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Old 08-17-2008, 09:23 PM  
eroticsexxx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by d-null View Post
thanks for your expertise eroticsexxx in this thread and others, appreciated

is there a problem with that 'copy protection' windows verification update crap if you try to do it that way with other disks on other hardware? (I forget the exact name they had for it, but I'm talking about the online based verifiction system they had where it somehow determines that your windows install is not legit)
There is some good info about the way Windows product activation works in this article.

Basically the system checks and logs the following:
* Display Adapter
* SCSI Adapter (if present)
* IDE Adapter (effectively the motherboard)
* Network Adapter (NIC) and its MAC Address
* RAM Amount Range (i.e., 0-64mb, 64-128mb, etc.)
* Processor Type
* Processor Serial Number
* Hard Drive Device
* Hard Drive Volume Serial Number (VSN)
* CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVD-ROM

this information is serialized, sent to MS and a code is returned and stored on your PC. IF anything changes the algorithm doesn't add up and it asks you to reactivate.

I've used the same hard drive and copy of Windows on several PC's at random times over the years (activation and all), but recently they have clamped down a bit (re: the experience in my last post). There isn't a problem, per se, but more of an inconvenience in the way that you must activate the hardware if need be.

Microsoft doesn't seem to realize that the future of computing lies in being able to take programs and files effortlessly from device to device, which obviously means taking the OS too, especially when it comes to virtualization technologies. MS is catching on, but far too slowly to stem the tide of Linux and Apple.
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Last edited by eroticsexxx; 08-17-2008 at 09:26 PM..
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