> > But any smart software, be it written by MS or any other vendor,
> > should have no trouble in turning it back on! I even bet there will be an
> At the BIOS level, though? Wouldn't that at least require a reboot to
> reinitialize it?
No. I've written code to run in protected mode for hardware
diagnostics, etc. Even things as drastic as protection mode
don't need rebooting. It is just a bit on some control register. You
don't have to go through the bios or OS to turn the bit on or off.
Bios is Basic Input Output System. Nothing to do with protected mode.
It just simplifies the I/O by providing standardized firmware routines to
handle the stuff. Many applications bypass it completely and muck with
video, IO ports, etc. directly. And when they end, the operating system
just resumes.
> True, Windoze could do it quietly at boot, but once you passed the
> initialization stage you'd have to go back and reboot for changes to
> take effect, no?
No.
I don't what mode the instruction to turn it on or off runs in. If
it is a protected mode instruction, then it would be harder to do, but not
impossible. I think the first question we need to ask, is whether we
trust the operating system. Ask yourself the following questions:
Does the OS manufacturers see any benefit from providing the serial
number to other applications? (As in, does the OS manufacturer want to
know whether the applications running on the same CPU they were licensed
for installation under, or are they being used on a different, unlicensed,
CPU?)
Is it beneficial for the OS vendor to verify and send license
compliance (or marketing) data to the Application vendor's site. (Isn't
that an MS before both Windows, Word, Internet Exploder, etc.? Hmmm...)
Is there prior evidence the OS vendor has obtained and sent marketing
relevant data to it's own site? (See Computer Risks Digest, article about
someone with a packet sniffer during MS registration of Windows 95....
Claims all kinds of data on his system was sent to MS!)
> Would seem we need a system tray icon to sit down there next to ICQ and
> the modem monitor and the sound . . . "your P# is ON!" :0
Never mind the P#! What else is being leaked out on your habits by
MS's trustworthy operating system and internet sniffing robots???!!! I
have found that whenever I send any medical reprints or other
statistically odd information, robots with IP numbers belonging to MS hit
my Linux machine and try to probe it! As a result, for security purposes
I ignore all mail from MSN and related sites.
Do you trusts MS? If so, I have a cousin who wants to sell a
couple of bridges...
As for me...
-J- [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Windows bound views, but...
A command line prompts the imagination!
...and X-Windows lets you have several.
____________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Join The NEW Web Consultants Association FORUMS and CHAT:
Register Today at: http://just4u.com/forums/
Web Consultants Web Site : http://just4u.com/webconsultants
Give the Gift of Life This Year...
Just4U Stop Smoking Support forum - helping smokers for
over three years-tell a friend: http://just4u.com/forums/
To get 500 Banner Ads for FREE
go to http://www.linkbuddies.com/start.go?id=111261
---------------------------------------------------------------------
