Windows Vista Activation Problems
Windows Vista has had everything but an easy ride since it hit the shelves in January 2007. The operating system was plagued by a luxuriant variety of problems from hardware and software incompatibilities to lack of support and poor performance and reliability.
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23.11.2007 Windows Server activation flaw negates activation requirement
A flaw in how Microsoft Windows Server 2008 calculates the time remaining until it must be activated could enable users to potentially run the server for years before activation. The defect is a consequence of Microsoft failing to assess its virtualization strategy, says an analyst.
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23.2.2009 Microsoft Sued for Xbox 360 Problems
Microsoft has been sued by a Chicago man who bought the company's new Xbox 360 game console over alleged overheating and lockup issues. The suit, which asks for class-action status, accuses Microsoft of rushing to market a flawed system to ensure it beat competitors Sony and Nintendo to the punch.
According to Reuters, the suit seeks damages and litigation related expenses, as well as a replacement or recall of Xbox 360 consoles
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6.12.2005 Microsoft execs saw problems with early Vista
Even some of Microsoft Corp.'s top officials struggled to make Windows Vista work smoothly when it was released, according to internal e-mails released Wednesday.
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28.2.2008 Microsoft Responds To Vista's Network and Audio Problems
With the discovery last week of the connection between Vista's poor networking performance and audio activities, word quickly spread around the Net. No doubt this got Microsoft's attention, and they have responded to the issue. Thanks to pacpis for this news.
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27.8.2007 Microsoft Confirms That Its Secret Alterations of Windows Generate Problems
Microsoft has been modifying files in the Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems without the knowledge or consent of the users that have acquired the products in good faith.
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28.9.2007 What do Xbox Live problems say about Microsoft’s back-end infrastructure?
Whether you think the recently proposed class action lawsuit over Xbox Live service holiday outages is crazy or justified, there are undeniable problems with Microsoft’s back-end Live infrastructure that Microsoft needs to address.
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7.1.2008 Microsoft allows bypass of Vista activation
Microsoft has built into Vista a function that allows anyone to extend the operating system's activation deadline not just three times, but many times. The same one-line command that postpones Vista's activation deadline to 120 days can be used an indefinite number of times by first changing a Registry key from 0 to 1.
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16.3.2007 iPod Nano May Have Some Big problems
What some analysts have billed as the "top MP3 player this fall" may have just hit a potentially damaging roadblock - its own frailty.
Complaints have begun to circle on both Web logs and Apple's own support forums surrounding an issue with the polycarbonate plastic that covers the front of the iPod Nano. Some users claim the player scratches extremely easily, enough that it makes the screen difficult to read.
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iPod, iTunes Have Problems with Vista
If you have an iPod, and plan to install Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system, Apple has one word of advice for you: don't.
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4.2.2007 E-mail from Microsoft: NO VISTA ACTIVATION REQUIRED
Microsoft has written to many 'concerned' users, about the activation in Vista Build 5342.
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31.3.2006 Quick Fixes for Five Nasty Vista Problems
Cool, it Works! One of the most common gripes we've seen in message boards all around the Internet involve users not being able to install AMD's Cool & Quiet drivers on Windows Vista, and therefore not getting the power saving effect.
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19.3.2007 Quick Fixes for Five Nasty Vista Problems
Cool, it Works! One of the most common gripes we've seen in message boards all around the Internet involve users not being able to install AMD's Cool & Quiet drivers on Windows Vista, and therefore not getting the power saving effect. AMD's driver Web pages only contain C&Q drivers for Windows XP.
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23.3.2007 Windows Vista Interface Causes Problems For Consumers
Windows Vista Interface Causes Problems For Consumers, Support Firm Says. Navigating Windows Vista's Aero user interface is a big problem for many consumers learning Microsoft's 6-month-old operating system, a technical support company said Thursday. Thanks to pacpis for this news.
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13.7.2007 Vista SP1 Has Driver Compatibility Problems? Do Tell!
Ever since February 4, 2008, the day Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 were released to manufacturing, Microsoft made a move indicating that it was not entirely comfortable to release Vista SP1.
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4.3.2008 Five Vista perception problems Windows 7 must overcome
Wide Angle Zoom You can just feel Apple getting ready with a new slate of "I'm a Mac" ads featuring Windows 7. They'll have to roll off Microsoft like Teflon.
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29.5.2009 Windows Vista: Betas show potential and problems
Windows Vista shows a lot of promise. With beta 2 of Microsoft's much anticipated operating system nearly ready to be released to the public, users will soon have the ability to judge for themselves how Microsoft's next generation operating system is coming along.
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19.5.2006 Nvidia’s High-End Chipset Under Fire for Problems
Nvidia Corp., a leading designer of graphics processor and core-logic sets, is about to face criticism from enthusiasts for the problems that occur with the company’s latest premium-class chipset.
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16.12.2006 XP SP3 Download Still Live Despite Widespread Problems
Downloads of Windows XP SP3 are still live and they’re going to remain this way, despite widespread problems.
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12.5.2008 Resolve Vista SP2 Sound Problems Automatically
Microsoft is making it easy for users running Windows Vista Service Pack 2, but also SP1, to resolve sound problems affecting the operating system after the deployment of a service pack.
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15.6.2009 Microsoft third-party licensing and activation server set to RTM
In July, Microsoft announced its intentions to deliver a number of licensing technologies to third-party vendors interesting in deploying Microsoft-like activation and licensing in their products.
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3.9.2007 Tech problems hit Xbox Live video service
True on-demand TV has been a long promised dream of many, and that dream appeared to move closer this week when Microsoft launched its Video Marketplace service.
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26.11.2006 Common Errors and Problems when Activating Windows Vista with KMS Server
Windows Vista Business edition and Windows Vista Enterprise edition can be activated by using a corporate KMS (Key Management Service) server, without contact or communicate with Microsoft.
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14.12.2006 Early Vista SP1 64-bit installs causing new problems?
An iTWire journo by the name of Alex has found yet another Vista SP1 issue to bitch about, this time it's the x64 version and early reports are pointing to several problems.
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25.2.2008 Microsoft Office 2010 Volume License Product Key (VLK) Requires KMS or MAK for Activation
Volume licensing customers for Microsoft Office 2010 suites and applications who install volume editions of Office client software will require activation, even with a volume license key (VLK).
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26.8.2009 Remove and Uninstall Microsoft Office Activation Assistant - Fix Office Must Be Installed Error
On most OEM computers running Microsoft Windows operating system, regardless of it’s a desktop, notebook or laptop PC, now comes with pre-loaded trial version of Microsoft Office 2007, primarily Home and Student Edition, which is a time-limited product for evaluation if use without proper activation.
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17.8.2008 Windows VISTA Activation!
This small program allow us to activate the 30 day 's trial of windows Vista, Vista is well known for its "High Security" ( as microsoft said).
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1.1.2006 Office 2007 activation
A lot of people are searching for some solutions, for example "How activate Office 2007?" or "How to crack Office 2007". I will prepare the most searching phrases to discuss.
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7.1.2007 OneCare Activation Explained
Our customers have a lot of questions about OneCare activation and want to know exactly what it is all about. We commonly hear feedback from customers who say that activation is only for the purposes of adding a second PC, but it is much more than that.
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26.5.2007 IE Automatic Component Activation Now Available
Jefferson Fletcher: The IE Automatic Component Activation (IE ACA) update is now available as part of the April 2008 Internet Explorer Cumulative Update.
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9.4.2008Microsoft changes 'Windows Genuine Advantage' name
Microsoft will be changing to name of it's activation and validation system from "Windows Genuine Advantage" to "Windows Activation
Technologies" according to a report by Mary-Jo Foley. However, the "Genuine" brand isn't completely disappearing. A press release states that
Microsoft will continue to deliver genuine updates and notifications for XP users. The program has been criticized for its punishment tactics and
false-positive results, even though Microsoft has fixed some of these problems in Vista SP1. According to Microsoft, Windows 7's activation will
be built on the same software protection platform that was part of Vista, with some minor tweaks made for Windows 7.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
08.05.2009Windows Server activation flaw negates activation requirement
A flaw in how Microsoft Windows Server 2008 calculates the time remaining until it must be activated could enable users to potentially run the server
for years before activation. The defect is a consequence of Microsoft failing to assess its virtualization strategy, says an analyst...
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18.02.2009Hackers Find New Vista Activation Crack
With all the talk about
Microsoft's stepped up
efforts to curb piracy through
Vista's new activation
methods, it may all be for
naught after some crafty
hackers figured out a way to
crack the Vista Activation
Server...
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09.12.2006Activation problems delay sales during iPhone 3G premiere
Customers at Apple Stores across the country were told to wait, as it appeared that Apple's iTunes system it is using to activate the iPhones on
AT&Ts network crashed...
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11.07.2008The Windows Vista Activation Forum
Do you have questions or issues regarding Windows Vista Activation? Then the
Windows Vista Activation forum is the thing
for you. The forum offers a new dedicated resource to assist in answering both technical and licensing questions regarding MAK, VAMT, KMS, planning,
deployment, operations and other aspects of Volume Licensing Activation v 2.0 in Windows Vista.
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23.09.2008iTunes, activation outages are rendering new and old iPhones problematic
BetaNews correspondents in Maryland and Michigan are seeing first-hand problems as a result of significant system outages affecting both AT&T and
iTunes. Many buyers still can't activate their phones...
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11.07.2008Official Way to Use Vista without Activation 120 Days
Official Way to Install and
Use Windows Vista without
Activation for Free for 120
Days
By default,
Windows Vista can be
installed, used and run
without any license, product
key or the need of activation
for 30 days grace period, for
purpose of trial or
evaluation. Although Microsoft
initially stressed that users
should purchase a license with
valid product key before the
trial period expires, or else
Windows Vista will lock into
Reduced Functionality Mode.
However, a "rearm" method
has long since been discovered
to be able to extend, or reset
the remaining time for
activation to another fresh 30
days, for up to 3 times.
Now Microsoft has
confirmed that Windows Vista
can be used and run for 120
days or 4 months ( 3
rearms ), and extending the
activation grace period is not
a violation of the Vista End
User License Agreement (EULA).
All versions of Vista include
Windows Vista Ultimate allow a
30-day free period without
activation, except the
corporate-oriented Vista
Enterprise, which supports
only a three-day trial.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
22.02.2007iTunes, activation outages are rendering new and old iPhones inoperable
UPDATED BetaNews correspondents in Maryland and Michigan are seeing first-hand problems as a result of significant system outages affecting
both AT&T and iTunes. Many buyers still can't activate their phones hours later...
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12.07.2008Microsoft to ease XP activation with SP3
Microsoft Corp. will change how users activate Windows XP when Service Pack 3 launches in the first half of 2008, a company white paper said.
New installations of Windows XP SP3 will give users the same 30-day grace period currently offered to Windows Vista customers before they're
required to enter a product activation key, the 25-character code that proves the copy is legitimate.
Read full story.....
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28.12.2007London Launch of IPhone 3G Marred by Software Problems
Software problems marred the launch of the iPhone 3G at Apple's flagship store in London, where customers had difficulty activating their new
phones. Apple has an exclusive deal with network operator O2 in the U.K. -- but O2's web-based activation system requires the use of
Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser to register a new phone: It won't work with the Safari browser bundled in Apple's Mac OS X.
In its Regent Street store, Apple had installed VMware Fusion desktop virtualization software on some of its Macintosh computers, allowing them to
run Internet Explorer on Windows, but the activation process was still not working. "It just goes dead," said would-be customer Mark Phipps, who
left the store frustrated and without an iPhone 3G.
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11.07.2008Product Activation for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
All editions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 are required to complete activation within the first 30 days of use. This bulletin helps
customers and partners better understand the technologies used by product activation for editions distributed through retail, original equipment
manufacturer, and volume licensing channels. Also discussed is how the hardware hash component of the installation ID is created and the scenarios in
which a copy of Windows may have to be re-activated due to a substantial hardware modification.
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07.11.2007Vista, Acronis TrueImage 11 and GRUB Error 22
Jonathan Schlaffer: Those of you with Vista know that there can be boot problems after you have cloned your existing installation to a faster or
larger hard drive (it works best when its both). And, sometimes after cloning, there can be
activation issues as well
which I have encountered in the past.
Some say those issues are gone due to updates to the way WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage)
works in Vista but Microsoft should rename their DRM protection system to Windows Genuine Annoyance.
These problems did not exist
under XP but it appears that Vista places undue importance on the hard drive when deciding whether or not to deactivate itself. I am aware that SP1
changes the way WGA works slightly but that cannot change what has happened in the past.
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25.12.2007iPhone Activation and Syncing Video
Besides announcing rate plans
today, Apple
has
also posted a video
demonstrating how to activate
and sync the iPhone.
The iPhone is activated
through iTunes. Activation
works for both existing and
new AT&T customers, and allows
users to transfer their
existing phone number to the
iPhone.
The syncing
portion of the video
demonstrates how to sync email
accounts, address, safari
bookmarks and more...
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27.06.2007iPhone 3G launches to huge crowds around the world
At 8am, the iPhone 3G officially went on sale across the US following launches in Europe and Asia. Crowds in the hundreds showed up before dawn at
Apple and AT&T stores, but activation problems stalled lines shortly after 9am...
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11.07.2008Volume Activation 2.0: Another Potential Vista Gotcha?
Windows Genuine Advantage
(WGA) isn't the only
Microsoft anti-piracy scheme
that might raise the hackles
of future Vista customers.
Volume Activation 2.0 is
worrying some Vista testers
who've had a chance to dabble
with early versions of that
technology.
Potential false positives -
Microsoft labeling legitimate
copies of Windows as
"pirated" - akin to those
which have been documented in
WGA by Windows expert Ed Bott
and others, are just one
problem business users are
anticipating with Volume
Activation 2.0. Increased
costs resulting from the
management of Volume
Activation systems is another,
they say.
For those
who've yet to hear about it,
Volume Activation is a new
digital-license activation
technology aimed at
businesses. It's part of the
larger "Software Protection
Platform" that Microsoft is
constructing to combat piracy.
In short, Microsoft is not
going to allow enterprises to
operate on an honor system,
when it comes to proving how
many copies of Windows
they've paid to license. Just
like it does with individual
Windows users, Microsoft is
going to start requiring
companies to authenticate
their new versions of Windows
within 30 days of
installing.
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03.10.2006Microsoft releases activation exploit detection update
Microsoft has released an update for Windows Vista designed to detect activation exploits that bypass product activation and that interfere with usual
Windows operation. This update is tagged as KB940510.
According to Microsoft "when the update is installed, no functionality of your
operating system will be affected. If no exploits are detected, the update silently exits. If exploits are detected, you will be provided a link to a
Web site that describes how you can remove the exploits. When the exploits are removed, you may be asked to use a valid product key to activate your
copy of Windows. If you do not want to remove the exploits, Windows may disable the exploits and then ask you to use a valid product key to activate
Windows."
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27.02.2008Microsoft Responds to Reported OEM BIOS Hacks
The WGA team have finally
provided a written response to
the reported OEM BIOS Hacks
regarding Vista:
I
know many of you are aware of
reports of hacks that attempt
to exploit our OEM BIOS based
activation. We're aware of
this type of hack and I wanted
to take a minute to describe
how these work and how we plan
to respond.
First, what is OEM BIOS
based activation?
Here's a little more
information on how OEM BIOS
based activation works. This
form of product activation is
also known as OEM Activation
or just OA, which is how
Microsoft refers to it and how
I will refer to it in this
post. Back at the launch of
Windows XP when Microsoft
introduced Windows Product
Activation, we recognized that
as easy as end-user activation
is, it still represented an
extra step.
neowin.net -
12.04.2007Microsoft: 10 Vista Activations
Spotted this over at Bit-Tech
earlier today:
"A Microsoft
spokesman... told us that
Windows Vista will not require
a system re-activation unless
the hard drive and one other
component is changed. This
means that enthusiasts will be
able to swap CPUs, memory and
graphics cards out without any
worry about having to
re-activate with MS, either on
the internet or by phone.
Should you change the
hard drive and another piece
of hardware - for example for
a major upgrade such as a
motherboard change that
requires a re-installation -
Microsoft will allow you to
re-activate up to 10 times.
You will not, however, be able
to have more than one machine
activated
concurrently."
This could pose some serious
problems for enthusiasts that
are constantly switching rigs
or components around. Although
Microsoft reserves the right
to allow more than 10
activations per copy, the
bit-tech folks believe keeping
a base 'activated' image of
Vista might save some
headaches down the road.
Update: Yes,
the article is rather vague
but does raise some
interesting issues. Most
importantly, what does
Microsoft consider a
re-activation to be? According
to the article you wont have
to 're-activate' a copy of
Vista unless you change the
hard drive and an
additional component. If I
simply reformat my existing
Vista PC and run the
activation wizard, will I have
used up one of my ten
activations?
neowin.net -
26.10.2006Another Vista Activation Crack Appears
Buzz about a Windows Vista
zero-day vulnerability is
troubling enough (although
probably overblown). Now,
there appears to be a second
product activation hack, this
one designed to fool the
activation timer into not
counting down. The activation
hack is quite different from
the first one, which involved
setting up a Key Management
Service server. Microsoft also
released an update blocking
hybrid testing/final Vista
"Monster" code that could
bypass product activation.
"Recently it has been
reported that activation of
Microsoft's Windows Vista
operating system has been
compromised," a Microsoft
spokesperson said in a
statement in response to a
Microsoft Watch inquiry.
"Microsoft is investigating
this reported activation
breach; however, there is no
concrete evidence that this
breach has been automated to
the point that it is widely
deployable." The not "widely
deployable" statement, while
likely true, isn't denial of
an actual activation breach.
I've read
instructions, which I won't
link to, and comments from
people successfully trying the
so-called Time Stopper hack; I
haven't tested it and
wouldn't because of possible
security breach when applying
a downloaded crack as part of
the process. As the Microsoft
spokesperson acknowledged,
there are reports about the
crack, which requires setting
a computer's BIOS clock to
2099. The hack does work on
32-bit Windows Vista
installations but not
necessarily 64-bit versions.
The process requires some
other Windows changes and
eventual clock reset from
within Vista leading to a
perpetual state of 30 days to
activation.
neowin.net -
28.12.2006IE Automatic Component Activation Now Available
Jefferson Fletcher: The IE Automatic Component Activation (IE ACA) update is now available as part of the
April 2008 Internet Explorer Cumulative Update. The
"click to activate" behavior, formerly required for ActiveX controls embedded in some webpages, is now permanently removed from Internet Explorer.
For detailed information on IE ACA, see our
blog
post from last November announcing this update.
This update replaces the IE ACA previews released in December 2007 and February
2008.
neowin.net -
09.04.2008
