Big Brother? Is That You?

WGA can be removed. The only benefit is that if you want to download some newer stuff like IE7 or WMP 11 you can…or a card game or two. Other than that it is all about MS being able to keep track of your system, your serial number, etc.

I see it as spyware, just like most, if not all, their software. Why should a mouse driver need to access the internet? Only MS knows, because their Intellipoint software does just that.

Here is M$’s extensive Q&A page, which does not address this question at all;

http://snipurl.com/grij

and this page will tell you exactly which versions are transferable from one machine to another.

http://snipurl.com/1hr66

Hope this helps. Here’s the down-and-dirty if they decide you are not running a legit copy of XP and cannot prove to their satisfaction where you got it. You may buy it again. Really. This is copy-pasted from their Q&A page.

” * Complimentary offer: Microsoft will make a complimentary copy of Windows XP available to customers who have been sold counterfeit Windows. Customers will be required to submit a proof of purchase, the counterfeit CD, and a counterfeit report with details of their purchase. Only high-quality counterfeit Windows will qualify for the complimentary offer.
* Electronic License Key Offer: Microsoft will offer an alternative for customers who find out via the WGA validation process that they are not running genuine Windows, but do not qualify for, or choose not to take advantage of, the complimentary offer. These customers will be able to license a Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP online for a price of $99 for Windows XP Home edition or $149 for Windows XP Professional. The Windows Genuine Advantage Kit for Windows XP will include a new 25-character Product Key and a Windows Product Key Update tool that will allow customers to convert their counterfeit copy to genuine Windows XP electronically.”

Apparently there is a way to remove WGA from your computer, I googled “WGA validation+remove” (without the quotes) and found lots of hits but I’m not computer-savvy enough to use the methods described.

If I’ve helped only one other person in the world to be thoroughly paranoid about M$, my job here is done.