[Microsoft product registration]

TRX
June 25, 2012
306:
I do it occasionally. It's a howling pain in the ass, as Microsoft has implemented a "conversational" interface that talks to you at random moments, with lengthy delays.

One of my clients has a secure internal network, as in "secure means no connection to the outside world." Separate switches, wiring, two machines per desk with KVM switches. A script periodically pings from each network space to addresses on the other, and will sound an alarm if it sees any alien packets. (for employees who like to play with wires...)

It's interesting how many commercial software applications - whose vendors swear don't need or use the internet - either refuse to install or report random errors when they can't talk to the mothership.

"Can't you just hook the server up to the internet for a few minutes so we can push this upgrade out to you?"

"What part of 'NO' are you having trouble with?"