Dragon said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

My daughter has a perfectly legal version of XP on her PC, but it consistently came up with "This is not a valid version" . In the end, despite emailling and phoning Micro sh*t, and being asked for £45 for them to investigate the problem, they still told her to buy a genuine copy of XP. We know it was genuine because it was pre-installed by the manufacturer, who has since gone out of business.
Soon she was unable to update at all as Microsh*t wouldn't recognise her genuine copy. She went online and found a website which provided her with all the updates. She also installed XP Antispy. She had no more problems. I wonder if XP Antispy will block this intrusion too. I want a Vista Antispy Programme!!!

Anthony Price said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

Yet another good reason for moving to Linux

cris said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

it probably wasn't a legit copy the one you had preinstalled...so don't get mad on microsoft for that:D

Bill Coombes said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

With the direction that Microsoft is going and the continuing improvements in Linux, I can see Microsoft gradually disappearing in time to come.

RM said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

It is the faulty and unfair concept of the EULA! the fact that even after BUYING and installing the software one does not own it! The music producers have jumped and laterally the films have jumped on the same bandwagon!that is the reason for DRM! the ONLY way to stop this (legal) piracy is to vote with ones feet! Long live OPEN SOURCE!Somebody should challenge the EULA as an UNFAIR CONTRACT in courts across the world(A Consumer rights group or the ECHR)

Asterix said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

Why go to all that bother NOW? Most new PC's are shipped with Vista as the primary operating system. I'm sure when all the flaws are ironed out there won't be much need for XP anymore. It's the flaws in Vista that are causing more and more people to download a pirate copy of XP as they don't think they should buy another operating system after buying Vista or a PC with Vista pre-installed. We rely on Microsoft to come up with a stable OS but they haven't as many have found out AFTER purchasing Vista. I think it would be more productive of Microsoft to give everyone with Vista a free copy of XP to use until Vista is more stable.
The truth of the matter is, we will pay for this extra work involved re security for XP when we buy Microsoft's next OS. It's not like we can return our non fully functional copy of Vista for a refund so we have to do something to get out computers running normally.

Dave said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

whats the point they stopping xp production but still make sure people don't use dodgy copies. and anyway if it wasn't so damn expensive they wouldn't have a problem how much is vista ultimate £200-£300.

Jinker said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

Read between the lines? They're trying to force users to give up XP Pro, legit or otherwise and migrate to Vista. Why do this now? Simple.........stop the pirate copies from working and make the users buy the only system they can if they want Windows! You've got to admire the tenacity of MS in trying to sell their flawed goods!

Someone will crack this WGA as they have the rest ???

David Gent said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

It's a shame that Microsoft doesn't put as much attention to providing bug free software

CharlieC said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

I have had the same problem I am informed that IE needs to close, sorry and so on as my copy of XP home is not genuine, even after I was sent an other copy of XP via the help desk in India and a new hard drive from HP I am still not able to update to IE 7 and Windows Media Player 11. PAIN IN THE BUT.

Madge said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

I have a genuine copy of Windows XP Pro, complete the Certificate of Authenticity. Product was installed by supplier. I have the invoice from the supplier, who is still in business.
Initially registered and OK. Along came WGA and all hell has been let loose regarding updates - including the problem of non-legitimate copy!
I bought a new hard drive, installed a copy of XP from the CD and reregistered - no problems ..... ! Started the updating after SP3 and chaos again when trying to update.
I reformatted the drive, reinstalled again, installed SP3 - TURNED OFF MS AUTO UPDATING - no problems so far.
I intend to use the original drive with LINUX installed on it. I know it may be a steep learning curve but it could be worth it. I'll use Star Office and other open source software to meet my needs ....... and Microsoft has just lost another customer. I'm going to suggest that my friends do likewise ...... we are all silver surfers over the age of 80 ........... need one say more?

Paul said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

If the price for an OS was reasonable they would actually sell some! The price charged is rediculas and the main reason to bypass the security.

mt said on Thursday, 28 August 2008

as usual the monopoliser (microsoft)is power control mad in an area which should have tons of free competition available.Why should we all be subject to this corporations will and have them encroaching into our systems like the thought police?Make your software cheaper microsoft then there wouldn't be this problem. It's all down to GREEDY FATCAT POLICY.

Gray said on Friday, 29 August 2008

I block WGA in my firewall from communicating although my system is legitimate as I don't trust microsoft. As far as I know XP is still receiving updates.

Mr Mistoffelees said on Friday, 29 August 2008

To all those of you wingeing about having to use legitimate software.

If you spent millions developing software for the PC, would you be happy for people to use pirate copies and not pay you for it? I don't think so.

The thieves push up the price for those who adhere to the law, they must be stopped.

Kevin said on Friday, 29 August 2008

It is called GREED or "We must look after the leechers er shareholder.
The greedy protected by law. The poor user protected by????????

Jamba said on Friday, 29 August 2008

Linux is by far and away the better OS. We should vote with our feet and head that way. We do need more people to use this system and see that Microshaft windblows is a terrible program.

Mr Mistoffelees said on Friday, 29 August 2008

"It is called GREED or "We must look after the leechers er shareholder.
The greedy protected by law. The poor user protected by????????"

Using Google Shopping I have found Windows Vista Home Basic Upgrade edition from as little as £22 and Windows Vista Home Premium OEM from around £48.

Shopping around for a good deal cost me a couple of minutes. With legitimate copies available so cheap, the pirates excuses just don't wash.

Must remember, of course, thieves don't care about the impact they have on the honest majority.

MAC IS SHIT said on Friday, 29 August 2008

Window vista is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sorry said on Friday, 29 August 2008

sorry about my last comment i am very sorry

Jon said on Friday, 29 August 2008

Sorry about my last two comment but Window vista is good but only if you have lots of memory (ram)

allan.robinson said on Friday, 29 August 2008

hi i guess this is all part of microsofts plan to ween us of xp and consign xp to join 98 etc.As the fewer people us a system the less stuff is written for it.thanks.ALLAN

swarfendor437 said on Saturday, 30 August 2008

You cannot have (legal) piracy! People should look at that wonderful episode from the Simpsons where Homer is trying to hide his mother from the Law and smashes into the local court house. Chief Wiggum states Homer has caused no damage apart from killing a lawyer who says in his dying breath - "I want people to remember me for what I was ... a drain on Society!" Microsoft - take note!
To Madge - Linux is good - would recommend KUbuntu if you want a similar experience to Windows, or PCLinuxOS 2007, Sabayon 3.5 (DVD),
which are all free. Sabayon and Ubuntu have the best drivers for Canon Printers - I can now print beautiful photographs now thanks to these brilliant Linux drivers - something unheard of a couple of years ago! If you want an ultra simplistic desktop then try Linpus Linux 9.4 Lite (installed on Netbooks). All the distros mentioned can run on your computer WITHOUT installing so you can see if it is going to work before install! (Don't fear the Penguin!)

pirate said on Friday, 05 September 2008

it is so easy to remove the wga notification,
1 Start in Safe mode (f8)

2 when in safe mode

3 My computer

4 C drive

5 Windows folder

6 system 32 folder 7 wgatray then delete

8 dillcache folder delete wgatray

9 start then run

10 regedit then enter

11 left hand pane, hkey_local_macine\software\microsoft\windowsnt\current version\win logon\notify

12once in location11 delete folder wgalogon and all its contents now reboot

13 now disable updates and do it manually do not validate