I didn't say that Microsoft or any other software developer was on the same level as a government agency such as the police or the FBI. If I were a software company like Microsoft, I would want to do everything legally possible to not only protect the privacy of those who legitimatly own licences while at the same time prevent those licences from being illegally used. This absolutely does not mean that Microsoft peers into your hard drive to see what's on it. It simply means that your computer must contact Microsoft and get an unlock key for the registration key. This is accomplished by either one of two methods... internet ...or... telephone. Microsoft has every right to protect their software from being illegally used (i.e. pirated) and I'm sure that if they have hard evidence that you are using a pirated copy of their software, they'll want to notify the proper authorities. So if Officer Joe Schmoe of the FBI comes to my door to investigate a claim by Microsoft that I use pirated software, I'll have the receipts of my software purchases to couter their claim.We can all thank the less-then-ethical people who enjoy using pirated software for not only the high cost of software but also the means by which software must be activated before use. I don't like it anymore than the next person.

Hi,ofcourse I agree with your comments on the need to protect one's hard work.But, the point I was trying to make is simple: All these anti-piracy practices (and I've seen quite a few of them, my first computer was a TI99/4A !) share two common attributes:1. They have ZERO effect on the crooks (heck, most of them perceive them more like challenges than problems, propably leading to the exact opposite effect)and2. They make life harder and harder for the honest.now, where is the sense in that?Regards,Spiros HazapisAthens, GreecePS True, internet activation is not about "peeking into your HDD". Nevertheles, it does depend on producing a personalized "code" that is dependant on my harware config and possible other things that reside in my system (and no-one feels I need to know about). Since I have no way of knowing what's in that code, can you ASSURE me that MS, Ahead or Sneaky software inc is honorable and will not take advantage of the fact that their software "calls home" occassionaly? I mean, the fact that I spend approximately $1000 per month (I wish!) on computer hardware is probably useful to someone, wouldn't you say?Ofcourse I could just trust them... but then again, why should I? They sure don't trust me - not by asking me on a daily basis to prove I'm not a thief...

:D Ha ha ha! Yeah, they sure don't know a good thing when they see one! Say, comrade, have you any more soylent green? Hail Big Brother!

i don't bother with CDs and the likes. if i own the thing, nobody will ever force me to 1. call them when i want to do something with it (sans the stuff that's basically illegal)2. force me to dig for the CD/DVD whateverso here we are.... that leaves me where? that's right, circumventing stuff i actually bought. i've gotten used to it though i'll never support the theories of big corporations about how everyone should bow down to them so they can always know what you are doing with something you paid them money for (that's what activations basically do)

The only way to not use CDs with FS9 is to download a pirated copy, which makes you officially a pirate.Ken, Tom, can you take this up with proper authorities?

>The only way to not use CDs with FS9 is to download a pirated>copy, which makes you officially a pirate.>>Ken, Tom, can you take this up with proper authorities?There are no-cd hacks, cracks, or patches (whatever they're called) that in effect remove the check for the CD. These modifications though quite clever arn't guaranteed to work and in fact may damage critical system software. I don't personally recommend them but they are available for use by legitimate owners of FS9 who don't want to have the CD in the drive all the time.

Hello,>>The only way to not use CDs with FS9 is to download a pirated copy, which makes you officially a pirate.Does it really? Don't forget, he does hold a valid licence to use this piece of software. Furthermore, I don't think anyone can oppose his right to modify whatever resides in his computer in any way he deems appropriate. Am I wrong to belive this?Regards,Spiros HazapisAthens, GreecePS/ BTW in this specific instance though, I do not believe using the no CD is a good idea (I believe it will have a negative effect on the overall stability of the sim - which is not that great as it is, let alone modifying it's core components)