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Microsoft Says Free Windows 10 Upgrades For Pirates Will Be Unsupported
An anonymous reader writes with this story about some of the fine print to Microsoft's offer of Windows 10 upgrades to pirates. "When Microsoft confirmed it will offer free Windows 10 upgrades to pirates worldwide, many were shocked. VentureBeat has been trying to get more details from the company, which disclosed today that after PCs with pirated copies of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 are upgraded to Windows 10, they will remain in a 'non-genuine' status and Microsoft will not support them. 'With Windows 10, although non-genuine PCs may be able to upgrade to Windows 10, the upgrade will not change the genuine state of the license,' a Microsoft spokesperson told VentureBeat. 'Non-genuine Windows is not published by Microsoft. It is not properly licensed or supported by Microsoft or a trusted partner. If a device was considered non-genuine or mislicensed prior to the upgrade, that device will continue to be considered non-genuine or mislicensed after the upgrade. According to industry experts, use of pirated software, including Non-genuine Windows, results in a higher risk of malware, fraud — identity theft, credit card theft, etc. — public exposure of your personal information, and a higher risk for poor performance or feature malfunctions.' Yet this doesn't provide enough answers. After a pirate upgrades to Windows 10 for free, does this 'non-genuine' version expire and become unusable after a certain period of time? Does no support mean no security updates for pirates?"
They have a similar policy with Home Usage Policies. It's a "Ghost" License, not really a true license with warranty rights, support, transfers etc.. You can use the product legally, but you don't own any license. don't expect to be able to transfer the policy or seek technical support.
This copy won't expire, but you can't really re-sell it, transfer it or seek any other benefits. The product will technically "work" fine and will receive updates and so on without issue. One area which isn't guaranteed is if Microsoft continue this trend of free upgrades from earlier OS, they might not permit free upgrade for this pirate/amnesty copy.
Jason.
Disallowing security updates to run on non-genuine copies of Windows is not exactly in Microsoft's best interest.
The determined Real Programmer can write Fortran programs in any language.
This whole situation reeks of left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing...
Oh well, I got my legit win7 licenses through A) student deals and B) family packs, so *if* I choose to upgrade, I'll be "genuine".
TBH I just hope the games I play get proper Linux ports so I can finally dump windows entirely.
What about all the PCs that were shipped with valid licenses, but for whatever reason, techs (such as myself) have had to install a fresh copy of Windows on the box. Could be a failed drive, or other failed hardware, or whatever, reason doesn't matter too much. The point is that it shipped with a legit copy of Windows, and often times doesn't have a recovery disk or an OEM copy of Windows. What are we supposed to do then as techs? Tell the customer "SUCKS TO BE YOU" or "GOTTA PAY FOR THE THING YOU ALREADY PAID FOR, AGAIN" - or just suck it up and install a "non-genuine" license key on the box? Are these users totally SOL out of having a genuine upgrade to Windows 10 because the previous version of Windows that shipped with the system became broken?
Microsoft doesn't want Windows machines to cause the amount of malware and exploits on the web to explode far beyond current levels. They'll continue to get security updates for sure. But it does mean that if they call in to MS support, the agent won't help them without a valid key, and there may be some non-security Windows updates which will be restricted.
What Microsoft is warning people about is that hackers may have trojans, keyloggers, etc. built-in to the OS from the start. I don't know why this would be a danger with a "non-genuine" Windows 10 downloaded from MS, but that's been the danger with previous non-genuine versions of Windows.
I'm still waiting on my free upgrade from Vista.
However, I'm one of the few who liked Vista, and still run it (on the system I bought it with, a core 2 duo E6850, XFX 650i motherboard, and a brand new (old) gtx 470 graphics card I got off ebay for £29).
Who actually calls Microsoft for support? They should scrap Retail, OEM, System builder, etc. and just have With Support $X, Without Support $Y.
Microsoft is going to allow people with pirated copies of Windows to upgrade by essentially giving away pirated copies of Windows 10? They should just get it over with and give away a "play for free" version of Windows.
"Upgrades for Pirates" is this week's winner for new favorite phrase.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
> If it's free, I'll upgrade my laptop from Win 7 to Win 10. But if it's a subscription model as rumoured, I'll stick with 7
Same here. Same reason I'm sticking with older versions of Adobe products. (They've migrated to a subscription model.)
Of course, over the long term, I'm assuming that there will be a different product I can migrate to in the future.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
lol
"If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
What's wrong with Windows 7 that makes you want to upgrade?
I'm still running Vista, with (mostly) the same hardware I bought this system with literally 10 years ago. Directx11, stability measured by power cuts, simple to run.
Or really good copy protection and a small customer base who doesn't mind paying you.
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
Make that 8 years ago.
You bought a Windows LAPTOP to run database software???? Please tell me this is for a portable development and test environment and not for actually doing something?
Also, why bother with the big named SQL database offerings on a laptop? It's got to be insanely expensive to have all three of those licensed for all your cores on a laptop. Why not just use a cheaper stand in like MySQL or something that's free? Unless of course you are just doing development work and your production environment requires all these vendors.... In which case, you need to be working on getting rid of one or two of these products...
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
"Unsupported"? As in "Just like pretty much any version that isn't Professional or Enterprise with a sufficiently large yearly spend by your organization that we'll actually have an engineer take your phone calls"?
This isn't exclusive to Microsoft; but it certainly includes them: Except in the occasional case of some indie hero/martyr; or heroically expensive software priced like it includes hours of a technical expert's time because it in fact does, software isn't really 'supported'. If you are reasonably lucky and persistent, an issue with some mass market shrinkwrap software might get examined, because of the risk that it will affect enough other customers; but you didn't pay enough(and your bug report probably wasn't informative enough) to be worth the trouble alone. On the other side of the coin, the guy who paid nothing certainly didn't pay enough, and his cracked copy probably isn't treated as representative; but he'll get as patched as you do, in the end.
Software support is hardly valueless(indeed, some companies sell little else, either because their product is FOSS or because it's some ERP-stem-cell-line capable of anything but fit for nothing without months or years of customization); but it is something that you can live with only indirect access to(if the Dell XYZ runs Win10 so that they can sell it to corporate customers with Software Assurance that probably means the drivers will work just fine for me, and if they don't enough of the real customers will run into similar issues that it might get fixed); and it is something that you already almost entirely don't get for your $60 game or $100 OS.
If 'unsupported' is the only defect of the pirate version; that effectively means that home and small business SKUs are now priced at $0.
Does that mean I can't get on MSDN to get an answer to my question that doesn't answer the question?
But seriously, what does "unsupported" mean for MS? No updates? In other words, even more unpatched, insecure spamchuggers? I doubt that's going to affect any of those that are already, we just might get a few more of these.
Thank you Microsoft. No, I mean it! As long as you exist, I'll have perfect job security.
It's a good time to be in IT security.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
The best copy protection, in my experience, is a complex program and good customer support.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
The main reason I currently run Win8.1 is for Hyper-V. Unlike its predecessor Virtual PC, it actually supports Linux guest VMs, and it also does it well. Probably the only missing feature is the ability to share folders between host & guest. It works so much more smoothly than VirtualBox. Little things like being able to use an active ftp connection from a VM, rather than forcing passive mode (yes, people still use FTP in 2015) or have the VM suspend/resume when the host is rebooted automatically is awesome (especially when you leave your laptop at work on the weekend updates are applied).
Granted, the Win8.1 UI generally sucks - too much crap I don't care about forced into the main start menu by default - but it only takes about 10 mins to clean that up and get stuff I actually use pinned to the start menu or task bar. My 90% most commonly used apps are just pinned to the task bar - Visual Studio, Outlook, IntelliJ, MTPuTTY, etc, so I rarely even see the Win8.1 start menu. IE & the Windows Store are the very first things removed/unpinned.
It was the cheapest i7 option out there, and gave me portability for when I want it. It's not like I'm running servers -- I just need to be able to check script syntax by *creating* the database instances. Performance is a non-issue.
Besides, if a single user can swamp a database even on a laptop, then the database isn't worth developing for. Don't forget -- even laptop hardware is nearly 1000 times as powerful as "servers" were when these products first came out.
I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
Nothing is "wrong" with it -- I just don't want to end up being a die-hard "next generation XP user" who is stuck on an obsolete version of the OS. If I can get on the newest edition for free, why not? At least that way the updates will keep coming for more than another year or two -- and most of my hardware is kept running for a decade before it gets replaced.
I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
Ever hear of "developer editions"?
I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
This isn't year 2000 anymore. Most of the commercial database vendors have "developer editions" available for free. There's usually a bunch of restrictions such as total database size, number of concurrent connections (usually 1) or local access only. Microsoft has made a pared-down SQL Server available for free under monikers such as "Compact Edition", "Express Edition" and (I think?) "Embedded Edition". Currently, with SQL Server 2014, it's Express Edition and a size limit of 10 GB per database. I don't see a connection limit specified, just a compute restriction of "the lesser of 1 socket or 4 cores". I've seen some Windows games utilize this engine to store game assets.
Two exact opposite versions of a single event
microsoft-offers-pirates-amnesty-and-free-windows-10-upgrades
microsoft-says-free-windows-10-upgrades-for-pirates-will-be-unsupported
Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
"the agent won't help them without a valid key"
Not a genuine advantage with 99% of users (pirates included) outside the US (figure pulled off my behind). When was the last time you called tech support for support and not visit some online forum or your local tech guru.
The real issue: will the software police break down your door if you get reported using a legally upgraded "pirate" version? Can you just say, but the kind folks at Redmond say I get a pass, my sins have been forgiven?
Where it's been possible to test, closed source code has more bugs than open source code.
Meanwhile, open source means you can FIND those bugs, even without it being exploited, whereas you generally have to wait until it's been exploited to find it in closed source applications. Therefore your count is incorrect. Secondly, Linux includes a shitload more applications than Windows OS does, therefore your count is including things like Java and Addobe vulns as Linux ones, where they don't get counted, yet still exist, for Windows.
Oh, and way to manage to get the obscurity thing wrong, dude.
And why are we surprised enough somehow this is new. People STEAL the software... They get no love from MS.
If you can't afford windows there's actually useful open source alternatives. Just use that. Why someone would steal software when you can go open source and be legit make snow sense to me....
Peace, or Not?
Any windows "update" without providing domain membership & policies or RDP capabilities is worthless and will be (& has been) replaced with Linux. If your windows game wont at least run under wine, then I wont be purchasing it. WTP is filled with useless 'features' "Picture of the Day", "live" tiles, sports, weather, disabled/deleted where possible. Needs a pre-installed group policy/wizard to turn such bloat off.
There is no right to feel safe thru security vaudeville at the expense of everyone's freedom, privacy and tax money.
The best copy protection, in my experience, is a complex program and good customer support.
The obsessive control freaks who run major corporations will never be satisfied with this approach.
It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
But I will stick with Win 7 anyway.
I don't want a phone/tablet OS on my desktop
According to industry experts, use of pirated software, including Windows, results in a higher risk of malware, fraud — identity theft, credit card theft, etc. — public exposure of your personal information, and a higher risk for poor performance or feature malfunctions.
Corrected. The term "non-genuine" is not needed--it is superfluous. The sentence is correct with *any* version of Windows. All the damn thing is is a bunch of bits, doesn't matter if they come on a piece of plastic that Microsoft sold to some retailer or through a copyright-infringing file downloaded over the Internet. Either way it will eventually become infected by countless bits of invasive garbage for the vast majority of users. It's just that with Microsoft's version, at least it doesn't come pre-bundled with that junk. At least, by some definitions it doesn't. I would say that with the new Windows "apps" and their advertisements, the operating system comes with adware. And I doubt that many people would argue that various components of Windows have fit in the category of spyware for years now.
Are these rumours founded, or just the usual baseless conjecture we see before a major Windows launch? Serious question :)
I was going to call you out on your paranoid nonsense, but then I noticed you spelled MS with a dollar sign! I've never seen that before, and it struck me that because of that, you must really understand Microsoft's intentions, business model and their plans for the future. You are a sage. You are providing invaluable information for the greater computing community. You, sir, are the saviour of the world.
Back in the real world: If you are worried about MS getting a hold of your host GUIDs, MAC addresses and so on, you shouldn't be using Windows anyway. Feigning outrage only serves to make you look like a moody, entitled princess.
What's wrong with Windows 7 that makes you want to upgrade?
Nothing, other then the problem that it will stop getting updates within the next few years. So if you want to continue to receive security updates, you have to move to Win10.
Which, fortunately for Microsoft, is getting good press and good reception unlike Win8.
Wolde you bothe eate your cake, and have your cake?
Since Windows support is pure bullshit, it's not worth paying for.
Since there are no other Microsoft products worth paying for, I don't see where their revenues are going to come from.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Microsoft has outright said that "free for a year" means "you have one year to redeem the offer. If you redeem it, it's a full copy, not a subscription." The subscription stuff was just dopey clickbait by a couple of disreputable sites.
Yes, but this guy/gal claims to have *purchased* software and development stuff is usually free, or part of a development kit that you buy as part of your support agreements. Licensing costs are not an issue...
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
"'Non-genuine Windows is not published by Microsoft."
What the heck does that even mean? A bit identical copy of Windows that is not accompanied by a legitimate license is suddenly not published by Microsoft? Who is it published by? No one?
I plan to support it using the same method I use for any tech products these days.
There are other reasons though, better hardware if I assemble the box myself
Has it become common to assemble a laptop yourself since I last checked?
Say - you're not Thetan, are you?
Please go seek out professional help. A psychiatrist, a psychologist, a minister, a friend . . . anyone. At the rate you're going, you'll end up doing the mandatory Thorazine Shuffle out at the Laughing Academy before too much longer.
What outrage? I started by stating that I wasn't worried about any of this - my copy of Windows is Genuine(c), provided by my OEM manufacturer (Gateway). I was merely pointing out that one should look twice at free goodies, and don't give me any of that "gift horse" schtick. I applaud M$'s decisions here, but I am fairly certain they're not acting from altruistic motives. Just sayin'.
Historically, MS achieved market dominance by other means, and before there was widespread copying-with-a-license.
And the period when unlicensed copies were increasing the most also lines up with Apple's renewed market share, and with open source offerings being widely known about.
It may or may not be true that the unlicensed windows installs prevented people in various countries with low cost of living from switching to OSS. It makes sense that it would be true. But it is guaranteed to have taken place well after the peak of MS market share, and isn't available as a potential cause of said market share.
Not everybody cares about "community mods." [...] I play chess
Then let me try a chess analogy. The forced-vanilla environment of the consoles is like not being able to agree with your opponent to randomize the starting position or use experimental pieces.
Tetris is already a thing, and runs fine anywhere.
Recent court rulings have threatened that.