license

Mon
18
Jan
Dennis Faas's picture

Microsoft Combats Pirated Software with 'Rental Rights'

Microsoft is proving that the old adage "If you can't beat them, join them" still holds true. Earlier this month, the company agreed to add a new software license option for U.S. customers called "Rental Rights" that, in a nutshell, allows companies ... to purchase Windows and Office licenses like never before. More than a few companies have expressed their desire to act as a "middle man" in renting or leasing Microsoft software to their customers. An Internet cafe, for example, would be interested in a deal with Microsoft. In failing to strike a compromise in the past, these ... (view more)

Fri
30
Oct
Dennis Faas's picture

Win7 Upgrade Trick 'Breaches License,' Says MS

Many users are taking up the offer for Windows 7 "Upgrade," which requires the user to have a pre-existing, legitimate copy of Windows 2000, XP, or Vista already pre-installed on the user's machine. However, Microsoft has recently confirmed it is ... technically possible to install an upgrade-only edition of Windows 7 on a machine that doesn't already have another version of Windows pre-installed. That said, the firm has also pointed out that doing so is an illegal breach of licensing conditions. Several websites have printed what they describe as 'workarounds', which use an upgrade ... (view more)

Fri
29
May
Dennis Faas's picture

Move Windows onto Another PC using Backup?

Infopackets Reader 'Larenal' writes: " Dear Dennis, I want to be able to backup my entire laptop's hard drive (including the Windows Registry ) and in case I have to change my laptop, I'd like to be able to restore the image in the new computer. Is ... this possible with Acronis True Image? Thank you. " My response: This is a great question. There is a workaround -- but unfortunately the scenario you've asked isn't possible. Here's why: You want to transfer MS Windows onto another PC. This isn't allowed by Microsoft because they want you to obtain a separate license for every PC you own. I've ... (view more)

Mon
03
Nov
Dennis Faas's picture

New Chip Technology Poses Threat to Homeland Security

Radio-frequency-identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. (Source: wikipedia.org ) Researchers at RSA Laboratories and the University ... of Washington recently released a report which studies the privacy and security vulnerabilities of the RFID tags embedded in the state of Washington's Enhanced Driver's License and Electronic U.S. Passport Cards. Electronic Product Code and RFID Electronic Product Code, or "EPC tags," are industry-standard RFID devices created as the ... (view more)

Thu
25
Jan
Dennis Faas's picture

Windows Vista: Roadmap and Purchase Guide

Confused about which flavor of Windows Vista is right for you? What about all those upgrade options and Vista add-ons? Hopefully, this brief guide will help you wade through the confusion. Windows Vista: A Brief Introduction If you haven't already ... heard the buzz, Microsoft will release Windows Vista, it's newest (long awaited) operating system (OS) on January 30, 2007 to consumers. In a nutshell, Windows Vista boasts a polished graphics display, improved security features, and a slew of extras that make day-to-day life easier. Depending on which version you purchase, Windows Vista retails ... (view more)

Wed
18
Oct
Dennis Faas's picture

Windows vs Linux: Free or Freedom?

Linux and "Open Source" software are "free." This means their license is a "free license," and the most common is the GPL (General Public License, otherwise known as the CopyLeft License). This license states that anyone is allowed to copy the ... software, review the source code, modify it, and redistribute it as long as it remains licensed with the GPL. Also, being free doesn't just mean free of charge, but also free as in Free Range (chickens?) and Land Of The Free! ;-) So why would you care about freedom when it comes to your operating system? Imagine that Microsoft disappears tomorrow (not ... (view more)

Tue
17
Oct
Dennis Faas's picture

Windows vs Linux: Ownership

Did you pay for Windows? Are you absolutely sure? If your computer came with a copy of MS Windows, then you most likely paid for it (even if the store didn't tell you). In fact, the price for a Windows license these days amounts to an average of one ... fourth of each new computer's price. So unless you obtained Windows illegally, it's a safe bet you probably paid for it. ;-) And unfortunately, a license of Windows doesn't imply that you own the software; it's like the road system and your driver's license: you bought and paid for your license, but you don't own the highway. In a nutshell, you ... (view more)

Fri
25
Jun
Dennis Faas's picture

SOS Crash Recovery nightmare

What would you do if your hard drive crashed and the data it contained was not recoverable? Worse yet -- what would you do if the software you used to backup your drive refused to work unless you paid the company for another license? Yesterday, ... Pippie1969 sent me the following email: " ... [Continuing on with your discussion on PC Security ], I thought I would share with you the following story. A little while back, I purchased 2 identical 120 gigabyte Western Digital (WD) hard drives. In April, one of the drive's crashed (totally), and I was not able to recover *any* of the data on the ... (view more)

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