Newsletter Archives

• Windows Genuine Advantage claim fails to reach Class Action status

  Posted on January 22, 2010 at 23:28 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Emil Protalinski at Ars Technica reports that a complaint about Windows Genuine Advantage has failed to reach Class Action status.

  A lawsuit that accused Microsoft of misleading consumers to download and install an update for Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) under the guise that it was critical security update will go forward, but not as a class action. A federal judge has refused to certify the lawsuit as a class action, which would have meant anyone who owned a Windows XP PC in mid-2006 could join the case without having to hire an attorney. As Windows XP was easily the most popular operating system at the time, the move means Redmond has managed to avoid hundreds of millions in potential damages.

  The lawsuit hinges around WGA’s disturbing propensity – severely curtailed in recent times – to “phone home” on a regular basis.

  Thanks for the heads-up, yangs!

  Windows News WGA

• Get security patches without Windows Genuine Advantage (er, Windows Activation Technology)

  Posted on May 21, 2009 at 22:30 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  If you ever wondered how to get around Microsoft’s obnoxious Windows Genuine Advantage antipiracy program, run over to the Windows Secrets Newsletter site.

  Susan Bradley has an utterly authoritative explanation of what’s going on behind the scenes with WGA – and what you can do about it.

  Windows News WGA, Windows Activation Technology, Windows Genuine Advantage

• Windows Genuine Advantage becomes Windows Activation Advantage

  Posted on May 8, 2009 at 09:21 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Ah, the spinmeisters are at it again.

  Mary Jo Foley reports that Microsoft is replacing its “Windows Genuine” terminology with the kinder, gentler “Windows Activation” sobriquet.

  Apparently only the name has changed. The rest remains the same.

  … and Windows 7 book writers are scrambling…

  Windows News WGA, Windows Activation, Windows Genuine Advantage