Microsoft: Activation shift won't be a pain

Found on CNet News on Tuesday, 01 March 2005
Browse Software

Microsoft's plan to halt some Net activation for Windows kicked in Monday, with the software maker assuring customers that the antipiracy measure will not prove a problem for legitimate users.

As reported earlier, the updated program calls for the top 20 PC makers to activate Windows XP on every system before it ships. If a customer has to reinstall the operating system, as long as they use the restore disks from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), activation will be automatic, said Keith Beeman, director of worldwide license compliance for Microsoft.

The company has a plan to check that people's operating systems are properly licensed before allowing them to download certain updates. The plan, known as the Windows Genuine Advantage initiative, was introduced in January.

It will be a problem for legal users; not directly tho. Illegal versions will remain open and unpatched and can be easily turned into zombies to spew out spam. Users who do not want to activate their product, or have no (or just modem) Internet access are left out too. And then there are those who cannot even update without running into troubles (SP2 for XP anyone?).