with helping people with
problems with 5744?
"Chad Harris" <Vista RTM is really Beta 1.net> wrote in message
The problem is not that MSFT is addressing piracy with a legal staff
dedicated to it full time under the direction of Nancy Anderson,
Associate General Counsel.

Of course MSFT faces a huge, sprawling piracy problem as evidenced by
the maps and literature they hve circulated at their meetings from
booths attended by their attorneys and other employees over the years.
It is complicated by the fact that many governments don't cooperate
fully, and there is a similar situation in India in respect to patents
for pharmaceuticals and in medicine in general in respect to HIV and
the Avian Flu pandemic and Mr. Gates is building on his learning curve
in this area right now.

Microsoft and its partners and its system builders certainly have
crucial concerns over the systemic implications of piracy.

The problem is that MFST is choosing to address piracy in an erratic
fashion that has already shown substantial evidence of inflicting
massive collateral damage and friendly fire on their customers. I hope
that if they don't change this concept that has already proved to cause
significant problems with WGA in its new incranation as SPP, that they
are forced to back off the way they usually are-- they face money loss.
If they had been able to make precise surgical tools, that would be one
thing. But they already know that they are killing Vista and Longhorn
Server on boxes that have fully legitimate licenses and they don't seem
to care. This is evidenced if you read Ed Bott's account of how
stupidly they fielded the calls and messages from a major Windows
author, expert, and writer of columns on Microsoft's site.

I don't have any doubt there will be substantial litigation and
possibly class action suits for Nancy Anderson's legal team at
Microsoft, and while many suits are baseless--these will not be and
they will be filed by high quality legal talent.

Ed Bott is doing a stellar job of tracking this, analyzing, and
critiquing this and Ed Bott co-authors one of the most complete and
authoritative Windows references for every operating system including
the one that has pre-sold nearly a million copies, "Windows Vista
Inside Out" by Microsoft Press
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9361.asp

Ed Bott's Bookstore
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?page_id=993

Ed Bott's Three Blogs

Ed Bott's Microsoft Report
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

Ed Bott's Windows Expertise/Tips, tricks, news, and advice about
Windows and Office
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

Ed Bott's Media Central
http://www.edbott.com/mediacenter/index.php

Ed Bott's Columns on MSFT's Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bott.mspx

The author of one of the major books on Windows OS's and numerous
articles for MSFT over the year Ed Bott has taken MSFT to task for
their
sloppy work with WGA repeatedly in the last few months and the same
sloppy
work with SPP and MSFT has had totally ignorant spokes persons speak to
different questioners that are quoted on Ed's two blogs currently with
the
most inane and no knowledgable defenses of WGA which does not work
correctly
and SPP which will not work correctly immaginable. They are making a
fool
of themselves with the implemenation of WGA and SPP and they are going
to
learn to back off when it hits them in the area they worship--their
money.

See and note in these articles the inane responses of MSFT
representatives
to the author of one of the best selling major books on their major
Operating System software and others--one more example of MSFT's
perception
of the public as stupid and their tin ear contempt for the public who
are
their customers and put Windows on 97% of the boxes on the planet.

I want people to note this conversation because it speaks volumes about
MSFT's inane contracted support and MSFT's oversight of it and MSFT's
attitude as to how little it means when they represent themselves to
their
customers--this is a conversation that Ed Bott had with "MSFT PSS"
probably
Convergys of Ohio contracting:

From Ed Bott at http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

"I called Microsoft support to see if there is a hidden option to say,
"yep,
I've got updates turned to manual: it's okay." The rep said, "No and
why
wouldn't you want to get the latest updates to Windows."

I responded with the issues relating to WGA. He spent some time telling
me
that WGA was a good thing, etc. I reiterated that I have accepted all
the
updates except WGA and just want to review the updates before they're
installed on my machine.

He told me that "in the fall, having the latest WGA will become
mandatory
and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when
the 30
days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you
might
as well install WGA now." [emphasis added]

I'm wondering if Microsoft has the right to disable Windows
functionality or
the OS as a whole (tantamount to revoking my legitimate Windows
license) if
I do not install every piece of software that they send it updates.

That can't be true, can it? I'm always suspicious of any report that
comes
from a front-line tech support drone, so I sent a note to Microsoft
asking
for an official confirmation or, better yet, a denial. Instead, I got
this
terse response from a Microsoft spokesperson:

As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program
expands
in the future, customers may be required to participate. [emphasis
added]
Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can
best
meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any
changes to
the program.

That's it. That's the entire response.

Uh-oh. Currently, Windows users have the ability to opt out of the
Windows
Genuine Advantage program and still get security patches and other
Critical
Updates delivered via Windows Update. The only thing you give up is the
ability to download optional updates. Hackers have been working
overtime to
find ways to disable WGA notification. If WGA becomes mandatory, would
it
mean that Microsoft could prevent Windows from working if it
determines -
possibly erroneously - that your copy isn't "genuine"? That's a
chilling
possibility, and Microsoft refuses an easy opportunity to deny that
that
option is in its plans.

Over at Ed Bott's Windows Expertise, I've been soliciting feedback from
Windows users who've been burned by WGA. So far, I've received 20
comments.

Here's a sampling:

a.. I have an XP Media center with a promise RAID 0 4-disc array. When
I
installed the WPA it broke the drivers for the array by causing failed
delayed writes (half of the array just "disapears".) If I do a system
restore to before the installation of the WPA everything goes back to
working just fine.
b.. ince installing WPA : I've had blue screens and a total
inability
to boot. I had to run the XP repair function to get the computer to
boot. I
had a damaged boot sector on the hard drive. I am running two drives on
a
RAID 1 config.
c.. I purchased a SEALED OEM copy of XP Professional. WGA said the
license
key was already used. I called MS and they said I should uninstall and
buy
another copy. I told them I wasn't made of money and hung-up.
d.. Microsoft rejected the product key that came with the ThinkPad I'm
using. I had to call in and they gave me another code to enter which
supposedly worked but now I get the blue screen of death about every
other
time I reboot. I've also lost all internet connectivity.
e.. I sent my Compaq Presario notebook for service repair, and it
fails
the WGA check. I have a legal version of windows xp professional on it.
But
I have no way to correct this problem.
What's most disturbing about this whole saga is Microsoft's complete
lack of
transparency on the issue. And before the ABM crowd jumps in with
predictable "What did you expect?" comments, let me argue that
Microsoft
actually has a fairly good track record on transparency issues in
recent
years. Windows Product Activation is very well documented, and when a
similar uproar occurred in 2001, it was squelched quickly by some
fairly
prominent postings from high-level executives who provided details
without a
lot of spin. Likewise, the Microsoft Security Response Center has done
an
exceptional job at providing quick responses to security issues. (Just
ask
Adam Shostack.)

Currently, no one at Microsoft is blogging about this fiasco. No
executive
has been quoted on the record about it. There are very few technical
details
available, and those that have been published are being tumbled through
the
spin machine and spit out as press releases.

If Microsoft really does plan to turn WGA into a kill switch in
September,
be prepared for an enormous backlash."

From Ed Bott on October 5, 2006:

UAC Good; SPP Not So Good
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/

"SPP, on the other hand, is the successor to Windows Genuine Advantage.
Both
initiatives have in common a reliance on Orwellian language that
appears to
be in the customer's benefit but is actually a horrible inconvenience
and
potentially a nightmare. Despite Microsoft's attempts to spin the new
program, there's no advantage for the Windows customer, and the only
thing
being protected is Microsoft's revenue stream."

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Guess there will be a WGA "Kill Switch After All"
Published October 4, 2006 by Ed Bott
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1495

Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Search on WGA
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/

October 4, 2006 For Vista, WGA gets Tougher
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=148

Ed Bott Blog Readers Burned by WGA
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1370#comments

WGA is a Mess
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1476

Microsoft Kill Switch in Windows Vista and threat to disable Windows
(the
so-called Microsoft Software Protection Platform)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers
from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft's Software Protection Platform: Protecting Software and
Customers from Counterfeiters
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

White Paper: Software Protection Platform: Innovations for Windows
Vista and Windows Server "Longhorn" Oct. 2006 (.doc file, 2.7 MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-04SoftwareProtection.mspx

Microsoft Issues Warning to VLK Customers Over WGA Fail
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35401

Phil Liu of Microsoft has reported problems with the Windows Genuine
Advantage authentication method for Volume License Key (VLK) customers
and a temporary work-around.

"Just a heads up on an issue related to (Volume) VLK validation. On
Monday and Tuesday of this week (Oct 2-3), some VLK customers may have
experienced problems with WGA validation. If a Windows XP system with a
VLK recently began failing validation or reporting as non-genuine, then
they may experiencing this problem. The problem was the result of an
issue on the Microsoft server side, and we are still investigating the
cause. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused you, and I am
personally working to get the information you need to resolve this
issue.

We do have steps available that affected customers can take to correct
the problem, and we'll continue to work on solutions and post them on
this forum."

Customers who are affected can:
1.. Delete the data.dat file from Cocuments and SettingsAll
UsersApplication DataWindows Genuine Advantagedata (The drive letter
will depend on where the OS was installed)
2.. Revisit http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/validate.aspx
to confirm that the machine is now genuine.
3.. Run wgatray.exe /b from the command line to ensure that the latest
validation is updated for WGA Notifications. This command may not be
present on the user's machine and should not be considered an error if
it is not. Please ensure that this is run as an Administrator. A reboot
may be required to remove all non-genuine notifications."
CH


 
R

Robert Robinson

Microsoft has a right to protect their intellectual property, but they
should not do this by jeopardizing usability and crippling
technological advances.
One has the impression that Microsoft is more interested in harassing
users and toadying to the misplaced desires of the MPAA and the RIAA
than it is in providing users with flexible, state of the art software.
This policy is likely to result in an increasing number of users
deciding to utilize alternate operating systems and application programs.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top