Gayle wrote:
> I of course have a legimate copy of windows.
>
> Must I install this Genuine Advantage Validation Tool to continue
> to get updates from Windows update?
>
> Why?
Welcome to the Public (peer-to-peer) Newsgroups!
Yes - you must install the WGA Validation tool in order to continue
receiving updates in the way you have become accustomed.
As for the second question - not having ANY power/decision making rights at
Microsoft - you are likely barking up the wrong tree.
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/do...en&sGuid=de5965b7-86e8-4f26-80e0-3acd1c9ada1b
"Windows Validation"
Q
o all Windows users need to validate, or is validation limited to
particular versions of Windows?
A:Validation is required for all genuine Windows downloads on Microsoft
Download Center. It is also required by the Windows Update service for users
of Windows XP including Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional and Windows
XP Media Center Edition. All users can access security updates via Automatic
Updates. Genuine Windows downloads are available, without validation, to
customers running Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003,
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows Vista, and Windows NT 4.0 with
Service Pack 3. Genuine Windows downloads are not available for older
versions of Windows (Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 2, and
earlier), or non-Microsoft operating systems.
Q:Isn't Microsoft unfairly burdening customers who have done nothing wrong?
A:No, theft and fraud are everybody's problem because customers do not
receive the same quality product and all the associated benefits that they
paid for. Additionally, theft and fraud increase the cost of doing business
and, therefore, the cost of the products customers buy.
Q:Is genuine Windows validation a one-time process?
A:We've designed validation to be as easy as possible. Validation itself
just takes a moment. The lengthiest part of the process is downloading the
ActiveX control that performs validation. The ActiveX control is downloaded
on the first validation and when a new version is available from Microsoft.
So, while it's not a one-time process, it is still quick and easy.
Q:Is Microsoft able to spy on customers through the validation scan?
A:Not at all. No information is collected during the validation process that
can be used to identify or contact a user.
Microsoft has commissioned TÜV-IT, an independent German security auditor,
to test how well Windows Genuine Advantage protects customers' data. TÜV-IT
conducted both a legal audit of Microsoft's policies, specifications, and
statements, and a technical audit to determine if the program's databases,
source-code, and implementation respect privacy concerns.
TÜV-IT has confirmed that Microsoft does not process any data that would
allow Microsoft to identify or contact a user. It has also confirmed that
Windows Genuine Advantage can be used safely on sensitive systems and that
it does not interfere with any software programs and, therefore, it does not
conflict with data protection laws.
For more information on TÜV-IT and their methodology, see
http://www.tuvit.de.
Hope that helps...
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html