rec.autos.simulators

> > Matter of fact, it's people like that, that is the reason for this type
of
> > nonsense to begin with.

> > Don Burnette

> Yea, thx to *your* buddies Millhouse we have to put up with this crap.
Some
> nice friends you have there.

> So I am a 'Spammer', because I posted an OT that someone else might find
> useful?

> You have NO idea what the term SPAM means, that's obvious.

> -Larry

> > Ed,

> > If you read the entire thread you will see that Chris is not the spammer
> > here.  The other larry began the thread as an OT and Chris did nothing
> more
> > than reply to the question and all of the replies.  Just because he is
> > standing up to the anti-MS crowd you decide he is the spammer and you
> reply
> > to him in a faux-polite tone asking him to leave.  Perhaps you should
> > re-read the thread and ask the *spammer* to leave instead of the person
> who
> > replies to the original post.  Just an observation not a war :)

> > Mitch

> > > Chris,

> > > Please be nice and take your spam elsewhere... this is a auto
simulation
> > > group.
> > > Thanks!

> > > > Jan is my Wife's name.  8-)
> > > > --
> > > > Chris H.
> > > > Microsoft MVP - Windows XP
> > > > Associate Expert
> > > > Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

> line losing the Super

> > Mitch,

> > So I am a 'Spammer', because I posted an OT that someone else might find
> > useful?

> > You have NO idea what the term SPAM means, that's obvious.

> > -Larry

> > > Ed,

> > > If you read the entire thread you will see that Chris is not the
spammer
> > > here.  The other larry began the thread as an OT and Chris did nothing
> > more
> > > than reply to the question and all of the replies.  Just because he is
> > > standing up to the anti-MS crowd you decide he is the spammer and you
> > reply
> > > to him in a faux-polite tone asking him to leave.  Perhaps you should
> > > re-read the thread and ask the *spammer* to leave instead of the
person
> > who
> > > replies to the original post.  Just an observation not a war :)

> > > Mitch

> > > > Chris,

> > > > Please be nice and take your spam elsewhere... this is a auto
> simulation
> > > > group.
> > > > Thanks!

> > > > > Jan is my Wife's name.  8-)
> > > > > --
> > > > > Chris H.
> > > > > Microsoft MVP - Windows XP
> > > > > Associate Expert
> > > > > Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

> What are you talking about?

> -Larry

> > Well... why do you believe you needed to reinstall something which was
> > working?

> > Tim

> > > Well, it was bound to happen.  Windows XP's stupid product activation
> was
> > > _bound_ to***up eventually.

> > > Well, it did.

> > > This evening, I was troubleshooting network connectivity problems on
my
> XP
> > > Client Machine.  One of the steps I took was the time-honored
tradition
> of
> > > removing the Ethernet Card entry in the Device Manager, and letting
> > Windows
> > > re-detect it and reinstall the drivers during restart.

> > > Well, instead of Windows XP booting up and redetecting the NIC card
and
> > > reinstalling the drivers, I got the dreaded Windows XP Activation
> notice!

> > > It said something about not being able to validate my Hardware
> > > Configuration, and asked me if I wanted to re-activate.

> > > Sure, why not.

> > > However, because this stupid Product Activation would not let the
system
> > > boot up into Windows, the damned NIC card drivers were not allowed to
> > > reinstall and.  This means, of course, that product activation could
not
> > do
> > > it's thing over the Internet.

> > > Ok, fine.  I've got 10 minutes to waste (like I really had a choice).

> > > I called the toll-free number.

> > > Now, I went through the drawn-out automated re-activation process,
where
> > you
> > > punch in this ridiculously long number, and wait for it to read back
> your
> > > activation key.

> > > Except, it said it could not validate my hardware configuration.

> > > Now, I had to get passed to a 'human' to get it done.

> > > Ok, so now I get to plead my case for the continuing privilage of
using
> an
> > > operating system that I paid good money for to someone on the
telephone.
> > I
> > > didn't get the impression that this person really understood the
> technical
> > > issue behind this (which I consider a bug in activation), but I did
get
> > > re-activated.

> > > Windows finally booted, installed my NIC card drivers, and I was back
on
> > the
> > > Internet.

> > > So, my solution fixed my Network problem, but it was like travelling
> from
> > > ***ia to Maryland, by way of San Diego.

> > > Keep in mind that during this whole process MICROSOFT had all of my
data
> > > locked up and held hostage by this stupid activation system.

> > > If it weren't for the fact that I'd have to go back to Dual-Boot 98/2K
> (2K
> > > won't run all of my software), I would throw this XP disk in the
damned
> > > trash can.

> > > We don't need this crap.

> > > Larry

> > If you don't like it, then don't run the software.  It's perfectly
> > simple.

> What, people aren't allowed to voice their opinion's about bad technology
> any more, Richard?

> > As I said, no one forces anyone to purchase and install Windows XP.
> That's
> > a user choice, and by doing homework first like checking the hardware
> > compatibility list (http://www.microsoft.com/hcl/) and doing things like
> > reading this newsgroup, the install is fine.

> Yes, but if one buys new hardware after they have XP up and running nicely
> and this new hardware causes a problem with some other device then they
may
> be required to pull out old hardware and try other hardware until they
track
> the problem down. The activation scheme can cause a big pain in the arse
> because of this. People have already reported that they have been getting
> the heavy hand from MS when they have needed to reactivate over the phone
> because they couldn't online. This is bullshit Chris, most computer users
> here are power users and are continually upgrading hardware.

> Just answer me this one question though, does MS have plans to make their
OS
> rentware in the near future? If yes, then I can stop worrying about all
this
> and vow never to buy another piece of MS software again. Maybe I'll even
buy
> a Mac one of these days. Me, and  millions of others that think like I do
> can make or break MS, tell your buddy Bill that too.

> I'm afraid that doesn't jive with what happened to me.

> I didn't even remove the card.  I didn't evem MOVE the card.  I simply
> removed it's entry from the device manager so that Windows would reinstall
> the driver at the next restart.

> That suggests that alterations in SOFTWARE can also trigger WPA, and that
> sucks.

> Though I appreciate your input, there is NO excuse for Microsoft's digital
> leash known as WPA.

> What if I had been working on a time-sensitive deliverable?  Would
Microsoft
> have refunded me the money lost due to this defect in their product?  Of
> course, the answer is no...

> -Larry

> > Eldred:  As long as you're shifting the same items around, you really
> should
> > have no problem.  Adding new things, perceived by Windows XP as
"changes,"
> > to the mix results in a different "hash" being created.  Once the
> threshold
> > as described at http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm is exceeded, this would
> force
> > a free telephone call.

> > There's a pretty good 10-item list on that site which describes what is
> > tracked and the method used.  There are also a few suggestions for those
> who
> > do change hardware quite often.  People have even changed out the
> > motherboard, for instance, without triggering a new activation.

> > Jens:  I do care, otherwise I wouldn't be putting up with stuff you're
> > stating.  I haven't seen you jump in here with helpful suggestions, yet
I
> > voluntarily try to assist people and all that is coming from you is an
> > unwarranted attack.

> > Since you don't know me, your accusations and telling the world what
> version
> > I own or anything else about what I think or do is not only inaccurate,
> but
> > untruthful.  I own Windows XP Pro, retail final version, available off
the
> > shelf at your local computer store.  I also have a copy which I received
> for
> > beta testing the product for nearly a year.  I installed clean on this
> > desktop using XP to format to NTFS, and added my normal programs
> afterward.
> > --
> > Chris H.
> > Microsoft MVP - Windows XP
> > Associate Expert
> > Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

> - Chris H.