Black Screens For Unauthorized Copies of Windows

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.'"

Comments

Re:Notifications

[Sj0]

Make no mistake, I don't give them a free pass either.

I won't be buying any more games from Valve, among others, because they ship games with these tiny little access codes that you absolutely have to use every time you install a game. I've got games that I bought and have never played and never will, because my girlfriend's kids lost the access codes on the tiny little piece of cardboard. Instead, either going to pass on the game, or pirate it. At least if I steal it, I know I'll be able to play it.

There are games that do win though. The "copy protection" in World of Warcraft, for example, let me download a legitimate copy of the game, install it, and play. Astro-battle is the same. I have absolutely no problem with portable access to my favourite games.

Figures...

[frank_adrian314159]

Windows is pants

Re:Can you bypass using WGA at all?

[Hucko]

http://plan9.bell-labs.com/plan9/ http://plan9.bell-labs.com/wiki/plan9/installation_instructions/ there. Else Google is mining for text characters and will display a whole lot of options in return if you just put some in the little box.