Microsoft's validation servers down for 19 hours -legitimate users flagged as pirates

[TwistedLincoln]

A perfect example of what I've been saying for years: Product Activation (and its counterpart, Periodic License Validation) are unacceptable, and all products that use them should be avoided at all costs.

Here's the main article:
Microsoft's "Genuine Advantage" servers down for 19 hours, legitimate users incorrectly flagged.

John C Dvorak wrote an interesting editorial about the whole thing:

Dvorak's Response to the Microsoft server failure


I think I'm going to bookmark these links, and the next time somebody here makes fun of me for using Windows 2000 on my video editing box, I'm going to pull them out...


Luckily Microsoft managed to get the servers back up before the 3 day window on Vista hit -- after that point, the legitimate users that got flagged by mistake would enter "Reduced Functionality Mode" : a locked down configuration that only allows access to Internet Explorer (no other apps), and only lets the user be logged in for an hour at a time.


Imagine having a project that you need to get to a customer by Monday, but because your system is locked in "Reduced Functionaliy Mode" you can't finish... That's just insane.

 

[ugafan]

i agree with you twisted lincoln, it's awful. i understand they want to protect against piracy, but this isn't the way to do it.

 

[ben-s]

Interesting...
I guess this is yet another reason to steer clear of vista.

I hate activation with a passion, particularly when it's on machines not connected to the net and you are forced to activate over the phone...

It also occurred to me the other day that microsoft can effectively kill windows XP dead in a few months by declining to activate new installs. This leaves you with the following options;

a) hacking (or getting a corporate version)
b) vista
c) mac
d) linux
e) go back to a linear edit console

 

[JasonFox]

I hate activation. When I was asked to leave my last job, I didn't have a chance to deactivate the copy of Final Draft I had on it. When the HD on my home computer crashed, I was left with no activations. Final Draft support said they would reinstate one activation (which is what I'm using), but if another HD crash or something similar happened, I'd have to re-buy the software. Ha! If they try pulling that, I'll switch to another program.