One In Five Windows Installs Is Non-Genuine

snib writes "Microsoft disclosed Monday that, according to reports collected by the notorious Windows Genuine Advantage tool on millions of users' PCs, 22% of all Windows installs do not pass its validation tests and have therefore been deemed non-genuine. Quoting: 'Since WGA launched in July 2005, over 512 million users have attempted to validate their copy of Windows, Microsoft said. Of those, the non-genuine rate was 22.3 percent... [T]he Business Software Alliance... reports that 35 percent of the world's software is pirated (22 percent in North America)...'"

Comments

What a load of BS

[Anonymous Coward]

There's no way it's that low

Re:100% of Linux 2.6 installs contain stolen code

[CapitalT]

I'm not sure whether mod you troll or funny, but that's OK since I don't have mod points.

Who are the 4 saps who are paying?

[dwalsh]

I kid. Really, I kid.

Re:A la Bash.org

[binarybum]

"All you had to do was call Microsoft and they would have validated you over the phone"

    That's such a creepy statement. You are not valid without microsoft's consent... fortunately, for your convenience, you may be validated by telephone.
  For an additional $199, Bill Gates will baptize you over the phone.

Re:100% of Linux 2.6 installs contain stolen code

[x2A]

even the name, Windows, is a word stolen from the dictionary, made purely with letters stolen from the alphabet!