Starting Tuesday, the software maker will push out a test tool that checks whether the copy of Windows a PC is using is properly licensed. It will be sent to millions of people in the United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, Microsoft said Monday.
Following download and installation of the “Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications” tool, users of a pirated copy will see alerts at startup, login and during their use of the operating system. The alerts read: “This copy of Windows is not genuine; you may be a victim of software counterfeiting.”
Those who use a legitimate copy of the software won’t see any messages, Microsoft said.
Uh, OK.
Exactly why would anyone pirating a copy of Windows download and install this?!
Its not for people who know they have pirited software. Its for people who purchased a computer from a shop. I know of a few shops in town that don’t purchase windows for the machines they sell. Once they find out where the comptuers came from, M$ will come down on them.
According to Microsoft, “…there is evidence of other criminal activity operating alongside piracy, including drug trafficking, pornography and even terrorism.”
Perhaps Microsoft’s anti-piracy efforts are merely acts of patriotism 😉
According to the Microsoft document, “Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications will be deployed by using Automatic Updates.”
That’s just rude.
The “other criminal activity” comment is a lame way of dressing up what they are doing. I support their efforts to limit piracy of their product, but this reminds me of going to CompUSA where they search everyone going out. I refuse to go there anymore – why should I shop at a store that treats all of its customers as criminals?
Scott hit the nail on the head, this is to help catch people pirating Windows and selling it to people who think it’s on the up and up. Pirates wont download the update, and people with legit copies wont know the difference. But people who were ripped off will be notified and asked to help catch the pirate who sold it to them.
That is, assuming the fine people at Microsoft haven’t completely lost their minds.
6. Diane, I was leaving a Best Buy electronics store when the guard told me that he had to check my backpack before exiting. I retorted, “you are NOT checking my bag”, and walked out of the store without hesitation. He didn’t follow because he knows he as no legal right to do so. If an alarm went off then he may request to check my bag but I may also decline, though I might be held. Microsoft has the right to protect their goods but invasion of privacy must be taken into account.
The second computer I bought was a XT clone from a local shop. When I asked about DOS, he said he would copy a floppy for me, that’s what everyone does. I’ve always wondered if MS-DOS sold for $20 if the pirate problem would have ever started. They would have made the money in volume instead if squeezing the legitimate buyers. Gates was impatient for heavy profits from the start. He was never willing to allow an investment in R&D to mature. Windows has always been priced high for just an OS. Same deal with Adobe. If they priced Photoshop under $200, would it still be the most pirated application? I’ve seen an estimate that 80% of installs are pirated. If you could cut that in half with lower prices that’s a lot of sells.
I understand why they are doing it, but I think it is a mistake.
The community I think they should worry about are the “techies”, like myself. I’ve spent a lot of time over the years building new machines from old, changing configurations, etc. This includes donating old corporate machines to non-profit groups. This may include reinstallation of the OS, even though the original CD or auth code is not available. In my corporate role, I’m a loyal MS developer (among my many hats), and do honestly like and use a lot of MS software.
That being said, If I can not have the flexibility to do the above with Windows (without being hounded), I will, without a doubt, move over to a linux distribution. Many of my repurposed PC’s will be very functional to the recipient if they only run web browsing and word processing, which can easily be learned on Linux (and as a bonus, work well on older PC’s).
Note that I am *not* ask MS to give away Windows. All of these PC’s originally came with Windows, so I am asking for the ability to reinstall as necessary.
In summary, don’t screw with us techies. The continuing PC revolution is built on our backs, on our helping our friends out with computer problems, etc, so MS, be nice.
“What will happen if someone wants to install a copy of winxp after the EOL (end of life) period. How are they going to get any activation key for those poor souls?”
They won’t. I’m sure that was the secondary reason for product activation. Now M$ can force you to upgrade. Unfortunatly that means having to buy a new computer, since no older computer would be able to run Vista. Thats why its always good to keep an old copy of 2000 around just in case. Or buy and Dell computer. The Dell xp disk that come with the system has the OS already activated.
Why not push such a tool , say, in China or Malaysia or other Far Eastern countries ?
Or does piracy in those countriess not count?
#5 Those programmers are able to put anything in our computers! In fact, the programmers at Microsft once put in a “Mr. Enigma” feature , just as a joke between themselves. If you don’t like it, you can try making your own OS.
I was so tired of all this activation and antipiracy crap that whenever I am on a corporate or academic PC I recorder the serial number. I have a list of about 15 corporate serials.
Good point. What would stop you from stealing the license numbers?
I’m so glad I saw this blog entry. Last night, my machines prompted me to download the latest updates, and I saw this one listed. I haven’t installed them yet, so will have to consider whether I want to hassle with it or not…