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Microsoft To Begin Checking For Piracy
Curious Yellow 82 writes "Microsoft will begin checking for pirated copies of its Windows software when users attempt to update. Security updates are supposed to be exempt from the check. Upon detection of pirated software the user will be given the oppportunity to purchase a legitimate copy of the software for a discounted price, upon providing proof of purchase etc."
So if your copy of Windows is pirated, they'll prevent you from breaking it by not allowing you to install new service packs :)
Microsoft has detected an illegitimate copy of Windows....
The local FBI office is located 65 miles away...is this where you would like to go today?
I mean other then checking their database of registered windows users and comparing it to the computer
hmm I wonder how...
If you used the Security Center and set it to receive Automatic Updates automatically it would work, even with a counterfeit version of Windows.
Reference or proof, please?
I submit that Microsoft always tries their best to make things better, but overlooks some Monday detail that ends up shooting them in the foot. Yes, I'm aware that's just hearsay and conjecture, but those are kinds of evidence, your Majesty.
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This will be grand when employers start having update problems because employess (or even ex-employees) took copies of software home and now the machines in the office can't update.
I Am My Own Worst Enemy
How can they stop you? Well Jim... I suppose they could do a "whois" on 'civilwarflorida.com', and give you a call...
: p
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Your post is rational, reasonable, well though out and generally free of egregious spelling and grammar mistakes. You must be new here.
Uh oh. Looks like someone has a case of the mundanes!
But legal M$ users have been suffering these problems for years, and they haven't cleaned-up their act. Even after you announced what you had done, no one could tell if their copy had been deliberately boobytrapped, or was just a normal copy of Windows.
Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it. --Mark Twain
You mean we don't get French benefits?
Sweet, then I'll just pirate Windows, and when it asks me, I'll purchase at the discounted price. ;)
Microsoft's missing out on a golden opportunity here. They should let you go about your business with your pirated copy, then after using it for about 6 months, the update will pop up a screen offering to sell you a copy at a heavily increased price. "Hehehe... Now we have your data. Your pirated copy of Windows will be locked until you purchase our Windows XP PE (Pirate Edition) for a nominal cost of only $999."
OK, now to all of you Microsoft guys reading this post, I claim ownership of this idea. If you use it, I want 20% of the take.
-Arthur
Cave ne ante ullas catapultas ambules
...we don't get French benefits?
-Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music.
Years ago, cable companies would use a similar tactic to bust people who were actively stealing cable services.
Basically on the "pirated" boxes (blackboxes) or those who were "piggybacking" cable on their neighbor's connection junction, they would broadcast a "contest" for the next 100 people to call in. People who were letitimate customers and subscribers would never even see the "contest" broadcast.
If you called in to win the "t-shirt" or "trip to Jamaica", or whatever, they collected your address and other details. When you went into the cable company location to claim your prize, they gave you a nice shiny pair of bracelets and a trip to the local police department.
Don't fall for the "discount" on any Windows product. Use this as a means to get a "discount" on the whole thing, switch to Mac OSX or Linux.
We won't treat you like a criminal.
You misunderstand.
According to Microsoft, running Windows with any kind of security is NOT an authentic authorized use of their software.
Therefore you are in violation.
- For the complete works of Shakespeare: cat
Leela: Mundane Monkey lives for the weak end, sir.
Or, better yet, shut down all networking capabilities on any on any infringing copy.
Or non-infringing copy, if you wanted a +1 Funny.
c.
Log in or piss off.
the user will be given the oppportunity to purchase a legitimate copy of the software for a discounted price, upon providing proof of purchase (!!)
They should also be given a click-to-install-Linux-instead option.
Any program relying on (nontrivial) preemptive multithreading will be buggy.
"Automatic Updates automatically"
:)
From the "Redundancy Department of Redundancy"
My engineering program at my school allows us to download free legit copies of Windows XP Pro for home use.. But it makes us call Microsoft for approval.
My laptop has a Windows XP key on a sticker on the bottom - but first, the key doesn't work with any copy except the Toshiba recovery CD that formats my computer and installs a bunch of Toshiba crap and AOL advertisements. And, then I would have to call Microsoft.
So, I'm being like totally a software pirate because I don't feel like talking on the phone to some douchebag at Microsoft.
--- We need more Ron Paul!
I pirate software for a living. So long as I expect to get paid for my work it would be very hypocritical for me to support the legal software trade.
When the hard disk completely goes and I have to replace it, I'll be able to reinstall Gentoo Linux without paying anyone anything. ;-)
So I assume you've already paid your $699 to SCO for that machine?
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suwain_2
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I actually have it memorized.