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Subject:
From:
Michael Dana <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
PCBUILD - Personal Computer Hardware discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 17 Jul 2001 22:24:26 -0700
Content-Type:
text/plain
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I have been a beta tester of Whistler now XP both home and pro, have
rebuild, changed MBs and Video cards three times and almost everything
else at least one time. With all this going I have used the SAME hard
drives from the beginning, never has XP had me call in for validating.
Office XP did when I installed it on a dual boot to ME, but that took
about a 3 min phone call. A bigger worry for me is this BSA (Business
Software Alliance), my home city is now one of their target areas. They
have been sending out form letters every week and have been on all talk
shows, wanting everyone to come clean or $10,000 plus fines. I am just a
little home business.

-----Original Message-----
From: PCBUILD - Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Herbert Graf
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2001 12:05 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Windows XP - Bad News for Builders

Actually the situation isn't QUITE as bad as you describe, but it is
pretty
bad.
>
> I read in the paper yesterday that Windows XP is going to be
> hardware - licensed.  This means that when the XP is installed
> on your computer, it makes a list of the hardware you have.
> You must validate this license (over the net) with MS within
> thirty days or the OS crashes and burns.  MS keeps a
> copy of the hardware list.


        Mickeysoft has been very careful with this. They say that the
information
sent to them pertaining to your hardware could never be traced back to
the
actual hardware you have. This has been confirmed by third parties.

> If the hardware changes "significantly"  (???), then the XP
> thinks it is on a new computer and does not work.  So,
> say you upgrade to a new mb and hd.  When you go to
> re-validate, MS says "no, this is an illegal second copy," and
> you need to buy a new copy of XP.  The details were not
> spelled out - and, perhaps, will be kept secret.

        Not at all, as long as you can prove to Mickeysoft that you
don't actually
have a different computer they will revalidate your computer. For the
record
Mickeysoft says that this sort of thing will only happen if 3 or more
major
items are changed. All in all this is an extreme threat to our rights,
we
have to call Mickeysoft every time we do a significant upgrade!?!?!?

> This is bad news for PC Builders.  What if you change your
> mb or upgrade your hard drive and video card.  Will you then
> have to buy a new copy of XP??  It looks that way.


        No, you won't, IF you believe Mickeysoft.

> This is MS's way of preventing the use of one licensed copy
> on more than one computer.

        You got it, Mickeysoft wants to tie the OS to the computer,
meaning every
time you do something to your computer you have to pay Mickeysoft more
money, and this stuff is getting them pretty close to this goal.

> Personally, if this article is true, I will not be buying XP until
> I absolutely need it to run some piece of software.

        I'll go one step further, I probably  will never buy WinXP,
Linux is on
it's way to being better in every way than Windows. And if the time
every
comes where I will buy WinXP I'll only do it if there is a crack to
disable
this garbage, it is none of Mickeysoft's business of who I am and what I
do
with my computer.  Just my opinion. TTYL

PS. For good info on thie whole issue go to
http://www.theregister.co.uk,
it's a great site for getting info on things like this. TTYL

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