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Microsoft WGA server down! Results in un-genuine vista copies.

forums.microsoft.com — Beginning August 24th some copies of Microsoft's Windows Vista were flagged as counterfeit and re-validation was required only to be directed to contact Microsoft support during a business day! The problem starts when you try to run an update from Microsoft. Diggers we need your help to give MS a wake up call.

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  • maks327, on 10/10/2007, -12/+202This is RIDICULOUS! Today on my PC Aero stopped working and Microsoft accused me of having pirated software. I too was told to file an email support request. I've been mad at microsoft before, but this is just plain infuriating!!! This better get resolved in hours, NOT days.
    • idreamincode, on 10/10/2007, -13/+6just ran the MGA Diagnostic Tool: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=56062 on my XP box and it still says it's a valid copy, not sure if the servers came back up already or what.
      • GawtMilk, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Three XP computers and one Vista laptop in this house. All four of them have successfully updated...I guess they're up.
    • themastersb, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5I just got a couple of vista ultimate keys with the sticker. I was about to download the retail version and install it.
    • lazyrussian, on 10/10/2007, -1/+12This is why I stop updating my windows partition...
      • Waterrat, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8 The same for me...And why should I...I never let Windows go on line anyway.
        That's the job of Klikit Linux.
    • EBFoxbat, on 10/10/2007, -28/+9I haven't thrown a WGA error. Running 10.4.10, I must just be lucky.
      • Jeffler, on 10/10/2007, -19/+13You aren't funny...you may like Mac OS better but some people prefer windows and the money they legitimately spent may be down the drain. I like Mac OS and prefer it to Vista (not XP though) but I sincerely hope your Mac breaks down today and doesn't turn back on.
        • LucianSolaris, on 10/10/2007, -13/+4That won't happen because BSD is Unix, like Linux is Unix, and Unix is GODLIKE!!!
        • Jeffler, on 10/10/2007, -4/+9So hardware problems don't exist?
        • Jeffler, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Okay, this is really pissing me off...you guys have like DiggADHD...this comment keeps flowing around from + to - ...now its at -5...can you at least comment so I know whats the deal?
      • themastersb, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8Upgrade your hard drive from 60gb to 80gb for only $100 more!
        • Me1000, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Apple no longer offers a 60GB drive!
          • RickyBennett, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1dont get it from apple get it from a local store
    • brasso, on 10/10/2007, -9/+2Is this really accurate? I run Vista 64 bit OEM and both Aero and DirectX works fine for me. I havent noticed anyhing unusual with my XP Pro laptop either.
      • zwaldowski, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9Try running Windows Update. Have fun!
        • das7282, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6I ran Windows Update on one of my computers less than an hour ago and I didn't have a problem. Hmm??
          • chedabob, on 10/10/2007, -0/+22Me too. The irony is, I don't own a legal copy...
        • superkendall, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Did it say you were legit? Have you rebooted yet?

          The issue is that if WGA decides you aren't legit, it will flag you system for reduced functionality until you can revalite.

          If WGA thinks your system is OK, it culd also be the system is flapping and you got lucky.
      • DocHoliday22, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1The same ***** was happening with XP. A lot of people including me had trouble validating a genuine copy... It got on my nerves...
      • brasso, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Still no problems here... have not rebooted yet, however I did reboot my XP Pro laptop and it’s also working flawless. Both are perfectly legal OEM installations.
    • latova, on 10/10/2007, -4/+17http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/4953/screenshotoo9.png

      It's a sign guys.
    • Jeffler, on 10/10/2007, -1/+11Well, due to this, I am going to be partitioning my HD and giving ubuntu at least a try, I think. :)

      For someone who will be using it moderately but with big files remaning on XP, 50gb should be enough? (Serious question, please respond)
      • idugcoal, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1750 gb is plenty. The operating system itself (Ubuntu) is tiny (compared to XP or Vista), and can even be booted directly from the install disc, which is great for someone who wants to try it out without "making the commitment." Go ahead and give Ubuntu (or any other flavor of Linux) a shot! I thought about it for a long a time before actually doing it, and I just wish I had done it sooner. You'll find a very responsive and helpful community if you have problems, but I doubt you'll have any problems at all.
        • pooptaster, on 10/10/2007, -8/+3Ubuntu (a standard installation) and XP (a standard installation) are almost the same size when installed.
          • saftaplan, on 10/10/2007, -1/+21Except that Xp doesn't contain a full blown Office suite and more useful software.
          • specialK16, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3No reason to digg him down. As much of a Windows hater I am, he's actually right. (and saftaplan too).

            Vista Ultimate installation on the other hand is about 8GB full of ***** (oh and Hold'Em Poker),
        • Jeffler, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Cool. The Live CD's have saved my ass plenty of times but my thing is compatibility...see, I'm a total whore for uncompatible programs it seems :P

          My mainly used programs are last.fm, itunes, utorrent, live messenger, and photoshop. Other then utorrent through wine I know none of these work. Haha
          • JohnConner, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Hey, If you need any help on ubuntu, send me a message. I'm all for helping people use linux.

            "My mainly used programs are last.fm, itunes, utorrent, live messenger, and photoshop. Other then utorrent through wine I know none of these work. Haha"

            Dunno what last.fm is, itunes doesn't work last I looked (but theres other ways to download music), gaim works for messenger, and photoshop works in wine.
          • Peterix, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5These apps might not work but I'm sure there are some great alternatives for them.
            last.fm + itunes = amarok - sort of, just try it. You won't have access to the apple online music store and your DRMed music, but it's a great app. Also, some features of last.fm are integrated into it.
            utorrent = deluge - it's a bit simpler and generally a newer project but still very good IMHO.
            live messenger = ? I never used it. I guess it's just renamed MSN messenger and any IM client with reasonable MSN support will do... but that's your thing to decide :)
            Photoshop sort of works under wine, just don't use the newest CS3 version. You can get CS2 working with some hacks - there is a how-to floating around the net - google for it. Alternatively, you can use Krita + GIMP combo.
          • Mejogid, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Your not... that far in the dark. There are last.fm plugins for rhythmbox and banshee (both of which are decent enough replacements for itunes apart from the store). Instead of utorrent, azureus is alright (although a bit bulky and slow, it gets the job done) but other native clients such as transmission, deluge and ktorrent are also good. For live messenger, GAIM is very nice but lacks A/V support, and if you really need those you'll probably have to use AMSN. For Photoshop... well depending on your usage GIMP may be alright once you've got used to it (and grabbing a deb of the latest unstable release gives you a more functional and better feeling/looking editor, which is hardly as unstable as the name implies). I'd advise not using Wine - it's fine for essential programs but performance suffers, and OS intergration goes to hell in most cases. I'd also advise posting in the ubuntuforums (you can PM me on my account 'mejy' over there if you wish).

            As to the suggestions to try out kubuntu, if you have the bandwidth it's worth download the kubuntu and xubuntu live CDs, but installing them ontop of an existing ubuntu install uses up space, clogs up menus and can leave behind packages even when you later try to uninstall them.

            Oh yeah, don't forget to try out compiz fusion or check out gnome-look.org, both of which can get your Gnome isntall looking better than Vista or even OS X (imo).
          • Jeffler, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Eh, I'm looking towards the dual boot option right now. Tried all of those apps and none of them hold a candle to their respective windows counterparts. Oh well.
        • db113456, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7You may want to consider a Kubuntu, it comes with KDE instead of Gnome, or just install the Ubuntu and add the kdedesktop package via the package manager sudo aptitude update && sudo aptitude install kubuntu-desktop . Just to give yourself a better prospective regarding desktops.
          http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/kde
          http://www.kubuntu.org/


        • GliTCH82, on 10/10/2007, -9/+3Yeah, 50 GB is plenty for Ubuntu because most high-end games won't run on Linux, unfortunately. :-)
          • GliTCH82, on 10/10/2007, -5/+5Typical of Linux fanboys. I'm being Dugg down for doing nothing more than stating the truth. I didn't say why it is or that it should stay the same, all I did was say it like it is.

            You know who else used to bury people for saying the truth? Stalin.
          • marx2k, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3You're forgetting that Ubuntu typically does not require 500MB driver install files
      • parax, on 10/10/2007, -0/+550gb is way more than enough. It doesn't use much hard drive space. I think 1.9gb for the operating system with all the default applications. Even after installing all my usual applications (Eclipse, drivers, video/audio codecs, XMMS, Java SDK) the size is only around 2.8gb.
        • scronide, on 10/10/2007, -5/+2It's a sad day when 2.8GB of essential software can be preceded by "only" without anyone batting an eyelid.
          • greatblackowl, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Why? It's 2007. My laptop hard drive is a measly 80gb. It's somewhat hard to find an HDD that has less than 100gb. 2.8GB is not that much anymore.
          • rondeth, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4And I don't think an Ubuntu install could be entirely termed as "essential software". There are much slimmer distros out there, but they also tend to get "geekier" as one goes down that path.

            And 'owl's right, 2.8gb is a pittance today...not even a full single-layer dvd. Heck, my workstation at work has 4GB of RAM (software development).
          • Peterix, on 10/10/2007, -1/+52.8GB is nothing... especially for a full OS with all the apps.
            My Vista install is 18GB without almost any additional software - i just instaled the Dungeon runners game (500MB), firefox, winamp and some hotfixes.
          • Peterix, on 10/10/2007, -4/+12.8GB is nothing... especially for a full OS with all the apps.
            My Vista install is 18GB without almost any additional software - i just instaled the Dungeon runners game (500MB), firefox, winamp and some hotfixes.
      • selrahc, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Are you talking about a 50GB hard drive or a 50 GB partition? 50GB is more than enough for Ubuntu by itself, I dual-boot on 60GB so that isn't a problem. On my system I have 20GB for XP, 15GB for data, and Ubuntu uses a 7GB partition for system file and a 5GB /home partition. If I were going to do it again I would do more like 10 or 15GB for my root partition and maybe only 1GB for the home partition(stores user account settings). Then use the rest to store data. If you set up a separate partition for data you can edit and save files from both Windows and Ubuntu.
        • marx2k, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1You can always resize your partitions. I prefer using the GParted LiveCD to do so.
      • Blah_Blah_Blah, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2how do you dual boot linux and windows? ive tried to find out but no luck =[
        • Megatog615, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3The Ubuntu installer should make this very easy to do for you actually.
        • db113456, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Or find your local LUG , that is Linux user group, and ask the politely to help you. I am sure they will be glad to cover your need, and even teach you how to do it.
    • mastercheif, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8It has been fixed.

      JUST FYI

      http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2054756&SiteID=25 Folks: Please go to www.microsoft.com/genuine and click VALIDATE WINDOWS to resolve this issue immediately. Additionally, I know you all are looking for an explanation/root-cause. I will get that ASAP. We are aware it is a server-side issue - the cause is unknown at this current time.
      • grumpyrain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Lol, a bit further down that page:

        Please go to www.microsoft.com/genuine and click VALIDATE WINDOWS to resolve this issue immediately.

        Additionally, I know you all are looking for an explanation/root-cause. I will get that ASAP. We are aware it is a server-side issue - the cause is unknown at this current time.

        Still not sleeping, and still reading digg.com,
        -phil
      • katana2k, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7wonder how many MS reps are digg
    • BlackOp, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Wasn't there some string you can type in the command line or somewhere to completely bypass vista validation permanently? I remember hearing about that months ago..
    • brownb2, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Dugg just for correct spelling of ridiculous!
    • shadowsurfr1, on 10/10/2007, -9/+14From a Mac, I'm laughing at you.

      And yes, I realize this will get dugg down. /prepares
      • Mike89, on 10/10/2007, -3/+7I was going to digg you down but I decided to go play games instead.
      • Narfmaster, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Lucky you got other Mac users to digg you back up, eh.
    • ricodued, on 10/10/2007, -4/+2Ohh, shut the ***** up.

      /drunk
      //thinks parent is a bitchy whiner
  • RickyF, on 10/10/2007, -70/+114I got infected by this Microsoft mistake today. I'm ordering a Mac later today. This is the final straw for me with Ballmer's Microsoft.
    • rstarr, on 10/10/2007, -26/+49I'm calling shenanigans.
    • TiE23, on 10/10/2007, -59/+47"My Ferrari broke down again! I'm getting a Honda Accord. This is the final straw for me with those Italians.
      • Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -4/+88This must be the first time in history that Windows has been likened to a Ferrari. Congratulations!
        • GliTCH82, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1So, how are you liking that Honda Accord?
          • doctechnical, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4If it gets you from point A to point B without asking for a blood sample every ten miles, good enough for me.
        • marx2k, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0Except when MS was giving away those Acer lappies with the Ferrari logo on them. ;)
      • DarkDragon, on 10/10/2007, -3/+32Ferrari, try pinto
    • dinostabOMG, on 10/10/2007, -13/+81Get Ubuntu instead. It's free, instead of crazy dollars, and you can keep your hardware.
      • Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -21/+12No kidding. I just saw one of those "cool" Mac Pro's for $2,500 and sure, it did come with 8 processors for the few apps that can make use of that, but also with a Geforce 7300GT. Actually, they had several graphics card tiers for varying demands, but the best I could ever get would be about half as fast as a single 8800GTS. WTF? (and no, these cards aren't just good for DirectX 10)

        So the best graphics card Apple could offer me, and I thought Apple had at least *some* focus on media-related and graphics-accelerated apps, would have been a downgrade from something I purchased half a year ago, and the default config used the 7300GT suitable for a 4 year old system. I don't understand why they don't welcome gamers using Boot Camp on Mac's more? There are huge untapped markets, and could lead to an increased interest in OS X too.
        • mattbatt, on 10/10/2007, -5/+5The Benevolent Steve Jobs only doles out software and hardware that the Almighty Steve approves of "The Steve" doesn't game so "The Steve" doesn't give
        • Optimaximal, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3IIRC you can plug any graphics card in (providing its the right interface obviously).
      • scronide, on 10/10/2007, -12/+2But only half of it will work. All the fun of Vista with none of the cost.
        • parax, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6Only half of what will work? I use Ubuntu and every component in my PC works except for one set of features (suspend/resume/hibernate). But I never used those features anyway, in any operating system. Even my wide screen monitor resolution is supported (1440x900). Compiz Fusion works fine too.
    • yournamehere, on 10/10/2007, -20/+5RickyF,
      you're an idiot. you can admit it, it's ok.
    • sctwp09, on 10/10/2007, -6/+14Let me get all new hardware for a bad piece of software. Sure, I can understand this being the final straw, but how about Linux, instead of getting an overpriced proprietary hardware mac. See, if they opened OS X to this, imagine how many people who grew tired of Windows would flock to it.
      • superkendall, on 10/10/2007, -6/+12If macs were overpriced, that might just have made some sense.

        Get a Mac, then you can run OS X AND Windows AND Linux.
        • Optimaximal, on 10/10/2007, -5/+9Apple hardware IS overpriced, end of. Yes, the costs have come down as market share has increased and the move to standardised hardware and the Intel processors have helped, but you're still paying a premium, especially for the laptops.

          Yes, MacBooks are cheap now, but you can get a decent functional and comparable Dell laptop for £250/$450
          • vawksel, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1No, not really. You can't get a Dell that is 1" thick with the lid closed (MacBook Pro) in an stylish aluminum case.

            Stop comparing the insides only of a machine. It's like comparing two cars with the same engine/transmission/interior/etc but one looks like a Pinto and the other an Aston Martin DB9.

            I'll let you guess which car is which laptop in my analogy.
        • Rickler, on 10/10/2007, -5/+6I love Macs, but saying they aren't over price is delusional. The sexy new aluminum iMac starts at $1,199 with a weak GPU.
        • zweben, on 10/10/2007, -4/+10More expensive does not automatically equal overpriced.

          I'm more than willing to pay a premium for better built and better designed hardware and software.
          • gfnw, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8And therein lies the issue. You still end up buying the hardware, when all most people on digg want is the software.
          • takeda, on 10/10/2007, -3/+7Better designed hardware? New macs are running on the same hardware as any other PC-compatible computers.
          • p0tent1al, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I'm not willing to pay a premium to be locked into a certain hardware. I already have to update my ipod every month or so. That's where I drawn the line.
          • specialK16, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1@takeda. Plus that hardware lock chip. This is what makes them 3 times more expensive.
      • Tilon, on 10/10/2007, -9/+14According to this fanboy, the fact that Macs lock their OS out to other hardware is a GOOD thing.

        Rofl. When your idiotic company unlocks its OS to people who haven't paid a $1k Apple tax, I might try your OS. Until then, good luck.
        • zweben, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9Apple would not benefit from selling OS X on its own. They make it to sell hardware; hardware is where they make their real money. They work off an entirely different business model than Microsoft, so to expect them to sell their products in the same way doesn't make any sense.

          They're certainly not idiotic in the sense of running the company; they're growing very quickly, and a major reason why their OS is more stable than Windows is because it's not running on such a wide variety of hardware. Selling OS X on any hardware would hurt one of the major reasons people like OS X in the first place.
          • gfnw, on 10/10/2007, -5/+4Shh! Don't speak so loud!

            The correct answer is, "OSX is more stable than windows because it is better in every way, and it would still be just as stable and secure if it ran on all the hardware setups that Windows does, and had the same sized userbase beating on it". Apple is king dude, everything they make is perfect.
          • screwzluse, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1*cough* Finder *cough*
    • natenovs, on 10/10/2007, -8/+5i call ***** rickyF
    • chris9902, on 10/10/2007, -8/+5lol. Like you even used Vista.
    • das7282, on 10/10/2007, -12/+3I second that... he's probably just a Mac fanboy who doesn't even own a Windows PC trying to further a useless cause.
    • DigDugDigger, on 10/10/2007, -2/+33Next time, pirate it. The only people who have to deal with these issues are the legit users.
      • retawd, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4That is sooo true. My dad is using the -rearm trial period on his computer, and I have the Dell OEM I d/led and have had no problems.
    • grumpyrain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1> I got infected by this Microsoft mistake today. I'm ordering a Mac later today.

      Seems a bit backwards to me if your problem is about a third party controlling every aspect of your operating system. If you are going through the "pains" of having to look for equivalent applications and workflows on a new OS, then surely it would be better to look at Linux? If Apple ever had the same market share for OS X as Windows has today, you would have a hardware monopoly as well as an OS monopoly. There are some very good things to be said about OS X, but being locked down to Apple hardware is not one of them.
    • KingLukas, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Smart man Ricky is ordering a Mac... very smart. ;)
  • Andy.D, on 10/10/2007, -3/+47Apparently it is out until Monday!
    http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070825-windows-genuine-advantage-suffers-worldwide-outage-problems-galore.html
    http://digg.com/tech_news/Windows_Genuine_Advantage_suffers_worldwide_outage_problems_galore
    • takeda, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Yeah, until the moon eclipse, when the moon turns red :)))
  • m3ga, on 10/10/2007, -7/+64Searched for 3 hours until I found out those retards at Microsoft caused it.
  • Turge, on 10/10/2007, -4/+61Don't worry, it'll be resolved by Tuesday. Until then, you're a pirate and you won't be able to install any updates or Microsoft software, you will keep getting nagged by "non genuine" dialog boxes, messages on the desktop and will experience reduced visual functionality by having the Aero theme disabled.

    But only until Tuesday. (or so they say)
    • drakia, on 10/10/2007, -1/+36"Don't worry, it'll be resolved by Tuesday. Until then, you're a pirate"

      No you're not, if you were a pirate you wouldn't be getting those errors, and everything would be working perfectly ;)
      • LucianSolaris, on 10/10/2007, -4/+11Funny, you just described my Linux installation...
    • GliTCH82, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9Seriously, how childish is it that they disable Aero? Are they so proud of finally converting the Windows desktop to a GPU accelerated interface? I mean, honestly, it's 2007, graphics cards have been on the market for A LONG ***** TIME.
    • stmiller, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10The reduced functionality version of Vista actually sounds like an improvement.
  • PhilLiuMSFT, on 10/10/2007, -39/+160Folks, I guarantee that we're working on this issue right now. For folks wondering, MACHINES ARE NOT SHUTTING DOWN with reduced functionality.

    I guarantee that I will personally resolve this issue before I go to sleep - whether or not it is Tuesday I sleep.

    The message from the Supportability team will be addressed appropriately as well. I encourage folks to keep an eye out on my WGA Forums - http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=1004&SiteID=25

    -Phil Liu @ Microsoft
    Program Manager, WGA
    • RickyF, on 10/10/2007, -16/+150Phil:
      I appreciate your dilemma but as both a customer and partner of Microsoft I find the fact that Microsoft is wasting my time with their mistake and penalizing me for their mistake to be unacceptable. I will not be treated this way much longer. I refuse to be treated as a pirate when I am both a paying customer and partner who sells and supports your products. This is the final straw in a 26 year relationship. This event is moving me to migrate existing machines to Linux and make new machines Macs. Ta Ta.
      • einer, on 10/10/2007, -9/+66I switched. Being treated like a criminal by big brother and the drm company is enough to drive me away for good. Sorry Phil. I'm sure you're a hard working cog in that wheel over there, but I'm never sending another dime that way again. Ever.
      • zoom1928, on 10/10/2007, -0/+52And, it's even worse when Microsoft blames you for their problems. I work for a Microsoft partner in Bellevue, WA, and Microsoft has already started blaming us for this problem when two of our customers called them. They're doing a big upgrade from XP to Vista for about 200 machines. The CEO of one threatened to hire three IT guys to replace us because we gave them "stolen" (to use Microsoft's word) software. Their accounting manager has already called the FBI to "turn us in." I'm sick of losing customers because of Microsoft.
        • LucianSolaris, on 10/10/2007, -4/+16Cool, and if/when you suffer damages, be sure to file the suit against ***** for this *****.

          Then go out and get Linux certified and start spreading Linux (love) instead of Windows (war).
          • mrBitch, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2@zoom1928 : " ... it's even worse when Microsoft blames you for their problems. I work for a Microsoft partner in Bellevue, WA, and Microsoft has already started blaming us for this problem when two of our customers called them. They're doing a big upgrade from XP to Vista for about 200 machines. The CEO of one threatened to hire three IT guys to replace us because we gave them "stolen" (to use Microsoft's word) software. Their accounting manager has already called the FBI to "turn us in."

            I'm sick of losing customers because of Microsoft. "

            Let me get this straight :

            You were turned in to the FBI for selling Microsoft Windows - because Microsoft ( your partner ) software ( the WGA ) flagged you as being a pirate ?

            This whole " you are a thief unless you run our WGA to connect to our servers " thing is getting WAY out of control.
        • nickvd, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9I'm not a lawyer, but you cant sue microsoft... didnt you read the eula?
          • LucianSolaris, on 10/10/2007, -2/+11The EULA is still questionable. Due to a recent lawsuit over arbitration there has been a court ruling that EULAs cannot violate someone else's rights secured by the law. So, if the law says something otherwise about the stated situation, guess what? HE CAN SUE!

            So much for your beloved EULAs!

            In the meantime, free thyselves from the chains of hell, switch to UNIX (like the popular GNU/Linux)!
          • Figs, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1GNU's Not Unix ;)
        • specialK16, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2That's some harcore *****! I seriously wouldn't stand MS saying I'm selling pirated copies of software I bought from them. You can sue.
      • puck, on 10/10/2007, -1/+21I agree. This whole concept of authentication and WGA is flawed. For me it started with XP. Since I can no longer interchange parts in and out of my computer without worrying about setting off the authentication I've worked hard to get my myself and my family off Windows. I'm the computer dork in the family and if I can't trouble shoot stuff without worrying about this kind of stuff it sort of kills the fun in building your own machines.

        I'm not surprised this is happening and I won't be surprised when this stuff continues to happen in the future. Please get rid of this awful 'feature' microsoft
      • MasterThief117, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7You can switch, but you still payed, what, 300 or 400 dollars for it?
    • crapmatic, on 10/10/2007, -37/+11PhilLiuMSFT
      Member Since: August 25, 2007

      Cough cough... *****.. cough..
      • Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -1/+18What do you mean? It's likely he signed up to tell that. Why should he not be "real"?
        • DavidtheDuke, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1It's really: Why should he be real or not real? There's no reason either way and therefore we should lynch him
      • rothgar, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3check out the forums. He is from MSFT. He even has a link to fix the problem.
        http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2054756&SiteID=25
      • crapmatic, on 10/10/2007, -6/+0Wow, -16 diggs because I question the authenticity of a poster? All I see there is a name and an authentic-looking link. For ***** sake, anyone can write something like that. I had no idea Diggers were such a gullible lot, or my name isn't Neil Armstrong.
    • nrfx, on 10/10/2007, -49/+16Phil, If you're part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Kindly go ***** yourself.
      • LucianSolaris, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7and tell your ***** developers to release a patch next time where if the WGA servers can't be accessed that it DOESN'T screw the customer...

        Now, if it hasn't touched the WGA servers in 90 days, then screw the customer.
    • rebopper, on 10/10/2007, -6/+87This is unacceptable under any circumstances. Period.
      • Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -0/+19I agree in a sense. That they have server problems isn't unacceptable, ***** happens even to the best of us, but that Windows treats you like a criminal by default if nothing says otherwise -- that's unacceptable. Who cares if it doesn't start deactivating features yet? It still doesn't let you get genuine advantage-protected tools, and otherwise assume you're using counterfeit software. Pfft.
        • Waterrat, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3 I am so very glad I moved to Linux...
          But you know,this makes me wonder if Microsoft would not do this very thing to force people to upgrade.
    • Maddoktor2, on 10/10/2007, -26/+10Phil, thanks for the update, and I'm confident you'll do your level best to sort things out, no matter what it takes (before Tuesday would be nice, though). :-)

      Cheers,
      Maddoktor2
      Microsoft Security MVP
      • luchid, on 10/10/2007, -4/+22Wow... Microsoft Security... That's an oxymoron
      • p0tent1al, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3That type of ***** might work over at your forums, but not here buddy. -1.
    • bdhughes, on 10/10/2007, -13/+4that was my initial reaction. too. sounds too much like an m$ fanboi trying to assuage the public outrage from being branded a liar and a thief by a company built on brilliant lies and outright theft.
    • SlvrEagle23, on 10/10/2007, -11/+5No, the registration date is a good thing. The only way I'd believe Phil Liu was an avid Digg user is if he started being one today. Otherwise, he'd have realized long ago that the program that writes his paycheck is nothing more than an embarrassing smudge on Microsoft's record.
    • maverick808, on 10/10/2007, -11/+72If you really are from MS then wtf are you doing wasting time on Digg!? Get the f'ing problem fixed!
    • Wang, on 10/10/2007, -17/+5Thanks Phil - good to see MS PM's actively keeping digg up to date on whats happening and showing that MS does care about this and is working hard to fix it.
      • Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5If MS cared for the customers to run a hassle free environment, they wouldn't distrust their users like this. It doesn't even help against piracy, so just drop the WGA technology altogether. IE 7 was WGA protected but could be installed on pirated copies from day 1.
        • Wang, on 10/10/2007, -7/+1Spoken like a true pirate! congrats :)
          • LucianSolaris, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Pirates are those who put Microsoft and minions in their place...

            The more crap MS 'n Crew pull, the more the pirates win! And ultimately, if it gets too bad, UNIX will win as well in a mass exodus of disinfrancised users!

            Keep going Microsoft, my people await the revelation of open software and will welcome with open arms the mass exodus from the tyranny and hell of proprietary control to the light, in which I currently reside.
          • gfnw, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2The pirates are the ones with fully functioning copies of Vista right now. Kinda ironic huh?
    • geneshifter, on 10/10/2007, -3/+35This is exactly the kinds of problems this validation crap leads to. Thanks MS for nothing. We told you.
    • TimRogers, on 10/10/2007, -14/+9...and I'm Bill Gates.
    • madhellrazor, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10JUST FYI

      http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2054756&SiteID=25

      Folks:



      Please go to www.microsoft.com/genuine and click VALIDATE WINDOWS to resolve this issue immediately.



      Additionally, I know you all are looking for an explanation/root-cause. I will get that ASAP. We are aware it is a server-side issue - the cause is unknown at this current time.



    • BillGatesMSFT, on 10/10/2007, -22/+12BAHAHAHA Stupid users, I pwned your sorry loserz assz, I win you lose. Thinking about going to Linux, yea right give me a break. That OS doesn't stand up to us. It will always be a niche market for stupid hairy monkey users who smell like stinky balls.

      Thanks for all of your phat moneyz for people who legally obtained it. To the pirates, well the reason you're pirating it is because even though Linux is free it still sucks ass.

      -Bill Gates @ Microsoft
      God Emperor
      • LucianSolaris, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4Yea... well two things.

        1) You didn't pwn my Linux installation :)
        2) I pwned your mom last night, enjoy!
        • scronide, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Where "Your Mom" jokes go horribly awry: Bill Gates' mother has been dead for 13 years.
    • rebotfc, on 10/10/2007, -3/+34Phil can I say LOLZ those who pirated XP and use a WGA crack don't need to deal with this crap.

      Once again your DRM ***** only hurts paying customers.
    • zwaldowski, on 10/10/2007, -4/+11Dear god, I think we just discovered the gold mine of Linux/Unix article trollers... Microsoft employees!
    • DigDugDigger, on 10/10/2007, -2/+27For now it would be nice if you could direct your paying customers to a suitable crack so they can enjoy the same functionality the pirates are enjoying. kthxbai
      • superkendall, on 10/10/2007, -5/+1If you'd look above you'd see they did - www.microsoft.com/genuine will validate users.
      • freedomknight, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2LOL!!!. I think M$ didn't fix their DRM crap, anybody tried validating their pirated copies. just to check whether they are blocking pirated copies ?, Or did they programmed their server to validate each and every copy on this earth, so that they fix problem later.
        • RickyBennett, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1dugg down for using $ in ms
          • freedomknight, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Whats wrong with that you piece of *****, I am informed enough about what to use where.
    • rkuchiki, on 10/10/2007, -1/+17Here is a friendly suggestion for future updates:

      Activation Expiration.

      For example, when the main server does crash (and outages DO happen), you could have a backup server send a timed "OK". This timed "OK" would tell XP or Vista that "this copy is Genuine, but call back in a few days", then when the server is back up, it could call back and see if its still genuine.

      Sure, you may have pirates who get 8 days of validated Windows free, but it is sure better than 4 days of pissed off legitimate customers.
      Something to think about.
      • grumpyrain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Exactly.

        Phil, you guys broke the golden rule with respect to registration / activation / validation schemes. NEVER EVER EVER throw false negatives. Just don't. You will lose paying customers. It is note worth it just to stop a couple of pirates through. You are unbelievably lucky this occurred on a weekend. Good luck persististing with validation once this hits the front technology page of any mainstream newspaper, and it will. But if you do persist, proove that you have learnt something from this mistake.

        Secondly, quit with the turning off aero crap. Seriously what is the point? People will tolerate for a day or two a "bug" that causes an annoying "this version of Windows could not be validated" balloon popup providing the language is not too accusing (they won't tolerate being told directly that they are a pirate), but people will not tolerate their interfaces changing.
      • p0tent1al, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Why is it, that even regular people can figure out a better way for it to work, than you guys actually can yourself? If you are going to dare impose DRM, it better be an airtight system, as which we can see, clearly it is not. There goes the money I paid for a system that is supposedly "polished".
    • HappyScrappy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+15Phil:
      As long as MS can shut down (or merely cripple) my machine remotely, I won't be running your new OS.

      I do everything I can to make my machine reliable. Having to rely on machines there at MS reduces it.

      It scares me how little respect for customers companies have now. And it's not just Microsoft.
    • sirhomer, on 10/10/2007, -1/+13Aren't you the same Phil Liu that was banning people from the WGA forums for saying anything was wrong with it?
    • mossblaser, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10I think Balmer threw a chair at the activation servers...
    • katana2k, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5PR nightmare eh phil
  • insomniac8400, on 10/10/2007, -7/+69I wonder how many business licenses they just lost. I could see companies using this as a huge justification not to touch vista.
    • Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9The harsher protection system you employ, the harsher is the problems when it doesn't work right, because there will be times when it doesn't work right. Obviously, any serious corporation can't take the risk in running an OS that stops functioning partially just because a server at Redmond goes ***** up. Actually, if someone told me this in 1995 after Windows 95 had been released, it would have sounded so outrageous that I would have labelled them as a troll exaggerating the problems with Microsoft's poor customer relationships. It has really became that bad by now, and I hope this is a wake-up call for Microsoft. Now, I have to go rethink my plans of going Linux with Windows as a pure gaming platform again. It's getting hard to say it's much more than that these days.
    • natenovs, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2well. businesses tend to have an authentication server local to their system. i doubt this affected any of the enterprise networks
      • pplude92, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4What business have you ever worked at, most use OEM keys, and larger ones VLKs, both of which still need validation.
        • p0tent1al, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1definitely. Sorry I dugg you down by accident though. Just take whatever you have, and add +1 onto it though.
    • KennyYeung, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Business users are using KMS...
      nothing happened to them
  • linkin2, on 10/10/2007, -34/+234hahahaahhahahahahhaah


    -Linux user
    • h3llscaper, on 10/10/2007, -22/+4Linux and warezed up copies stayin FLYY - Y - Y - Y Y-Y Y-Y YYY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1jn-31bDEY
      • rstarr, on 10/10/2007, -8/+3Wow, I did NOT see that comment coming from a Linux user.
      • p0tent1al, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Whenever Windows does something wrong, this song should be played as the theme song.
    • drpeppper, on 10/10/2007, -6/+95hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaarg

      -Pirate
      • Scotepi, on 10/10/2007, -15/+5i just installed vista last night with no problem at all, don't know what you guys are talking about ;)
    • chorne, on 10/10/2007, -10/+4@ linkin2
      Agreed.
    • daviddiaz, on 10/10/2007, -8/+24hahaha
      LOL Vista

      Vista's the biggest joke in OS's since Millenium
      • pplude92, on 10/10/2007, -4/+17You're mistaken



        ...it's worse
      • jer2eydevil88, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3At least there was only one version of ME to avoid... Vista has like half a dozen to be on the lookout for!!!
    • ToadLeg, on 10/10/2007, -3/+15I'm running Linux Mint, and it did this strange thing this morning: it updated, but it didn't tell me my version of Linux was "invalid".
      • Waterrat, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5 Klikit updated last night and it also didn't tell me my version of Linux was invalid...
        Funny about that.
    • deadlikeoscar, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Usually, people will tell you to "speak for yourself." This time, I think you truly spoke for everybody. (Non-MS of course) Definitely gave me a sharp pain in my side from the laughter.
    • noddyxoi, on 10/10/2007, -3/+4best comment ever.
      • veii, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Took the words right out of my mouth. Advantage my ***

        www.linuxgenuineadvantage.org/ lol
  • Turge, on 10/10/2007, -6/+115Phil, when you're done fixing the problem, any chance you could look into renaming Windows Genuine ADVANTAGE to something else?
    • stizz, on 10/10/2007, -4/+40Windows Genuine HINDRANCE perhaps...
    • Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -0/+13It's rather common to use acronyms that sound positive for negative technologies... Compare with "Digital Rights Management". It sounds like it helps handle your rights online in a positive fashion, when it's really a management system for your restrictions. The "advantage" in this technology is funny enough that you will now need to validate your OS to download things you earlier could without doing that. It's 100% a new restrictive barrier, nothing else. There are no benefits -- the downloads were there before too, in the form of e.g. Power Toys or IE 6, and didn't need anything like this.
      • noddyxoi, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4The acronyms are applied to the enterprises that produce them, and not to the consumers.
      • adinb, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5From one of my favorite sigs on /., "DRM manages rights like a jail manages freedom."
      • GliTCH82, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1The advantage is artificially created by the existence of the software, prior to which everyone had the "advantage" initially to begin with. So in effect, it's only an advantage because it ***** over the people who can't use it.
      • Theli, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2War is peace.
        Freedom is slavery.
        Ignorance is strength.
        WGA is advantageous.
    • superkendall, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Advantage: Microsoft.
    • LucianSolaris, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9OFFICIALLY NEW NAME FOR THE WINDOWS GENUINE ADVANTAGE!

      It doesn't even change the 3 letter acronym!

      Ready?







      Windows Genuine Analprober
    • YourTechSupport, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2I was gonna recommend Assraping, seriously. But I guess that wouldn't market well except in Bolivia.
  • Wilddigi, on 10/10/2007, -11/+4They need to call Bill Gates
  • easy4lif, on 10/10/2007, -12/+110I'm glad Mac OS X Tiger doesn't call up Cupertino to see if my OS is legit.
    • jjmckay, on 10/10/2007, -14/+6It would if Apple allowed Mac OS X to run on non-Apple hardware I presume. Each Mac has MacOS licensed by default. Not so for Windows, Solaris, and other commercial OS's which run on open & standardized hardware.

      Not saying I support WGA - I think it's a pathetic joke too. It will also invalidate your license if your DHCP server gives you a different IP address such as if you don't boot it for a while (depends on DHCP server configuration). My suggestion - don't use DHCP with Vista.
      • pplude92, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Do you have any idea how and ISP issues an IP Address, or that you NEED DHCP in one form or another for Ethernet...
      • pplude92, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Do you have any idea how and ISP issues an IP Address, or that you NEED DHCP in one form or another for Ethernet...
    • over9, on 10/10/2007, -7/+19Apple doesn't need to because OSX only runs "properly" on Apple hardware. If Apple allowed it to run on any hardware then piracy would be a problem and they would need to implement some sort of checking system.
      • forteller, on 10/10/2007, -6/+8No, they would not need to do that.
        • orgazmo, on 10/10/2007, -6/+8Yes, they would
        • aliguana, on 10/10/2007, -5/+6of course they would. Apple is the company that embedded DRM into music, requiring you to activate your music-player just to play it. Why? To stop mass piracy.

          They can afford for you to copy OS updates now, because they make up for it on hardware sales. If OSX was available to non-Mac users, then they would start losing money to piracy, so they would implement some kind of activation/serial-checking. Don't kid yourself otherwise.
        • scronide, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4@aliguana: They embedded DRM into music because the industry demanded it, not Apple. They remove it when they can, as with EMI.
        • over9, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5@scronide: If Apple didn't support DRM then they wouldn't have agreed with the industry in the first place. Like they say, it takes two to tango.
      • meatmcguffin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8That's a crap argument. What if i wanted to upgrade to 10.5, are you saying that it should be OK to pirate because 10.4 came with my mac? There are a significant number of people who have been pirating OS X for five years and there still aren't even serial numbers.
        • over9, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2That's a crap argument. Apple gets most of their profits from their hardware. As long as the pirated OSX is run on Apple hardware, Apple won't have a problem. If Apple opened OSX to any platform then, all the money from the hardware would be lost.
          • meatmcguffin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Why? Apple lose a hundred bucks per pirated copy of an OS X upgrade. It doesn't matter how much the hardware costs, they are losing a hundred bucks per copy that they don't sell and, even if you offset it against hardware costs, it all adds up.

            For starters, assume that over 100, 000 copies of OS X have been pirated so far, and considering how easy it is, that's a very conservative estimate. Apple could have put serial numbers on boxed copies of OSX or introduced a WGA type scheme from the start and they would have had a chance to get back *at least ten million dollars* so far. So, please answer me this - why haven't Apple done so?
          • specialK16, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2"So, please answer me this - why haven't Apple done so?"

            Because they aren't losing that much money. Seriously, the number of OS X pirates (including OSx86) is very low compared to those who pirate Windows.
        • joel8x, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3If Apple ever resorts to any form of activation on their OS, I would hunt you down and give you a paper cut on your tongue followed by a lime juice cocktail.
          • meatmcguffin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I wouldn't exactly be happy about it either, by "a significant number of people who have been pirating OS X" I was being self referential :)
      • superkendall, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6What about all the systems that sold before Tiger was released? Those users have just as much reason to copy OS X as anyone else. Yet generally we don't do so because OS X licences are pretty reasonable, even for Family packs (five installations for just $20 more).
    • TheNik, on 10/10/2007, -1/+14I got a MacBook Pro on Tuesday and now I can finally say I agree. :D
    • mossblaser, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Mind you I think if mac was the dominant platform I am sure apple would be wayy more evil than MS. Really - just look at thier abuse of some of thier already existing monopolies,
  • blurrie, on 10/10/2007, -15/+29::begins the osx chant::
  • digiguy, on 10/10/2007, -18/+3Wow, 2 news stories on Microsoft's WGA problems. This is called the ultimate PCFanboy news. Fap Fap
  • nixr, on 10/10/2007, -1/+32Let's hope a lesson is learned from this so going forward legitimate customers aren't made to feel like criminals. Microsoft is really missing the mark on how to deal with piracy. Shameful.
  • stizz, on 10/10/2007, -4/+52Many legit users are going to be completely ***** by this and wont have a clue what to do until MS fixes it. Meanwhile anyone actually pirating that runs into this problem will just employ another workaround and go right back to being productive.
    • dcsr, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Those who have pirated Vista won't be affected by this issue if the proper cracks were used
      • NnyCW, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3And it's completely true...not one issue.
        On the other hand, my legally purchased copy of BioShock only has three more installs left before it's completely worthless...Bless DRM, for punishing those who pay and rewarding those who steal. Maybe this will finally be the wake up call.
    • minigamer1896, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Or those who never installed WGA in their legit machines. ;)
  • wiremonkeymommy, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4*shakes head* I couldn't take that kind of blind fury, bad for the digestion
  • Wang, on 10/10/2007, -15/+6Wake up call? I am sure they realize how crap this is and some peeps are working hard to fix it over the weekend. Servers go down - get over it...
    • Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9This isn't exactly like if your favorite Counterstrike server go down. :-p
    • meatmcguffin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8The point is that those servers exist in the first place
    • carpespasm, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2yeah, but when your servers going down takes out (even partially) the install base of the vast majority of desktop computers and many servers, you'd damn well better have built redundant facilities to make sure that never happens before jesus starts walking around the planet again.
    • dreyergustav, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Is that you phil?
  • ekravchenko, on 10/10/2007, -10/+32install linux and you wouldn't have to deal with this ***** anymore. It's free, and supports most hardware. If you need to play games, get wine.
    • bjweeks, on 10/10/2007, -7/+17Wine doesn't play a fraction of game correctly. If you want to play games Linux is not the answer.
      • zwaldowski, on 10/10/2007, -3/+12Yeah, get a console.
        • nicknottaken, on 10/10/2007, -5/+10Preferably not a M$ XBox
          • andycr512, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8If you buy an Xbox 360 and buy all your games used, Microsoft loses money on the deal.

            Therefore, I can whole-heartedly recommend using Linux and buying an X360 for gaming.
          • scronide, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0@andycr512: Why is it a precondition for Microsoft to lose money on a product one would want to use?
        • KungFuJesus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Sorry, but console gaming doesn't do it for me. PC gaming for life

          dual boot FTW, i love linux but i also love my windows games
    • mossblaser, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1And if wine doesn't do the job, drink vodca - you'll be "happy" in no time...
    • OBKenobi, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Or dual boot with XP. Which I will be doing as soon as I build my new PC. I'm not going to install Vista at all.
  • n0c0ntr0l, on 10/10/2007, -4/+95Those who have pirated vista will not get touched by this at all. As usual DRM is just hurting the legitemate copies. Much like the bioshock securom going ons.
    • nicknottaken, on 10/10/2007, -8/+0Oh boohoo. DRM has almost absolutely nothing to do with piracy and everything to do with protecting investment from the igrnorant and those too scared to use p2p. Its not there to stop p2p, incase you hadn't noticed, it doesnt make the blindest bit of difference. Different parts of the world get charged different prices for media and DRM is how they make sure that everyone pays what they should. And p2p is not piracy.
    • arpnuke, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3I'd also like to point out that there is not a *WORKING* pirated copy available. The copy protection is working, but it happens to have overstepped the boundaries of what is reasonable for the end user to put up with. Rootkits, hardware finger printing, and install limits. I see securom going the way of starforce. Maybe it will take bioshock 400+ days to get fully cracked like Splinter Cell 3, but look around at starforce today. Copy protection is something we will all have to live with, but it has to be reasonable. WGA, starforce, and the newest securom is not reasonable.
      • specialK16, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3What the hell???? I've been on a pirated copy of Vista for 6 months now.
  • chrisinsocalif, on 10/10/2007, -0/+57Thank goodness i never install the WGA and I manually update my pirated version of MS.
    • zwaldowski, on 10/10/2007, -10/+4Calling the FBI as we speak...
    • ChefTyler, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3You miss the sarcasm?
    • therpandrus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2hahahahahahahaha.... I can't believe that only pirated versions are untouched by this
      ... It's hilarious...
    • loconet, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1How do you manually update a whole pirated version of MS?! I would like to have my own MS too.
    • specialK16, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I automatically update my pirated Vista...
  • doolittle, on 10/10/2007, -0/+12So much for that weekend maintenance that was scheduled months ago :(
  • daifuku, on 10/10/2007, -7/+15There has to be something illegal about this. This sounds like fraud on the part of Microsoft.
  • TritonX, on 10/10/2007, -0/+23We all knew it would happens one of these days, and it's bound to happen again and again.
    • mossblaser, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Soon as they start running it on Longhorn server it'll be dailey - and what happens when the authentication on that thinks that its cracked because it is authenticating localy? Well I can only sit and laugh and then promptly get back to doing something profitable
  • Repeater2000, on 10/10/2007, -20/+4DRM crybabies never pay for software, keep fighting the good fight. You know, the fight to be a cheap ***** thief...
    • bjweeks, on 10/10/2007, -1/+10*****, I paid for my copy of vista and still will never pay for media with DRM.
    • amfantasy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7sorry repeater2000, I dugg you up by mistake.
    • niallabrown, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I pay for all media I use but DRM and the like are only a threat to those who pay. Its the pirates who win in the end with their cracked content.
    • loconet, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Well, so far, the "pirates" are winning. Honest consumers paying for windows, are, well, apparently losing. DRM is nothing but problems.
  • over9, on 10/10/2007, -5/+48And yet in the "digg survey", over 50% of people put down Windows as their choice of OS.
    • digiguy, on 10/10/2007, -4/+11Microsoft paid them
    • Macshiba, on 10/10/2007, -3/+14Me and my Windows 3.1 Machine are best friends! I don't have to deal with this crap!
    • meatmcguffin, on 10/10/2007, -5/+11Could it possibly be that 50% of people have only ever used Windows? Also, if windows has approximately 80% of the market share that means a whole 30% of Windows users are unhappy with Windows. I don't think you can spin that into a positive
      • over9, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4The survey is only for digg. You can't extend it to say that 30% of the whole Windows users are unhappy.
        • meatmcguffin, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5That is true but it does give quite a good indicator of feelings among the tech-savvy and they're the ones who know what they're talking about. I'd hate to think about Windows approval ratings for the general, non-tech-savvy market.
    • t0mmy, on 10/10/2007, -6/+7Maybe that's because, oh, I don't know... games? You know, those things most of Digg plays?

      Or how about people who develop for Windows? Or people who use Photoshop, Flash, or anything audio/visual on a daily basis? Or maybe the people who don't want to spend weeks learning the command line, deciding between Gnome and KDE, getting support for their hardware?

      And digg, before this comment is buried because of my opinion, I have two computers - XP dual-booting with Ubuntu, and a Gentoo box. I am not anti-Linux.
      • ZigVicious, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1umm, people who use " Photoshop, Flash, or anything audio/visual on a daily basis" use macs.
    • selrahc, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4You can check more than one. Since I dual-boot XP and Linux I clicked on both.
    • mossblaser, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Yeh - I thought all the "Vista is like soo 1337" script kiddies weren't online... I noticed by the general quality of comments here... The apple fans of course have taken thier place...
  • WaterDragon, on 10/10/2007, -2/+26Many of the comments in the article use the word REDICULOUS.

    Since there has been no such word, up to now, in the English language, I have to assume it is some reference to Redmond, WA., where Microsoft headquarters is located
    • Jambi, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Nothing so witty I'm afraid; people just can't spell.
    • zoom1928, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Nice observation REDmond versus REDiculous. I used to teach school, and I can't remember even my fourth graders making that mistake.
    • knightboat, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I read through the forum posts and kept scrolling up to see if it was the same username as before still messing up the same word. It was at least three different people just on the first page alone. :(
  • tims987, on 10/10/2007, -6/+50Hmm seems like my mac is working just fine.
    • Jambi, on 10/10/2007, -3/+20What a coincidence! Mine too!
    • yournamehere, on 10/10/2007, -13/+4bet you're getting ready to run Crysis on it, no? oh wait, but there's UT3 coming for you right? no?
      • tims987, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8I'll play games on my Nintendo thanks for asking though.
      • Jambi, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10Sorry, I don't really play games, so that's not much of an insult. Better luck next time.
      • carbonfree314, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6Actually, UT3 is coming to the Mac, as well as Gears, so half of your argument is invalid.
      • CarzorStelatis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8The chances are that (unless you paid $2000 for it _yesterday_), your Windows PC won't run either of those games anyway.
      • idugcoal, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Umm, actually, I'll be making music on mine.
    • Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2What a shocker!
    • natenovs, on 10/10/2007, -5/+2and my vista is fine too. this only affects you if you try to install WGA software during the time of the outage. and once your marked invalid, you have 30 days to run the validation software again before there's a problem.

      like i said, my vista machine is still quite valid.
      • grumpyrain, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Except:

        1. You have been accused of being a thief
        2. Aero is cripped
        3. Companies are kind of scared about a company who has a remote kill switch for their OS.

        If the bug simply meant that it had to validate properly in the next 30 days, and crippling only taking effect then, it would still hit the front page of digg, but no other major non technology specific news outlet would run it anywhere near front page. I believe that if they have any brains whatsoever, WGA will be killed by Microsoft PR before too long.
  • Macshiba, on 10/10/2007, -2/+30I've got a legit Windows Vista Ultimate disk, and when I tried installing it onto my PC it told me my CD-Key is invalid and then told me it was in use.

    How could it be in use if it was invalid? What the *****, Microsoft.

    Oh well, I'll just go play Halo 2 on XP then, since it is possible.
    • MagicCake, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1It happens. Call them. They'll take care of it in literally 5 minutes. Sure it would be better if it didn't happen, but the solution is a quick, forgettable phone call, and I can live with that.
  • WaterDragon, on 10/10/2007, -6/+16Windows XP....if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
    'Vista' provides you with a chance to see the extent of your own gullibility. It provides a new 'vista' of impressionability and suceptibility to marketing from fascist corporations.
    Wanna buy a bridge?
    • yournamehere, on 10/10/2007, -4/+9XP is broke, you just don't know it. underneath the hood it has so many patched pieces that were redone in Vista to be modeled correctly.

      look, if you're just an idiot and like to babble then read something about. otherwise if you're smart then you're just feeding into the hype.

      Do you happen to run Vista? No you say? So you base your findings on what exactly?
      • knightboat, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2Irrational Loudmouth is trying to ***** on your preference of OS.
        Allow / Deny?
        • mikiupdown2, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4*Clicks allow without actually reading what he's allowing and goes off to disable UAC*
      • mossblaser, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Yeh you just took on all the "we like totaly made a new kernal like y'no" and believed it to be something major. Well to be honest my vastly superiour kernal that doesn't need drasticaly rewriting as yours seems to have required is working fine and, oh, no reduced functionality in the rest of the OS either. Well your OS seems prittey damn good - as I always said - MS has your balls in a vice and its gradualy getting tighter.
  • thegreyfox, on 10/10/2007, -1/+31They are lucky as ***** it's the weekend.
    • zwaldowski, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5How? More users are at home, using computers that won't have VLK's on them.
      • grumpyrain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4To grossly oversimplify things:
        On a weekday, you have business machines + home machines running
        On a weekend, it is mainly home machines.

        And now the sys admins know to block windows updates until Microsoft gets this sorted.
  • WiseWeasel, on 10/10/2007, -0/+35This really highlights the wrongheaded methods Microsoft uses to ensure their profits by preventing piracy. When their OS is unable to verify its authenticity, instead of giving the user the benefit of the doubt, they choose to lock the user out, without requiring any actual evidence of malfeasance. This means that if MS were to cease to exist, their OS product would stop functioning as well, all due to an unnecessary point of failure built into the OS. If future archeologists were to unearth a Windows PC, and try to use it, they would be confronted with this Genuine Advantage crap. Any company that doesn't have enough respect for its users, and for the integrity of its own products, to design beautiful and timeless software in the ultimate sense, is not a company I wish to support.
    • mossblaser, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Yep, but then again if MS is going down they at least want to get back at everyone who still had faith in them by ***** their PCs - windows update - just a mass virus distribution platform waiting to be used by the worlds largest govt. approved terrorist organization.
    • Waterrat, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3 You got that right WiseWeasel...I stopped supporting them over a year ago when i got Linux..
    • p0tent1al, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2right on the ***** mark.
    • mrBitch, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0@WiseWeasel : " ... this means that if MS were to cease to exist, their OS product would stop functioning as well, all due to an unnecessary point of failure built into the OS. If future archeologists were to unearth a Windows PC, and try to use it, they would be confronted with this Genuine Advantage crap.

      Any company that doesn't have enough respect for its users, and for the integrity of its own products, to design beautiful and timeless software in the ultimate sense, is not a company I wish to support. "

      OMFG - I never thought of it that way - if MS goes under, it will take out all Windows PCs with them ( except for those that pirated windows - they will be OK - it will only affect all those who legit paid for their OS )
  • scabbers, on 10/10/2007, -1/+35DRM FTL.
  • scaaryfast, on 10/10/2007, -10/+7I hope you all hit F5 loads of times to stress their forum server like I just did.
    • CarzorStelatis, on 10/10/2007, -1/+19Yes, the biggest software company in the world is going to be killed by you refreshing a forum page a few times. Come with me to a padded room.
    • KennyYeung, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Get real...
      it won't make the wga server wake up faster...
  • shinelikeitdoes, on 10/10/2007, -2/+13i'm sure MS is protected by their EULA. only paying customers are scum. the company who takes their money usually has an out.
  • fLUx1337, on 10/10/2007, -5/+8Eh?? I restarted like 10 mins ago and I still have Aero and stuff??

    Does the UK have different WGA servers or something??
  • LordSkywalker, on 10/10/2007, -1/+21All the more reason to pirate.
    • msgyrd, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Yep. I have a legit copy of Vista from my school. I still run a pirated version simply because it's less hassle to crack it than to hope it'll quit bothering me if I supply a legitimate key.
  • paddler, on 10/10/2007, -1/+30THE validation server? Why am I imagining that being an old Micron Millennia running NT 4.0 sitting in a closet?
    • BlackWarp, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2It may as well be.
    • Krumm, on 10/10/2007, -0/+25Knowing Microsoft, it's a Vista box that is trying to validate itself, and stuck in an infinite loop...
      • deadlikeoscar, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5WGA Panic!!!!!!!!
      • jer2eydevil88, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1 I wish I was artistic so I could write a comic with that as the punchline... it would be timeless.
  • secion8, on 10/10/2007, -7/+14Microsoft goes down, THE WORLD GOES DOWN! WHA HAHAHAHA!!
    • aliguana, on 10/10/2007, -3/+9actually, thats not very amusing. That is a serious scenario, and one you should be crapping myself about if you had any sense.
      • gquaglia, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6That is why monocultures are bad. All you sheep, who blindly followed M$ all these years with their OS, their so called standards. Well guess what, you are all taking it up the ass right now. Oh Well, you won't see any Windows machines running in my house.
        • CarzorStelatis, on 10/10/2007, -5/+2Windows /is/ a standard. The fact that it doesn't follow all of the open standards doesn't matter. It is used by 80%+ of computer users - cars with four wheels are seen as the 'standard' means of transportation with a much lower market share!
      • secion8, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Yes, I know it is a serious matter, And I will propably be up to my neck in support calls on monday morning. The second you lose your sense of humor is the second you go crazy in this profession.
    • ekin09, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0okay... you must be 9
      • secion8, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1No, Just speaking the truth with a sense of humor!
  • MasterDwarf, on 10/10/2007, -6/+45on behalf of the linux community...thank you.
    • mossblaser, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4You know they said vista would be the best thing thats happened to linux in a while - well it just keeps getting better! What with their super reliable windows server vs crappy crash-a-minute linux add campaign it all adds to the hilarity
    • MasterDwarf, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I wanted to comment on the person that was a loyal MS person for 20+ years and NOW he's vowed to switch. Damn, it only took 20 some years!!??
  • Nocturnal, on 10/10/2007, -0/+14This was inevitable. It will happen again too. This is what happens when you penalize the consumer for doing nothing wrong. Truly a great blunder that needs much more recognition. Hopefully it'll get national news or international news coverage. This is a really big ***** up and I am guessing someone is going to lose their job over it.
    • mossblaser, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Lets hope its balmer. Chair throwing wanker.
  • Yakamoto, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1I think they finally called someone to restart the server. I just tried to activate and it went through.
    • aliguana, on 10/10/2007, -0/+13trouble is, they restarted the server and got "this copy of Windows is not genuine, please call Microsoft support" lol
  • canthraxp, on 10/10/2007, -9/+8Microsoft--; Unix/Linux/MacOS ++;
    • carbonfree314, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1#include <iostream>

      using namespace std;

      int main(int argc, char **argv) {
      int Unix = 4;
      int Linux = 5;
      int MacOSX = 6;
      int Windows = 7;

      Windows--; //Goes down to 6, as expected.
      Unix/Linux/MacOSX++; //Unix and Linux do not change, MacOSX changes to 7.
      cout<<Windows<<endl<<Unix<<","<<Linux<<","<<MacOSX<<endl;
      //Congrats, your programming skills are bad.

      return 0;
      }
  • TimRogers, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6Haven't had any problems. I've been setting up a new Home Premium-based Dell and everything is running Aero just as expected, even after restarts and update installs (which required WGA).
    • KennyYeung, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0because OEM machine doesn't require....
  • Bossy, on 10/10/2007, -2/+7server is back up.
  • bkrishnan, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6And somewhere at the infinity loop, someone has a big grin :D
  • JasonCox, on 10/10/2007, -9/+4"As usual DRM is just hurting the legitemate copies."
    Wow, you mean msgina.dll uses DRM? Dumbass.
  • eddie72, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4If their server went down wouldn't everyone be hit with the dreaded WGA issue?
  • r0gue6, on 10/10/2007, -3/+5Who cares?

    There's a reason I didn't buy Vista yet.

    Welcome to "Early Adoption 101"
    • alphacorvus, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3This also affects XP.

    • niallabrown, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Are you kidding? This is the new norm. Get accustom to calling Microsoft and digital music service providers several times a year to prove your not a pirate.
    • niallabrown, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Are you kidding? This is the new norm. Get accustom to calling Microsoft and digital music service providers several times a year to prove your not a pirate.
    • Sdiggmatism, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0It didn't affect my XP biotches.
  • film42, on 10/10/2007, -5/+8It happened to me
  • HouseFan, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Microsoft, finding new ways to piss you off.
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