But when I went to download the latest version of Defender, my computer had to pass the Geniune Windows Validation, which it passed.

There is an old saying. You can get people to do more with honey than with threats. No doubt, they are trying to force people to purchase Vista but I think that this will just add a lot more resistance to consumers upgrading to Vista.

I have heard many a Microsoft presenter say that the biggest competition for Office 2000, Office 2002 and Office 2003 is Office 97.

Does an appliance store refuse to service an appliance because it is 6 years old or 12 years. Of course not. If the vendor did this, then the consumer would just buy their replacement appliance from another vendor and NEVER do business again with the vendor, who set such arbitrary rules.

Microsoft lives in a very strange world, if it thinks that Windows 2003 Server is a consumer product.

SpywareDR,

I have been told that updates for the Defender beta will stop as of 12-31-2006. If this is so, then I don't see the point in installing it for 2 months. I really do appreciate your offer. If you find out that my information about the end of the deadline is wrong, then I would like to you to post the Defender beta here on VDR.

Thanks,

Linda