Wat update - yes/no?

[Barman58]

As to legitimate reasons to avoid the WAT KB ... my own is to avoid false positives -- the situation where my bought-and-paid-for Win7 install suddenly become "invalid" because of some bug in the WAT code that didn't get throughly tested in the rush to get it "out the door".

So, while I've read that this KB is going to be included in Win7 SP1, I've excluded it for now and will wait and see about false positive reports before I install that SP.

Although I appreciate your logic here and you make a valid point, I would look at things differently, I'd rather fail the optional WAT check due to a FP than to fail the mandatory check, later.

As WAT is new the likelihood of a smooth ride from Microsoft, when calling to re-activate, is greater now than I imagine it will be in the future when the code is matured

 

[dmdilks]

Billy Boy

Though the software visionary's net worth rose $13 billion to a whopping $53 billion in the last year, he was ousted from the top of the money bin by Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helu, who took the No. 1 spot on Forbes' billionaire list this year, with a fortune of $53.5 billion.

 

[Darryl Licht]

I LOVE THIS THREAD!

Some very heated arguments... and some very vicious comments as well. Be they true or not. Just a very entertaining thread from my perspective!

However having been warned then temporarily banned myself for telling a member:

Sorry girl, but you are incorrect! Please dont give advice regarding things you cant back up!

I am surprised the admins let this thread go as far as it did!

I learned my lesson... dont post when you have been drinking! LOL! Honestly I was banned for my string of agitated PM's to admins after my initial warning! Thank the 5.5% beers! LOL!

As for the WAT... Wat is everybody so worked up about? LOL!

The only people who should be concerned are those who are using hacked/cracked/pirated copies. The rest of us should have nothing to worry about. I have automatic updates on and have since XP SP3 days, I trust MS enough to use their OS, why should I worry about updates? I havent seen a bad update for over 5 years... there were several in the early XP days that hosed systems, but I trust MS.

I also welcome such a program... even though the hackers will surely figure out workarounds. Perhaps in the future MS will come up with a foolproof method, and I will also welcome that with open arms.

Several posters in this thread were definitely MS haters, but I believe that the primary reason we legit users pay so much for MS SW is that many people use illegal copies. MS is the "big boy on the block" and everybody wants their OS whether they can do so legally or not. Many users opt for illegal copies due to economic reasons, walking the criminal line, or just to prove they can.

I hope that in the future we all pay less and all use legit copies... It may also ease our job here. I truly believe that many of the weird Win7 issues reported here on this forum are due to these less than legal copies and we waste valuable time helping crooks when we could be helping legit users!

PS - Kari how did you get away with those brutal comments? Are you married to Shawn? LOL!

 

[CarlTR6]

Billy Boy

Though the software visionary's net worth rose $13 billion to a whopping $53 billion in the last year, he was ousted from the top of the money bin by Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helu, who took the No. 1 spot on Forbes' billionaire list this year, with a fortune of $53.5 billion.

So? What are you trying to say?

 

[Darryl Licht]

Billy Boy

Though the software visionary's net worth rose $13 billion to a whopping $53 billion in the last year, he was ousted from the top of the money bin by Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helu, who took the No. 1 spot on Forbes' billionaire list this year, with a fortune of $53.5 billion.

Do you really think that is all from the sale of Windows/Office?

Ever hear of the Xbox? Or the Zune???

You really need to get off the "anti MS wagon", or join the Linux or Apple movement.

I'm sure they have forums too! LOL!:roflmao:

 

[cloud8521]

Billy Boy

Though the software visionary's net worth rose $13 billion to a whopping $53 billion in the last year, he was ousted from the top of the money bin by Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helu, who took the No. 1 spot on Forbes' billionaire list this year, with a fortune of $53.5 billion.

Do you really think that is all from the sale of Windows/Office?

Ever hear of the Xbox? Or the Zune???

You really need to get off the "anti MS wagon", or join the Linux or Apple movement.

I'm sure they have forums too! LOL!:roflmao:

movement? more like bandwagon

 

[win7clutz]

It is amazing how bad MS get's trashed here... The same people that are whining 'bout WAT "calling home" are letting their Virus app, Adobe, Winzip, Java, and a long list of other software update daily without question...

Bashing MS is just the favorite past time of the very same people that want to run MS software, legit or not...

 

[Lordbob75]

This was a great thread, thought it is really good I did not find it before he was banned.

Kari, I feel your pain. I was shaking my head in pure amazement.
I could not have been nearly as nice as you...
Congrats on keeping yourself in check.

As for his points:
He was 100% wrong.
About everything.

That's about as nice as I can be.

~Lordbob

 

[Kari]

...
PS - Kari how did you get away with those brutal comments? Are you married to Shawn? LOL!

Brutal? I tried to stay as civilized and polite I could, considering how passionate I hate everything related to piracy.

Anyway, I can see no valid reason to fight WAT; as long as it stays voluntary to install it, every user can and should do as they want to, install or not. When it's forced by Microsoft, the users who do not want it should IMO change to another OS. Free world, free choice.

Very subjective opinion, but I also think the main reason this debate is so heated, not only here but all around the InterWebs, is the fear. It looks like for once the crackers are late, they do not know how and when they are able to crack this.

Some hypothetical questions, from the bottom of my heart, to all those using illegal versions of Windows. Not waiting any answers, really. I've been waiting a thread where this question would not be too much OT:

How come a pirate's mostly custom built state of the art rig can cost a lot, with all the latest GPU's and SSD's and cooling systems and whatever, but the pirate thinks it would be too much to pay hundred bucks or so to get the state of the art OS to go with his pride and joy, The Rig?

I mean, I know my share of pirates and crackers, some of my friends for instance refuse to pay for OS and apps. I'm ashamed to say some of my family members are also software pirates. Some of them pay a lot for an extra fast broadband connection, only to be used for torrent up and downloads. These geeks I know have, without an exception, rigs that cost easily more than my HTPC and laptop together.

So where's the logic? Order €/$/£ 1000+ worth of components, assemble the rig and proudly put 'Self Built' on system specs and then decide 'No, I don't want to pay for Windows!'. Is it because hardware and components are not so easy to steal? Steal only what's easy to get without getting caught?

Like I said, this is more hypothetical reflections of what's going on in my mostly empty head. No need to answer.

Kari, still suffering from insomnia, quite drunk.

EDIT: @Lord of the Bobs, thanks.

 

[Lordbob75]

Brutal? I tried to stay as civilized and polite I could, considering how passionate I hate everything related to piracy.
-----------------
EDIT: @Lord of the Bobs, thanks.

Kari, I agree with all your statements (though I can't say I hate pirates like you do).

In this case, it was not the pirating that bothered me (or made me laugh), it was the guys ignorance and/or arrogance.
I have no idea how he can be THAT ignorant.

I did find it amusing how he managed to ignore ALL the evidence presented to him; that takes work.

In my opinion, they were here for nothing more than a good Troll.
And they did very well too, had us all worked up.

~Lordbob

 

[cloud8521]

...
PS - Kari how did you get away with those brutal comments? Are you married to Shawn? LOL!

Brutal? I tried to stay as civilized and polite I could, considering how passionate I hate everything related to piracy.

Anyway, I can see no valid reason to fight WAT; as long as it stays voluntary to install it, every user can and should do as they want to, install or not. When it's forced by Microsoft, the users who do not want it should IMO change to another OS. Free world, free choice.

Very subjective opinion, but I also think the main reason this debate is so heated, not only here but all around the InterWebs, is the fear. It looks like for once the crackers are late, they do not know how and when they are able to crack this.

Some hypothetical questions, from the bottom of my heart, to all those using illegal versions of Windows. Not waiting any answers, really. I've been waiting a thread where this question would not be too much OT:

How come a pirate's mostly custom built state of the art rig can cost a lot, with all the latest GPU's and SSD's and cooling systems and whatever, but the pirate thinks it would be too much to pay hundred bucks or so to get the state of the art OS to go with his pride and joy, The Rig?

I mean, I know my share of pirates and crackers, some of my friends for instance refuse to pay for OS and apps. I'm ashamed to say some of my family members are also software pirates. Some of them pay a lot for an extra fast broadband connection, only to be used for torrent up and downloads. These geeks I know have, without an exception, rigs that cost easily more than my HTPC and laptop together.

So where's the logic? Order €/$/£ 1000+ worth of components, assemble the rig and proudly put 'Self Built' on system specs and then decide 'No, I don't want to pay for Windows!'. Is it because hardware and components are not so easy to steal? Steal only what's easy to get without getting caught?

Like I said, this is more hypothetical reflections of what's going on in my mostly empty head. No need to answer.

Kari, still suffering from insomnia, quite drunk.

EDIT: @Lord of the Bobs, thanks.

agree with you 100%, but it gets worse, especially with games and it grinds my beans, i keep myself from saying anything because on multiple accounts (different forums) i have been given demerits for being "mean" to the pirates who if they could would steal(probably have) their products too (steam)

 

[Frostmourne]

Installed it on 3 PC's. Glitched on 1. Now running perfectly.

 

[cloud8521]

Installed it on 3 PC's. Glitched on 1. Now running perfectly.

what happened?

 

[Kari]

Brutal? I tried to stay as civilized and polite I could, considering how passionate I hate everything related to piracy.
-----------------
EDIT: @Lord of the Bobs, thanks.

Kari, I agree with all your statements (though I can't say I hate pirates like you do).

In this case, it was not the pirating that bothered me (or made me laugh), it was the guys ignorance and/or arrogance.
I have no idea how he can be THAT ignorant.

I did find it amusing how he managed to ignore ALL the evidence presented to him; that takes work.

In my opinion, they were here for nothing more than a good Troll.
And they did very well too, had us all worked up.

~Lordbob

Very important correction: I do not hate anybody, expect my second wife! I hope I'm right saying I have never said I hate pirates. If I've said so, it's wrong and not true; sometimes I say things I do not mean (I blame the distillers of Talisker and Laphroiag!)

I would like to use this opportunity to make a statement:

[STATEMENT]
I do not hate you, pirate! I hate piracy and things related to it. You are not a thing, you are a human with other ideals as I do.

By clicking the Submit Reply button I hearby declare the above mentioned is my true meaning, as I know it. Nothing less, nothing more.
[/STATEMENT]

Kari

 

[Frostmourne]

Installed it on 3 PC's. Glitched on 1. Now running perfectly.

what happened?

Retail copy complained it wasn't geniune for 3 seconds until I clicked Get Genuine, even though I probably wasn't connected to the internet. The other 2 OEM copies are fine. Now its all smooth.

 

[Lordbob75]

Very important correction: I do not hate anybody, expect my second wife! I hope I'm right saying I have never said I hate pirates. If I've said so, it's wrong and not true; sometimes I say things I do not mean (I blame the distillers of Talisker and Laphroiag!)

My mistake.

That is what I meant.

~Lordbob

 

[CarlTR6]

Anyway, I can see no valid reason to fight WAT; as long as it stays voluntary to install it, every user can and should do as they want to, install or not. When it's forced by Microsoft, the users who do not want it should IMO change to another OS. Free world, free choice.

Very subjective opinion, but I also think the main reason this debate is so heated, not only here but all around the InterWebs, is the fear. It looks like for once the crackers are late, they do not know how and when they are able to crack this.

Some of the members here who do not like the WAT are most definitely not pirates. They simply do not want their computers phoning home. They have nothing to hide; they simply resent an outsider controlling their computer. I fall in to this category.

I have nothing on automatic update. I manually update my anti-virus/anti-malware programs, my firewall as well as my O/S. I pick and choose which Windows updates I download and install.

That said, I installed WAT and let it do its thing. Now I am experimenting with it.

When MS came out with WGA for XP, I had some problems with it. I had to re-validate by phone three different times and my copy of XP Pro was legitimate. I also had a couple of problems with XP updates hosing my system - and it was the updates. Also when WGA was first introduced, MS was collecting a lot more information than they said they were. Therefore, I learned to be very cautious with updates and phoning home.

Unlike Darryl, I do not trust Microsoft, Adobe, Apple, General Motors, Toyota, etc; but not because they are inherently evil. It is because they are made up of people and people are fallible and the corporate agenda may not match my agenda. I do not distrust them either. I simply want to make up my own mind about how I operate my computer and to control what comes in and goes out of it.

The only entity I really and completely distrust is government - but that's another subject!

 

[win7clutz]

Kari-

There could be a good argument made that you can build a decent "work at home box" using Neweeg parts for 'bout $300.00. (Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz, 2 Gig Ram, 250Gig Hardrive, DVD burner, etc.). Then add a $100.00+ for the OS and it seems to me that 25% of the total system cost being the OS seems pretty steep.

Maybe a little more reasonable pricing from MS would go a long way in preventing piracy. Although if the OS was $10.00, there would still be folks trying to steal it just because they can. I'm not trying to justify piracy because of retail pricing, nor do I believe that MS should be a non-profit organization. Just thinking that a little more fairness in pricing would go a long way in controlling the problem.

 

[Kari]

Carl, when saying I can see no valid reason to fight WAT, I do not mean those who fight back are all automatically pirates. I just mean that when it comes to either install it or crack it, calling home four times a year is IMO not reason enough to use a crack to disable it.

That day is, luckily it seems, not yet here. I believe we are going to see this update forced to our computers by Microsoft and when -if- this day comes, the fear for these calls home is not a valid reason to use cracks.

I can understand your point. I've read a lot of your posts, enough to have an opinion of you as an honest man and I think one reason you have already installed it although you recent the principle is that you, too, think this update is going to be forced to us sooner or later, so you decided to deal with it. Get it done, rather than even consider the other means to avoid it.



Kari

 

[CarlTR6]

Carl, when saying I can see no valid reason to fight WAT, I do not mean those who fight back are all automatically pirates. I just mean that when it comes to either install it or crack it, calling home four times a year is IMO not reason enough to use a crack to disable it.

Kari, I agree completely. Unlike WGA which tried to phone home every time I booted up, WAT is quarterly. I blocked WGA with my firewall and let it phone home only a couple of times a year.

MS appears to be very forthright about WAT - unlike thier approach to WGA. That is why I specualte that this volutary thing is test of consumer reaction.

That day is, luckily it seems, not yet here. I believe we are going to see this update forced to our computers by Microsoft and when -if- this day comes, the fear for these calls home is not a valid reason to use cracks.

I feel sure that day will come with SP1. I know that I can block the current version now in several ways if I choose to do so. My firewall is definitely set ask me to let WAT access the internet. Thus it will be my choice.

I can understand your point. I've read a lot of your posts, enough to have an opinion of you as an honest man and I think one reason you have already installed it although you recent the principle is that you, too, think this update is going to be forced to us sooner or later, so you decided to deal with it. Get it done, rather than even consider the other means to avoid it.

Thank you and you are right on target. I decided to get with the program now rather than fight it. I figured it would be a lot easier and quicker to validate now if something went wrong while only a small number of folks are affected rather than wait until WAT is worldwide. Fortunately I had no problem whatsoever.



Kari