rec.autos.simulators

> > Chris,

> > 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

> Tim

> > Tim,

> > 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

> I swear when I'm 80 and can't pull a bird anymore I'm gonna move house
> opposite a girls school ;-)

> > > I'm not sure, infact, I've been feeling ill recently.. so I couldn't
> er...
> > > read... I had my eyes closed... it was foggy, Look officer, I was on
> > > holiday, it couldn't have been me.

> > Yeah, yeah, and of course you swear you thought the girl was over 16 ;)

> > Gerry

> You _really_ think there's a choice in this matter, don't you ?

> There are _some_ choices, but not full choices.

> I have a reason for running XP.  I still have that reason, and I will
> continue to run XP.

> That, however, (the last time I checked), doesn't take away my right to
> point out technical glitches and other complaints.

> -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?

> > Of course they are, but it is silly to moan about Microsoft's products
but
> > keep buying them!!!

> > That's almost as daft as people who complain about EA, then buy all
their
> F1
> > titles... ;-)

> > --
> > Richard.

> > "It's been a hard day's night, and I been working like a dog."

> --

> Steve Levett

> > Richard,

> > You _really_ think there's a choice in this matter, don't you ?

> > There are _some_ choices, but not full choices.

> > I have a reason for running XP.  I still have that reason, and I will
> > continue to run XP.

> > That, however, (the last time I checked), doesn't take away my right to
> > point out technical glitches and other complaints.

> > -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?

> > > Of course they are, but it is silly to moan about Microsoft's products
> but
> > > keep buying them!!!

> > > That's almost as daft as people who complain about EA, then buy all
> their
> > F1
> > > titles... ;-)

> > > --
> > > Richard.

> > > "It's been a hard day's night, and I been working like a dog."

> > If MS didn't feel like overcharging for anything and everything they
> sell -
> > you could spend more on the software you're putting on your computer
than
> > the computer itself with Microsoft products alone - I highly doubt
piracy
> > would be any problem.

> I don't consider MS pricing overpriced at all. Considering that Norton
Ghost
> 2002 costs $119.00 CAD and XP Home cost me $139.00 CAD I would say that XP
> gives far more bng for the buck.

> > And I'll take my friends over some 100% anti-MS *** whining in a
> newsgroup
> > any day.

> P.S. How can I possibly be 100% anti-MS when I actually paid MS for using
> WinXP?
> You need a core logic upgrade dude.

> People aren't exactly returning XP, though...

> And I don't think Philips made any.  Rather, they said - as they hold lots
> of copyrights/patents on the CD standard - that any such CD cannot be
> actually called a compact disc.  Kinda pointless, yes.  But it's kinda like
> the old SNK NES games.

> Then those changes are reset to zero and adding the NIC would not have
> triggered anything because it would only have been count one or two (at
> most) of the four to six allowed changes.  At this moment, I don't see
> anything but activation seeing a "different" system, therefore requiring
the
> telephone call.  I can see where activation may have been triggered by the
> numerous changes within a single, 120-day period, but if you'd like I'll
> continue to track it down so we know for sure.

> It is stuff like this which is keeping me from installing my USB MS
> SideWinder FF wheel and hitting the GPL tracks.  8-)  GPL, with the update
> patch, runs quite well for me on a clean NTFS install of  Windows XP Pro,
an
> AMD Thunderbird 1 GB with 512 PC133 RAM and a GeForce2 MX400 w/64 Megs.
8-)
> --
> Chris H.
> Microsoft MVP - Windows XP
> Associate Expert
> Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

> > Chris,

> > There was no error on the card in the device manager.  It was simply my
> > desire to 'freshen' the installation and the drivers for the Intel
> > In-Business 10/100 NIC Card, which did, in the end, fix my Network
> problems.

> > The only hardware changes that have been made to this computer are the
> > installation of a Maxtor ATA/133 Controller and 80GB Maxtor D740X hard
> > drive, and the replacement of an old Pioneer DVD-113 with a new Pioneer
> > DVD-116 DVD drive.

> > I assure you I was suprised as well :)

> > I don't know the exact time, but it was about 9pm this evening.

> > The guy on the phone was nice and all.  No complaints there.  However I
> > didn't get the impression that he understood what I was reporting, and
> that
> > I felt it was a bug in the Activation system.

> > It still all boils down to the fact that we don't need this nonsense.

> > Thanks for your input!

> > -Larry

> > > > /Jens, having a Jan day.

> > Would that be Jan Brady?

> Who?

> Nah, somebody of talent and style. And good at the Ring. ;-)

> > > If MS didn't feel like overcharging for anything and everything they
> > sell -
> > > you could spend more on the software you're putting on your computer
> than
> > > the computer itself with Microsoft products alone - I highly doubt
> piracy
> > > would be any problem.

> > I don't consider MS pricing overpriced at all. Considering that Norton
> Ghost
> > 2002 costs $119.00 CAD and XP Home cost me $139.00 CAD I would say that
XP
> > gives far more bng for the buck.

> Ghost costs that much for absolute CRAP!?!?  Wow.  It can't even deal with
> NTFS partitions!  I think I got it packaged with a motherboard once.

> Milhouse

> > > And I'll take my friends over some 100% anti-MS *** whining in a
> > newsgroup
> > > any day.

> > At least I don't steal from Microsoft! You think your friends are some
> > modern day Robin Hood's or what?