I have found a way around the whole process by launching the Windows XP VM as part of Microsoft's Virtual PC (you can also setup a VM with Oracles Virtual Box). I use the VM for pretty much all downloads and because it's a hardware agnostic OS (due to the nature of VM) there is nothing for WGA to gripe about. Transversely you can also download the files needed (KBxxxxxx) from any other PC other than your own, as long as the PC owner does not care about the WGA ActiveX control.

Yup, I'm a retard... going back to my hole now. :(

The fact that the files were virus by definition (self-replicating) should void any DMCA rules. That's kind of like pissing from a roof top and charging everyone below for window cleaning services, even if no one wanted it.

If you drive that fast on I-696 in Detroit, your going to piss off a lot of people who are driving at LEAST 20mph faster than that. It's not uncommon to be forced into the slow lane at 100mph. Then again, if you break down there is a good chance you'll get jacked. :)

I think for high-end hardware for servers and stuff, an RS232 serial port only accessible when enabled for updates should be the only conduit for installing BIOS updates. Think of it as a management port. Us network guys do this already via SSH, Telnet and TFTP and you guessed it, SERIAL already. I don't know of any virus's able to jump a physical divide like a serial port.

To quote the funny singer-song-writer Tim Wilson, "Where the #*&^ is my Jetpack?!?!"

So you're saying a vending machine that dispenses used women's panties creepy? What is this world coming to?

This system creates a basis for a "deny everything" notion - which is ALREADY in use. Why create false information at all, just announce that you have a system to create false information and the masses will simply suspect everything is false information. To quote a song a friend of mine wrote, "Area 51 is a coverup for Area 52".

I manage about 90 Citrix users at work and with Group Policy setup just so that our Start Button is only used to access Printers and Windows Security (if the user wishes to lock the station, ect) and log off. Really, Citrix/Terminal Server (with published icons on the desktop) has made me an icon Nazi! :)

Wow, that is a chunk of change - the EU could really use the money right now too (conspiracy ???). This could pay for the bailouts being debated right now throughout the EU.

I've been doing something like this for years - I can tell you within a small degree of error if someone is retarded simply by what they say rather than how they say it. For example, many will draw this conclusion just by reading my comments :)

They should contact the FBI and NSA - they have everyone's voice on file already. "Sir, you're under arrest for %OFFENSE%! By the time your trial reaches a conviction you will be in final stages of Parkinson's, my condolences"

I see a whole new trade spawning from this, Home-brew Gunsmithing... I wonder if it's illegal to give the greatest gift of all... firearms? Anyone who's ever been to prison knows, you can make a gun out of pretty much anything.