Grrrr! Microsloth strikes again

[altivo]

So after a pleasant morning looking at the results of other folks weaving projects, I went on to work. Colleague's PC is refusing to let her log on. It insists that her user profile is not available, then goes on to insist that Windows is not properly activated.

This is XP Professional, a perfectly legitimate copy that has been running on that machine for over a year. No hardware changes have been made, other than plugging and unplugging USB devices. No software changes other than Windows Update. But suddenly it insists that she is a suspected pirate and her copy of Windows is suspect. Tried reactivating, but of course it won't accept its own 25 character key. (Microsoft, in its hubris, has deactivated all the "license plate sticker" keys used by the big three manufacturers: Dell, HP, Compaq.) Own a Dell? You must be a pirate.

So, in order to get reactivated, you're supposed to click another button, get a code and a phone number to call. Then you get to convince them you aren't really a pirate and if you succeed, they give you some magic return code to reactivate the system. Only that button doesn't work. The system freezes up with "Please wait" on the screen.

I tried running a "repair" installation from the original CD, but it made no difference other than taking a good hour to complete. The system still behaves the same way.

I can wipe the hard disk completely and reinstall, but she'll lose all her data files. So now I'm looking at using a Linux LiveCD or something to get her files off there and onto another machine first. My boss is finally convinced that depending on Microsoft is a really, really bad idea. They will walk all over you again and again.

There is just no way that anything illegitimate has happened to that machine. Microsoft's own "protection" algorithms are trash. Looking at the web, I see this is a not uncommon complaint.

In other news, the shirt was well-received at the weaver's group. We decided to have a fashion show (there are 11 of us) at the opening of our annual gallery showing in October. And I just made a room reservation for MFF 2007.

Comments

[treadlok.livejournal.com]

I've found that a PE is a good tool to have around whenever you have HD problems.
I've built a Barts PE, fairly easy, free, though you need an OEM Win XP (pref with SP1, for USB2 support).
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip. I'll probably try that even if we get around this particular incident in another, more immediate manner. I did not know that such environments existed native to Windows XP, other than their wimpy and useless "Recovery mode" and "ASR". In Linux, of course, they are common but many do not read NTFS and you have to stand on your head to get them working.

[corelog.livejournal.com]

You could always try phoning Microsoft directly and haranguing them about it. I know I would. When push comes to shove, they can usually work with you, especially if you know exactly what you're doing and what you're aiming to get from them.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

My past experiences with trying that have been extremely frustrating. It took me about two weeks to convince them that I did indeed know what I was talking about and wasn't just a "stupid user." Then in the end they just admitted that they knew there was a problem but it wasn't important enough for them to do anything about it.

[kistaro]

This sounds consistent with a site-licensed copy of Windows repeatedly unable to connect to your licensing server- which is probably also serving as your user profile server, assuming this is a networked system with network-based storage for user profiles, as the vast majority of corporate environments are.

Reboot the licensing server and check its connection to the Internet, then try again...

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Nope. After having ugly problems with roving profiles stored on a server way back in Windows NT, I don't use those features. In fact, that was the time when I personally lost all confidence in Microsoft. We had horrible problems running NT on machines with MMX processors in them. After much fighting with support staff, Microsoft finally admitted, "We know we have a problem, but there will be no fix for it."

This is an OEM install that was preloaded on the machine by Dell. We do have a volume copy license for a certain number of machines, but I don't use that when XP is already installed on arrival.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I should add that we have several more identical machines, purchased at the same time. Now I wonder if there's a time bomb in each of them waiting to suddenly decide they are no longer activated.

[hartree.livejournal.com]

And people wonder why I'm still running Win2K Pro.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, or why anyone would do such a weird thing as use Linux. I'm approaching ten years on Linux with never a problem to compare with any of the ones I've had with Windows.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Sounds like Microsoft alright. I sorta understand why people use Macs.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Or switch to Linux, which is a lot less expensive than going Apple.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I already use Ubuntu at home, and swear by it.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

There was a big problem with computer resellers using installs for more computers than they should have. Technically the seller has to provide you with an OEM copy of windows if it comes preloaded. A lot of people got into trouble here because they were preloading computers with XP and selling them off when they had no right to do so.

I bought an OEM version of XP and have never had any problems getting it activated. I never buy preloaded.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I don't think Dell was cheating on Microsloth. Their licensing is undoubtely not limited to a fixed number of copies, but rather just requires them to pay a certain amount to M$ for every copy they load and sell.

Microsoft just decided that people would copy the activation codes off the stickers that Dell and Compaq put on the PC now and try to use them to activate additional copies.

It comes down to the fact that Microsoft would rather treat a legitimate customer as a crook than let even one thief get away. I personally don't think that's a very good business policy. M$ is hardly short of cash or running a risk of any serious loss. Better to keep your good customers happy than to alienate them. But somehow, someone in a board roam doesn't get this.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

I never saw the point of the sticker on the computer, the OS goes with me and not the computer. That's why I put the sticker on the CD case. No computer leaves me with an OS on it.

I wonder if Apple has this problem.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, you have a somewhat more technically skilled and educated understanding and attitude than most people. That's rather like saying "No vehicle leaves me with an engine in it" as far as they are concerned. They have no conception of installing or upgrading any OS. They think in terms of buying a new machine in order to get a new OS, and they expect the OS to come already installed because they aren't about to bother with installing and configuring it themselves. This is the main thing that limits Linux's market penetration I think. Many people would be using it without complaint if it came preinstalled and configured the way Windows generally does.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

You know I don't think I'd sell my car with the engine in it :D Considering it's a lot younger than the rest of the car ^.^