FSX-MS Why Does Microsoft Still Control Activation?

[MarkW 1,490]

Interesting, I just got a copy of FSX Gold delivered today from Amazon.  I needed it to get Acceleration so that my CS 727 works properly (long story).  Anyway, I was thinking that I hope the activation still works properly....but looks like this will not be a problem.

[CrownCityMisfits 58]

I've invested thousand in my wife, yet she still claims I don't own her. Should have read the UELA.

[JSkorna 137]

Mark,

 

Don't be concerned, activation will be fine. It still takes 15 seconds to type in a code and click a button. This is a bunch of to-do over nothing. 

[MarkW 1,490]

Mark,

 

Don't be concerned, activation will be fine. It still takes 15 seconds to type in a code and click a button. This is a bunch of to-do over nothing. 

 

My main concern is getting through the reinstall process without pulling what's left of my hair out.

[yellowjack 28]

I had to re-activate recently because I had upgraded my PC CPU. It had to be a telephone call and I found myself talking to an Indian call centre (what else?). I had problem reactivating because the respondent had never heard of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

 

If only it was always a code and button click. Sigh!

[vc10man 732]

I had to re-activate recently because I had upgraded my PC CPU. It had to be a telephone call and I found myself talking to an Indian call centre (what else?). I had problem reactivating because the respondent had never heard of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

 

If only it was always a code and button click. Sigh!

Precisely the point I was trying to make. I could barely hear that call-centreperson who sounded like she was on Mars. Thankfully, it's now done and dusted. I don't think I will bother with a hardware upgrade again, if this is the hassle involved. Why could it not have been as seamlessly as activating my PMDG 777-200L/R and -300ER?

[JSkorna 137]

UGH! Of course! Live Support stopped for FSX months ago. Call the automated service, plug in your key, they give you a NEW key, type in the NEW key and FSX will activate. That process takes all of a minute and you NEVER talk to a live person. End of problem.

[UK_Squiff 1]

You'll be able to buy it on Steam soon...then you won't have to worry about the activation

[n4gix 4,947]

But they have long abandoned the Flight Simulator scene, so what gives them the right to control something that they no longer have an active part in? Kind of GM going defunct and 50 years later telling you that you HAVE to buy spare parts for your Oldsmobile engine from THEM! Eh?

Rick, just be grateful that they do keep the activation servers active. How would you feel if you could NOT activate your copy?

 

The reason they do keep the activation process active has several reasons, of which one at least is legal. They don't want to be targets for Class Action litigation!

 

The overriding one however is more pragmatic. It literally costs them nothing since their activation servers and toll-free voice process serves for all of their software products. Their costs for keeping FSX activation available is literally much less than a decimal rounding error in the grand scheme of things.

 

By the way, Microsoft still sells FSX, Acceleration, and Gold versions via their online store!

[NathanHalley 0]

Even with the activation, it won't stop anyone who wants to get it without paying for it. In this case what it primarily seems to do is make it obnoxious for people who have legitimately paid for it.

[BeechPapa 32]

Precisely the point I was trying to make. I could barely hear that call-centreperson who sounded like she was on Mars. Thankfully, it's now done and dusted.

I had similar obstacles communicating with her, although I did not imagine her being on Mars. To me it sounded like she was somewhere deep in the Congo, jotting down my serial number over satellite phone as she fended off angry gorillas. The actual location of the Microsoft reactivation lady could be the stuff off legends.... Anyhow, once she took my serial number I never had an issue since. Knock on wood.

[JSkorna 137]

Even with the activation, it won't stop anyone who wants to get it without paying for it. In this case what it primarily seems to do is make it obnoxious for people who have legitimately paid for it.

And banks get robbed.

 

And computers get hacked.

 

And personal information gets stolen.

 

And we have to walk through metal detectors.

 

And we need passports to visit our southern neighbor, Canada.

 

I'm sure it's not TOO obnoxious to type in those letters and numbers every one or two or three years, is it?

I had similar obstacles communicating with her, although I did not imagine her being on Mars. To me it sounded like she was somewhere deep in the Congo, jotting down my serial number over satellite phone as she fended off angry gorillas. The actual location of the Microsoft reactivation lady could be the stuff off legends.... Anyhow, once she took my serial number I never had an issue since. Knock on wood.

 

The above posters tried the Live desk. You did things right by using the automated system. Two different things here.

[magentaline 1]

What if the hobo was rich enough to buy it from you? ....then you would have to to offer support for one tough old bit of steak 

[vc10man 732]

What if the hobo was rich enough to buy it from you? ....then you would have to to offer support for one tough old bit of steak 

:LMAO: :LMAO:

[NathanHalley 0]

No, but in this case it is doing literally nothing. The ONLY point is that it is an irritant to people who have legitimately bought it. There are software developers out there who agree with this point of view.

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2013/03/19/drm-hurts-companies-more-than-piracy-developer-argues/

 

 

 

And banks get robbed.

 

And computers get hacked.

 

And personal information gets stolen.

 

And we have to walk through metal detectors.

 

And we need passports to visit our southern neighbor, Canada.

 

I'm sure it's not TOO obnoxious to type in those letters and numbers every one or two or three years, is it?

 

The above posters tried the Live desk. You did things right by using the automated system. Two different things here.