BearItAll wrote:
> It doesn't actually matter if MS still support the OS that you have. It
> doesn't suddenly stop working, you just stop getting the pop ups about
> updates. Bit of a relief I suspect :)
Versions up to Win2k don't just stop working (as long as you find non-MS
ways to keep them secure) but XP can - it already has a mechanism to make
fresh installs stop working until MS supply it with an activation code
(either automatically over the net or manually over the phone).
All MS need to do is switch off the XP activation server and shutdown the
activation phone line and any installs that need activation will die after
30 days - even restoring from a ghost image will only work as long as you
keep the same hardware, 3 changes and it needs activation again. Removing
support for XP can make it as useless as all the old Keydisk and Dongle
protected applications where the disk/dongle won't fit modern PC's.
And before you suggest using any independent patches to remove activation
you cannot legally do this either - this is against the licence terms so if
you do this you're running a pirate copy and liable to fines if you get BSA
audited.
Unless MS release their own no-activation patch before discontinuing support
(and all XP users download and keep their own copy of the patch to allow
for reinstalls) they can effectively make it illegal to keep XP running on
your PC for more than 30 days between reinstalls.
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