Windows activation question

[Alias]

Alias, that's a valid point in post cases. However, if I'm not
mistaken, if the user doesn't have a genuine copy the activation key
given the user over the phone will return a response of "Invalid,"
something the user would see when pressing enter. I don't know what the
procedure is when that happens but the user would likely be told he
apparently doesn't have a genuine copy and needs to check with the
retailer.

Cracked copies of Windows don't need product keys or activation. I think
it's about control and not of the benign type.

 

[Alias]

They don't ever say no eh?

So then please explain what the point is except to piss legitimate users
off.

Frank doesn't explain, he just insults and lies. He doesn't explain
because he doesn't know. Instead of admitting that, he will bluster and
insult and lie about you until the proverbial cows come home.

 

[Michael Solomon]

Cracked copies of Windows don't need product keys or activation. I think
it's about control and not of the benign type.

User's of those cracked copies obviously don't call or need to call for
activation. But there are instances where users unwittingly purchase from
"dodgy" sources only to find they are unable to activate.

So, back to your point, without arguing over activation, something I'm not
defending, it's not up to the operator. The operator will make a reasonable
attempt to be sure everything is as it should be but the ultimate test is
whether or not they can get the software activated and as far as I know, if
it's a bad copy, it will return a message the version is invalid and that
speaks to the original issue.

 

[Alias]

User's of those cracked copies obviously don't call or need to call for
activation. But there are instances where users unwittingly purchase
from "dodgy" sources only to find they are unable to activate.

So, back to your point, without arguing over activation, something I'm
not defending, it's not up to the operator. The operator will make a
reasonable attempt to be sure everything is as it should be but the
ultimate test is whether or not they can get the software activated and
as far as I know, if it's a bad copy, it will return a message the
version is invalid and that speaks to the original issue.

Which begs the question, does MS make more money flagging people who
unwittingly buy a pirated copy or spend more money on phone charges and
activation operators and all the expenses that entails. Judging from the
posts here from people who get the "three day or else" threat, their
reaction doesn't seem to lend itself to what one would call "good PR" on
the part of the Windows Genuine Advantage Program.

 

[Michael Solomon]

Which begs the question, does MS make more money flagging people who
unwittingly buy a pirated copy or spend more money on phone charges and
activation operators and all the expenses that entails. Judging from the
posts here from people who get the "three day or else" threat, their
reaction doesn't seem to lend itself to what one would call "good PR" on
the part of the Windows Genuine Advantage Program.

On the PR, you have no argument from me.

On the phone charges, they likely are paying a bulk rate of some sort and
the operators are likely a flat rate contract with a provider as well. I'm
sure some bean counter somewhere has crunched the numbers. As to whether it
balances against pirated software, even they can only estimate but if the
number was very large or if a lot of legit users were unable to activate
we'd see it in here. Of course, they would argue activation isn't meant to
"catch" so much as it is meant to discourage and that brings us back to the
PR question.

Most folks just want to use their software.