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Windows Nag Windows to Counter Piracy

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the pirate-vein-rupture dept.

Vicegrip writes "Microsoft is enhancing its Genuine Advantage program in the US, Australia, UK, Malaysia and NZ to now include persistent nag screens to remind that your version of Windows is not licensed. These nag screens will keep appearing until you license your version of Windows or, presumably, convince Microsoft they've made a mistake."

2 of 548 comments (clear)

  1. More interesting: how it's described. by millia · · Score: 5, Insightful


    From my standpoint, what was more interesting was:
    a) This was a high priority item. Yes, this is as important as fixing IE flaws. Surely.
    b) How it's listed in the license agreement:
    MICROSOFT PRE-RELEASE SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS
    MICROSOFT WINDOWS GENUINE ADVANTAGE VALIDATION TOOL

    So they're putting BETA software into high priority updates?

    --
    stored on computers from birth to the grave
  2. Re:Next move... by lostvyking · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Windows Vista is becoming more and more "Windows XP warmed over". It seems to be less and less about innovation and improvement...and more and more about re-selling Windows XP with stronger piracy protection. At this point, what is new about Vista that cannot already be achieved with third-party software and drivers? This all translates to Vista being written for their own benefit rather than for the benefit of the users. So far, like the new version of office coming out...I have yet to see anything that is new that will compel me to purchase it.

    Now, if they offered a scaled down version that contained only the most necessary of drivers and a simple user interface to access drives and programs (think 32-bit safe mode) that I could then build it up from there, I would jump on it in a heartbeat.