When it comes to Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) Microsoft is doing two things that almost counteract each other. First off Microsoft is easing up on the "Reduced Functionality Mode" for those users who don't pass the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) test. As of right now if you don't pass WGA Vista will disable premium features such as Aero Glass, ReadyBoost, games, and BitLocker.

Microsoft has done what I never expected them to do...they removed the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) validation that was previously needed to download and install IE 7! This news comes straight from the Internet Explorer blog, and this is their reasoning for doing it:

Because Microsoft takes its commitment to help protect the entire Windows ecosystem seriously, we’re updating the IE7 installation experience

Last week there were some updates leaked for Windows Vista. These updates promised to cure the problems that have plagued many Vista users, including the slow file transfer times and slow resuming from standby.

Microsoft must have decided that it would just be best if they released the updates to the public instead of holding them back any longer. So here are the

Can you figure out which disc above is a counterfeit copy of Windows Vista? Most people probably wouldn’t be able to tell which is why software piracy is an increasing problem for both the people looking to purchase applications as well as the companies developing the software.

One of the largest counterfeit software manufacturing busts ever was made yesterday in China. More than 290,000 counterfeit

Microsoft has already sold 20 million Vista licenses in the month of February, and it looks like they’re pushing sales even more using a Windows Genuine Advantage check.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that I had an update that needed to be installed. I’m still using Windows XP, and my copy was previously identified as genuine.  Today I finally got around to installing the update, and to my surprise it was another WGA check.

We’ve mentioned Windows Genuine Advantage over and over now. The original debut was back in 2005 and has caused quite the stir since with lawsuits, and general complaints, with some even labeling it as spyware. WGA was designed to check a computer to ensure that it is running a valid genuine version of Windows. Since it was released, there have been several modifications to the process.  The most recent update will let some users off the hook (for

As Microsoft continues their battle with Piracy, they have disclosed that one in five, or 22% of Windows installations are not genuine. Surprised? WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) started back in July of 2005 and has given Microsoft a good idea of how many people are using counterfeit copies.  They have validated 512 million PCs since WGA was started, and along with those 114 million copies that were counterfeit, an additional 56,000 users have gone to