Posted on 02/17/2005 7:32:53 AM PST by N3WBI3
As some of you may know, Microsoft is planning to totally restrict access to the Microsoft download center to all non-genuine windows users. So you would expect some check for pirated copies of windows to be involved. If you visit the download center with IE you get an activex control, but if you try with Firefox, you'll have to download a little program, that returns a code you have to copy into the download page, to get access to the download you selected. By quickly looking at the program, I noticed it looks for a registry key, this key is...
SOFTWARE\Wine\Wine\Config
the wine configuration key. the Windows Genuine Advantage program press release says that in the second half of 2005, all users connecting to the Microsoft download center or to windows update will have to validate their copy of windows. Interestingly if you run the validation program on wine, and the version of windows you're emulating is prior to 2000 or is windows server 20003, you get a message saying a validation code couldn't be found, because of technical difficulties or because you're running an unsupported operating system. If you set winver to win2000, you'll get a validation code that doesn't work, this may be a bug in wine, or in the validation program. A valid and working code is returned if the version is set to xp. Still, even if this is only an initial attempt, they appear to want to discriminate wine users, while this may be acceptable for operating system components/updates, this is probably a violation of anti-trust law for all other downloads. It's also the first time Microsoft acknowledges the existence of Wine.
They tired to kill SAMBA, They are trying to break WINE, and I have heard rumors they are trying to push a new non smtp protocol which ofcourse requires a licese that forbid open operating systems from use..
> Microsoft is planning to totally restrict access to the Microsoft download center to all non-genuine windows users
Excellent move.
What's next? Beer users?
I have an OEM version of XP PRO that returns a invalid version.. makes you go ummmmmmmmmmmm
What exactly is "Wine"?
Ping
This reminds me of something Mickeysoft did back in the early days of computers.
When you had more tham 640K of memoy you had to use a 'memory manager' to make it into 'extended' or 'expanded' memory.
One such memory manager was QEMM.SYS by Quarterdeck.
It would fail to load on some systems, but if you RENAMED the file to QXXX.sys (or anything) it would not only run, but run very well.
What that means (to non-programmers out there) is that microsoft's operating system was looking for the word "qemm.sys" and PURPOSELY failing to load it.
Quarterdeck should have gotten a few million for that in a lawsuit.
Why? If I go out and buy a copy of officexp, should I not be able to run it anywhere I please?
WINE is an implementation of the Windows APIs for non-Windows systems (typically UNIX and Linux variants). The purpose is to allow users to run programs written for the Windows OS on the other OS. In other words, I can buy Microsoft Office or Quicken written for WinXP, but run it on my Linux box.
It's not a perfect replacement, for many reasons (moving target, undocumented features, etc.), but for many applications, it's good enough.
Thanks!
Ive never had much luck with it but I have never put more than a few hours into testing..
http://www.softwarepatch.com/
One of several sites that usually have updates (and users get to bypass all the MS website crap).
I hope such sites continue. They are much easier to use anyway.
because you don't own the software. You buy a license to use it the software. You dont' "own" it. Read the EULA.
Wine users? Well that will affect my wife more than I, Wine gives me heartburn.
I try to update IE and it says I need to install SP1 first. I try to install SP1 and it says the version I am using is later than SP1.
I've had similar problems with both Win98 (when I ran it) and XP when trying to update from MS website.
Perhaps you can point to the part of the EULA, Ill help
1. GRANT OF LICENSE. Microsoft grants you the following rights provided that you comply with all terms and conditions of this EULA: 1.1 Installation and use. You may: (a) install and use a copy of the Software on one personal computer or other device; and (b) install an additional copy of the Software on a second, portable device for the exclusive use of the primary user of the first copy of the Software.
Hmm I think a Linux box counts as a personal computer no? Now I am sure MS can sick a team of lawyers on anyone but do you really feel this is not an anticompetitive by MS?
No, they're saying they don't support your configuration. If I were msft, I'd completely drop all support for WINE users.
I have not installed sp2 yet on mine or the wifes xp yet, my son did and he has had a few problems with his pc., have not had any problems with IE update or any of the hotfixes yet.
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