AttackTheSun

Murphy wants me to update, but tonight I have a shitload to do for Theology. So the longer it takes, the better the chance I’ll post tonight. Trust me, it makes sense.

But a preview of things to come: My hatred of Microsoft has grown exponentially over the past 24 hours.

Edit: Ok, here we go…

So I have nothing better to do in my life than to mess with my computer. I’m pretty sure it has become my life, actually. So about a month ago, my computer was acting all weird. I back up everything, then reformat it. No big deal…

So then I go to reinstall Windows. I put in the PowerSpec recovery CD (came with the computer) and it does not work. I have changed so much of the hardware since I got the computer (the only original parts left are the CPU and RAM) that it thinks it’s not the same machine anymore. So that pisses me off. I put in the Dell recovery CD that came with another computer, and it works. Don’t ask why, but it did. So I install Windows using that, and everything seems fine. Only problem is that there’s a little box that says I have 30 days to activate Windows. I type in my product key, that came with the computer, and it rejects it. Not the same hardware. So I ignore it for a while, then call up Microsoft. The number connects me to a machine, who I tell some number to. That does not work for some reason, saying it’s “not valid” or some shit like that.

So then today I go out and get Battlefield 2. Supposed to be a good game. I install it, then I restart Windows. After it boots, I try and log in. I can’t. The damn machine has locked me out, saying that I can’t log in untill I activate Windows. So I call the same number, same thing. I call 1-800-Microsoft and they send me to Dell. The guy at Dell sends me to the other part of Dell. They are closed on Sundays. So then I call PowerSpec. Once again, closed on Sundays. So basically I have a sweet computer that is nothing more than an expensive paperweight because Microsoft decides to add this whole “Product Activation” thing to their software.

Which brings me to my next point: What is the point?

Microsoft tells us that it is to proctect us from piracy. This makes no sense at all. Please explain that to me. You can’t. The only one who benefits from activation is Microsoft. It’s a major pain in the ass, hundreds of people end up with problems like me, and nobody benefits. I’m sure that Microsoft has lost money on this, too. With this, they may have fewer instances of piracy, but they lose the same amount of money (most likely more) by having to have tech support for all those people having trouble with activation.

I’m not going to go into depth with this, because plenty of other people already have. Just google it, and I’m sure that hundreds of papers have been written on why product activation sucks.

So, back to kicking ass on my Ubuntu Linux box, bitch.