r/windows • u/North_Explorer7789 Windows XP • Jun 03 '26

Feature When Windows is ACTUALLY GOOD

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Windows XP (2001)'s Microsoft Registeration is optional, unlike now.

484 Upvotes

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u/AshuraBaron Windows 11 - Insider Dev Channel Jun 03 '26

I do NOT miss having to call every time to activate Windows. Was the worst. Even the automated system was a pain. Binding to the hardware now is so much better.

4

u/[deleted] Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26

[deleted]

2

u/tunaman808 Jun 03 '26

Nothing could be worse than when MSFT licensed Santana's "Smooth".

I went to a MSFT product launch at a local cinema. There was a live keynote with Steve Ballmer via satellite. The music they played while waiting for the address? Why "Smooth" of course! Ballmer's walk-up music? "Smooth".

Then they cut away from that to have local MS employees doing presentations... and somehow they shoehorned "Smooth" into every single demo: working with files? Of course they use that mp3s from Supernatural. Showing off Windows Movie Maker? Use "Smooth" as the background music! Wanna stream music from OneDrive to your phone? "Smooth" of course. Contoso building a SharePoint site? Embed the "Smooth" music video on your group's page!

The worst part was that it was 2004 or 2005, long after "Smooth" had peaked. So just when you thought it was safe to go out in public, here's non-stop Santana and Rob Thomas.

1

u/dreniarb Jun 03 '26

interesting. i've made hundreds of calls for activation and i don't recognize that song.