Okay, so I am thinking about upgrading, but with some confusion, and some concern. I have been reading on Wiki about Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA), and it sounds not only am I going to be pestered for the product key eveytime I make a hardware update to my PC, but Microsoft will take it upon themselves to download spyware when I go online.
Could somebody explain to me more simply than the author of the Wikpedia article what happens. (I don't understand what he means by "notifications" nor exactly what is being updated/read of my machine on an 'update')
Am I right to think that I will only ever be asked of my product key to reactivate? I am only ever stuck with the one product key, right?
If so, why check against hardware? As I understand from what I have read elsewhere, system hardware is read at installation, recorded in a file, and then if checked positively against for changes, causes a re-activation prompt. But what's criminal in upgrading? If the product key remains constant to one supplied with the product (likewise for pirates), then in what way is it catching anybody out?
Finally, if each copy of XP is generic and not carrying a unique product key, does this mean each batch comes with numerous codes? If ever I were to lose it, Microsoft would supply me with one of a ker-zillion (an expression of my ignorance) pre-determined codes?
Lots of confusion here, if someone could help me de-mystify...
Could somebody explain to me more simply than the author of the Wikpedia article what happens. (I don't understand what he means by "notifications" nor exactly what is being updated/read of my machine on an 'update')
Am I right to think that I will only ever be asked of my product key to reactivate? I am only ever stuck with the one product key, right?
If so, why check against hardware? As I understand from what I have read elsewhere, system hardware is read at installation, recorded in a file, and then if checked positively against for changes, causes a re-activation prompt. But what's criminal in upgrading? If the product key remains constant to one supplied with the product (likewise for pirates), then in what way is it catching anybody out?
Finally, if each copy of XP is generic and not carrying a unique product key, does this mean each batch comes with numerous codes? If ever I were to lose it, Microsoft would supply me with one of a ker-zillion (an expression of my ignorance) pre-determined codes?
Lots of confusion here, if someone could help me de-mystify...