Can a “Kill Switch in XP” kill MS profits?

By | November 23, 2006

» Is Microsoft about to release a Windows “kill switch”? | Ed Bott’s Microsoft Report | ZDNet.com

Two weeks ago, I wrote about my serious objections to Microsoft’s latest salvo in the war against unauthorized copies of Windows. Two Windows Genuine Advantage components are being pushed onto users’ machines with insufficient notification and inadequate quality control, and the result is a big mess. (For details, see Microsoft presses the Stupid button.)

Guess what? WGA might be on the verge of getting even messier. In fact, one report claims WGA is about to become a Windows “kill switch” – and when I asked Microsoft for an on-the-record response, they refused to deny it.

I’ve read several websites that indicate this. So I’m proposing my own solution. to this issue. I don’t know if it will work or not… But here goes…

Set up Linux as your host computer.
Then install a VMware type solution.
Install XP as a guest.
Install as many applications as you need for a particular purpose, e.g. Office or Openoffice.
Create this XP guest as an application.
You can then copy the file, no installation necessary on any machine. Just install the VMplayer and you’re away.

There are some downsides that I can see: Loads of Ram needed for even a modest purpose, but it will be virus safe; some applications may not let you do that, too.

But I like this solution.

I’m planning to try it just as soon as I can upgrade my own pc. It seems anything less than 1GB of Ram these days is just TOO small!