Microsoft screws up legit Vista users
GenuineCheck.exe is all messed up
WHAT HAPPENS IF you own original version of Windows Vista, and you want to do an update which did not come automatically with Windows Update?
Natural order of things would be finding a link to the download on Microsoft's site, pass the Genuine Validation and download the file. Sadly for Microsoft, and more importantly - for thousands of users world-wide - things went haywire.
We received word from several users who tried to download various different patches, and could not get past the validation. Personally, I did not expect that three hour delay between sending and reading the message, but we checked ourselves and the service does not work at the momment.
Is it a temporary glitch or will it be sorted by the time you have read this article, only time will tell. As it stood at midnight pacific time yesterday (8AM in Blighty), passing the Windows Genuine (dis)Advantage check was impossible. We re-checked again at 4AM (don't ask, jetlag) and the files we would download for several updates (actually, it's the same 863KB file over and over again) still would not pass, producing an error message.
Files
were identical in size, regardless of what download link we used.
Congratulations to Microsoft on all the anti-piracy measures that the company deployed in order to protect the DRM-overloaded slow and non-responsive junk occasionally called MeII. We wonder when the punishment of consumers who legitimately bought their product will end. µ
Comments
Microsoft screws up legit Vista users - TWICE, if you're an European
Dear Theo,while you were in Seattle you may as well have gathered a few (dozen) copies of genuine, authentic retail Windows Vista Ultimate... for as many as 290 bucks; which, considering the poor dollar state, is about 200 € or 140 quids. Add VAT and you get 250 € or 170 quids (not really, but let's round up).
I'm not sure about UK street price, but here in EMEA current price for the SAME IDENTICAL THING is around 580 € (essedi.it).
Since (sooner or later) VU will get language packs, there's no difference in buying it here or there. Apart from the price, of course. Which is why:
a) EU users get screwed TWICE (more sex in EU, uh?)
b) you wasted a chance to get rich by importing VU to Europe!
Cheers,
Andrea
$60 Office Ultimate
I think using the $60 for Office Ultimated for student is one of the best way to defeat pirate. Why don't use that for Vista ultimated and any other product and limit only for personal use not just for student.Microsoft isn't the only one to watch out for.......
Watch out, its likely to become a whole lot worse if this is widespread!What would be your reaction if........ ?
.......you found out that independent software vendors are to be provided the opportunity to "turn on/turn off features/functionality at their whim, gather statistics and monitor activity on your computer systems - with or without your approval?
If you think it sounds far fetched then see what Microsoft has been up to -http://www.pcprofile.com/Microsoft_Stealth_Updates.pdf
Microsoft's approach to piracy solutions for independent software vendors is bordering on real issues of potential subversive activity should a malicious software vendor attempt to use the turn on/turn off features and monitoring capabilities embedded within the source code on offer.
This is all part and parcel of their approach with activation!
Ludicrous way of doing business
And amazingly, Microsoft cannot understand why many customers are fed up with Vista."You just like to hate Microsoft, and complain!" they say.
No, surprisingly, customers do not like it when they purchase an OS that is half-baked and buggy, then go to update it only to be called a criminal. Customers do not like paying for things that suddenly decide not to work because "someone might be an unauthorized user", even when they paid good money for it.
This is not a difficult concept to grasp, but it is what corporation after corporation is attempting to shove down our throats. Do not be shocked when we stop paying you to anger us and screw up our legitimate purchases. If you cannot deal with "shrinkage", which is a concept that retailers have accepted for years, get out of the business and do something else.
The grocery store clerk does not tackle me in the parking lot demanding to see my receipt for a gallon of milk, and you should stop doing it, too.
MS releases "reliability" patch
Oh yes, Microsoft screws up legit Vista users by releasing a patch that should improve reliability but instead makes the system unbootable for many who decided to try their luck and apply a patch "which may receive additional testing". We are talking about this particular update here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941649Check out these URL's for people's response:
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=9160
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20071003/vista-pre-sp1-updates/
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=239749
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=591754
Inquirer, you have some power. Why not make a bigger fuss about this one? ;) Maybe MS eventually notices something.
Hahaha i dont believe it.
I have a pirate version of windows vista ultimate as many others in this world and i have downloaded this program and i recieve any update or anyfile that i want from microsoft. Maybe now they are working for pirates. ahrrgggthis is e.z. - try upgrading VIA drivers of the motherboard..
i was an early adopter on windows vista, so i installed with the latest at that time VIA motherboard drivers, last month new drivers came out, i installed them and surprised! "your copy of windows aint original" 30 days left... i had to rollback on the old drivers otherwise my original vista licenses doesnt work,.i tried doing a mirror image of my Hd with vista with latest ghost - vista doesnt work!
stupid micro$oft - vista licencing is so dumb! doest work at all.
- remember the old hardweare keys that autodesk used in the 80's / 90's? well micro$oft should use that. for exmple you buy a vista licences, and to be able to run in full mode an USB key is there, also tghat way you can instalñled in any machine you happen to use and simply connect the usb "key" into the hub and its rdy.
@Andrea
@Andrea: I don't know where you get the idea of Vista Ultimate (retail version) costing 580 €, but please don't say that Vista is sooo expensive in EMEA just because you tried to find the highest price possible.Windows Vista Ultimate (retail) could be easy purchased for less than 300 €. The best price I found buy searching for not more than 1(!) minute was 274.99€ for the localized German version in Germany or about 3€ more for the English one. Of course, this is including VAT.
I fail to see where the problem is
Given that the US government is watching over all citizens with stealth wiretaps and no warrant needed, I fail to see why a US company would not "follow the leader" and be justified in stealth-watching its users.Of course, the one difference is that the world is not American, but that's a detail when you look at the world from the top of tens of billions of dollars.
@ Pascal Monett
No-One is stopping your from running the non-voleware OS... Linux so keep your problems to yourself and we will continue to live on as happy people. Oh, and by the way.. the US does not sit on top of a $-load of cash, we are actually in debt, becuase we bailed your lucky stars from the jaws of (OMG) hitler in the 40's, thanks! Oh, and your welcome.. ill send you a post card, :)