After all of Microsoft protestations about piracy

I get an email back from the MS Tech support, the same guy that first said my copy was invalid, then said it wasn't but the license key was invalid, has now given me step by step instructions on how to hack and crack XP Pro, bypassing the "Windows Genuine Advantage" stranglehold.

Hi Sandra,

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate the time and effort you have invested.

Sandra, I would like to explain that the search result shows that thousands of people can use this key if they want or search the key. Actually, the genuine retail version of product key cannot be found on Internet. As mentioned in my previous mail, this key is volume license type. It is why many people are able to use this key in a long time. This type of key cannot be sold to home user. It was only sold to organization and the seller must provide an agreement to the user. If this type of key got out, the key will be blocked and the users will receive the message that the copy may be counterfeited. If we have the agreement, we can contact the channel manager who provided the agreement and she/he will provide another genuine key. I think the retailer has not the permission to sell the volume license key. I strongly suggest we contact the retailer and return this key or let them provide a new key.

I fully understand the inconvenience this issue brought. Therefore, if you want, I can help you disable the notification directly. After disabling the notification, we still can receive security updates for system.

Disable WGA Notifications
===================
1. Click "Start", click "Run", and type in "system32" (without the quotes) and press "Enter".
2. In the opened folder, look for the file named "WgaTray.exe".
3. Right-click on the file, select "Rename" and type "WgaTray.old" (without the quotes) to rename this file.
4. Please also locate the file “WgaLogon.dll” (without the quotes) in the same folder and rename it to “WgaLogon.old” (without the quotes).
5. Click "Start", click "Run", and type in "DLLCACHE" (without the quotes) and press "Enter".
6. In the opened folder, look for the file named "WgaTray.exe".
7. Right-click on the file, select Rename and type "WgaTray.old" (without the quotes) to rename this file.
8. Please also locate the file “WgaLogon.dll” (without the quotes) in the same folder and rename it to “WgaLogon.old” (without the quotes).
9. Then restart the computer and see if you still receive the notification.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please try the steps shown above and let me know the results at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this issue, please don't hesitate to tell me. It is my pleasure to be of assistance.
I look forward to your reply.

Best Regards,

****** **
*****@mssupport.microsoft.com

That's right folks, Microsoft's best and brightest have told me how to bypass their own anti-piracy software!

Yeah, so, I already knew how, but that's not the point, now is it?

Ummm ouch

Woke up with pre-migraine. Am determined to not let it advance into full blown migraine.

Yelled at neighbor's dog, the one that starts barking at 7:45 every %#$$&%@ morning weekdays. She is quiet for now. Sounds are overly exaggerated, so quiet is what I need.

Slowly whittling it down

I had two credits on Audible dot com, and a growing 'Wish List'. I prefer to snag an entire series in one shot, if at all possible, but with all of the trilogies, and 5 book series, I really can't... well I could, but that's a bit pricey. So, I have taken to just slowly reducing my Wish List. Down to 22 audio books now, down from 24. Here's hoping it's a trend.

Storage Hoarding

I have to admit, I have become a hdd storage hoarder. I don't mean I keep each and every file or program I have ever made or installed. I mean getting larger hard drives to make images of the systems, and for storage of installation files, video files, photographs etc. I guess it has to do with having once had a complete loss of data because of a hard drive failure.

Burning things to DVDs helps to get a new system with the OS alreadly installed up and running in about 10 hours total set up, but rebuilding data, trying to remember what the BLEEP you had installed after a system crash..... too much stress, thankyousoverymuch.

Sunday, rainy Sunday

Headed to the archery range, and actually managed to get 6 rounds (or was it 8?) before the rain showed up. We came back, off loaded all the archery gear, and relaxed for a while.

Headed to Foo Gwai, whereupon we rededicated to Akire-yta with a proper pork bun sacrifice. *urp* and it was good.

Alan's 320 gig external hd has decided to die... again. This was supposedly an exchange for a faulty one. I have a feeling the tech just took it out of the first case, rigged it to work somehow, inserted it into another case, and shipped it back. Seeing as it's having the exact same problem that made me return it the first time, I think that is a fairly good bet.

The rain has returned, and the sleepies have followed closely behind. I will valiantly fight it off. heh

Off to the range

Here's hoping the rain holds off. Bringing laminated recurves, not horsebows, just in case.

A 2 year old and his teddy bear

Awww, iddums boo!