Hate Microsoft!

garv221

I'm so sick of registering software every time I turn around- XP or Office 2003. I have to call the number then go through the computer voice and read off my ID number, then I'm forwarded to someone who barely speaks English. I've had it. Regestering software in the first place is joke. All it does is keep an honest guy honest.

Ricka182

I register my XP and Office online, it only takes a few seconds. Either way, you are right, it's bogus, a pain in the arse as well..

D-boy

I don't register

garv221

I register all work software, what I'm pissed about is having to regester after the PC died or moved to anotehr one & then you have to register than call.

TeKniques

I know exactly what you mean. One of my MOBOs died and I bought a new one and switched out the hardware, I didn't reformat the OS I just wanted to load up the new drivers for the MOBO, and of course I had to call MS and re-register because the hardware changed.

It's some big BS.

keenon

i won't register my SW... honestly its their wasy of saying u need to tell me u bought it.. actually they should be happy anyone uses it.. opps my bad it is the slower computer users that love it

Computer_Wizz_Pizzaguy

I had some major probs with my hardware and had to reinstall XP numerous times. Finally I activated it too many times and was also forced to call Microh3ll. I approve of outsourcing, but for crying out loud, at least find people who don't have to read from a script!!!!

Anyway, M$ is usually happy to bump up the # of times you can activate it, take some a$$ kissing sometimes, but hey, doesn't everything?

RussS

Might be a pain in the arse, but it usually isn't a problem. 3 activations in a given period usually requires a call. It's a fact of life and more and more software will require activation from now on.

My suggestion is to either live with it - use freeware - forget using computers .... take your pick

garv221

RussS wrote:

forget using computers .... take your pick

Not a bad idea somedays..

bighusker

Or get a crack that bypasses the activation bullshit entirely. :P (not a viable option if you're a corporate user, obviously)

lazyart

bighusker wrote:

Or get a crack that bypasses the activation bullshit entirely. :P (not a viable option if you're a corporate user, obviously)

If you're corporate it's not an issue. I've GHOSTed hundreds of machines and thankfully they don't have to be activated.

keenon

Computer_Wizz_Pizzaguy wrote:

I approve of outsourcing

alot of ppl lose their jobs to this only to have the company to sell this service to you at the same cost. OUTSOURCING VERY VERY BAD

bighusker

lazyart wrote:

bighusker wrote:

Or get a crack that bypasses the activation bullshit entirely. :P (not a viable option if you're a corporate user, obviously)

If you're corporate it's not an issue. I've GHOSTed hundreds of machines and thankfully they don't have to be activated.

If you're fortunate enough to have a copy of the activation-disabled "XP Corporate Edition." Unfortunately, I don't think Microsoft sells it any more.

Drakonblayde

They most certainly do still sell Corporate (or Volume Licensing) editions. They're pretty expensive too. While I do have legal licenses for all my machines running XP, I have a copy of the corp edition through school and that's what I actually use to install on my boxes so I don't have to deal with activation annoyances.

lazyart

I know a few people that do the same thing....

Computer_Wizz_Pizzaguy

keenon wrote:

Computer_Wizz_Pizzaguy wrote:

I approve of outsourcing

alot of ppl lose their jobs to this only to have the company to sell this service to you at the same cost. OUTSOURCING VERY VERY BAD

I didn't say i totally approved.

I approve of it to the point that it can be more benificial to the user.

Alien

We dont have to be married to microsoft anyway. I bought the December 04 edition of PC Pro and it has a full version of an opensource office called OpenOffice on the coverdisk. They claim its compatible with most OS's and ontop of that a winner in the mag's best software ranking. I bet you try it out.

Non-Profit Techie

lazyart wrote:

bighusker wrote:

Or get a crack that bypasses the activation bullshit entirely. :P (not a viable option if you're a corporate user, obviously)

If you're corporate it's not an issue. I've GHOSTed hundreds of machines and thankfully they don't have to be activated.

we do the same thing here in the public school system

Ricka182

One of my former instructors had a book of keys, and programs to get around this stuff. It's all M$ BS, but it comes with that oh so special, very low M$ price for their products.

/usr

OpenOffice is amazing, it's what I use on my laptop. It can read word documents. Unfortunately, if you want to open an OO document in MSWord, you'll have to copy/paste. Of course...

Someone may have made a utility to convert, I really don't know.