WD is checking up on your serial numbers on your drive "Real Time" !

[Richard Cranium]

Like I said a few posts back.

This box runs a Maxtor.

I mistakenly clicked a DOS program icon for WD.
There were NO more boxes opened for me to click.

I did NOT agree to the WD invasion software, unless the DOS box was the "send" .exe..

Dunno, just thought you folks would enjoy the WD Picture

[Peter M]

Just to fill in the tech gap, drive serial numbers can be read from the "configuration data" in IDE drives, the same data from which things like capacity, supported interface mode, make and model and lots of other stuff are retrieved.

[Tygur]

You people are making a big deal over nothing. WD hard drives are great, and I see no reason to avoid them.

Originally posted by Richard Cranium
Like I said a few posts back.

This box runs a Maxtor.

I mistakenly clicked a DOS program icon for WD.
There were NO more boxes opened for me to click.

I did NOT agree to the WD invasion software, unless the DOS box was the "send" .exe..

Dunno, just thought you folks would enjoy the WD Picture

Let me get this straight. You double-clicked a shortcut for a DOS program, and it just opened for a split second, then closed. And this is proof of some sort of wrongdoing on WD's part?? Make a shortcut to just about ANY DOS program and see how long it stays open. Try attrib or even ping (without giving it an ip to ping). I don't see what the problem is.

A great many DOS programs expect some arguments on the command line. If they don't get them, they typically give an error or help screen, then close right away. That's probably what you saw. It could've also been an informational program that spit out details aout something, then closed immediately. If you actually ran it from the DOS prompt, you would've been able to actually see its output. This is no fault of WD's whatsoever.




Now, as for those Data Lifeguard Tools, if I understand correctly, these are DOS programs, primarily intended to be run from straight DOS after booting from a floppy. It would be next to impossible for these programs to send ANY information back to WD, regardless of what anybody tells you.



Judging from that Data Lifeguard Lifeline image, you probably volunteered for something, and that's how you got that. Did you install any Windows (not DOS) software from WD?

[Richard Cranium]

Tygur

Q.

Did you install any Windows (not DOS) software from WD?

A.
No.

Q.

You people are making a big deal over nothing

A.
This is YOUR opinion, not fact, just an obersvation, like ours.

Q.

Let me get this straight. You double-clicked a shortcut for a DOS program, and it just opened for a split second, then closed. And this is proof of some sort of wrongdoing on WD's part?

A.
Before you come off making brash statements like this, I heavily suggest that you take the time to read the entire thread.

[Tygur]

Originally posted by Richard Cranium
Before you come off making brash statements like this, I heavily suggest that you take the time to read the entire thread.

I did. I went through and read each and every single post in this thread before I made that post. Did I miss anything?

You said you installed no Windows software. Where did that image come from? It looks like it's a partial screenshot either from a website or some windows program. Let me know if I assumed wrong.

When I said this:
"Let me get this straight. You double-clicked a shortcut for a DOS program, and it just opened for a split second, then closed. And this is proof of some sort of wrongdoing on WD's part?"

..what did I miss? That is truly what it looks like, from reading your posts, especially this one:

Originally posted by Richard Cranium
I "know" how it got here now.

A week or so back I was having fits with a very DEAD WD.

I downloaded some of WD's stuff on this surfing box[AMD K6-3+] and forgot what one of the icons were in my downloads,, so I clicked it and a DOS screen flashed up for .004 seconds, and was gone.

This box has a MAXTOR drive in it I bet the host at WD spit when the Maxtor s/n hit it

I stand by my claim that it is very typical for a DOS program to flash open, then close a split-second later in normal operation. This is because they assume that DOS would keep its output displayed on the screen even after it is closed. Like I said, try attrib or some other DOS program to see what I'm talking about.


I'd also like to mention once again that it is next to impossible for a DOS program to "phone home". A Windows program is a whole nother story, though.

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

Folding@home has a command line program that "Phones home"

Any command line program can phone home, ping is capible of sending and recieving information. Same with FTP, another command line util in NT based OS'. There are many command line oriented programs that "Phone home" or have the capability.

[Tygur]

Command Line Program != DOS Program

Not all command line programs are DOS programs. The ones you mention are simply Windows programs that "look" like DOS programs. They will not run in DOS.

Data Lifeguard Tools is a collection of DOS programs that are to be run off a DOS boot disk.

[Richard Cranium]

Do I detect Hostility in this and the other remarks ?

We are quite simply attempting to have a discussion as to the merits of the Western Digital Corp checking up on the serial numbers on our personal computers.

You said you installed no Windows software. Where did that image come from?

Nowhere did I say that I did NOT install any Windows Software, I said I did not install any WD software in the GUI.

The image posted came from a program called Printkey, it allows you to grab any image anywhere[except BSOD's] even .pdf files and save them as varying image files.

Does this relate to the subject matter at hand, the installation of Windows software ?

Doc

[Tygur]

Maybe there might be a bit of hostility. For that, I apologize, as I don't like hostility, even from myself.

I was bothered when people started claiming that the Data Lifeguard Tools themselves were a problem, because that simply isn't true. I can't say much about any Windows program. But if you look back, many people are recommending staying away from DOS tools and boot disks given out by WD (and possibly others, I don't remember), which is unreasonable.

I am curious about what WD program the screenshot came from, though.

By the way, you did claim that you didn't install any Windows software in this quote:

Tygur

Q.

A.
No.

[MegalosSkylaki]

Which is understandable since they Posted before me.

Errr...I don't know about Mr. Dos.

But what I have decerned is increasing lack of Privacy on the WWW--which can only get worce once the Fed Govt gets into the act..is it the Homeland Security Act that will add more Computer tracking ?

And a lot of these "voluntary" sign-ups are like it's voluntary to pay for stuff...no money, no dinner. One of the reasons people check "yes" to EULA's --besides they're being 7 pages of Legalese, is they know the Program won't install without a "yes".

So like the Vampyre, internet loss of privacy can't enter your Home unless you invite it in. Problem is, an Invitation is when you plug your Computer into the Telephone plug.

Can't say I would specify any one Company...well, no, I could mention M$...as each seems to want a chunk of the Information Pie.

History has shown that once Information is gathered for one reason--no matter how benign--it can be used for another. Perhaps malign.

A PRIVATE DOOOOOG ['busted' from Sargeant ]