Windows Activation (Server 2008 style)

Moving VMs to Hyper-v...

James O'Neill's blog — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:14:43 GMT

There are 3 things I get asked regularly about Hyper-V. The first is "When can I get it ?". I've covered

re: Windows Activation (Server 2008 style)

Russ — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:59:10 GMT

Here's something on activation to take a look at if you have time/inclination: I've experienced first hand activation prompts on an activated PC after uninstalling just one item of software only. For the specifics, I have a Dell Dimension 9150 PC (based on an Intel 945P chipset) and I had Intel's Matrix Storage Manager (v 7.6.0.1011) installed at the time I initially activated Windows Vista Ultimate. Absolutely no other hardware or software has changed. If I now uninstall the Matrix Storage Manager software, up pops the activation request saying my product key is in use and it simply won't take it that this is the "same" PC, even when phoning the automated line and keying in that 40 character number. I’ve even tried it after re-installing from scratch. My guess is that identification of ATA controllers (which this software obviously changes the drivers for) must form some key part of the activation. Maybe changes to these may appear like a new motherboard?! In reality, its no 'biggie', I've just reinstalled IAA and away went the activation requests! I'm not up for challenging anyway one to any £100 bets but if you have this software installed on an activated Vista machine; give uninstalling it a go to see what you get.

What IS a "Dick rant" anyway ?

James O'Neill's blog — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:24:35 GMT

or Does using the other software make you stupid ? There are some odd things about doing this job. One

re: Windows Activation (Server 2008 style)

James ONeill — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:23:23 GMT

John.

I change the secondary disk on my laptop on pretty much a daily basis, with no problem. If you think changing the DVD on it's own trips activation, I'll offer you a £100 bet. We'll take a PC of your choice, install Vista on it, activate Vista, and then change the DVD. If it demands re-activation you get £100 out of me. If it doesn't, your £100 goes to charity (and Microsoft will add another £100 - company policy). Name the day and we'll do it on camera.

Of course if you change the network card, upgrade the processor, upgrade the BIOS, remove some RAM and put a different sound card in and *THEN* change the DVD that would be expected to trip re-activation.

We lose $23 billion US per year through piracy. A lot of that is large scale, organized theft. Should we try to do something to stop that or allow both our shareholders and customers to be robbed ? And make no mistake here, customers are paying for the genuine article and not getting it so they ARE being robbed.

I don't much like activation - since I keep having to rebuild systems for demos it's a pain for me too (I'm not allowed to have an "unlimited" licence key). But it seems to me to the least bad option.

If you've got a better way let me know and I'll arrange for you to pitch it the right people. Otherwise do let me know how you (as someone in their right mind) defends theft ?

re: Windows Activation (Server 2008 style)

John W — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:35:06 GMT

This is hilarious. You saying "it shouldn't trip activation" yet still it does. This ia deeply flawed system and noone in their right mind can try to defend it.

re: Windows Activation (Server 2008 style)

James ONeill — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:03:47 GMT

@Dave, Just changing the DVD shouldn't trip activation. In fact on my laptop popping out the DVD, and plugging in a hard disk in it's place definitely doesn't. I've got two Dell 820s on my desk with different brands of DVD in them I might try swapping the disks to prove it.

But if you have changed other bits in the past, then changing the DVD might be the thing that pushes the system over the edge.

@Ryan. What you're describing absolutely should not happen. Anti virus expiring should not impact whether Windows thinks it is genuine and aero should work unless something runs which Vista knows is incompatible with it or if the performance rating of the machine goes down.

Can I ask you to get in touch ? I'd like to escalate this internally.

Thanks

James

re: Windows Activation (Server 2008 style)

Ryan — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:55:44 GMT

James, I have to tell you a situation that I experienced around activation that concerns me. I'm not one to stand at the front of the anti-activation parade by any means--I can appreciate and understand why Microsoft and others do it--but I definitely have mixed feelings about it in a corporate setting. For home use, fine--it's easy and straightforward. For hundreds or thousands of PCs... it could be a total nightmare.

This particular situation really bothered me, though. At a small office (50 PCs), they are running Vista. Their anti-virus software subscription went into the grace period--not expired, but with 30 days left to renew. *This* simple action caused popups to start appearing on their computers, saying things along the lines of "Your copy of Windows may not be genuine" and "Aero stopped working" and whatnot. I was astonished that the sole act of the anti-virus software going into "grace period" mode (which should really be the same as normal operation, if "grace period" is really what it says it is) would trip the activation alarms. What if they were to switch anti-virus vendors? What if they had 1000 PCs? Multiply that by 5 minutes (even for 50 PCs), and that's no longer an "unreasonable imposition." That would be a time when most folks would be so mad, they'd be looking for alternatives (and to make some heads roll). This is a company that treats software licensing very seriously (dealing with all the intricacies of Microsoft licensing takes them about 16-20 man-hours per year, which is another topic of frustration). I think I can sum up their feelings about this like this: "When we're paying so much money every year and going to so much effort to make sure we're licensed properly, why are WE the ones being penalized for piracy?"

I truly hope that the hoards of talent at Microsoft can devise an alternative solution, at least for their business customers.

re: Windows Activation (Server 2008 style)

Dave G — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:06:43 GMT

I recently changed my DVD drive and was forced to re-activate, and was promply told my key was already in use, didnt want to hang around on the phone to speak to someone though. Will give it a try though (had a anytime upgrade that was rendered usless which annoyed me most) While I understand there needs to be some sort of acvtivation process, having to jump through hoops to change a DVD drive is a bit much.

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ThemePassion - Best stuff about design! » Windows Activation (Server 2008 style) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:54:25 GMT

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