I don't think they'll ever build a workable hardware-based anti-piracy deal. You'll just get mod-chips for sale, just like there already are for consoles. And considering that Asia (the source of most hardware) will simply ignore it anyway for its own domestic markets, I don't think it will be difficult to continue to buy systems free from piracy.

After all, what kind of person who's serious about computers is going to buy something that wastes processor time validating software before it runs, or running extensive hardware checks every time you turn it on? It's a joke. Perhaps it will be popular for those who require secure systems (if it incorporates some sort of phone-home function with GPS or something in the event of theft) but otherwise I would never buy one if I had a choice. And I don't think many other people would choose the secured option over the free option.

The idea is that, if your hardware doesn't have DRM support, your software/video/music file simply won't play at all.

It's basically a battle to see who'll be the first to cave. If no hardware manufacturers (or only a very small group) decide to make use of it, their file format and all their work on DRM will simply flop and go the way of the dinosaurs. Consumers win!

If however, they manage to coerce the hardware manufacturers to actually add it in, then it goes back to my point about individual companies bending entire industries and governments to their will.

Oh yeah. Vote with your wallet while you still can.

My problem with all this hoop-la is simple..i'm legit with my OS.I play by the rule's,but.....who the hell do you think put's (and allow's) all the worm's-viruses and add and spyware on the net for most unsuspecting,non-trained, in the field everyday internet user?Trust me when i tell you that there is high dollars involved in all this and if Microsoft(of whom i'm associated with a tech that work's for them from a past job )is not involved in this you need to open your eye's and realize one simple rule...How do you make people spend the money for almost anything*Make them AFRAID of it*...they'll spend the money..Like Bill Gate's(whom i have personally met).Ever seen his house?His car's?..who do you think pay's these people to make the worm's,viruses etc.....Think before you answer,even your own ISP has a *hand in the pocket* in this..It's about the money folk's..So i say if you can getaway with a pirated PCC Key go for it.Also trust this.. i know there are some heavy tech's on this site(which i love by the way)..tell me,with all the new tracking software that's out there along with various other tool's that are used by the FBI,CIA..And yes,ISP'S..why(so they say)can't they track these so called pirateer's that load these?....If you've read above good enough,you already know the answer. the rest is trivial.

They've cracked the authetication already.

I'm moving to Mac soon and this is one of the reasons why. I just can't be bothered with all the crap that comes with windows. I mean I build a computer and Windows XP Home costs me £180. After paying all that and after a happy 6/7 months something overwrites svchost.exe and services.exe so I decide to format. I haven't changed my hardware, I don't have it on any other computers, and I've only taken the CD out of the box once. I had to ring Kamir Oman at Microsoft Back Of beyond department to get another Code. And I have the same drama with the "Oh so wonderful" Office. Mac Textedit practically kicks ms word into next week and there's less than 600 viruses for mac and only about 12 for UNIX so I'm going that way. I'm getting a nice shiny iBook and Mac OS X Tiger!!
But BTW, drivethruguy, Microsoft don't make money out of virii and spyware. They're even releasing a antispy program!
The only good thing from MS i think

Outlaw999....I've had to rewrite at least 7 times since first installing XP on my sytem, and not once have I had to contact MS to reactivete....just clicked to activate button and away it went, no worries. So yeah, I find going to a Mac machine on that basis is a bit of an over the top expense when Mac has been reported to have problems of its own....no OS is perfect and it might be jumping from the frying pan into the fire

Furthermore, whilst Windows has more viruses now, probably because its more widely used, Mac would attract many more should it gain greater popularity, courtesy of disenchanted Windows users who took more that their custom with them.

The recent change to Windows Update that tries to install the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool installed fine on one of my Win2K rigs and my WinXP rig, but the install fails on my 2nd Win2K rig. It downloads and virtually the instant it starts the "Installing..." bit it quits and says it failed. Doesn't show up in the history as having failed, though. I've cleared the cache & all temp files I could find, rebooted & tried again but same result.

Anyone else having similar problems? Maybe even a suggestion?

Cheers,
Daiwa

Daiwa...that second rig...does it, or did it have a Norton proggy on it?

Norton and BITS has issues....and BITS is needed to run to do 'updates'...

Hey, Paul -

Thanks for the prompt reply. This particular rig has never seen anything Norton. It does have Microsoft Anti-Spyware, ZoneAlarm, SpyBot & AVG Free running. The Win2K rig where the Install was successful has all those except MS Anti-spyware running, it occurs to me, so maybe I'll try disabling that & see what happens.

It spends 5-10 minutes after hitting the Custom button searching for updates & finally says some components need to be upgraded. When I click Install is when it downloads & tries unsuccessfully to install the WGAVT.

Thanks again,
Daiwa

Daiwa - Make sure Mobile Code is off in ZA.

Daiwa - I ran into a similar problem at work updating 10 of my win2K sp4 servers... 2 of em failed to install a couple of updates from the new MS Update site... My IT guy had to manually download the installers and run them. After that they ran fine. So, check MS's "corporate" update site to try and find stand-alone patches.

Daiwa - There have been some issues with MS AntiSpyware interfering with some installers. There are some comments about this on the MS forum. You may try turning it off and trying again.

yrag -

I have ZA Free and can't find any such setting. Is that by chance just in the Pro version?

OpusCroakus -

Thanks for the tip. I'll hunt for it, but would you have an address for that corp site?

Cheers,
Daiwa

picto -

Thanks for the suggestion. I shut down MS Anit-Spyware from the SysTray context menu & tried the update again - still failed.

I'm going to see if the WGAVT installer is available as a standalone download. I'm assuming that without that, future updates won't install.

Cheers,
Daiwa

have ZA Free and can't find any such setting. Is that by chance just in the Pro version?

...yeah

If you have another browser (FF) go to the update site and it won't prompt you to run or save. Right click to save the file to disk. Run from there.

I haven't been able to locate a downloadable standalone installer.

Just for grins, I tried movin'-on-up to Microsoft Update, but ran into exactly the same problem - just took a lot longer searching for updates before it told me some components (including MSI) needed updating, then WGAVT failed to install again.

Oysh.
Daiwa

yrag -

Windows Update won't open for me using FireFox.

Cheers,
Daiwa

hummmm guess they closed that back door.....and there is, presently, no download site for Network install.

About the only thing I can think of is to go to Internet Option/Advanced and temporarily allow all signed Active X. If you have any privacy settings in ZA enabled, disable them under the Program tab

Windows Update won't open for me using FireFox.

As far as I know Windows Updates never have worked using Firefox.

Nope...MS updates never worked on FF, but Daiwa, I had a similar problem a while back and was told to clear the browser cache, reboot and try again....maybe that'll work for you also.

Good luck

and this is how to get round it if you're getting issues!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This should turn off all trigers for the verification check!

Explaining methods to circumvent Microsoft's legitimate copy protection is not acceptable.... Stardock is a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner. [Admin edit]

P2P? surely not, it was wayyyyyy quicker than that dude!