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"Looking at the data that was uploaded, appears to be information concerning the hardware of the PC. This would be stuff like chipset revisions, soundcard info, motherboard and support components.
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I looked at the data as well. It is data, not on non-Microsoft software, but rather data on hardware drivers for the most part, focusing on the dates of those drivers.

Now, the user went to Microsoft to get an update to his version of Windows XP. Microsoft checked the dates for the drivers installed on the particular machine then, presumably, updated those for which there was an update.

I saw nothing there that looked at non-Microsoft software programs or much of anything else.

How does a company update your system without knowing what is currently installed on that system? A lot of ado about nothing much, it seems to me.

Now, if you try to get an update for an unlicensed copy of XP or for an unlicensed copy of Office, then I suppose Microsoft would be a bit upset and not give you the update.

But I don't see them spying on anything other than the versions and dates of Microsoft software installed on that PC.

But I don't see them spying on anything other than the versions and dates of Microsoft software installed on that PC

I agree. In this case, it appears that Microsoft is 'fishing' for obsolete or incompatable 3rd party drivers.

>>>How does a company update your system without knowing what is currently installed on that system?

Easy the PC downloads the latest list and compares it with what is installed on the PC. The PC then downloads what it needs. No one needs to know anything else about your pc except the updates for program xxx were downloaded. The updates can then check to see if the installed software is legit and not update if it isn't. ms needs to know nothing about your PC or you.

Penguin works this way. You download a list of the latest, compare with your installed, decide what you want to update. Download updates. World is in your hands, not ms.

Some penguin updating subscriptions can work similar to ms, but don't have to. If you have access to the ftp directory (paid for a password) where the files are, you just download what you want/need.

snooker

How does a company update your system without knowing what is currently installed on that system?

Well, they could ask. However, according to MS you are nobody and they can do what they please with your computer.

I wonder what would happen to MS products if they put on the box nice and big "By buying this you give us the right to snoop into whatever you have and do whatever we please with your system". That is what they are doing and they should have to get a signed release if that is what they are going to do.