Lesson learned: don't tell the truth!

*Rant*
so i am having some computer problems with my work computer. i am running Windows XP and when doing a scan it found a strange file which i deleted as usual. but then my windows explorer decided it wouldn't run. so the computer is now clean and functional except i have no desktop or windows explorer (not internet explorer :D).

so i went onto a computer help forum that has helped me in the past with this computer. i posted my problem and then a Hijack This log (apparently this log tells them everything they need to know about whats goin on in your computer, though i don't understand it ;)).

the person who decided to help me first suggested some simple things i had already tried and then after getting me to do the Hijack This log asked what registry i was using. i explained that i got the computer for free and that it is old and came with no windows CDs or key numbers, so when i had a problem before (where i had to format the computer) i had to use a corporate version of windows that i found on the internet. i would have gladly used a real copy, but i don't have an extra $130 to spend on a real copy for a computer that is 6 years old and worth nothing.

so the moderator posts this:
"Well unfortunately this means your operating system is not genuine and we do not support or condone the use of pirated software.

I have no choice but to close this thread as we don't assist in these situations."

i realise that they can't condone pirating, but it really ticked me off. as soon as the guy saw my Hijack This log he knew what type of windows i had he was just waiting for me to post it so he could close the thread. i have posted Hijack This log from this computer before and never had a problem.

am i wrong to be mad? should i have lied?

PS i know pirating is a touchy subject and in no way want to start a thread about it. i don't condone it but felt i had no choice under the circumstances. my other computers all have genuine copies of windows and i actually went out to buy a copy of XP for this one and realized no one carries it anymore, and i won't go to Vista.

Really man... you should get a Mac! ;)

the forum guy was just following the CYA principle. good luck finding a copy of xp, the only place i know that you can get them is MSDN, but that's not worth the price for just windows.

on an interesting side note, if you buy a used computer and there is a copy of windows on it, it is NOT a legal copy. the windows license doesn't automatically transfer when you sell the computer. i think this is a stupid rule, but if you read the fine print, it's still a rule.

hooray for msdn subscriptions!

Ubuntu is free.

In situations like that I always feel that less is more. Half truths are still truths. Don't elaborate. If asked a specific question answer it specifically.

Q: What Registry are you using?
A: Oh, I am not sure, how do I find that?
Q: Go here and here.
A: Oh I am using X

The more stupid you act and let others feel superior, the better the end result. It works all the time. If you only knew the amount of information that I received on a daily basis just by acting stupid on phone calls, emails, letters, etc. It would knock you over.

I bet you can get a copy in Asia for about $2.

I think ubuntu would be a good choice too.

If you really want to legitimize your xp copy.. btw.. windows 07 runs better than xp on old hardware. But, since it is still in beta, i wouldnt mess with it. Based on my experience with microsoft, once beta is over you wont be able to just "upgrade" to the full retail version.


windows xp oem, Computers Networking, Electronics items on eBay.com

pull a new logfile and go to the automated tool.
Enter it, analyze and do what you have to.
Anyway, the file should still be in your trash. Can you restore from there?

i really like ubuntu. i ran it on ly laptop for 3 years with good success, but i found that i was not knowledgeable enough to do some things, and considering that no one that i know uses ubuntu (my friend that set me up with linux moved to Calgary :(). going from windows to ubuntu can be kind of a pain sometimes also. also i run a point of sale program on my work computer that would be tricky to set up in linux considering the drivers needed, plus i suck ;)

i figured things out by just reinstalling windows without formatting (i think that was what the option was). everything is working now except for my receipt printer which is being a &^%$#. there was probably an easier way to do it but this way worked out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chee16

*Rant*

so the moderator posts this:
"Well unfortunately this means your operating system is not genuine and we do not support or condone the use of pirated software.

I have no choice but to close this thread as we don't assist in these situations."

i realise that they can't condone pirating, but it really ticked me off. as soon as the guy saw my Hijack This log he knew what type of windows i had he was just waiting for me to post it so he could close the thread. i have posted Hijack This log from this computer before and never had a problem.

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Sorry, but no. He was not waiting for you to post what you did, and I am pretty sure he would't have known from your logfile.
What he probably wanted to know was whether you were using XP Home or professional, or whatever. That fact that you found your copy of XP on the internet was irrelevant, and he'd never have known.

Since you publicly posted that you used a pirated copy, the moderator really had no choice but to close the thread.

They really can't afford the image of them condoning piracy. Helping you with your pirated copy (or providing the means for others to help you) could land them in serious trouble. They really had no choice once you mentioned it.

Good old Micro$oft. Making life difficult for legitimate users while the real pirates laugh their socks off.

Imagine if MS made a hammer. You would only be licenced to use it on certain types of nails. You couldn't lend it to a friend. If the handle came loose and you repaired it you would have to revalidate your licence before continuing to use it.

I've looked into copies of windows on the net when my hard drive crashed which had an oem installation on it and I did not have a copy of windows on a cd or something. A lot of times the copy you do get has files in it that would show up as viruses or parts of a virus but they are needed in order for the program to run. Maybe that's what happened to yours? Was that the first scan you did on it? Do you use the computer to get on the internet? I've heard that microsoft will shut you down over the net if you are running pirated software.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rajagra

Good old Micro$oft. Making life difficult for legitimate users while the real pirates laugh their socks off.

Imagine if MS made a hammer. You would only be licenced to use it on certain types of nails. You couldn't lend it to a friend. If the handle came loose and you repaired it you would have to revalidate your licence before continuing to use it.

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Not to be an apologist, but there are tools like that.
There are some specialty machine tools that you have to license, and one of the terms in the license is that you cannot use the tool to make a replica of itself.

What MS is doing is no diferent from what most other companies do. The only difference is that in this case, it's you personally who is inconvenienced.
Apple does much the same, and sometimes even worse.
IBM, autocad, sun, ... they all play the same game.

If I look at the licensing terms of our process control system, it makes Microsoft look like naive choirboys who flunked 'license extortion 101'.
Again, not to be an apologist, but they are really no different from others, or even very good at it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bruno

Sorry, but no. He was not waiting for you to post what you did, and I am pretty sure he would't have known from your logfile.
What he probably wanted to know was whether you were using XP Home or professional, or whatever. That fact that you found your copy of XP on the internet was irrelevant, and he'd never have known.

Since you publicly posted that you used a pirated copy, the moderator really had no choice but to close the thread.

They really can't afford the image of them condoning piracy. Helping you with your pirated copy (or providing the means for others to help you) could land them in serious trouble. They really had no choice once you mentioned it.

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+1, exactly.

I know you think you didn't do anything wrong, and therefore you should be able to just tell the truth, and in some people's opinions, maybe you really didn't do anything wrong, but the fact is, by law, the software you are using is considered stolen, and they just can't condone that.

Also imo it is better that a license is tied to a user rather than a specific piece of hardware.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jockeys

if you buy a used computer and there is a copy of windows on it, it is NOT a legal copy.

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MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION (RETAIL) END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR MICROSOFT SOFTWARE

Quote:

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The initial user of the Software may make a one-time permanent transfer of this EULA and Software to another end user

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Of course that's no help if you weren't given the activation code. :(

Having gotten used to Linux I would be really bummed out if I had to use windows. I have a dual boot at home so I can go into XP for certain things but K-Ubuntu at home and Mint at work are just so much better IME.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rajagra

MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION (RETAIL) END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR MICROSOFT SOFTWARE


Of course that's no help if you weren't given the activation code. :(

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never used the home edition, only the pro edition, which is nontransferable. thanks for the heads up.

i appreciate all the posts and the clarifications on what the moderator had to do. i can definitely appreciate the situation that he/she was in, i guess i was just really put off by being left hanging with a problem i couldn't fix.

so is there any way to buy a key code for XP to validate a copy? i can't find a place to buy XP pro anymore as everything seems to be vista, so could i just find a copy and get a valid key? it would make sense for them to do this but i know that they are much more likely to promote Vista then let people keep going on with XP.

i think i got myself fixed up though. i did a reinstall of windows without formatting. so i can now access the files i need still but i have a working copy of windows. the only problem is that my receipt printer won't work now.

this pirate has some figuring to do :rofl2:

Well the correct way would be buying a copy of Vista and get a downgrade permit from Microsoft (Since your company has a network that runs on XP only :p).
The more practical way is to leave everything as it is.

Actually they are very lenient on letting you use it again and again. At least I've had no problems getting my licenses unlocked from its hardware.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chee16

i appreciate all the posts and the clarifications on what the moderator had to do. i can definitely appreciate the situation that he/she was in, i guess i was just really put off by being left hanging with a problem i couldn't fix.

so is there any way to buy a key code for XP to validate a copy? i can't find a place to buy XP pro anymore as everything seems to be vista, so could i just find a copy and get a valid key? it would make sense for them to do this but i know that they are much more likely to promote Vista then let people keep going on with XP.

i think i got myself fixed up though. i did a reinstall of windows without formatting. so i can now access the files i need still but i have a working copy of windows. the only problem is that my receipt printer won't work now.

this pirate has some figuring to do :rofl2:

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You can prolly buy one, but it would likely cost you the same price as a cd.

I think your best option would just be to burn your copy of xp (make sure its a bootable image and test to make sure the cd boots right), copy all the files you need off your hard disk and do a full reinstall. After a problem like you've had windows really can't be trusted to work right, it will continually have odd, annoying problems like you're experiencing now.

Oh, make sure you make a list of all your hardware. I reinstalled recently with a newer version of xp and it didn't recognize some of my computers hardware that it had previously recognized.

You can get a copy from fry ' s electronics at frys . com for 200 bucks. Home or Pro with sp2.