What is Digg?71 Comments
- phpirate, on 10/12/2007, -4/+62Actually, this is incorrect. I own a legit copy of windows xp home edition (not burnt, from dell). I only used it one computer. All of a sudden when microsoft did this genuine windows bull, it wouldn't validate that computer. Microsoft is known for its buggy programming and this is no exception. There are actually many users who bought legit copies who have the exact same problems.
I tried calling microsoft too. Their response? "Go buy another copy". Oh yeah. MICROSOFT screws up with their coding and legit customers, and *I* have to go pay for another copy. Screw that. I'm not giong to buy vista either. - kolop1, on 10/12/2007, -15/+38 Okay Mr.Morality. Thanks for the lesson.
- teh_toaster, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17I have seen legitimate uses for disabling WGA, spyware being the most common. Infected machines that previously had passed the check would no longer validate. How else would I be able to get the MS Malicious Software Removal tool? You can't even get Windows Defender w/o validating.
- renskav, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13@ Jozer99 .. Lol, i work at tech support, not microsoft, but an isp, and i can tell you that's the worst advice i've ever heard on how to deal with me when i talk to you on the phone.
If you cut me off, talk loudly, and threaten me with a lawyer (which i dont give a ***** about anyhow since it will be the company who is getting sued, and not me) i will become pissed off. If i am pissed off you wont get very good support. Actually the first thing i assume about every customer is that they are nice people, and i sincerely want to help them, but if some ahole goes on a rant about his rights and how pissed off he is, the whole conversation usually grinds to a halt and ends up with me telling the customer to send in a formal complaint letter.
The best way to get the support you want is to politely explain your problem and act as a normal human being. - Jozer99, on 10/12/2007, -5/+15Tech support guys will try and get you off the phone as fast as possible, no matter what. If that means fixing your problem, great, but in general it means telling lies. This is what happened in your case. Microsoft will probably give you another windows key, or something. You just have to handle it right. To put it simply, make the tech service guy your bitch. I'm not a loud person, or one who likes to argue, so this is hard for me, but consider it character acting. If it makes you feel better, the MS Tech support guy/gal would probably be a nice person if you ran into them in a bar, but they are paid to play the role of a lying jackass 8 hours a day by M$.
Here is what you do, first off, barely let them get a word in edgewise. Tell them EXACTLY how long you had to wait to talk to them, and how many keys you had to press. Tell them it is not your first time calling. Ask them for their name. Then tell them your problem. At this point, 75% of the time they will give you the right answer, as they see that it is the path of least resistance to getting you off the phone, because you are their worst nightmare. If they still hold out, ask for their name again. Ask to speak to their manager, right away. They may say they can't transfer you. Ask for the manager's telephone number. If they refuse, tell them you have a laywer.
I have had some NIGHTMARISH experiences with tech-support, from basically every company (except IBM, they were very nice). I once spent 7 hours (yes, really) on the phone with Logitech, to the point where my phone's battery died, and I had to plug it in to keep talking. But if you are assertive to the point of being unpleasant, things happen. - Mike89, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Ah man, that's a real shame to hear, you're a major component here at Digg!
I mean, who can forgot your every so famous stories (http://digg.com/users/spamdies/submitted)
I don't know what we're going to do without you - w00gy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10yeah doesn't work
- cryptocom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Ok, here's the deal kids. About a month or so ago, an update patch came out for UP TO DATE installations of XP Service Pack 2 that disables the ability to disable the Windows Genuine Advantage Active X control. After this patch, you won't be able to use the javascript exploit mentioned above. If you haven't updated in a long time, and you haven't gotten to that patch yet, then yes, it will work until you get to that patch and install it...and then it won't work. SO....as of the current time, that exploit will not work on an updated version of XP SP2. Of course there are plenty of other ways to get around this, but I'm not a phr34k, so....
: ) - modian, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/
- Darthmalt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I use Auto patcher from http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showforum=89 Much better because it allows you greater control over what does and does not get installed. Also has some nice optional things that you can install as well. Like powermenu which lets me assign priority window transparency always on top and minimize to tray from the right click menu.
- redDC143C, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Cut the crap.
I am FAR from being a Microsoft fanboy - I *hate* MS's business practices, and I hope the people responsible burn in hell.
I do have to say, however, the developers do work very hard - and despite some short comings, they DO produce a very very good product in XP, Office, etc. I think you need to actually understand how programming works to fully appreciate it.
XP has some 40 million lines of code (before any service packs). If you were to write a book 40 million sentences long, with completely flawless grammar and spelling, and had a high level of competency - would you not think $200 is a reasonable price tag?
If not, you have alternatives - mainly a great OS in any flavor of Linux. - cryptocom, on 10/12/2007, -6/+12*laughs at all the people that actually tried this and realized it doesn't work anymore...*
- MattH, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6This is the best way to get around Windows Genuine Activation
http://free.pages.at/antiwpa/
Look in the Other folder for WGA crack - fkuall, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6"no matter what" eh?
i cant get it to work on my ubuntu installation.. any help? - Koskun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This will only bypass the check when you navigate to Windows Update site. It does not bypass the validation when you try to install Windows Defender or IE7 Beta 2. The validation in the latter two are built into the installer itself and are not online.
- BiGdUsTy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Rename LegitCheckControl.dll to .old go to windows update when you see the express or custom screen rename the file back to .dll then install your updates and have a nice day.
- sporkwitch, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5WGA was bypassed less than 24hours after it was implemented, and the workaround still works.
- Mike89, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Ill be sure to submit em when they come out ;)
- Yang1205, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5It worked for me i just downloaded and installed 22 critical updates.... go me!!
- bonoes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Old but works.
- kiapolo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2works for me (rename)
- renskav, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@ospir.. I shouldnt do what? To counter your first point: I am never deliberatly unhelpful. Just because i work at tech support doesn't mean that i'm not human and can't get pissed off. Secondly, no, i do a damn good job, so i don't think i deserve to be fired. Some customers are just beyond help, and won't reason with you to the point of it being almost ridiculous, such as the good sir above here. Tech support is a collaboration and communication between the person asking for support and the one giving it, and if one party refuses to collaborate and keep coming with unreasonable demands such as "give me back the ten minutes i waited in line" there is no way to give them support unless you're an automatic answering machine. I always go out of my way to help people who are friendly and realize you are still a human being, despite working for an inhuman coorporation.
Besides, this was just an inside tip from someone who's been on the other end, if you dont like it keep yelling and take the consequences.
Remember when you're ticked off, it's not the fault of the guy you're talking to, and it wont bring your problem an inch closer to being solved by making unreasonable demands and being unfriendly. - eqisow, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3You're right, if XP was flawless I think $200 would be a fair price tag. Seeing as how it's not even close, however, I think $200 is excessive. Not even mentioning how much of that 40 mil lines is recycled from previous versions. Granted, there's nothing wrong with recycling code, as long as the recycled code doesn't suck of course. *ahem*
That being said, I do use the alternative; and I couldn't be happier. - johnnyhay, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6I wonder what Microsoft is going to do with vista?
- darkman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I install windows xp on peoples machines all the time,sometimes the javascript workaround works and sometimes it doesnt.
- snub, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Over the years I've probably owned several copies of Windows XP. One from when it first came so I could upgrade my old computer, 2 more from buying new computers (even though it comes installed I believe it does count as owning the product right?), and another copy of pro when I built my new computer. It may seem a bit farfetched but it is true and quite feasible considering how long its been out.
However in the end, when I have to reinstall or install it on new computers I end up just using a slipstreamed disc I downloaded because its simply just much easier and I dont see any reason not to. - liquidcoooled, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Your right, MS can't block random keys, but they can stop duplicate key instances from being used.
This is the most likely reason why some legit installs aren't being able to update nowadays. - micromause, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2.... or just patch your LegitCheckControl.dll? =D
- renskav, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@ospir. Just to clarify, i just had a customer who wanted his connection fixed NOW. He wanted it to work within the hour or he was going to terminate his account with us. So i asked him if he could check what lights were blinking on his modem. He refused to even start to look for what was wrong. I politely told him that there were no support technicians avalible until thursday, and that was the truth. He proceeded by demanding i put him first in line and send a support technician right away, but we have other customers, and you can't just put the guy who's the most pissed of at the top of the line, or you'd soon have alot of very pissed of customers competing for first place. Besides, we dont have any actual control over who goes first, if there is an open timeslot we can give you that, but we cant throw other customers of the waiting list just because you are upset. Sometimes you just can't do magic.
At the start of the conversation i was more than willing to give him a month for free because of his troubles, and perhaps a discount on internet for a year, but after you become unfriendly, you've used up all your credits with me and i will politely tell you to send in a formal complaint.
I guess this is my job listening to this twice a day, and i still love it for all the happy people that you actually manage to help. Let me tell you, the friendly people get 10x the support the ranting morons do. - Stymyx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Spamdies dies. Film at 11...
- spangemonkee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I always use http://www.WindizUpdate.com and I don't have to worry about that stuff. I have legit copies of XP Home and Pro.
- redDC143C, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"You're right, if XP was flawless I think $200 would be a fair price tag. Seeing as how it's not even close, however, I think $200 is excessive. Not even mentioning how much of that 40 mil lines is recycled from previous versions. Granted, there's nothing wrong with recycling code, as long as the recycled code doesn't suck of course. *ahem*"
I never said it was flawless - at least not intended it that way.
When I said "with completely flawless grammar and spelling" I meant the syntax must be completely flawless - otherwise obviously it won't compile.
And when I said "with a high level of competency" I meant the each part of the book (or OS) had to work together well. I know - this was a bit unclear.
And yes, there is a lot of recycled code - but that is mainly to support legacy applications/hardware. - Specter, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/ Any Browser Any Computer.
EDIT: sry i guess people already put this. But no hard work involved at all. - brianmost, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1There's some legitimate use for this. Dell was selling many machines on the same bulk license, all using the same key. MS invalidated that key owing to mass piracy of the key, leaving the legitimate key users unable to update. Dell can straighten this out if you call tech support, but if you're out of the support period or own one of these machines secondhand, normal procedures might not help you.
- MattH, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3http://free.pages.at/antiwpa/
- eqisow, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2He is saying they have a greater responsibility to society as a whole and that if they do not allow people who pirate to get security patches then they will have their machines owned which puts OTHER computers at risk.
- CoolWind, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@Jozer99 - You'll get better results AND you'll feel a lot better if you don't get unpleasant.
Just be reasonable and logical and persistent. - timmyrulz27, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1word of advice don't do that new feature windows has micorsoft update or whatever its called it patches it and now i can do that javascript to get past WGA
- Biker803, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5They're going to have a program within Windows to update your system. No more website-based update site I'm pretty sure. Whether there'll still be workarounds like this is anyone's guess, but anyone with a lugit copy shouldn't have to resort to things like this. Oh well.
- Supernova36, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This doesn't work anymore, its ancient!
- DanAtkinson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1There are definitely morality issues here.
I mean, effectively, this is a tutorial to bypass Microsoft's (admittedly buggy) validation checks. It wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft fixed this pretty soon.
Still, I'm glad people are still looking for ways to rip people off.... - raid17, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0It works fine actually. Go to microsoft update, paste in the javascript hack. Hit enter, then press the 'custom' or 'express' update buttons.
The exploit does nothing other than disable the WGA check. You still have to perform the normal update process.
GJ - Osjpr, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3renskav, you should not do that. You are a nobody employed by the company to help customers. If the customers are angry, you help them as best you can. Support people who are petty and deliberately unhelpful deserve to be sacked on the spot. The customer has no recourse beyond the support line, and could have been waiting for resolution for hours, days, weeks or months. This is why respectable companies should monitor their service staff.
- jimbo92107, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4I have this friend whose sister's ex-boyfriend told his auto mechanic's night-school teacher that this trick doesn't work anymore. I'm pretty sure it's true because he's a pretty good mechanic.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This isn't working for me anyways. I went to the MS product update site and pasted the javascript tag in my address bar, hit enter, and nothing happened.
Ah well - Portfolioso, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Hey Einstein, Whether you have a valid key or not, they let you download critical updates/ patches. It's only specialized products that are restricted, such as Windows Defender and IE7 Beta2
- SBelyea, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1According to equisow, car manufacturers should also be forced to provide driving lessons to everyone because cars can be used as dangerous weapons.
Get real and grow up. - Legion303, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Easiest way:
1. Download XP keygen and keychanger programs.
2. Change product key.
3. Watch Bill Gates sob when he realizes he can't blacklist randomly generated keys.
4. Have a hearty laugh at his expense.
I certainly condone piracy here. MS is saying that people who pirate XP (in other words, about 50% of home users) will be blocked from getting critical updates that will help keep them from becoming a botnet node. Since MS sees no problem letting these people be used for DDOS and spambots, I see no problem telling MS to ***** off and die. - idonthack, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0There must be enough Windows users around to digg this article up, then.
- Yang1205, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1i also updated some hardware, which WASNT critical... so boo ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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