Hello; Almost everytime I talk to my customer about their computing infrastructure I menton alternatives to Windows.
I DONOT Like my customers being called Pirates by Microsoft. I sell Acer Computers which come bundled with Windows XP Pro or Home. I hear many reports of Computers failing WGA and forcing users to act. I have encountered systems that WGA called pirated or were updated with hardware and needed to be re-activated. this caused my customers to spend money they did not need to.
Here is an alternative for the small busniess. the Shavlik update service is available for FREE for the first year on up to 10 computers. The trial version of Shavlik NetChk Protect will scan and remediate 10 machines and is valid for one year. Please note: this version is not for re-sale.
From Microsoft’s support website: How to remove WGA
Now I have never been a fan of Dell for a number of reasons:
They bait & switch low price minimally configured machines; There idea of support is wipe & re-install; fine print that Nails you for shipping; Business users Cannot return an order regardles of what or why the problem occured. and now this … Hardware rellers are responsible for support of the Operating System called Microsoft and Dell & MS are playing PingPong with their customers
+++++++++Why WindowsGenuineAdvantage is a PROBLEM ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A case in point is that of a reader who has been wrestling with Microsoft and Dell over multiple computers that have come down with WGA/activation sickness. “I’m with a small firm that purchased 15 Dell Optiplex 160Ls on a single order a couple of years ago,” the reader wrote. “They came preinstalled with Windows XP on them. Now, all of a sudden, Microsoft is saying that their licenses are invalid. And - to make things more exciting - they’ve dimmed the Automatic Updates settings so we can’t change them to Manual. One by one, all of the machines are becoming unusable.”
The reader has of course tried to get Dell to help, but found it’s all too easy for the OEMs in cases like this to just tell them to deal with Microsoft. “I spoke with Dell about this last week - for over an hour - most of which was spent pointing me to the generic Microsoft licensing website,” the reader wrote. “Dell finally said that while the licenses sold with Optiplexes are legal and valid - though they couldn’t tell me how to establish this beyond the Dell-logoed hologram on the side of the PC — it’s really a Microsoft problem, not a Dell one. They also suggested reinstalling XP all over again on each machine. Typical Dell. Buying a Dell is like buying a car — once you’re out the door, you are nothing.”
…
The first machine we try, their outsourced validation firm agrees that the Product Key is valid - but won’t issue an Activation Code. There’s a problem that they can’t figure out. That, they say, requires Customer Support. Customer Support agrees that the code is valid, and can’t say why it might not work, and we need to speak with Technical Support. Unfortunately, Technical Support is closed. Could we perhaps call back on Monday?”
As the reader and staff worked their way through re-activating each Optiplex, they found the more typical pattern was to be told the best answer to pay Microsoft more money. “You call the 800 number, read out the endless series of digits into the IVR,” the reader wrote. “Get transferred to India. Read the numbers again. Only to be told that their systems are down for maintenance, and could we try activating Windows XP tomorrow? Or, if we need it activated tonight - we can pay $149 per machine to get the machines back up and running immediately. What kind of a firm does business in this manner? How can Microsoft claim to be a vendor able to handle ‘business critical’ systems when they pull stunts like this?”
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Mike said,
September 22, 2006 @ 2:07 pm
I agree with your post COMPLETLY, This windows “Genuine” advatage is one of the biggest blunders Microsoft has ever propigated. You can thank Steve Balmer for it too.
Ever Since He took over as CEO, he’s gone on a rampage of Naziesque practices that will evently knock Microsoft out of business. (not to mention his idea of a pricing stratagy)
bytebusters said,
September 22, 2006 @ 2:42 pm
Thanks Mike
I have run into many “issues”
Like if your motherboard from a Major OEM craps out; and you don’t replace it with the same board from that vendor ie: warranty replace; then you ALSO need to purchase a NEW License. based on the EULA.
Now if you need a new motherboard ;
and you don’t get the exact same model from the manufacturer
you need to ensure you get a board to match your current CPU; RAM AND Buy a new copy of XP It gets really expensive quickly
bytebusters said,
September 22, 2006 @ 2:45 pm
I had a client who had a backyard gy replace the motherboard because it was “bad”
a) He couldn’t register WGA because it failed due to the hardware change
b) the OS would crap out when loading the limited WGA Cripple state
c) I Tested the hardware and it turned out to be bad RAM ;-P probably not a bad motherboard
d) WGA Still had to be re-activated; I entered the serial from the Case and phoned up & comfirmed it was the only PC with the serial & luckily re-authenticated. but……. it could have been worse; luckily for them not in this case
Mike said,
September 22, 2006 @ 5:00 pm
And its only going to get worse when Vista comes out. With Vista the “Genuine Advantage” garbage is more closly integrated into the core of the operating system.
Its my fear that it wont be possible to bypass it with out rendering the OS unuseable.
(not that it wont be capable of doing that under its own power just as fast)
nauseating said,
June 3, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
Nauseating says : I absolutely agree with this !