Is Microsoft going to remove WGA from Windows XP? | The Coffeehouse

Shining Arcanine

I recall reading several years ago that Microsoft might remove WGA from Windows XP in the future as it ages and they release new operating systems.

Since Microsoft is determined to kill Windows XP, is there any chance that they will remove WGA from Windows XP to make it easier for those of us with licensed copies of Windows XP who will not upgrade to Vista to continue using it?

GoddersUK
I CAN has cheezburger and you CAN'T has stop me!

I would hope so - I still come across Windows 3.11 machines connected to specific, very expensive, hardware, running software that would not run under a newer OS. I dread to think what would happen if any of those machines needed a reinstall and some form of activation was required, but there were no activation server any more. That could be several grands worth of badly needed hardware down the pan.

(The hardware I'm referring to here are mainly things such as scientific instruments and engineering equipment such as CAM machines.)

rcardona
what!ever...

There are versions of XP that don't require online activation, e.g. volume editions of XP. I suspect as XP ages, future WGA versions will run like they do in Windows 2000, unless you have an outright blacklisted pirated key, XP will validate.

YearOfTheLinuxDesktop
Seven of Niner! Resistance is Futile!

did you mean WPA? you can avoid installing WGA on XP.

Shining Arcanine

YearOfTheLinuxDesktop wrote:
did you mean WPA? you can avoid installing WGA on XP.

Yes, I meant WPA when I said WGA.

Xaero_Vincent
Sexy me

Perhaps I don't understand but WPA and WPA 2 ar wireless encryption algorithms used for the secure transfer of packets over wireless networks.

Removing support for them makes as much sense as removing the WOW 64 kernel subsystem.

Shining Arcanine

Xaero_Vincent wrote:
Perhaps I don't understand but WPA and WPA 2 ar wireless encryption algorithms used for the secure transfer of packets over wireless networks.

Removing support for them makes as much sense as removing the WOW 64 kernel subsystem.

WPA = Windows Product Activation

cheong

I don't think it's very likely, unless there's lots of people complaining for this.

And Microsoft would not remove their activation server at least until the support cycle of WinXP ends, and that will be 2014.

Doubt that most people will fight for removing activation that early...

Xaero_Vincent
Sexy me

Unlikely to occur.

The only real proponents of an activation removal are those interested in pirating Windows. Pirating an old or discountinued version of Windows isn't any less illegal than any other form of piracy.

If they don't want to pay for your operating system then just use a free Linux distribution. Granted, they wont have access to the seamless virtual machines and terminal server options but Wine will mostly run the applications/games they want with some tweaking.

Shining Arcanine

Xaero_Vincent wrote:
Unlikely to occur.

The only real proponents of an activation removal are those interested in pirating Windows. Pirating an old or discountinued version of Windows isn't any less illegal than any other form of piracy.

If they don't want to pay for your operating system then just use a free Linux distribution. Granted, they wont have access to the seamless virtual machines and terminal server options but Wine will mostly run the applications/games they want with some tweaking.

It is only a matter of time before the activation server for Windows XP is taken offline. What about people reinstalling their copies of Windows XP on their computers after that happens?