I got this e-mail via the Codeweavers Crossover Office mail list. It's just one more of the MANY reasons to get as far away from Micro$oft as humanly possible!
Ed -----Original Message----- From: Arthur van Dorp [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 6:45 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Discuss] New validation for MS Downloads Hi all Microsoft is beta-testing a new validation process for downloads which could become mandatory. This could become quite a problem for CXOffice when trying to install things like DCOM95 and IE. More info here: http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/FAQ.aspx The important parts: > Q. What is validation? > > A. Validation is a short process that enables you to verify that your > copy of Windows is genuine. You will be prompted to complete the > validation process if you request a download of genuine Microsoft > software from the Microsoft Download Center. If you choose not to > validate your software, you may still obtain your requested download. > However, validating now enables faster access to the Download Center > in the future when validation may be required. During the validation > process Microsoft does not collect any information that can be used > to identify you or contact you. > > Q. Do all Windows users need to validate in order to obtain genuine > Windows downloads, or is validation limited to particular versions of > Windows? > > A. Validation is currently recommended, but not required. Should it > become required in the future, only users of Windows XP and Windows > 2000 customers (client, not server) will be required to validate. > Genuine Windows downloads will continue to be available, without > validation, to customers running Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows > Server 2003, and Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 3. However, > customers running the following versions of Windows will not be able > to access genuine Windows downloads because they are incompatible > with the validation process: Windows 95, NT 4.0 with Service Pack 2 > and earlier, and non-Microsoft operating systems. > > Q. Will the validation process work with non-Microsoft Web browsers? > > A. Yes, you can complete the validation process using a non-Microsoft > Web browser. Mozilla Firefox users: although the instructions for the > validation tool executable file say to open or run the file from its > current location, Firefox will not present you with either of those > options. Instead, save the file to your PC and then double-click on > the file to run it. [...] > Q. What information is collected from my machine? > > A. The genuine validation process will collect information about your > system, such as Windows product key, PC manufacturer, and operating > system version, to determine if Windows is genuine. This process does > not collect or send any information that can be used to identify you > or contact you. The complete list of information collected in the > validation process is shown below: > > Data Value Usage > OEM product key Web page flow, confirm user input, > demographics > PC Manufacturer Web page flow, confirm user input, > demographics > OS version Demographics > PID/SID Demographics > BIOS info(make, ver, date) Web page flow, confirm user input, > demographics > BIOS MD5 Checksum Demographics > > The genuine Windows validation process uses this information only to > determine if your copy of Windows is genuine. The process does not > collect or send any information that can be used to identify or > contact you. I think my product key, the OS Version and my BIOS MD5 together make my computer uniquely identifiable, you only once have to combine it with contact info and it can be used to identify myself. Oh well... Arthur _______________________________________________ discuss mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://crossover.codeweavers.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss This email, including any attached files, may contain confidential and privileged information. Any review, use, distribution or disclosure of included information by unintended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you are not a named recipient or authorized to receive and / or act on information sent to a named recipient, or have reason to believe you are not or should not be one of the named recipients, please notify sender accordingly by reply email and delete all copies of this message prior to forwarding, copying or otherwise reproducing this message or attachments thereto. For information regarding the export control status of items discussed in this document, please refer to the project control list. Thank you.
