You don't.   Doesn't necessarily have to be cracked...just illegally used on more than one machine.  We get around that at work by buying MSDN and being a Microsoft certified partner.  We still track installs, though.  Best to be legal with software, especially your OS.  I guess Photoshop is going to use MS way of activation from now.  Can't say I blame them- I'm sure their piracy rate is amazing.

How does a company measure piracy? Why doesn't Stardock use some form of internet activation? Wouldn't that cut down on your piracy losses?

I hate software activation as an end user. More software activation will just push me closer and closer to open source alternatives. I understand that software activation is meant to prevent software piracy and that software piracy is a bad thing, but I don't appreciate having to go through these kinds of hassles with software I paid for.

Hus, our main products are subscription services.  Your serial number is verified before you can use it.  Galactic Civilizations uses this with the boxed version, also, for updates. Serial numbers for stand alone products also roll with each new release and are tied to the originating user account, so if a number is found, it's easy to trace it back to its owner. We don't go any further with it, because any more than that annoys the customer.

KarmaGirl, yep you and Jafo hit the nail on the head; flakey (going bad) chip on a dimm... Took it up to the local CompUSA with a friend that does Network support for them and they just swapped it out for a known good one. Said they would just send it back for a replacement with one of their RMA's.

It was loading up fine and then when a program attempted to access that board for read/write it would blow the kernal off and tell it, nope no more...

neat huh?

damn fast system, though I did not get to see it render anything, streaming video on this 1.5 mbit connection was like watching a DVD movie without buffering or any other issues one IE would load and Quicktime. It was really odd when I put it next to my P4 and loaded the same stream. The P4 had to load, chug, chug, chug and then start playing. but the G4 hit the site, Quicktime loaded and was rolling instantly....

The other thing that we do to make it easy on our paying customers is having an easy way to find your download link/serial number (which I wish all companies would do).  The main section of our support page will allow you to have your info emailed to your registered address.  Makes it a snap to redownload and install.  If you need to reinstall an Adobe download, for instance, you have to call them during their business hours so that they can reset the download for you....not too convienent....

IP, glad that you got it sorted out with little hassle.  Now your son can be in computing bliss again

Intel Celeron 2.4GHz Bare CPU W/ ECS L4VXA2 Motherboard (that includes Processor, Mobo) - $109

Mid ATX Case w/ 300W Power Supply - $29.99

Corsair 512MB PC2700 333MHz 64x64 XMS DDR Memory 184Pin - Model #CMX512A-2700C2PT - Lifetime Warranty - $89.99

Hitachi (IBM) 80GB DeskStar 180GXP 07N9685 UATA100 - Bare Hard Drive ( I really do not need 120 Gigs) - $80.00

52x24x52x BTC Internal IDE CDRW Drive - $49.99

Kaser 64MB AGP Video Card with nVidia's GeForce4 MX440 3D Chip - $59.99

Airlink+ - Model #ASHOVIA - 10/100Mbps PCI Network Card - $6.99


TOTAL=426.00

So I went over a little. I usually do not get a Nvidia video card.

Karmagirl: it can be done. When you buy a prebuilt system you pay for the name. I am sure your system costs more than this one does. I will save my money and build one.

Tech cat: I have my ways but I will say I have never had to call Microsoft. And no, I am not using a Pirated copy of XP.

Tech cat: I have my ways but I will say I have never had to call Microsoft. And no, I am not using a Pirated copy of XP.

hmmm, you won't say how you manage to get around it. Must be either against the EULA or against the law.

it's called typing in the 25 digit serial number. Thats all it asks me for.

Where did you get your copy of XP pro from? XP Home asks for both the serial number and asks to activate with Microsoft within 30 days. XP Pro from a store like Best Buy or Wal-Mart does the same thing. The only legal version of XP Pro I am aware of that does not require software activation is an expensive version for installing on more than one PC for business customers.

Its been a long time I do not remember where I bought it. I never have had to call Microsoft to activate windows. Everytime I run the activation thing it says XP is already activated.

Does XP give you that icon in the system tray reminding you to activate until you do run the activation? Once you are done activating then it says it has already been activated. Have you installed your copy on other PCs before?

No XP does not give me that icon. I have only installed on computers I own. 2 to be exact.

I hope it's some cracked version you got off of ebay. Did your copy come in a box, and is the label side of your installation CD shiny?