Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

ravindra106 — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:09:29 GMT

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re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

awj — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:51:40 GMT

Microsoft needs to allow de-activation of Vista, Adobe can do it so why not Microsoft?

I work in the MS Channel and we get so many licenses for development and testing. To carry out testing we re-install machines to a clean OS regularily, we have X dev/test licenses for one product but currenlty although we have no machines installed using the software are we can not install a copy as all our test licenses are already "in use". The problem is none of them are but they have been for short periods of time during testing afterwards, the machine is formatted and they are tested with another version of OS etc. How are we supposed to deal with this phone MS each time we re-install??

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

Rog — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 03:16:14 GMT

Hi Nick,

I'm not sure if you're still reading this thread or not

(http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2006/10/10/RC2_2C00_-the-New-York-Times-and-License-Information-for-Windows.aspx),

but here's a legitimate situation that is making me feel really upset with Vista activation. After gaining some experience installing a copy of Vista Ultimate on my desktop (that was hell initially - I had to reinstall it something like six times - but now it's rock solid six months later), I decided not to activate my laptop's copy until I got the drivers and crashing issues sorted out. This brings up another issue with WGA and activation. I shouldn't need to waste an activation to get WGA updates to troubleshoot a hardware driver problem on a clean OS install only to have the OS get messed up again and again until I figure out what's causing the problem.

I thought I had finally reached a happy stable stage with my laptop, but just two days ago, a new issue arose, and now the machine will not shut down, restart, or even log off; it will only hibernate. Argh! I now have a big project due this week, and my laptop's Vista said that I needed to activate it. So I did... just to keep it working this week and delay my troubleshooting until I can afford time to do so. The second problem occurred last night when I tried to fix the aforementioned shut down issues by using MS System Restore Tool to go back to an earlier point in time when I thought everything was working properly. When I did this, I was shocked to find out that it had also deactivated my Windows license in the process. Though it makes sense, deactivating in this manner should not be possible! I'm going to hazard a guess and say that this deactivation was not mirrored on your activation server and has counted as one of my installations on your end in Redmond. I'm going to further assume that it cannot be undone. Now I need to reactivate Vista again just so that I can make it through this week on my project, and then I'm probably going to need to use another activation (if I even can) when I inevitably have to reformat / reinstall Vista again. This is not right, and is definitely not fair to the end users. Incidentally, a friend of mine who just bought a brand-new HP laptop had the exact same problem with logging off as mine after installing the latest round of windows updates. She's really angry with Microsoft and Vista now and is telling everyone she knows. Not really that big a deal were it not for the fact that her father will inevitably hear about it and he's the CEO of a major multinational corporation with thousands of computers still on XP.

There needs to be a way Microsoft can leave some trace of activation on the computer that does not get erased with a system restore. Whatever happened to CPU serial numbers and BIOS-based GUIDs? Legitimate customers affected by these activation type problems would more than likely consent to be "tracked" this way. Lord knows, I would gladly trade this minor privacy issue for no activation problems and for not having to call Microsoft to explain why I need to activate Windows again on the same machine. In addition, there should be a way for my now deactivated system to check your activation server (as soon as it goes onto the Internet) and realize that my copy has already been activated and registered and is completely legitimate. Symantec's Norton Internet Security has this capability...surely Microsoft can figure out how to do this too. Maybe through certificates, or an installed program license management center (like Symantec's) where users could log in be positively identified in the real world via an optional premium version of Windows Live Passport with their ID backed by a credit card.

I've loved Microsoft's products since the early DOS days, and have recommended them to my customers for years, but I have to say this activation thing is really annoying and Apple is really making a good case to switch over (I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm thinking of getting a MacBook Pro and putting XP Pro on it). Please let us know if MS is doing anything about these issues.

Thanks,

Roger

cc: Ryan Storgaard

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

Michael_Moor — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:06:30 GMT

Hey "Nick White",thx for share

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http://www.dl4all.com

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

Michael_Moor — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 05:50:08 GMT

thx for share.

http://www.dl4all.com

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

G-Wiz — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:06:42 GMT

Whaaaaat!!!!! Im writing to add my name to the list of na-sayers. Microsoft Pleas Stop This!!! I love Microsoft, own all sorts of Microsoft products since the DOS days. What u r planning is WRONG. This will not stop Hackers and u know it. Some of the Hackers work for ur company. Make this product affordable and people will buy as many copies as they need. Many Geeks like myself may do more than a dozen installs in one year, testing, upgrading and getting rid of pesky viruses and or a corrupt system u name it. I dont want to wait and haggle on the phone with some laim Tech guy any and every time i wish do this. I dont believe Bill Gates wants it like this. Let him tell us why this has to be done.

G-Wiz

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

Santiago — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 07:31:12 GMT

Wow, MS has changed the licence, unbelievable!

Now i hope for the German Licence and look forward to a Vista on my Desk!

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

Nick White — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 03:06:12 GMT

Hey scott.weidig: some of the drivers are still not quite there but will be by the time Windows Vista is available for purchase at retail. I'm afraid we cannot provide support via this blog (altho a clean installation may work better for than an upgrade), but know that we're close to nailing down the final version of the software, so you're that much closer.

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

scott.weidig — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 21:49:59 GMT

I have RC2 and really am impressed with Vista. However, I am struggling as I installed it on a new tablet and the drivers for the tablet itself did not install. When checking with the Upgrade advisor, it says to connect to Windows Update to get the latest driver, however, WU believes that my PC is up to date... Help.

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

graywolf19 — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 23:09:19 GMT

It is a good thing MS "is"listening because I am retired on FIXED income, and if I have to replace my HD again, or my MB after yet another lightening strike, I do not have the $$ to keep buying copies of Vista, I just can't!!!! It is insane not to be able to call MS, give a password that you set so they know WHO you are, plus some other key info, so that you can reload via a fixed code key. There is a way to solve this problem so it's a win/win situation. This is NOT rocket science...but it "is" COMMON SENSE.

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

bannedone — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 22:10:21 GMT

WoW, they got ears.

Good one.

Mr. White, I appreciate your efforts and this move which will ensure Vista succeeds.

This is the license which is acceptable.

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

kritscha — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:18:16 GMT

Thanks Microsoft, it seems that that you respect your custumers opinion. If the EULA is now final i will spent a lot of money and buy my copys of Vista and office 2007.

I also hope that when your next OS will be release that we don't have a Deja Vu...

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

ghopper — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 11:07:23 GMT

Seems the activation limit has been removed:

http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2006/11/02/news-revision-to-windows-vista-retail-licensing-terms.aspx

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

Mekon — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:25:43 GMT

Here we go.....

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4802

re: Closure of RC2, Feedback Handling in the New York Times, and Licensing Information for Windows

chillz — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 06:52:02 GMT

Here you guys go Check out this link as it seems Microsoft is listening.

Check the link for the new EULA (you have to fill in your own info though :) )

http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/default.aspx