Microsoft is no longer providing updates to non-genuine versions of its Windows XP operating system. From today, the company has switched over to a full launch of its Windows Genuine Advantage Programme as part of its ongoing anti-piracy campaign.

Users will now have to join the WGA authentication program if they want to receive software updates from the Microsoft Download Centre or from Windows Update. However, MS says it will still provide security patches for pirated systems, which will be available via Automatic Updates in Windows.

To register for the WGA, users just need to visit the Microsoft Download Centre, Windows Update or Microsoft Update. There they will be prompted to download an ActiveX control that checks the authenticity of their Windows software and, if Windows is validated, stores a download key on the PC for future verification.

Microsoft stresses that this process "does not collect any information that can be used by Microsoft to identify or contact the user".

Back in January 2005, Microsoft extended the pilot scheme - which had been running in English since September 2004 - to include 20 different languages. It also broadened the kind of content available to participants. Microsoft says many of the 40 million people who signed up for the pilot did so because they wanted a way to check that their own copy of XP was genuine.

The company also says it will replace pirated software with genuine versions - free of charge to customers who submit piracy reports and proof of purchase, and for £61 or £92 for XP Home or Professional editions respectively for customers who submit piracy reports but don't have proofs of purchase.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/0...tes_wga_launch/
:thumbsup:

That URL didn't seem to work, but I found the article at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/26/ms_updates_wga_launch/

Wonder if that price gets you a full retail version - worth doing if so, as a retail Pro costs around £250! It's similar to the OEM prices otherwise - I assume that to get the free copy via a "piracy report" you have to shop someone in rather than just say "I downloaded it off bittorrent" :)

Not sure how the authentication is supposed to work though, as I joined the pilot scheme months ago and my dodgy copy of XP was accepted as genuine. I guess if you have a properly generated key there is no way to tell if it's genuine or not.

That may well be the case. At the very least they will catch a pretty large number of casually pirated copies that all come with well-known keys.

Originally posted by rich951
I assume that to get the free copy via a "piracy report" you have to shop someone in rather than just say "I downloaded it off bittorrent" :)
You sure do! :suspect: You need to send the copy disk, the name and address of who you got it from and the reason you thought it was legit.
I found out when my brand new laptop failed the new test :hihi:
[EDIT] I wonder if M$ are ivestigating Currys now?

I have just downloaded 10Mb of updates, but I did not register or anything.The active x gizmo ran and the download started.So I guess I must be in the clear,or will the men in black turn up on my doorstep ?

Can't you hear the helicopter yet matsalleh? :heyhey:

I don't think Microsoft will ever make it impossible to use dodgy versions of Windows. Think about it: almost all home computers run Windows, which makes it easier to sell Windows to the high-volume, big-money corporate outfits as the decision-makers are familiar with it. (No-one ever got fired for buying IBM...)

If they make it too hard for the people who "know computers" to FCKGW their way around the neighbourhood then the pirate brigade will just install linux or say "buy a Mac", which will only erode Windows' position in the business market as decision-makers become more familiar with the alternatives. That wouldn't be a smart thing for Microsoft to do if they want to sell more Windows in ten years' time!

What I fail to understand is why do microsoft charge so much for windows? Surely their mission is to get their software on EVERY computer and at £250 its nearly as much as your computer costs! Surely they could sell it for 90 quid or something and more people would go for the genuine article. I'm sure they have means of making lots of money elsewhere!

M$ charge us £250 pounds so that they can afford to give away earlier versions of windows such as windows 95 to third world countrys. Then the masses in the third world countrys learn how to use a computer and spread around the world to earn a decent living (good on em).
The only problem is.......They only know how to use windows OS so they stick to what they know and keep buying windows OS.
Cleaver marketing by M$.

Am i being a bit paranoid here? :suspect:

Originally posted by vidster
M$ charge us £250 pounds so that they can afford to give away earlier versions of windows such as windows 95 to third world countrys. Then the masses in the third world countrys learn how to use a computer and spread around the world to earn a decent living (good on em).
The only problem is.......They only know how to use windows OS so they stick to what they know and keep buying windows OS.
Cleaver marketing by M$.

Am i being a bit paranoid here? :suspect:

Surely that should be: Then the masses in the third world countrys learn how to use a computer and spread viruses around the world

:D

Originally posted by Abdul
Surely that should be: Then the masses in the third world countrys learn how to use a computer and spread viruses around the world

:D
True! :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

dont know if it's related but i heard rumours MS were developing mobo's & chips that would only be activated by a genuine install software.they would detect registered software at the time of internet registartion & freeze the system.

M$ moving in to hardware :o
We're all doomed!

Originally posted by vidster
M$ moving in to hardware :o
We're all doomed!

Nowt wrong with the MS natural keyboard and Microsoft scrolly mouse. Except I can't touchtype :blush:

I don't think MS will design computers, but what I expect will happen is that OEM products will be BIOS locked to only work with one manufacturers hardware.

For instance, there are BIOS-locked OEM copies of Microsoft Office 2003 available to buy. And some versions of Symantec Ghost have options to lock images to certain BIOSes, or the Pentium 3 serial number - remember that ;)

This all sounds complete tosh. Yet more reasons why I, amongst thousands of other people, won't be shelling out stupid prices for M$ software.

I can see their reasoning behind it, but as with all these great schemes (not just M$, I'm looking at the government here too) the actual application falls somewhat short of doing the actual job intended, but does something so someone has some figures to prove something.

now back to the topic :P - well as long as you can still get the security patches thats what matters after all :)

itd be a bit destructive to ban half the world from applying windows security patches and cause even more idiots to be propagating the various security problems

Originally posted by Abdul
Nowt wrong with the MS natural keyboard and Microsoft scrolly mouse. Except I can't touchtype :blush:

I don't think MS will design computers, but what I expect will happen is that OEM products will be BIOS locked to only work with one manufacturers hardware.

For instance, there are BIOS-locked OEM copies of Microsoft Office 2003 available to buy. And some versions of Symantec Ghost have options to lock images to certain BIOSes, or the Pentium 3 serial number - remember that ;)

Microsoft teamed up with Dixons I think late 1997/8 to sell processors with their registered trade name on but it didnt last very long, probably only about 6 months.

Originally posted by vidster
You sure do! :suspect: You need to send the copy disk, the name and address of who you got it from and the reason you thought it was legit.
I found out when my brand new laptop failed the new test :hihi:
[EDIT] I wonder if M$ are ivestigating Currys now?

Vidster, do you mean to say they didnt also want a copy of the vendor's invoice ?!!!!!

by the way thanks for your advice last night. As you'd said you were off to the land of nod, I decided not to disturb you :)

Originally posted by melthebell
now back to the topic :P - well as long as you can still get the security patches thats what matters after all :)

itd be a bit destructive to ban half the world from applying windows security patches and cause even more idiots to be propagating the various security problems



Hold on a tick doesnt that seem to suggest Microsoft has the capability to engage their brains in to that much forward thinking??? I cant recall ever having had even 1 letter from Microsoft to suggest such admirable intellectual prowess. ;)

Sorry to say, but Microsoft will be fighting a losing battle again against the pirates.

There is a way around the activation system already, and corporate versions of the software are already in the public domain and circulating, which dont require activation.

I heard today that all you have to do is go to a electrical store, find a branded PC like HP or Toshiba and just copy down the product key which is prominently featured on the case.

These PCs use a special bios-locked OEM version of Windows that doesn't take into account or even use the product key on the case, it's really there just for show and authenticity.

That's a new one on me :?
I thought it was the other way round and the product key on the case would only work with that particular manufacturers version of XP?

Originally posted by alchresearch
I heard today that all you have to do is go to a electrical store, find a branded PC like HP or Toshiba and just copy down the product key which is prominently featured on the case.

These PCs use a special bios-locked OEM version of Windows that doesn't take into account or even use the product key on the case, it's really there just for show and authenticity.

Yup, this should work a treat as well.

Originally posted by vidster
That's a new one on me :?
I thought it was the other way round and the product key on the case would only work with that particular manufacturers version of XP?

That's interesting - I've not heard that before. Not impossible, to do, though.

Originally posted by ANGELUS
Sorry to say, but Microsoft will be fighting a losing battle again against the pirates.



A lost battle already it seems -

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/29/wga_cracked/

:D

and i believe

javascript:void(window.g_sDisableWGACheck='all')

(Apparently you lash that in the URL bar before choosing a Custom or Express update) is all you need to do

Absolutely ridiculous that M$ spend all this time making something like this, only for someone to bypass it in under a day. This is the third hack i've seen for it now :o

Maybe M$ could learn from Mozilla and offer incentives to anyone who can find a flaw in the system?

Just monitoring an (American) computer forum regarding this latest news, and their geeks are suggesting there will be a truce sometime prior to December 3rd.

By which time a high percentage of non legal users will have switched and taken up on the offer. Clever psychological marketing strategy at the very least

... and Microsoft's answer to the next releases of their software is to make Office more expensive!

I'm just watching Mike Reid on the telly box, don't know which is funniest. :confused:

Originally posted by alchresearch
... and Microsoft's answer to the next releases of their software is to make Office more expensive!

You gotta love 'em!

Originally posted by ANGELUS
Sorry to say, but Microsoft will be fighting a losing battle again against the pirates.

There is a way around the activation system already, and corporate versions of the software are already in the public domain and circulating, which dont require activation.

Office 97 was perfectly adequate, all the newer versions add features few will use. There must be loads of copies floating about, so why do people keep buying the latest version at eye-watering prices?

If you're a serious user, they do add the occasional new feature. Or more to the point, gradually get rid of bugs that should have been eradicated a looong time ago! (There's something wrong when I can't copy and paste excel graphs into word... If you think it's easy, try with a few greek symbols and sub/superscripts on the axis labels! :))

On the subject of Windows (and this applies to Office too), you have to remember that they don't really care so much if you pirate a copy. The real money comes from businesses, who can't afford to be caught pirating. And for every person that comments on how stupid they are, they seem to be doing moderately well financially! (ok, let's not talk about dubious business practices ;))

In this day and age where computer equipment is as commonplace as a kettle or toaster I don't see why the operating system on a PC is so expensive. Call me paranoid but I don't use "dodgy" software as I want the peace of mind that my OS or game hasn't been tampered with by a hacker/cracker (it happens) so I will only use the bona fide disks. Would people be less likely to use dodgy software If XP and MS Word etc. cost the same as a computer game e.g. £20 - £30? I can't honestly see why Microsoft can continue to charge a premium price for mass market software.

Originally posted by Zaphod
In this day and age where computer equipment is as commonplace as a kettle or toaster I don't see why the operating system on a PC is so expensive. Call me paranoid but I don't use "dodgy" software as I want the peace of mind that my OS or game hasn't been tampered with by a hacker/cracker (it happens) so I will only use the bona fide disks. Would people be less likely to use dodgy software If XP and MS Word etc. cost the same as a computer game e.g. £20 - £30? I can't honestly see why Microsoft can continue to charge a premium price for mass market software.

doesnt the new tiger OS for the mac only cost £60 or something?

Originally posted by Zaphod
I can't honestly see why Microsoft can continue to charge a premium price for mass market software.
I would suggest that they can charge that price because people pay it! It's all about vendor lock-ins, market share and monopolies... All I can suggest if you don't like the price is to try out Linux :)

Tiger is £89 direct from Apple, so you can probably buy it slightly cheaper elsewhere. They do release more major versions than MS, but they also do genuinely innovate...

Originally posted by rich951
I would suggest that they can charge that price because people pay it! It's all about vendor lock-ins, market share and monopolies... All I can suggest if you don't like the price is to try out Linux :)


That's certainly the case with Office. StarOffice and OpenOffice are just as good as Microsoft. The new OpenOffice database program is fantastic, you can create an SQL database in minutes with the wizard.

I saw yet another way to bypass the WGA last night. This one i done by changing One setting in your internet options.
If you are only changing an optional setting, does it mean that it isn't illegal?