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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."

12 of 810 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Yawn by MoonFog · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you used the Security Center and set it to receive Automatic Updates automatically it would work, even with a counterfeit version of Windows.

  2. Checked it this morning.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Corporate XP Pro still works FYI :-)

  3. wont stop anything by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Informative

    Several sites have the fulldownloads of the service packs and hotfixes etc...

    hell there are torrents available that will give you everything that are updated weekly.

    A buddy of mine recently offered me a CD of all XP updates including the lestes ones and his colleague at work was making a script to auto apply them all into a slipstream cd image.

    it will only stop the clueless casual non licensed software user. everyone else will not be bothered one bit.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  4. Re:I really hope that this is a pain in everyones by thesp · · Score: 5, Informative

    Also, an a Limited-User account, with all the activex security turned up (this is my current WinXP account for day-to-day tasks) the Genuine Advantage Tool fails to run, and requests a) Administrator rights and b) that I set my ActiveX security to Medium/Low. It then accuses me of having failed the test, and of having a counterfeit copy of Windows. So, I predict more security problems as people who have taken sensible security precautions are forced to abandon them for this tool.

  5. Re:Yawn by Solosoft · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not that I pirated my windows :/

    Service Pack 2 is a breeze. I have the first copy of XP. All you have to do is Download this and copy it to the root of your C drive. Open up the "Command Prompt" and goto your root of the drive. Type in "cdkey xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx" as in x's are your SP2 compatable CD key. Once you press enter you should see nothing come up. (if somthing does then find a working key). Once your CD key is changed then Goto this site and click "Download and Deploy Service Pack 2 for multiple Computers". Once you are done that install SP2 and your done.

    Hopefully this is some help.

  6. Re:Yawn by Tassach · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's "mundane detail", not "Monday detail". If you're going to quote Office Space, at least get it right.

    --
    Why is it that the proponents of "one nation under God" are so eager to get rid of "liberty and justice for all"?
  7. Look I already found a way around by Evil+Trigun · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/ you dont need to use windows update...

  8. Re:Yawn by vinohradska · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Globe and Mail has a pretty good story on the privacy implications of this. To quote from the article: "The company will scan machines for a variety of information, including product keys or software authorization codes, operating-system version and details on the flow of data between the operating system and other hardware, such as printers."

  9. Re:MSDN Universal??? Certified Training Partners?? by Solosoft · · Score: 5, Informative

    Guess what ... microsoft solved that with it's Corporate Version of Windows XP. (btw that's the copy you see on the internet and you might know it as "Devils0wn")

    One key works for everyone. Remember the key FCKGW-yada yada ;-).

    Wikipedia Article

    But if you use the CD key thing as I mentioned above it changes the Windows XP to another key such as the one the anonymous user above gave, service pack 2 will install and there is no annoying blocking of Windows Updates.

    Microsoft only wanted to stop the "casual pirater" considering every version of windows is already cracked. Not to sound like a mad pirate but to disable the activation is sadly VERY easy.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Cu rrentVersion\WPAEvents
    That's frickin it ... the "Activate me crap" dies ... and for all you tinfoil hats you don't need to reg your Windows XP. You think MS would of made it so easy if they didn't want people to pirate there OS. They would of made it so if some file isn't downloaded from there (encrypted of some kind) the OS simply won't work etc etc. No ... it's some silly regestry hack that takes less then 2 minutes to do and lasts the lifetime of the product. I know that the activation thing I mentioned above works in Windows XP MCE and Windows XP x64, im not sure about XP Pro ... if someone tries and has luck I wouldn't mind knowing.

    Hope ive been some help

    Solosoft

  10. HOW-TO BYPASS THIS by fluor2 · · Score: 4, Informative

    1. Check Windowsupdate for what updates you need
    2. Just go for the microsoft.com website and download any security update manually.

    Microsoft must always allow this, because many servers do not have internet, thus one must be able to download updates manually and e.g. burn them on a CD.

  11. Re:Pirated by Nqdiddles · · Score: 5, Informative

    I tried to use my store bought copy. I really did. But after a few hardware changes it stopped working and I had to call Microsoft (who don't seem to speak english very well) to get a new key. And then ten minutes later realised I still had an archive HD in the box. I took it out and got the same message again. I wasn't making another phone call, so I inserted a cracked windows cd and reinstalled the OS. Should the illegal version really be THAT much more user friendly than the store bought copy?

    --
    And that kids is how I met your mother.
  12. Please by Mensa+Babe · · Score: 4, Informative

    Sadly, for those of us who constantly change the operating systems on our "hobby" computer, we'll probably get marked that we've pirated their operating systems [emphasis added]

    And this is surprising?

    "As the majority of hobbyists must be aware, most of you steal your software. [...] One thing you do do is prevent good software from being written. Who can afford to do professional work for nothing? What hobbyist can put 3-man years into programming, finding all bugs, documenting his product and distribute for free? The fact is, no one besides us has invested a lot of money in hobby software. [...] Most directly, the thing you do is theft." (William Henry Gates III -- February 3, 1976 -- An Open Letter to Hobbyists)

    --
    Karma: Positive (probably because of superiour intellect)