Microsoft is watching?

I have really been wondering this since the install of w7 64 and looked at all the reporting ability it has to call home. Not only for Microsoft but also for all the software mfgs that are on my computer. It gives out all kinds of info and most against my wants. I can remember when Microsoft put in there update for the hardware reporting on XP and everyone was up in arms so why is everyone laying down now? Look I may not be trully understanding all the funcitons of all the programs but it sure seems like it to me. Especially when you change a piece of hardware on your computer and it asks to redo the performance window. I would really like to hear others on this. Thanks

You can control all of the abilities of both W7 and most programs to call home, if you take the time to do so.

More precisely hardware firewalls as software firewalls are worth nothing to block Microsoft from a Win system

Rotax1 said:

I have really been wondering this since the install of w7 64 and looked at all the reporting ability it has to call home. Not only for Microsoft but also for all the software mfgs that are on my computer. It gives out all kinds of info and most against my wants. I can remember when Microsoft put in there update for the hardware reporting on XP and everyone was up in arms so why is everyone laying down now? Look I may not be trully understanding all the funcitons of all the programs but it sure seems like it to me. Especially when you change a piece of hardware on your computer and it asks to redo the performance window. I would really like to hear others on this. Thanks

What is it you think they are getting about you? Paranoid much? The information MS gathers only serves to help engineer future versions. They don't know your name, address and how much porn you downloaded last night.

Actually I'm not into porn but I am into not having my system scrutinized by a company that doesn't have my personal best interests at heart. Not to mention giving the ability of other companies to analyze what I do either. I don't mind verification that my windows is authentic but what I do after that is my own business.

Outside of checking Windows Update...if you have it set to automatic, I'm not aware of anything that calls MS automatically without your knowledge. Not even the authentication...except when accessing Windows Update.

Nuthin' a decent firewall won't let you take control of...

They spent a fortune sponsoring WHQL with all manufacturers to build drivers for Win7, so they could get them into the installer and subsequently your computer in real time.

What they are scanning for is whether you have the full benefits of all the billions they spent creating the greatest OS ever.

Do you even know they paid manufacturers to make drivers so they wouldn't hold out on us as they did with Vista?

Or that they mandated that computer makers using the Vista-to-Win7 Upgrade kit program had to provide a clean copy DVD of Win7, with a separate driver/apps CD absent any bloatware - a huge breakthrough since makers nowadays try to enforce sponsors' bloatware and refuse to provide clean copies of the OS?

Evil corporation!!

Activation isn't even that much of concern except during reactivation or when hacktivations are installed which blatantly upset the hardware signature. One almost has to knock on their door and scream you're a pirate and then they just invite you in to become their customer.