Windows Genuine Disadvantage?

Thousands of Windows users went berserk after Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) system crippled their system, accusing them of conterfeit software. In Windows Vista SP 1, Vista cripples WGA.


WGA - Change or Go Away
Back in August, a glitch in Microsoft's servers for Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) accused thousands of users of counterfeit copies of Windows. Users, who paid for their software, were inconvinienced by the fact that WGA crippled their Windows machine, especially Vista. Microsoft has announced that Windows Vista SP1, shipping early next year, will end the kill-switch measure that cripples every aspect of Windows Vista except limited Web browsing if it believes you to have a pirated copy of the operating system

Windows Genuine Advantage is Microsoft's way of determining whether you have an original, genuine copy of Windows, or just a counterfeit copy. The system is installed during Automatic Updates or when you try do download a software off the Microsoft website that requires WGA validation. What it does is scan your system, mainly the product key of Windows, to generate a code that it sends over to Microsoft. If the servers in Microsoft determines your copy of Windows is counterfeit, it tells WGA to run Windows in Reduced Functionality Mode.

With Windows XP, nothing much is changed except for occasional message that your copy of Windows did not pass the WGA test, on your system tray or in the log-on screen. In Windows Vista, however, the effect is more severe. Failing the WGA test on Vista will disable key features, such as the Aero interface, ReadyBoost, and a limited time of using the computer (you are automatically logged off after an hour).

Microsoft has reduced the impact of WGA on Windows Vista users, and it does this with SP 1. It no longer disables the Aero interface or any other features. Instead, it will only annoy them with messages accusing them of piracy. It'll also change their wallpaper, and it'll give them a dialog box that makes them wait until they can postpone activation.

Killing the kill switch is a good start, since it'll reduce the chances that Vista will mistakenly prevent deny functionality to paying customers. But it doesn't represent fundamental change to WGA. In fact, Microsoft VP Mike Sievert says that "It's worth re-emphasizing that our fundamental strategy has not changed. All copies of Windows Vista still require activation and the system will continue to validate from time to time to verify that systems are activated properly."

Still, a lot of users have no confidence with Microsoft's WGA. Of course, that includes those innocent Windows users who were accused of counterfeit software when they were in fact, genuine copies. Users say that either Microsoft has to change WGA to be integrated perfectly with Windows, or better yet, make it go away.

For years, the Microsoft monopoly made it very hard for anyone to opt out of using Windows. Thanks to the resurgent Mac OS X and ever-improving Linux--neither of which are burdened with copy protection--that's no longer true. WGA remains a significant argument against choosing Windows, and will be one until it gets far more seamless or simply goes away.