I heard a rumor that microsoft has a back door to get into people's computers with xp and make sure they have real registered copies...
Is that true?

So what happenes if someone has a copy of windows XP installed?

I heard a lot of rumors but doesn't anyone really know about this subject?
thanks
Noam

Um...if you get the new Windows Media Player Patch, you're agreeing to let them take what they want from your computer :(

But...that shouldn't happen. It's a rumor. Just like the activation on SP1.

do you really need microsoft to freeze windows? i find windows does that little job just fine on it's own :)

Its all just rumours of what will and won't be included in the service pack when it gets released shortly. It's looking likely that if your using one of the leaked corporate keys you won't be able to use Windows update anymore.

Other options include, somewhat extreme option of freezing windows until the user enters a new license code. Its also rumoured they may include a 'call back' option so your PC transmits its license code to MS at random times and they check its valid etc.

The final option which 99% of the IT industry are unhappy about was to release a new license key to everyone with an original license when the service pack gets installed. Problem here is thousands of large businesses would have a nightmare updating their systems which could help pursaude them to try linux, something MS is woried about.

Most likely option, unable to update Windows using windows update.

Basicly it's the "FCKGW" Pro corp key that they are gunning for.

I would not download the media player update even if you paid me. As I keep telling members, if you are worried about all the spyware within Windows XP (And IMHO you should be even if you feel that you have nothing to hide) download XP-Antispy V3.51 which is a FREE download from http://www.xp-antispy.de/ You can stop/block anything you want with it. When you see the list of spyware on the GUI you will realise you have done the right thing. http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/4/eek.gif

Originally posted by Lazza
Basicly it's the "FCKGW" Pro corp key that they are gunning for.......

Oop....I know someone with that one!

How does one get rid of Windows Media Player anyway.....?

i heard it was the media player update so be warned

Look at www.theregister.co.uk there's loads of aticles on there about it. One today which shows MS aren't being that harsh with the release of the XP service pack as they could be.

I did'nt know about the media player update. I've allready downloaded it.
i checked it's id number & you can't uninstall it.
i've downloaded the xp anti spy. will this make a difference or is there a way to uninstall it.

The way I see it (IMHO) if/when MS sells enough to cover its cost's the rest is a bonus, hmm bonus, well yes, because if youve got an MS based OS then youve not got another or a competitor of MS on your PC.. As the captain says, why not just stop the updates.. the end user is happy, well almost, bill gates is happy, all his competitors are pi$$ed off. monopoly without even trying... ahh business is business, try arguing that in court

OOps forgot the question, imagine the legal fallout if a PC was incorrectly frozen, although doing it would be easy enough, do a search on the reg key and then delete it if it matches the carrier file, some ppl would also call this a virus.. gordon bennett its getting political again he he he:round:

It would cost them too much legally. Some lawyer firm would probably claim that the computer crashed illegally due to it incorrectly identifying it's OS as a copy. Knowing our compo culture they'd probably sue for millions. A bug is one thing. Code written purely to destroy something that goes wrong carries culpability.

MS isn't going to do anything to anybody, the only difference in the SP1 is that it blocks the FCKGW key on regular installs, and has a new activation key algorithm for slipstreamed installs.

The only thing people need to worry about, if u even want to call it worrying, is make sure you're not using the FCKGW key.

If you are, there's a keygen, don't ask me where, it's easy to find. Someone will probably crack the final sp1 install anyway.

So I don't see what the big deal is here.

[Lazza, there isn't any spyware in XP except for Alexa in IE6 which is used to gather related links if you have that option active]

Hmmm, I'll have to try to hunt down that keygen then......