I've got a Dell at home behind a dialup account. My MacBook goes to work with me with a huge DSL pipe. I'd love to download updates for my Dell on my MacBook, but I can't. Well, I can, I just have to do it all the hard way.

Typical Microsoft

I can't believe you're working so hard with windows. Haven't thoughts of suicide crept in yet?

My advice before working in windows; count to ten, take a deep breath and think happy thoughts. Sometimes it actually works for me.

Some of the hints have to do with using Boot Camp -- not as many any more, but in the beginning, how to work around some of the driver issues.

-rob.

Windows Vista has this crap "Genuine Advantage" validation built in which checks all the time whether you are a pirate. It is known that some installation of software and/or drivers may trigger the demon and demands you to "reactivate" Vista, otherwise you will be put into "Reduced Functionality Mode" and essentially locked out of the computer.

For Windows XP the situation may be a little less worse but as some already mentioned, an update of Boot Camp may also trigger the reactivation request. If Microsoft grants a new activation code, well and good, but what if Microsoft denies the request?

Users of Parallels may also be required to reactivate Windows if they update to a new version of Parallels (which necessitates the installation of a new version of Parallels Tools).

All these are just unacceptable to me. I still use Windows XP, but it is a Corporate version without activation, so at least I do not have to worry about being hit with the reactivation request. And as the author states it is pretty easy to get around the "Genuine Advantage" validation if you search hard enough. I do have several copies of legitimate versions of Windows XP but I do not use them now.

By the way, I will not upgrade to Windows Vista since there is no way to avoid the activation.

Also, other softwares which have their own methods of activation such as Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office also presumes all the perspective users are thieves and demands "activations" to prove their innocence. If the computer hardware changes "significantly" such as booting the Boot Camp partition under Parallels, then a further "reactivation" will be required to prove their innocence for another time. Imagine what a hassle this is if you use several pieces of software that requires activation. Not to mention the possibility that the activation schemes may conflict with each other.

For all these reasons I make it a point to avoid any software with activation as far as possible.