Windows Genuine Annoyance

This is one of those times when I am happy that I set Microsoft Update to make me review what it is about to download and install on my machine. Most of the time nearly half the updates just don't apply to me. I don't like installing software I don't need, and Microsoft/Windows Update seems pretty poor at figuring out what software I have installed, and shows poor judgment in upgrading versions unnecessarily.

I had to laugh today when I saw that Microsoft Update thought that would want to install a Windows Genuine Advantage notification application. This is not a security update or a bug fix. In fact it has no benefit for me, only potential disavantages when it gets it wrong, and it will slow down the logon process and mess with the desktop.

Now, I am meticulous about properly licensing software. I install and uninstall software all the time, and reinstall it on new machines when the licence terms allow it. Windows Genuine Advantage has never helped me and it often hinders me in doing legitimate things. When I reformatted a hard drive and reinstalled Windows XP from the original media (full retail version not OEM) I wanted to install SP2 first for safety and then check for recent drivers and stability of the suspect drive before consuming one of my XP licence keys. No deal. Windows Genuine Advantage tells me it won't let me get SP2 because I haven't activated the licence yet. This is a foolish restriction because it is easy, but a pain, to get around this perfectly legally. Microsoft is just being petty and calling me a thief, just because I buy the more expensive retail version of their software in packs of 5 or 10 and manage the licences properly. Now they want to annoy me not just when I use the convenient Microsoft Update web site but every day. Thanks but no thanks. I'll have to turn off the "always trust Microsoft" settings too just in case they try to sneak this in under false pretenses again.

Tags: Microsoft piracy

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