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Microsoft Updates Vista in Latest Piracy Crackdown

Software giant battles activation of unauthorized copies of its new Vista OS.

Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service
Thursday, December 14, 2006 04:00 PM PST

Microsoft today released an update to Windows Vista that will shut down unauthorized versions of the OS that allow users to skip the product's activation system.

The move comes as pirated copies of Vista are already making the rounds, mere weeks after the product was released to business customers.

The update, which Microsoft has dubbed "frankenbuild," detects tampering of Windows Vista code that would allow users of the OS to work around the product's built-in activation system, which requires users to validate their copy of Vista with a product activation key to use the full version of the product after 30 days.
How It Works

Frankenbuild mixes files from various test and final versions of the software. It will require only systems in which it detects specific tampering to go through a validation check for authenticity, according to a posting on the Windows Genuine Advantage blog.

If a version of Vista that has used a workaround to avoid product activation is detected, a user of that software will have 30 days before the OS goes into a reduced functionality mode, Microsoft said. In this mode, all users can do is access their existing files and surf the Web for an hour before having to log back on to the software.
Pirating Problems

The pirating of Windows has been a perennial problem for Microsoft, particularly in developing countries. The company began coming down hard against piracy last year with a widely criticized system it called Windows Genuine Advantage, which initially required users to validate their copies of Windows if they wanted to use Microsoft's update services.

Microsoft took its antipiracy campaign one step further with Vista by building the validation system directly into the OS. This system requires a Windows Vista user to validate the software through a product activation key within 30 days of using the OS to avoid having the software go into reduced functionality mode.

I think I'll stay with XP

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36947

Same here, or linux if I can talk myself into doing the switch over.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36951

Yeah--If I could ever get this stupid PC stabilized, I'd run in that Linux with the XP GUI that I have in that VM thing I got from Microsoft.

Now, when I do a search (within the pc) or when I run a virus scan, I get a BSOD

I guess I'll have to do this weeks first repair reinstall






Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36952

wouldnt it be easyer to figger out why its so unstable before just opting for the repair install everytime?

if you could figger out why then you wouldnt have to repair so offen

lol maybe we can help you somehow

for a start sign up to www.pcpitstop.com using IE and run a full scan then post results link here in a new topic lol

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36953

richardj wrote: I think I'll stay with XP

Ha! I remember people saying they would stay with 2000 because of XP’s product activation. When Vista++ comes out, everyone will stay with Vista.

How long do you think it will be before software pirates work around this?

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36954

I'm sticking with XP for a while as well, but I eventually plan to make the jump to ubuntu. Just need to find a good way to get my data of hd, and probably secure a good copy of VMware workstation for Linux.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36955

Chris Vogel wrote:

richardj wrote: I think I'll stay with XP

Ha! I remember people saying they would stay with 2000 because of XP’s product activation. When Vista++ comes out, everyone will stay with Vista.

How long do you think it will be before software pirates work around this?

I give em a couple days.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36956

Red Squirrel wrote:

Chris Vogel wrote:

richardj wrote: I think I'll stay with XP

Ha! I remember people saying they would stay with 2000 because of XP’s product activation. When Vista++ comes out, everyone will stay with Vista.

How long do you think it will be before software pirates work around this?

I give em a couple days.

naw I say a week.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36957

how long did it take them to get around the corporate version? It'll take them a week at the max.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36958

Yeah won't take people long. Only thing this, and WGA and other crap do is make it inconvenient, but it does not stop, piracy. Where MS makes their money is Corporate copies. companies get audited and such so they are forced to pay, and being a corporation you need the support etc... so its rare companies will pirate software. But home users who cannot afford the high Ms prices will pirate. Personally if I were MS I'd make it very cheap/free for home use, half price for educational and full for corporate. Even if all home users were to pay, I don't think they are the ones keeping MS alive.

But I'll probably be sticking to XP for a while, I have not even had it for a year yet. Was using win2k for the longest time, and I still have no problems with win2k as an OS, but I just needed XP to get a game working so figured I'd upgrade.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36959

What are you talking about Red? Most home users pay the Microsoft tax when they buy a new PC. They purchase a copy of windows with their PC whether they like it or not. So really, what is the reason for all this anti-piracy crap?

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36960

Ya, i was using 98 se till last march. So i am sticking with xp for another year at least.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36961

manadren wrote: What are you talking about Red? Most home users pay the Microsoft tax when they buy a new PC. They purchase a copy of windows with their PC whether they like it or not. So really, what is the reason for all this anti-piracy crap?

Well technically its the OEM manufacturer that pays (get a lot in bulk, or do like hp and reuse the same copy) but I see your point.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36964

Red Squirrel wrote:

manadren wrote: What are you talking about Red? Most home users pay the Microsoft tax when they buy a new PC. They purchase a copy of windows with their PC whether they like it or not. So really, what is the reason for all this anti-piracy crap?

Well technically its the OEM manufacturer that pays (get a lot in bulk, or do like hp and reuse the same copy) but I see your point.

Yes, the OEM pays initially, but it'd be naive to think that HP wouldn't pass the cost onto the customer buying the PC.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:36965

Triple6_wild wrote: wouldnt it be easyer to figger out why its so unstable before just opting for the repair install everytime?

if you could figger out why then you wouldnt have to repair so offen 

As it turns out, my PC was SO FILTHY that the processor was at 141 degrees

(I think that's like 61 c for you foreigners)

That's with the sides of the PC off!

The DEATH temp for AMDs IS 141 degrees

So, this is what was causing my shut downs/BSODs.

I'm actually lucky that I didn't fry the CPU.

So, now, after a massive clean up, fan fixing, ect.


it's at about 111 degrees with the sides on.


This is with 10 fans running.

Much more stable & faster.



Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:37037

all this about vista?

hasn't anyone ever wondered why the fixation on things dealing with windows, at the ms company?

most people would be in a pysihcotic ward if they had a fixation lasting this long on window's items.

why not make a os called FIXED ALL ERRORS FIRST

or CAN'T FIX ANY ERRORS SO I SENT IT OUT TO YOU.

i am not going to vista for the reason i don't have that kind of money to keep buying new systems every three years just to keep paving the driveways of the employees of ms or bill g's driveway.

it has gone beyound the point of stupidy with this relasing new updates every 3 years, they always say you can upgrade a system sure but only for a year then they make you get new hardware or other stuff that don't work with the old software, so then they make you buy the new software which only works for another year until they make new hardware that they make you buy so you need a new os in another year making this computer stuff a habit, it should be listed on the dea's list of bad items to hunt down and get rid of.

i said it before i kept my old car for 30 years why the .... would i want to change to a new computer system every 3 years.

then have to spend a year getting updates for all the old programs that had to be remade or spend a year figureing out how to use the new system then spend a year retyping all the documents you need to keep because the new fanguald office program won't read the old format corrrectly and wont automaticly update the documents for you.

its a ficous circle and its maddening madaiang mading maing. maaaaaaaaaaadddddddddnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnniiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggg.


Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:37062

I have downloaded a new theme which is suppose to give you alot of the goodies that Vista does.

After I install it & REALLY screw up my PC, I'll let you know how it is.

It even gives you a Vista boot screen

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:37063

wow your car must be a classic or a real beater lol

what do you drive? keeping a car for 30 years is different then keeping a computer for 30 years tho as a car has one function and no matter when it was made it still has the same function .. point A to> point B so as long as it can travel highway speeds theres no need to change if it runs properly and is cheaper to keep up on car mantanece then it is to just get a new car

now if your computer was 30 years old i dont think you could even get on the net lol

computers change as needs change .. like with a 30 year old computer i would not have enuff space to keep my anime collection and i would not have the download speeds to get them without waiting a year for 1GB of anime and i would not have enuff power to run any decent games ><

so if highway speeds changed to 220mph your car would no longer be usefull as it cant keep up with your needs and would be unsafe on the highway cuz it would be slower and may cause an accident

i like old cars but dont like old computers lol an old computer is useless to me but an old car is somthing that can be nicer then new cars
you cant compare an old car to an old computer ... no one says you have to upgrade you car or computer but its a choice and you upgrade your computer cuz the need or want to do so ... if someone makes a product you want then you upgrade software to get that product to work ... dont want to upgrade software then dont buy the new product

im sticking with XP cuz it meets my current needs lol thats all there is to it but when it doesnt meet my needs i will upgrade

apples an oranges roving ><




Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4644, old post ID:37064