03-10-2003, 08:05 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Software Activation Isn't the Problem. Why Don't They DEACTIVATE the Damn Stuff?
I must be having Dennis Miller flashbacks from that eBook I read, because, baby, I'm in a ranting mood tonight! :twisted: I've spend the better part of the weekend getting my rig set up all nice and proper. I'm Type A to the extreme (just ask the poor review team when it comes to following our templates), so I like to have everything just right.
Well, it came time to install the Windows XP Plus! Digital Media Edition that I had purchased. Actually, it was purchased by a friend of mine in the US, because apparently it's just too damn hard to accept a credit card from someone in Canada...but that's a rant for another day. I had installed this software onto my laptop and my desktop, but had never really used it. So I un-installed it from both devices, then installed it on my new machine. I went through the activation process, and surprise, it wouldn't activate. Therin lies the problem with software activation: it only works if the software is DEACTIVATED when it's un-installed. If the components to control activations and serial numbers are already in place for activation, how hard can it be to have the un-install routine sent a user-authorized data stream to the server saying "Hey, I've been un-installed, so free up an install key again".
Having no other choice, I called the product activation line. I've used it before for another Microsoft product (same type of scenario), so I was expecting the process to be quick and easy. It wasn't. After going through the mind-numbing process of entering the long 42 digit code into their phone system, it didn't work, and I was transferred to a live person. The first call ended when the tech said that the install key I gave him and verified three times, was "bad". His only suggestion was for me to un-install then reinstall the software. <sigh> I did so, and called back several hours later. After rattling off the 42 digit number, the product activation woman informed me that her system was down and that I should call back later. <sigh>
I've now just gotten off the phone, for the third time today, and actually have the product activated. Wow! Only three calls and 30 minutes of my day wasted. There's nothing worse then technology that's only implemented half way - wake up Microsoft, and deactivate your products when they're deactivated! It almost makes me think that some clever VP at Microsoft said "Hey, I know...let's make people buy new software for every computer they have, even if it's no longer on that computer! Yeah, that's the ticket..." You laugh, but I've heard stranger things come from the mouths of people in the software industry... :roll:
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03-10-2003, 08:35 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 544
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Now if everyone who has ever had a problem with a Microsoft product would just send Bill an invoice :P for the time they invested (wasted) installing or otherwise fixing something that developers overlooked, maybe somebody at Microsoft just might get the point 8O .
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03-10-2003, 08:46 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 725
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It's sad, and maybe I shouldn't be telling anyone about this, but it's come to the point where I actually purchase the software, then go to a warez site and download the cracked version, and install the cracked version instead of the package I just purchased.
It's the only way I found to (A) still feel that I'm doing the right thing in purchasing the software I use while at the same time (B) avoid the hassle of all the hoops that Microsoft makes you jump through.
Microsoft is very much getting out of control at this point, but, what can you do...
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03-10-2003, 09:15 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 735
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This is almost as bad as the Intuit Taxcut fiasco where its DRM is not uninstalled when you uninstall the program. Furthermore, the program writes to the boot sector which remains after formatting! Grrr.
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03-10-2003, 09:16 AM
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Swami
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,396
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Re: Software Activation Isn't the Problem. Why Don't They DEACTIVATE the Damn Stuff?
I'm surprised you're just finding this out now, what with all the software you use. When I got my iPAQ 3870 in January 2002, I gave my old 3650 to my wife. Outlook 2002 came with my 3870, so I decided to install it on the laptop that the 3650 would sync with. That went fine.
When I went to install Outlook 2002 on my laptop, I was told that it was already activated. No problem, I told myself, I'll uninstall it from the other laptop. Of course, that didn't work.
I called Microsoft, and they gave me the ridiculously long key, and that worked, but I asked the rep why they didn't deactivate automatically when the software was uninstalled. Apparently they haven't made much progress in over a year.
:bad-words: :bad-words: :bad-words: :bad-words: :bad-words:
Intuit's TurboTax has also been taking heat for their product activation technology. Let's hope enough people complain that companies decide activation isn't consumer-friendly.
Steve
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03-10-2003, 09:22 AM
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Swami
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,396
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Intuit Tax Program
Quote:
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Originally Posted by klinux
This is almost as bad as the Intuit Taxcut fiasco where its DRM is not uninstalled when you uninstall the program. Furthermore, the program writes to the boot sector which remains after formatting! Grrr.
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Just for the record, Intuit makes TurboTax, as my previous post mentioned. H&R Block makes TaxCut, which doesn't require activation (as far as I know).
Steve
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03-10-2003, 09:27 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 354
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Re: Software Activation Isn't the Problem. Why Don't They DEACTIVATE the Damn Stuff?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
After going through the mind-numbing process of entering the long 42 digit code into their phone system, it didn't work, and I was transferred to a live person. The first call ended when the tech said that the install key I gave him and verified three times, was "bad". His only suggestion was for me to un-install then reinstall the software.
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This sounds typical of most call centres if they don't know how to do something (or don't want to do it) then they just fob you off with some nonsense because they know that when you call again you'll be speaking to somebody else anyway.... :roll:
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03-10-2003, 02:01 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 485
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But what happens when the company that has to "activate" your software is no longer there when it comes time to reinstall/move to a new PC or PPC?
If the product was not critical then you are merely locked out of your software, if the product is critical then you are screwed. I don't mind purchasing software for which I get a registration key that is used to activate the product. That will work whenever I need to reinstall (hopefully).
This step of phoning home to activate is so flaky, only inconveniences the legitimate purchaser, and means that you are dependent on the survival and goodwill of the supplier for continued use of your purchase.
I have just spend several hundred dollars on PPC software for my new iPaq 5450 (my first ever PocketPC) and the machine is a little unstable. If HP don't post fixes for some of the issues I can see being in the market for a new PPC later in the year. I wonder how much of the software that I have purchased will not install on a different unit?
I don't even dare think of rebuilding my Thinkpad which is now almost 2 years old and has so much software "activated" on it it would take days to get it all working again.
In the "old days" when enthusiasts swapped floppy disks of software copy protection was eventually dropped as counter-productive and futile, but now the Internet is such an effective distribution medium I can't see protection ever being dropped.
There must be a middle ground somewhere that protects the software author, but doesn't prevent customers from using what they have purchased.
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03-10-2003, 02:15 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ThomasC22
It's sad, and maybe I shouldn't be telling anyone about this, but it's come to the point where I actually purchase the software, then go to a warez site and download the cracked version, and install the cracked version instead of the package I just purchased.
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I am getting there myself Thomas.
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03-10-2003, 02:31 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 33
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This is why I made the jump to a Mac.
This is exactly why I switched over to a Mac last year. Steve Jobs (at this point anyway) and most Apple developers are a lot more laid back about software installation (and copyright matters for digital media) than Bill and MS. Thank God I will NEVER NEVER have to call any production activation line!
Incidentally, I have Mac: Office X from the MS MacBu and it simply use the old serial code verification upon installation...Guess those guys realize that most Mac users would rather slit their own wrists than to have to call MS for "permission" to use software. :twisted:
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