----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben Ruset" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "The Hardware List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 10:45 AM
Subject: Re: [H] MS gets nosy
So this information, collected involuntarily, causes you to lose sleep?
I am in the Microsoft OEM System Builder Program. I have had to call
Microsoft several times when I had problems authenticating Windows XP on a
name brand computer. In most situations, the computer manufacturer had
entered a Product Key (upon installation) which was different from the
Product Key on their COA. In other situations I had made massive hardware
changes. In one situation the only original hardware I used was the CPU. I
can say from experience, Microsoft is fair. In over 90% of the situations,
Microsoft allowed me to authenticate. I have never had an authentication
problem with a computer I built. I always made sure I used the correct
Product Key, the one on the COA stuck to the Windows Kit and later, affixed
to the computer.
#1. The information sent to Microsoft was not personal, I assume.
#2. I am glad that information was already on file for verification in the
"handshakes" required with Microsoft for authentication of future reinstalls
of Windows XP. This expedited the process and seldom I had to call
Microsoft. Simply put, that information on file at Microsoft is a blessing
to legitimate computer shops and a curse to pirates.
Chuck
