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Draconian DRM Revealed In Windows 7

TechForensics writes "A few days' testing of Windows 7 has already disclosed some draconian DRM, some of it unrelated to media files. A legitimate copy of Photoshop CS4 stopped functioning after we clobbered a nagging registration screen by replacing a DLL with a hacked version. With regard to media files, the days of capturing an audio program on your PC seem to be over (if the program originated on that PC). The inputs of your sound card are severely degraded in software if the card is also playing an audio program (tested here with Grooveshark). This may be the tip of the iceberg. Being in bed with the RIAA is bad enough, but locking your own files away from you is a tactic so outrageous it may kill the OS for many persons. Many users will not want to experiment with a second sound card or computer just to record from online sources, or boot up under a Linux that supports ntfs-3g just to control their files." Read on for more details of this user's findings.
Re — Photoshop: That Photoshop stopped functioning after we messed with one of its nag DLLs was not so much a surprise, but what was a surprise: Noting that Win7 allows programs like Photoshop to insert themselves stealthily into your firewall exception list. Further, that the OS allows large software vendors to penetrate your machine. Even further, that that permission is responsible for disabling of a program based on a modified DLL. And then finding that the OS even after reboot has locked you out of your own Local Settings folder; has denied you permission to move or delete the modified DLL; and refuses to allow the replacement of the Local Settings folder after it is unlocked with Unlocker to move it to the Desktop for examination (where it also denies you entry to your own folder). Setting permissions to 'allow everyone' was disabled!

Re — media: Under XP you could select 'Stereo Mix' or similar under audio recording inputs and nicely capture any program then playing. No longer.

2 of 1,127 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Keep on eating it by timmarhy · · Score: 0, Redundant
    no shit sherlock, if you buy it preinstalled or compatible hardware, obviously it'll work.

    what do you do when your hardware DOESN'T support linux??? you fucked that's what. you say the cell modem and finger reader don't count because you don't care about them, what kind of logic is that?

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  2. Re:...as a constitutional amendment by commodore64_love · · Score: 0, Redundant

    >>>My cut&pasted title got truncated and it looks awful now.

    GOOD. Subject lines are for describing..... shocking..... the subject of the message. It is NOT for the message itself. I am so sick-and-tired of people writing non-descriptive junk like "Hey have you ever..." and then I waste time reading some stupidity.

    Use the subject line to describe the subject. Show respect for your fellow citizens. It's called Netiquette.

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