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Seems to me one could just turn off auto update (which is a good idea anyway), and download the updates as network admin installs.

I turned auto-update off.

you guys actually connect your windows machines to the internet?

that's just asking for trouble.

being a windows user as well (yes i connect my windows machine to the internet, in fact i'm posting from explorer in win95 right now) i have to ask...... isn't SP2 something that everyone will want to have for increased protection?

i guess what i am wondering is why would people go to great lengths to avoid SP2?

I wonder if this is also a way for MS to attempt to defeat the ubiquitous pirate version of XP that does not require activation.

When I updated to Media Player 10, I noticed that the first download page required that I submit to an online  Windows version confirmation. But then when I clicked to proceed, the next page gave me the option to skipt he version check and proceed with the download. 

IcarusFountain wrote:

MS is also doing that with the beta for their anti-adware program, the whole "let us check your Windows 2k/XP/2k3 for validation" and then in fine print "(validation will henceforth get you faster downloads from MS.  Click here if you want to skip validation and continue to the download)"

As for SP2, the biggest problem I see with it for the average user is that it breaks compatability with many programs (yes, you can download updates to patch things up, but if you're 56k, that's a huge pain).  It also immediately creates that damned firewall that most XP users won't know how to shut off (again, its kind of nice if you're on broadband, but dial-up users will get shafted because they'll have literally no firewall management experience).

I run SP2, but I know how to deal with it and I pre-configured my installation file before I even ran it, so their stupid firewall never came up, and it never tried to manage my Symantec corporate antivirus.

The compatability issue to me is a non issue, just as osX version upgrade, it is part of life as a computer user!

As for MS cracking down on pirate win os, I really do think it is already too late! it might be hard to believe, but in some country over 90% of private computer use pirate os/sw!  I doubt MS will decide to disable millions of computer worldwide, they might decide not let them updated except for security issue!

Last edited by pcguy (2005-02-24 9:01 am)

i'm honestly shocked that microsoft and others haven't done more sooner to stop piracy. i remember getting a pirated version of windows 95 about 10 years ago and i thought to myself "enjoy it while you can because it would be SO easy for microsoft to put a stop to that". now 10 years later, and it's still just as easy to pirate their OS.

while i support microsoft eliminating pirates, i think it would be devastating if microsoft cut off illegal XP users from updates.... imagine 90% of the computers in some countries would be turned in to spam zombies and other nefarious things.

MS has already given us a glimpse of what illegal users of Windows XP (and on) will get: slower download speeds to updates.  They've started (with the beta for their anti-adware program) to request a verification of a system's validation before going to the download section.

Microsoft download page wrote:

This download is available to customers running genuine Microsoft Windows. Please click Continue to begin Windows validation.

...

Microsoft validation page page wrote:

Before obtaining the requested download, please take a moment to validate your genuine Microsoft Windows installation. Validation assures that you are running an authentic and fully-licensed copy of Windows. Validating now will enable faster access to genuine Windows downloads upon future visits to the Download Center. Please see the Why Validate? page to learn more about the Windows Genuine Advantage program and why validation is recommended.

When you select Yes below you will be guided through the short validation process. If you see a Security Warning dialog box from Microsoft, click Yes to install and run the Windows Genuine Validation tool automatically.

Validate Windows and obtain the download
  Yes, please validate Windows and take me to the download. (If an ActiveX dialog box appears, please click Yes.)

  No, do not validate Windows at this time, but take me to the download.

I don't think people deliberately using unlicensed software deserve much sympathy.

But I know that there are plenty of unlicenced copies of XP that were bundled on cheap systems by less than reputable fly-by-night dealers. People caught in this situation should get some slack from MS.

The SP1 install check was easily circumvented, and I imagine there will be a crack to disable MS's online update check as well.

MS will want to keep standalone updates for Windows and Media player available to people who have offline systems.

Keeping IE updated may become a strictly online exercise. The update files are usually very small, and there's less of a point in having an updated IE unless you can get online in the first place.