Okay, I understand Microsoft's logic in requiring a "validation code" or other form of validation before allowing downloads. But sadly it affects honest licensees of Windows products like myself negatively.

Tonight at my parents home, my brother installed an 802.11 wireless networking card in their validly licensed Windows XP Pro workstation. I installed the drivers from the accompanying CD-ROM. Their wireless network uses WPA2 encryption, and unfortunately the software from the CD-ROM did not include WPA2 functionality, and their installation of Windows XP Pro lacked support as well.

So I hop onto the net with my trusty Macintosh thinking I'll download whatever is necessary (KB893357) for WPA2 support under Windows XP, save the file(s) on my handy 2 gig USB thumb drive, take that to the windows box, and voilà all will be well.

No such luck! Thanks, Microsoft! NOT! Thanks instead for a headache!

I can't download the files to my Mac as it isn't running Windows and thus can't validate.

Yes, there are work-arounds. I could download the validator software, stick it on the thumb drive, copy it to the XP box, run it, get a validation code, hand-type the code in on my Mac, then download the software I wanted in the first place. But what a rigamarole of hoops Microsoft makes one jump through! Annoying!

So instead of taking the time to do just that, here I am griping on my blog. *chuckle*

I've just managed to put off the inevitable is all I've accomplished here. Now I must stop typing and go do just that. Or I could fire up Parallels and use my valid XP Pro license running there to download it. Either option is an unneeded annoyance that makes non-Microsoft alternatives look more and more pleasing to recommend to those around me.

So, Microsoft, get a clue! I'm running a Mac now and I love it. Perhaps if you didn't annoy your legitimate customers so much, they might stick with you. I only run XP for a very, very few applications. Sometime that reason might disappear, and then Microsoft will have lost me as a customer completely.

Well there ya have it, my Microsoft is a pain-in-the-neck peeve of the day.

UPDATE: -- 11:28 PM the same evening
I gave in, launched Parallels and downloaded the WPA2 Windows XP package from Microsoft. My Parallels-installed copy of XP Pro validated perfectly as expected. I even went so far, once my parents' computer was finally online, to validate their XP Pro installation—it validated perfectly. This annoyed Microsoft customer may suggest a Mac mini the next time the parental units need a computer system.