From: "Rich Gauszka" 

So far due to the MS brain-dead WU 'Real Windows' authentication scheme
I've had two friends ( already a bit paranoid about Windows Update ) that
will probably avoid the site like the plague from now on

Both PCs, 2 laptops, are /were running legal and registered versions of XP.
One an IBM A21M was upgraded to XP years ago. The other ( Vaio )came with
XP pre-installed 1 1/2 years ago. The people were in a panic this morning
when they received a message

"This copy of Windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can
log on. Do you want to activate Windows now? Yes/No."

Nice way to fight piracy Microsoft - NOT!!!!!

There should be a mechanism for checking for legal versions that doesn't
send computer phobic people into panic. The current scheme doesn't help
getting those people to return to WU for critical patches either

FWIW once they called the 800 number they were able to follow the
pre-recorded instructions and now have 'activated' computers again


Looks like Mike Miller was correct

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5