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Black Screens For Unauthorized Copies of Windows

Posted by timothy on from the black-is-the-new-black dept.

arcticstoat writes "In a bid to deter people from using pirate versions of Windows XP, Microsoft is now updating its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) tool to introduce a few uncomfortable niggles for users of pirated versions of Windows. These include replacing the desktop wallpaper with a black screen every 60 minutes, although you can still replace it with your wallpaper of choice in the intervening period. As well as this, copies of Windows deemed to not be genuine will also have a translucent watermark above the system tray, which Microsoft calls a 'persistent desktop notification.'"

5 of 762 comments (clear)

  1. That's not too bad by faloi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At least there's not some odd hidden process that the users have no visibility to running in the background using resources.

    Oh wait...

    --
    "It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." -Albert Einstein
  2. Hmm... by Chris+Acheson · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Windows is shareware now?

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    AEIOU: open-source anonymous internet currency
  3. Re:Notifications by Sj0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Same here. I've got probably 3-4 proper, honest Windows XP licenses, but I keep on having to find new ones because the key either gets lost or decides it doesn't want to work anymore because Microsoft thinks I'm a thief.

    XP is the end of the line for me, because of these shenanegans. I've got an ubuntu CD ready for the day I just give up on Microsoft and their customer hating practices.

    Seriously, consider this. When I pirate, I've never been kept out of a product I steal. Never. Not once. However, I've lost thousands of dollars in software to stupid copy protection schemes as a legitimate customer. They are disincentivizing ownership. I'm acually better off stealing than paying for it.

    These idiots need a clue, and fast.

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    It's been a long time.
  4. Re:Notifications by mcmonkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seriously, consider this. When I pirate, I've never been kept out of a product I steal. Never. Not once. However, I've lost thousands of dollars in software to stupid copy protection schemes as a legitimate customer. They are disincentivizing ownership. I'm acually better off stealing than paying for it.

    I'm honestly do not mean to troll or flamebait, but it seems there's some Ayn Randian lesson there about the trouble with ruling honest people.

    Some regimes require criminals. If there aren't enough, they keep making laws until there are.

  5. Re:Notifications by mollymoo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The reason I never used the XP theme (I stuck with the Win2k look while I still used Windows enough to care) is that the window chrome is huge. I don't give a stuff about looks, but I do give a stuff about my screen real-estate being eaten up by "cute" windows. It's not as bad as huge transparent chrome, but it's bad enough.

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    Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News