Windows Genuine Advantage mistakes Linux for Windows
By Jonathan Schlaffer
We all know that Microsoft has produced some less than optimal software but this little faux pas has to take the cake. Someone who was running Xubuntu decided to try downloading Windows Defender using IE4Linux and was successful.
What possessed this person to try this is not known but he did and here we are. Since IE4Linux does not support Active X controls it was necessary to use the “alternate authentication” method.
After downloading the Windows Genuine Advantage application, he was able to run it and paste the code it issued into the authentication box. The system was then all too happy to allow the download of Windows Defender.
It just goes to show you there is more than one way to bypass Windows Genuine Advantage but keep in mind this may not work under every single scenario but you’re welcome to try.
The Inquirer claims to have a video of the whole thing which I could never get to play either because of its format (OGG, which I know as an audio format) or because it was corrupt.
Here’s a note to every Internet user, if you’re going to post a video online, make sure it’s a standard format that everyone can watch, without downloading anything extra. Acceptable formats include; WMV, Quicktime (or MP4) or even FLV. OGG is just about as useful to me as ocean water is for drinking.
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on Monday, June 18th, 2007 at 5:50 am
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Read more entries by Jonathan Schlaffer.
Stumble It!
June 18th, 2007
Quicktime is NOT a standard, acceptable format!
June 18th, 2007
The OGG video will open very nicely if you download VLC – Open Source Video player – there is even a Portable version that can be downloaded and doesn’t have to be installed – check out http://www.portableapps.com or a direct link is here: http://portableapps.com/apps/music_video/vlc_portable
WMV, QuickTime, MP4 are not standards.
June 19th, 2007
ogg is a standard format for both audio and video which is free of proprietary code. It can be be opened with mplayer (also free software excepting proprietary codecs – mplayerhq.hu) in linux, windows and mac osx. This is the player you want be using on any of the above platforms. It will play anything you throw at it and doens’t pester you with ads for the new Britney Spears (unlike some media players we know).
January 24th, 2008
This video was meant for Linux and other Free Software Operating system users. For us, OGG IS the standard format, whilst the mentioned WMV, Quicktime, MP4 and FLV are UNPLAYABLE without proprietory codec (read ILLEGAL codecs)