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Reply With QuoteIf you remember SP1 they did something like this, preventing you from updating. Will this get cracked as quickly or will this one be an end for all those people with pirated copies?
REDMOND, Wash. - Microsoft Corp. has kicked off a new program aimed at severely curtailing the ways people using pirated copies of its Windows operating system can get software updates.
When a computer user starts to download updates, the new program, called Windows Genuine Advantage, will scan the machine to see if it's running an authentic version of Windows.
If the program detects a counterfeit copy, it will offer two options:
_Customers who fill out a piracy report, provide proof of purchase and send in the counterfeit CDs will get a free copy of Windows Home Edition, which retails for $199, or Windows Professional, which sells for $299.
_Those who simply submit a piracy report — giving details of when, where and from whom the operating system was purchased — and send in the counterfeit copy will get either version of Windows at half price.
The authentication process was optional until Monday. From now on, it will be required for all software updates except security patches.
After prompting customers that their operating systems need to be authenticated, the program will scan the computer, detecting the product number automatically — unless, of course, it's a fake.
Will Poole, a senior vice president in Microsoft's Windows division, said more than 40 million customers took part in the pilot.
The world's largest software maker did not disclose how many pirated copies of Windows it has rooted out since the program began as a pilot program last September.
Source
Kerry Me
If you remember SP1 they did something like this, preventing you from updating. Will this get cracked as quickly or will this one be an end for all those people with pirated copies?
More and more I am starting to be a fanboy for Linux. Yesterday I found a bug in the OS of Ubuntu dealing with the Mozilla browser. When you went for extensions, you didn't get the extension page. Instead the Mozilla site sees you as needing the browser first. So you get the download page instead of the extension page. No way to get out of the page and into the extension page. Any sort of entry into the browser always leads you back to the browser download page.
However the bug is documented and well known. Within a few minutes of looking I had the answer and how to correct it. Even blow by blow instructions on how to modify to fix the problem. I found places I never knew existed in the browser and it makes me wonder what else isn't known as public knowledge that you could get into. (I am always an explorer of nooks and crannies.)
This sort of thing simply isn't possible in microsucks products. It is all locked down and if you need those sort of changes, you will have to wait till microsucks programs an answer to it. Further, you gotta pay an arm and a leg for the stuff and what do you have when it is done? A large security problem.
I have a small antivirus/trojan hunter, a firewall, and several other features, all for the asking and free, needing no crack to use, no money to make it work. As a sort of test of the security of Linux, I took a tour of one of the worse places you can go on the net for spyware and the like. I went to a few porn sites, not to buy but to expose the OS to the possibility of intrusion and how resistant it was to such. I got a few laughs when I got warnings that my ip was logged at some of those sites. Also the offer if I thought it was in error that I wasn't a cracker or hacker that I could send in an email about it. (Ya, I really need spam.) The problem I assume is that there is no place for the spyware to hook into, no extra data to steal, and acts almost as a steath client on the net. I came away with no spyware, no bs added to the browser, and a feeling of relative security.
Bill and the Boyz can keep their offerings. It isn't worth it to me anymore.
Experience is never there when you need it; only after.
Please do not PM me questions for solutions. I will do my best to help you in the appropriate forum.
So what happens if you choose to do neither?....lol
I am no longer giving out invites to ANY torrent sites. Please do not PM me.
But, I do write articles for an automotive blog.
Nothing happens. People with illegal copies can still download critical updates without WGA. From what i've heard, people with Corporate copies of xp using VLKs with product IDs in the 640 range (*****-640-*******-*****) will be able to pass WGA since as far as MS is concerned, that is a legit key that they could have sold.Originally Posted by cldnails
This really isnt supposed to target users who know they are running a pirated copy of xp. Its supposed to be for users who are unaware they are using a pirated version. MS wants to catch vendors and system builders that are selling these illegal copies with new pc's.
@jaba I see. I misread the news...I can understand how Microsoft would want to target those people more. Thanks for the response.
I am no longer giving out invites to ANY torrent sites. Please do not PM me.
But, I do write articles for an automotive blog.
I take this part back, this may not be true. Im trying to find out now what makes a VLK legit.
Thought I'd dive in and give it a go on my SP2 Corp...
"Validation Failure: Invalid Product Key[0x80080222]
Why did it not validate?
The product key associated with your copy of Windows was never issued by Microsoft."
No that it matters... Critical updates are all I want. Any other windows software can be obtained from doing a quick search on google or hitting the torrents
Exactly. I never even download Automatic Updates. Nothing can make Windows safe, it has more holes than Swiss Cheese.
Yeah it looks like nobody with generated corp VLK keys is getting through anymore.
Oh well, not a big deal, critical updates are still available via Automatic updates. Just can't download the latest WMP anymore.... big loss.Validation Failure: Invalid Product Key[0x80080222]
Why did it not validate?
The product key associated with your copy of Windows was never issued by Microsoft.
I don't understand why they are doing this because sometime someone is going to be able to crack it and then the circle starts off again....
They're doing it to try to keep their business alive. While MS is a bajillion dollar company, its standard buisness practice to protect your product and make sure people are using the real thing. As I said before, they're not after people like us, who know and want to be running a pirated version, its for people who were tricked into paying for a pirated copy or have no idea that they are not legit.I don't understand why they are doing this because sometime someone is going to be able to crack it and then the circle starts off again...
Anyhoo... looks like there are already some workarounds for it available...
http://www.extended64.com/blogs/rafael/ ... /1026.aspx
I haven't tried this yet, but supposedly it works.
You guys, http://anonym.to/?http://www.windowsmediaplayer.com has not been updated for Windows Genuine Advantage yet, for some reason. Heres a direct link to Windows Media Player. You will have to click it, though, because I added anonym.to, just in case: http://anonym.to/?http://download.micro ... 0Setup.exe
Ok, really easy workaround available now. Who knows how long it'll last, but its easy as hell.
http://www.boingboing.net/2005/07/28/mi ... ne_ad.html
edit: you can also disable the activex control to get around it if you have sp2 installed. In ie go Tools > Manage Add-ons > Then disable Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool.
Hmmm,
I see jaba beat me to it. I had found this answer this morning and was just fixing to post it but alas, too late.
I do have verification from someone else that it does indeed work for now.
Experience is never there when you need it; only after.
Please do not PM me questions for solutions. I will do my best to help you in the appropriate forum.
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