# Microsoft, OUCH! Probe Ouch!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ouch-probe-ouch/150693>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 24, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ouch-probe-ouch/150693 "2003-01-24T20:19:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mr.Moonlight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Mr.Moonlight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moonlight)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ouch-probe-ouch/150693/1 "2003-01-24T20:19:43Z")

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If I go to the Microsoft Update site, it takes just under 10 seconds for them to see what I need in the way of updates/patches.  
If I type a keywork search in my Registry it takes considerably longer to produce a result, so I am confident that MS is only checking the contents of my Win Update folder.  
However, let us say that in a weak moment I downloaded from a file sharing site, Office XP, to help with a school project. Can’t afford the original and will dump the download once project is completed.  
My question: can/is Microsoft capable of seeing more via something they installed during an Update session than I am lead to believe?  
When I go to the Update site and they say, “Drop 'em and bend over!” can they see clear to my tonsils?

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ouch-probe-ouch/150693/2 "2003-01-24T20:26:59Z")

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It’s worse than that. If you have the latest and greatest version of XP, it will tell on you without your even having to go to Update.

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**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ouch-probe-ouch/150693/3 "2003-01-24T20:28:21Z")

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I’m not sure this is appropriate thread material but I have, let’s say “consumer friendly” versions of MS products and I am able to update and download patched with no problem.

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**Author:** ![PumiceT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@PumiceT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PumiceT)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ouch-probe-ouch/150693/4 "2003-01-24T20:29:20Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Mr. Moonlight \*  
> **My question: can/is Microsoft capable of seeing more via something they installed during an Update session than I am lead to believe?**

Yes.

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Mr. Moonlight \*  
> **When I go to the Update site and they say, “Drop 'em and bend over!” can they see clear to my tonsils?**

Not literally, but yes. I had a bootleg of XP that had a notoriously widespread Product Key. It wouldn’t allow me to update SP1 (service pack 1) because it knew I was using a bootleg.

Most likely you won’t run into this problem, because you’ll dump the software as soon as your project is done. 😉