"New 'key' mandatory in Windows for updates"

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:22 pm

Get ready to register with Microsoft if you want to update your Windows operating system.

In a shift toward greater monitoring of personal computer systems and potentially less copying of software, Microsoft will require users to let the company place a software "key" on their systems if they want the free, regular system updates it provides.

Privacy advocates are concerned, but Microsoft said the system is anonymous and won't be used for anything other than verifying the operating systems' authenticity.

[..]

Starting today, registration is mandatory for anyone seeking updates, such as the updated versions of its media player or graphics program, glitch fixes and other features the company may issue 10 or more times a year. It works with Windows XP and 2000.

Older systems don't require validation for updates.

Security updates are not part of the system. They can still be downloaded free without the validation process.

The system works by identifying unique characteristics of a system and implanting a software key that can be read by Microsoft when updates are requested. The only way to remove the key is to reformat the hard drive, said David Lazar, director of Genuine Windows.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/b ... oft26.html

snoopy · Post by **snoopy** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:44 pm

...And it always kicks back to the same issue: for those of us who build (and update) our own systems, Microsoft will give us a hard time. I don't know, no matter how anonymous it claims to be, it's an issue.

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:14 pm

it just means that those who don't own a copy of windows can't try out IE7.

if you are a system builder, or keep an eye on multiple machines, pay attention to this site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.aspx

roid · Post by **roid** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:53 pm

i don't use media player or internet explorer.
however they also require keying for DIRECTX updates, which is annoying. but i'm sure i'll be able to get around that.

my windows 2000 is legit, i just don't want to jump through hoops.

i sure am glad they don't require it for SECURITY updates though. that would have been a PR disaster.

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:55 pm

getting around DX should be easy - buy a new game.

Mr. Perfect · Post by **Mr. Perfect** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:58 pm

As long as this doesn't move to security updates and Direct X can be worked around, then I won't care. It's still a bit insulting though. Isn't activation enough?

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:19 pm

Mr. Perfect wrote:As long as this doesn't move to security updates and Direct X can be worked around, then I won't care. It's still a bit insulting though. Isn't activation enough?

Never.

Once IE7 is required to access WU, MS will be happy.

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:35 pm

Great -- w/o validation you can't use the Windows Update site anymore. Very inconvinient.

Jeff250 · Post by **Jeff250** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:18 pm

Would this "Genuine Advantage" thing stop someone from reusing an otherwise valid key?

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:42 pm

Jeff250 wrote:Would this "Genuine Advantage" thing stop someone from reusing an otherwise valid key?

If microsoft has learned from PA, then it should pretty much prevent it - most like by keeping track of how many ISPs use that key(you really shouldn't be using more than two at a time - assuming it can't tell between a laptop and a desktop), and storing the generated one in a database.

IF MS learned form PA.

roid · Post by **roid** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:49 am

you sure xciter?

it wants me to key my legit corporate version of win2k.

BUBBALOU · Post by **BUBBALOU** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 6:12 am

Old News, and the changes for this started back in june in case you did not notice...

Now the only ones who are going to complain are those that have pirated versions.
These users do have an option to buy a legit license key from Microsoft.

THE FREE RIDE IS OVER!!!!!!

roid · Post by **roid** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 7:15 am

BUBBALOU wrote:the only ones who are going to complain are those that have pirated versions.

no i said

roid wrote:my windows 2000 is legit, i just don't want to jump through hoops.

Ferno · Post by **Ferno** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:28 am

yay, I get to spend 300 dollars on a piece of software every few years.

joy.

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:36 am

Not quite Ferno. You get to spend $300 on a piece of software when there are FREE alternatives on the same market.

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:45 am

roid wrote:my windows 2000 is legit, i just don't want to jump through hoops.

x2 for my XP licenses. Hate being forced to install things I can't control. BTW, the "faq" says your "counterfeit" windoze must be purchased prior to May 1st, 05 else you are SOOL .. Oh, and no, the free ride isn't over -- just don't use the tainted keys. Keep in mind this whole thing is to get to the people that disabled the activation or use a (compromised) version/key that doesn't require activation..

Admiral LSD · Post by **Admiral LSD** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:10 pm

Does this apply to this situation as well?

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6563.cfm
http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2005/jun/21ms.htm

edit: In any case, this only applies to stuff downloaded through Windows Update right? Are they going to stop letting their stuff get mirrored all over the world then?

For example, Microsoft AntiSpyware is "protected" by WGA yet searching for "MicrosoftAntiSpywareInstall.exe" at a place like FileMirrors gives you plenty of places to download it from, including MS's own download servers.

Top Gun · Post by **Top Gun** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:18 pm

I know that Microsoft is being a royal bastard about requiring this, but I just installed the damn thing anyway. I can't be bothered to go tracking down updates instead of using Windows Update, and as far as I see it, if I already had to activate XP, they probably were doing something similar without telling anyone since then.

Admiral LSD · Post by **Admiral LSD** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:14 pm

heh, I just found something particularly interesting: Once you've installed the validation tool simply disabling the add-on in IE will allow Windows/Microsoft Update to proceed whether your installation is validated or not. There has to be a catch here somewhere, I can't and won't accept that MS made it this simple to work around.

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:08 pm

HEH! Amusing.

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:25 pm

Son of a gun, you're right.

Aggressor Prime · Post by **Aggressor Prime** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:31 pm

You can also do this.

Admiral LSD · Post by **Admiral LSD** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:34 pm

I tried that, it doesn't seem to work as well as disabling the Add-On. Could be because I'm using Microsoft Update (which updates all your MS Software: Windows, Office etc in the one place) and not Windows Update though.

Pugwash · Post by **Pugwash** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:04 pm

http://hfnetchk.shavlik.com/

HFNETCHK tells you what patches you are misssing so you can go find em.

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:32 pm

http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/

WU clone for non-IE browsers.

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 12:06 am

fliptw wrote:http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/

WU clone for non-IE browsers.

Nice find, bookmarked.

kurupt · Post by **kurupt** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:52 am

Krom wrote:
fliptw wrote:http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/

WU clone for non-IE browsers.
Nice find, bookmarked.

x2

Matrix · Post by **Matrix** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 6:56 pm

kurupt wrote:
Krom wrote:
fliptw wrote:http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/

WU clone for non-IE browsers.
Nice find, bookmarked.
x2

x3

Pugwash · Post by **Pugwash** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:54 pm

Matrix wrote:
kurupt wrote:
Krom wrote:
fliptw wrote:http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/

WU clone for non-IE browsers.
Nice find, bookmarked.
x2
x3

does it work? anyone used it?

Pugwash · Post by **Pugwash** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:42 am

Matrix · Post by **Matrix** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:07 pm

ya it worked fine 4 me

De Rigueur · Post by **De Rigueur** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:37 pm

when I used it, I got a list of updates that was completely different from those I got from regular windows update.

I.e., Windows update found some Outlook Express updates, but WindizUpdate found a couple of drivers. Go figure.