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Tuesday: Activation troubles Down Under
Blog Remember when Microsoft introduced product activation with Windows XP? If Microsoft remains hell-bent on keeping product activation, the least it could do would be to have a grace period of a couple of weeks on some form of emergency activation...
[June 13, 2003, 13:16]
Microsoft's XP: Hardware changes a turnoff
News I have been completely against Windows Product Activation from the second Microsoft announced they would implement it in Windows XP and Office XP," said Bryan Jagielski, an Office user and software engineer from Dallas.
[June 27, 2001, 12:40]
PC buyers face product deactivation
News Details of the Microsoft Product Activation technology, which is meant to be a copy protection measure, are contained in a document designed to debunk fears surrounding the technology. Businesses, at least, should not have to deal with the process...
[September 24, 2001, 15:46]
Microsoft brings copy protection to consumer apps
News In fact, Moore sees Plus DME's product activation as a real opportunity for Microsoft to win over those consumers who remain wary of product activation. Microsoft is set to release its first mainstream consumer software application protected by...
[January 2, 2003, 15:19]
Microsoft acknowledges Vista OEM hack
News In response to widespread chatter on blogs and forums, Microsoft has acknowledged the presence of hacks that may allow hackers to bypass the product activation security feature in its Windows Vista operating system.
[April 13, 2007, 9:38]
Activating XP
News As a support technician for a major PC manufacturer, customers frequently ask me to outline the basics of Microsoft's latest antipiracy effort, Product Activation. More information on Microsoft's Product Activation
[August 4, 2002, 19:35]
Microsoft rules out extra support for Windows XP
News Microsoft says it has no plans to beef up its technical support resources ahead of the retail launch of Windows XP next month, even though the new operating system is the company's first consumer product to include a potentially complicated new...
[September 20, 2001, 16:37]
MS software-activation error hurts XP
News Customers who called Microsoft's toll free product activation number (included with its software) to acquire a code were told by customer service staff that the company was temporarily unable to provide activation codes.
[June 10, 2003, 9:50]
Patent defeat for Microsoft and Autodesk
News A federal judge in Texas has delivered a setback to Microsoft and Autodesk in their patent infringement battle with product activation start-up Z4 Technologies. The initial suit was filed nearly two years ago by David Colvin, owner of Michigan...
[August 24, 2006, 9:20]
Rupert Goodwins' Diary
Blog This surreal environment proves perfect for two hours of lectures and Q&A on the sticky subject of Microsoft Product Activation. They didn't explain why, if they've spent four years developing product activation, they haven't got around to any way...
[October 8, 2001, 15:03]
Microsoft claims latest scalp in war on counterfeit software
Talkback There is absolutely nothing on the box exterior regards activation of the product, nothing inside in print other than the Code to enter to activate it. I was informed by the computer activation on the Internet, that I had used the reactivation too...
[December 13, 2005, 18:53]
Consumer rights on the block?
News In Microsoft's case, the Product Activation technology -- which will also be used to restrict the next-generation Office 10 -- will also require registration. Microsoft revealed last week that it will use so-called Product Activation technology in...
[January 17, 2001, 12:10]
Microsoft may disable upgraded PCs
News Microsoft's solution -- called Windows Product Activation, or WPA -- will stop people installing a single copy of Windows XP on more than one PC. The new system, called Windows Product Activation, or WPA, first surfaced earlier this year in build...
[March 2, 2001, 22:00]
Vista PCs to lock out rogue software
News Windows XP also included product activation, but people could still use their machine in "safe mode" if the operating system was not activated. The first type of product key to replace the current system is called "multiple activation key," or MAK.
[October 6, 2006, 9:40]
Installing and maintaining Windows XP review
Reviews Microsoft insists that the activation system is completely confidential, that no personal information is exchanged, and that the product key generated in the process is uncrackable. The only real drawback is the Product Activation feature...
[October 30, 2001, 15:19]
New 'Whistler' build adds antipiracy lock
News The most potentially controversial addition to Whistler 2410, however, is antipiracy code that Microsoft is calling "Microsoft Product Activation for Windows", (WPA) according to testers. The technology is similar to the Office Activation Wizard...
[January 9, 2001, 8:59]
Microsoft readies Windows Embedded 'Quebec'
News Quebec will also require product activation, unlike XP Embedded. There will be a default evaluation product key that will allow the Quebec image to run for 30 days without activation. The Quebec release will require basic retail activation or OEM...
[June 9, 2008, 9:16]
Microsoft extends deadline for license change
News Microsoft requires these customers to use XP's controversial product activation feature during installation, making reimaging a very difficult process. Select and Enterprise subscribers get the software media direct from Microsoft without product...
[October 8, 2001, 11:00]
Tech reasons not to upgrade to XP
News If the thought of not being able to run a user's OS on another system (legally, of course) or Microsoft's policing of its users through product activation annoys you, you might be happier with your existing operating system.
[September 10, 2002, 9:01]
2001: The News Schmooze in review
News In Asia they were more concerned with how to grapple with the latest padlocks Microsoft put on the OS, but in the end these didn't pose much of a problem -- a 4KB file quickly appeared to remove that pesky Product Activation feature.
[December 31, 2001, 6:31]
