All those running pirated Windows XP - read this!

[Valhalla1]

Biting the hand that pirates it
Another change seeks to curb about 90 percent of Windows XP piracy. Microsoft introduced Product Activation with the operating system, which uses a numeric key to lock the software to the hardware. But code stolen from a large Microsoft customer allowed rampant illegal Windows XP copying. People using Windows XP with the stolen key will not be able to apply the service pack or any future updates available from Microsoft's Web site

Pulled from here

 

[Need4Speed]

nothing to worry about in my eyes. there are keygens out there that produce valid keys that even MS can't tell are fake. Anyone with a non-corp (read Devils Own Distro) could easily re-install with that keygen. Besides, I'm sure that there will be a hack around it before the SP even gets out.

 

[DaveR]

Originally posted by: Need4Speed
nothing to worry about in my eyes. there are keygens out there that produce valid keys that even MS can't tell are fake. Anyone with a non-corp (read Devils Own Distro) could easily re-install with that keygen. Besides, I'm sure that there will be a hack around it before the SP even gets out.

The same already happened to Office 2000 and XP. Keys were then posted with a registry hack to then allow the update!

 

[bsobel]

Funny, I remember have a thread about this a few months ago. I had mentioned that MS did this with Office in the past and would likely do it again with XP. A couple of users claimed it would be illegal for MS to do such a horrible thing to those that steal... I guess it's not illegal eh?
Bill

 

[GrumpyMan]

OOOOHHHHNOOOOO!!!!!!.........oh yeah, I payed for my copy.....oops, nevermind.

 

[Blayze]

I knew it would only be a matter of time before this happened. Although I bet there is a crack before it is released.

Is microsoft going to be doing this to Windows 2000, 98, etc...? I know tons of people probably have the same CDKey on those too.

 

[slicksilver]

whatz the problem?.........they would not update XP then..........I dont think windows XP has that many bugs.......as simple as that

Raj

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: rajkanneganti
whatz the problem?.........they would not update XP then..........I dont think windows XP has that many bugs.......as simple as that

Raj

(added bold to highlight hilarious text)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

why does MS even try? they just end up looking foolish and ineffective. same as usual i suppose. not that i condone pirating their software, because that would involve using it, and thats always a no-no

 

[FuManStan]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: rajkanneganti
whatz the problem?.........they would not update XP then..........I dont think windows XP has that many bugs.......as simple as that

Raj

(added bold to highlight hilarious text)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Everything works fine for me and many others. Whether there are a bunch of bugs under the hood doesnt really matter to most of us =)

 

[DJediMaster]

The first service pack for XP will be warezed before it is even released. And you don't necessarily have to get the updates from the windows update feature as you can download them individually and install.

 

[bacillus]

me wonders why am I reading this as I've got a legit copy??

 

[imgod2u]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if people could pirate WinXP, which you cannot download for free and avoid activation, why would not allowing them to download it for free personally be any harder to get past? "Hey, you got a valid WinXP key right? Send me SP1".

 

[Dreadogg]

It still will have some impact on the less informative community, making there little effort to do so well worth the outcome! In all reality this will make them more money!

 

[mastertech01]

This makes me weep for all those peeps who spend 1000-2000 dollars upgrading their puters and cry because they have to spend a few bucks on a legit OS.

Or you can get a NIX for free and pull your hair out..
Or you can run Win 2k, WIn 98, Win Me, etc

XP can be obtained very reasonably in legit version... why make your life complicated. All you do is screw things up for those of us who do pay. IMHO

 

[Dreadogg]

This makes me weep for all those peeps who spend 1000-2000 dollars upgrading their puters and cry because they have to spend a few bucks on a legit OS.

what in the world is a puter?LOL that sounds kinda herby!

 

[Hector13]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey
why does MS even try? they just end up looking foolish and ineffective. same as usual i suppose. not that i condone pirating their software, because that would involve using it, and thats always a no-no

I, for one, don't think MS really tries (or really wants to try). MS Office and Windows are so damn popular because everybody grows up using them. I know for a fact that about 80% of the people i knew in College (and probably even highschool) had pirated versions of office and windows. None of use were going to pay 200+ dollars for using word or excel. I think MS realizes this. If people can use free versions of office at home or when growing up, they will be more comfortable with MS software when they are at work so companies (who can't use pirated versions) will purchase MS products.

If MS actually stopped pirating cold, they would probably lose about 25% of their userbase. And I am sure, if they wanted to, they could easly stop all but the most extreme piraters.

Not only would this lose of customers hurt MS, it would propbably triple the demand for alternatives (like bsd, linux, openoffice or others).

 

[nortexoid]

already read this - it's a joke.

1) a workaround comes out real fast.
2) people just don't update...so what?

anyone using pirated copies of winXP is not gonna go out and pay a crap load of money so they can have an updateable version...is an update worth hundreds of dollars when u already have a fully working copy?

MS might as well just accomodate the pirates (arrr!) and let them update so they at least have a more stable version of a crummy OS

 

[Workin']

A legitimate copy of Windows XP Pro is $140 at newegg.com

If you can afford a $300 graphics card to upgrade the $300 card you bought just 6 months ago there's NO reason why you shouldn't be able to come up with the money for a legal copy of your OS. You're just being an a--hole.

If you're going to use it, you should pay for it. If you hate MS for one reason or another, then don't use their software. All stealing it proves is that you have no morals.

 

[Nothinman]

Besides the fact that you have no morals it proves you're pretty stupid too. Spending all that effort to steal and use software you don't like made by a company you don't like which could possibly get you fined or thrown in jail when you could spend the time learning to use of the many alternative systems that are legally free and generally better anyway.

And the fact that you can't update that copy of XP is really bad, considering all of MS' security concerns.

 

[Need4Speed]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Besides the fact that you have no morals it proves you're pretty stupid too. Spending all that effort to steal and use software you don't like made by a company you don't like which could possibly get you fined or thrown in jail when you could spend the time learning to use of the many alternative systems that are legally free and generally better anyway.

And the fact that you can't update that copy of XP is really bad, considering all of MS' security concerns.

Not likely....I hardly doubt that the MS police is going to start knocking on anyone's door soon. And I wouldn't generalize people using warez as having no morals and/or being stupid.

 

[xynder]

Not likely....I hardly doubt that the MS police is going to start knocking on anyone's door soon. And I wouldn't generalize people using warez as having no morals and/or being stupid.

 

[Nothinman]

Not likely....I hardly doubt that the MS police is going to start knocking on anyone's door soon. And I wouldn't generalize people using warez as having no morals and/or being stupid.

Unlikely != not going to happen.

So stealing is right now?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Not likely....I hardly doubt that the MS police is going to start knocking on anyone's door soon. And I wouldn't generalize people using warez as having no morals and/or being stupid.

Unlikely != not going to happen.

So stealing is right now?

Of course, how else would I afford a copy of Microsoft Windows after I bought the latest GeForce 1.6.3.5? I mean come on, it should be free!

Yeah, whatever.

 

[TheWart]

or you could just go with linux, and not worry bout any of this