Microsoft will kill the hack with an update. At which
point the background will go black and will display a
message stating that "this is not a genuine Windows
installation" and that you may be the victim of
software counterfeiting.
Seriously, if anyone is so cheap that they don't want
to pay for software they use, they should just go with
Linux or another free operating system.
Hackers bypass Windows 7 activation
Summary
Hackers have managed to find a way around one of the key antipiracy protections built into Windows 7.
Topics
Hackers have managed to find a way around one of the key antipiracy protections built into Windows 7.
Ordinarily, the operating system requires users to activate their copy of Windows 7 within 30 days. However, a recently outlined method allows the normal notifications to be turned off.
The software doesn't actually get confirmed as legitimate, but users are able to keep using the product indefinitely.
Microsoft confirmed on Friday it is aware of the technique, but said that it is working to shore up the activation procedure.
For more, read "Hackers bypass Windows 7 activation " on CNET News.
Just In
As with Vista on back, people think they bought a real copy only to find out that they haven't. There are plenty of that sort around that'll screw the regular guy.
One would have thought that activation was a thing they could have got right after all this time.
One would have thought that activation was a thing they could have got right after all this time.
so foolish as to think they are buying legit software. If you buy software and you receive a piece of paper telling you "do not use the computer's activation, instead follow these steps", then you deserve to be "taken".
The only people I feel bad for are the ones who buy a new computer from "the business on the corner" and the software is already hacked by the builder.
The ones who are doing this are trying to circumvent the activation, it is not simply double clicking a file. It is not grandma & grandpa who don't know any better.
The only people I feel bad for are the ones who buy a new computer from "the business on the corner" and the software is already hacked by the builder.
The ones who are doing this are trying to circumvent the activation, it is not simply double clicking a file. It is not grandma & grandpa who don't know any better.
I just want an OS without a built in kill switch. I'm perfectly willing to pay for Windows (as long as it isn't Vista). Although the Microsoft monopoly means that it is unquestionably overpriced.
I've already been burned by Microsoft marking an XP computer as not "genuine". Even though it was a name brand, purchased used from a reliable source and with a COA sticker on the case. What they told me was that I would have to pay more than the system cost me to make it 'legitimate'. No thanks. Admittedly, the effects are far more innocuous than it was previously. But only because of the heat Microsoft has been getting from false WGA notifications. And of course that could change at any time.
So why would I risk it with Windows 7? Once burned, twice shy. And I'm just the type to tinker with my computer (legally) in a way that would trigger WGA.
I haven't really seen anything yet that would make me really want 7. I've always gone my own way with the interface and security and have yet to have any significant problems (it is Windows, after all). I expect that there will be things that I will want at some point (like 64 bit and support for GPU encoding, mostly). But I can live without it, especially for the foreseeable future.
So Microsoft can keep its activated products. I'll find other options.
I've already been burned by Microsoft marking an XP computer as not "genuine". Even though it was a name brand, purchased used from a reliable source and with a COA sticker on the case. What they told me was that I would have to pay more than the system cost me to make it 'legitimate'. No thanks. Admittedly, the effects are far more innocuous than it was previously. But only because of the heat Microsoft has been getting from false WGA notifications. And of course that could change at any time.
So why would I risk it with Windows 7? Once burned, twice shy. And I'm just the type to tinker with my computer (legally) in a way that would trigger WGA.
I haven't really seen anything yet that would make me really want 7. I've always gone my own way with the interface and security and have yet to have any significant problems (it is Windows, after all). I expect that there will be things that I will want at some point (like 64 bit and support for GPU encoding, mostly). But I can live without it, especially for the foreseeable future.
So Microsoft can keep its activated products. I'll find other options.
http://crenk.com/windows-7-exploit-causes-bsod/
and this is awhile ago when MS promised to patch this but didn't until today
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9127392/Microsoft_changes_Windows_7_UAC_after_new_exploit_code_surfaces?taxonomyId=17&pageNumber=1
and this is awhile ago when MS promised to patch this but didn't until today
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9127392/Microsoft_changes_Windows_7_UAC_after_new_exploit_code_surfaces?taxonomyId=17&pageNumber=1
The SMB exploit and the UAC issues were fixed
before the October retail launch. I remember them.
Maybe you should read the dates on the articles
you link to - neither one of them are recent
articles.
before the October retail launch. I remember them.
Maybe you should read the dates on the articles
you link to - neither one of them are recent
articles.
1. The new exploit is only possible by someone on your LAN network. I suppose you may be popular/important enough to warrant such an attack. The rest of us can sleep easy.
2. Second article linked has nothing to do with the first. In fact, it describes a similar, but different bug that was patched in FEBRUARY of 2009. I don't know where you get 'today' from, but it wasn't the linked articles
3. Since #2 has nothing to do with #1, and this exploit is relatively new, nothing supports your implication that its a 'scary unpatchable exploit'.
In conclusion, you sir have a very strong and obvious bias against MS that is unsupported by fact. Could you possibly be mis-directing your feelings of anger at a corporation instead of at the root cause of said feelings?
"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."
2. Second article linked has nothing to do with the first. In fact, it describes a similar, but different bug that was patched in FEBRUARY of 2009. I don't know where you get 'today' from, but it wasn't the linked articles
3. Since #2 has nothing to do with #1, and this exploit is relatively new, nothing supports your implication that its a 'scary unpatchable exploit'.
In conclusion, you sir have a very strong and obvious bias against MS that is unsupported by fact. Could you possibly be mis-directing your feelings of anger at a corporation instead of at the root cause of said feelings?
"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."
If you are going to troll, at least do it without making yourself look too foolish.
No one will be able to look too foolish when you're around.
moron
I have to admit, I hate the activating process. And I have just received Windows 7 32-bit and Windows 7 64-bit DVDs free, from Microsoft.
I tend to zap my hard disks every six months and reload Windows afresh. I always get problems after a few times.
I use Windows for reviewing software, but on my proper computer I am using Ubuntu 9.10.
I tend to zap my hard disks every six months and reload Windows afresh. I always get problems after a few times.
I use Windows for reviewing software, but on my proper computer I am using Ubuntu 9.10.
"I have to admit, I hate the activating
process"
In Windows 7, it just tells you it activated
itself. You're not even involved in the
activation process unless it fails for some
reason. I haven't had a failed activation yet,
so I can't tell you what happens.
"I tend to zap my hard disks every six months
and reload Windows afresh. I always get
problems after a few times."
My computer has been running for years since
Vista's launch, and has been running Windows 7
since the retail release. Works fine.
"I use Windows for reviewing software, but on
my proper computer I am using Ubuntu 9.10."
I run Window on my main computer and play
around with Ubuntu in a VM. Don't really see
the appeal of Linux, but I suppose it works for
some people.
If Internet is important, I'd probably
recommend Windows 7 plus Google Chrome. Chrome
is a really fast browser, and currently only
for Windows. It'll be ported to other platforms
soon, though. The Mac would also be a good
platform to recommend.
On Windows 7, though, which seems to have
improved multitasking a great deal over Vista
and XP, Google Chrome really shines! It's
perfect, even with many tabs and Windows open.
It never seems to slow down.
Linux is okay, but - the arguments against
Windows are getting thinner, and frankly I'd
put somebody on a Mac before I'd put them on
Linux.
Linux usability is much improved, but the
claims that is's every bit as usable as Windows
or Mac are a bit exaggerated. Certainly with a
lot of customization and tweaking you can get
it there, but why not choose an OS that doesn't
need all that tweaking just to be user
friendly?
process"
In Windows 7, it just tells you it activated
itself. You're not even involved in the
activation process unless it fails for some
reason. I haven't had a failed activation yet,
so I can't tell you what happens.
"I tend to zap my hard disks every six months
and reload Windows afresh. I always get
problems after a few times."
My computer has been running for years since
Vista's launch, and has been running Windows 7
since the retail release. Works fine.
"I use Windows for reviewing software, but on
my proper computer I am using Ubuntu 9.10."
I run Window on my main computer and play
around with Ubuntu in a VM. Don't really see
the appeal of Linux, but I suppose it works for
some people.
If Internet is important, I'd probably
recommend Windows 7 plus Google Chrome. Chrome
is a really fast browser, and currently only
for Windows. It'll be ported to other platforms
soon, though. The Mac would also be a good
platform to recommend.
On Windows 7, though, which seems to have
improved multitasking a great deal over Vista
and XP, Google Chrome really shines! It's
perfect, even with many tabs and Windows open.
It never seems to slow down.
Linux is okay, but - the arguments against
Windows are getting thinner, and frankly I'd
put somebody on a Mac before I'd put them on
Linux.
Linux usability is much improved, but the
claims that is's every bit as usable as Windows
or Mac are a bit exaggerated. Certainly with a
lot of customization and tweaking you can get
it there, but why not choose an OS that doesn't
need all that tweaking just to be user
friendly?
"why not choose an OS that doesn't
need all that tweaking just to be user
friendly?"
I'll give you two big reasons:
1) security (from the ground up, Linux is more secure, not perfect, but definitely more secuyre)
2) price ($0 for Linux EVER! and $100-300 every 2-5 years for Windows)
Also, are you telling me you don't tweak Windows? I think I'll have to call that bluff!
need all that tweaking just to be user
friendly?"
I'll give you two big reasons:
1) security (from the ground up, Linux is more secure, not perfect, but definitely more secuyre)
2) price ($0 for Linux EVER! and $100-300 every 2-5 years for Windows)
Also, are you telling me you don't tweak Windows? I think I'll have to call that bluff!
"I'll give you two big reasons"
Define "big."
"security (from the ground up, Linux is more
secure, not perfect, but definitely more
secuyre)"
Frankly, UAC makes Windows every bit as secure
as Linux. And frankly, most users just want
"good enough" security.
I haven't had a security breach in years.
"2) price"
That's probably a reason why people
aren't flocking to Linux. Like it or
not, price is often equated with quality and
value. Whether reality is different or not -
well, doesn't really matter that much.
When it comes to buying, perception often
counts more than reality.
To be honest? These reasons simply aren't big
enough. If they REALLY were "big"
reasons, people would be flocking to Linux. But
that's not happening.
"Also, are you telling me you don't tweak
Windows?"
Not by playing around with text files and
scripts. And I'm perfectly fine sitting in
front of any new Windows PC and using it. I
stopped making major changes to OSes a long
time ago and am perfectly happy with only minor
tweaks.
Tweaking an OS shouldn't be a full time job.
Define "big."
"security (from the ground up, Linux is more
secure, not perfect, but definitely more
secuyre)"
Frankly, UAC makes Windows every bit as secure
as Linux. And frankly, most users just want
"good enough" security.
I haven't had a security breach in years.
"2) price"
That's probably a reason why people
aren't flocking to Linux. Like it or
not, price is often equated with quality and
value. Whether reality is different or not -
well, doesn't really matter that much.
When it comes to buying, perception often
counts more than reality.
To be honest? These reasons simply aren't big
enough. If they REALLY were "big"
reasons, people would be flocking to Linux. But
that's not happening.
"Also, are you telling me you don't tweak
Windows?"
Not by playing around with text files and
scripts. And I'm perfectly fine sitting in
front of any new Windows PC and using it. I
stopped making major changes to OSes a long
time ago and am perfectly happy with only minor
tweaks.
Tweaking an OS shouldn't be a full time job.
You don't have to tweak Windows. But, you have to install anti-virus, firewalls, anti-spyware, and search for security updates to all the third party software you install on your own.
The major and most minor Linux distributions maintain their own repositories which send out updates for everything you install using the distro's repositories. The only tweaking I had to do on my Linux machines was to run alsaconf to get the audio onboard chips to work on my 11 year old Compaq. I dual boot the RC of Windows 7, both 32 and 64 bit for the few Windows-only apps I need. Except for that, Ubuntu 9.04 and Vector 6 handles my needs. When the Win 7 RC expires, I'll go back to XP for my windows.
I guess it is a matter of using what works for your individual requirements.
Paul
The major and most minor Linux distributions maintain their own repositories which send out updates for everything you install using the distro's repositories. The only tweaking I had to do on my Linux machines was to run alsaconf to get the audio onboard chips to work on my 11 year old Compaq. I dual boot the RC of Windows 7, both 32 and 64 bit for the few Windows-only apps I need. Except for that, Ubuntu 9.04 and Vector 6 handles my needs. When the Win 7 RC expires, I'll go back to XP for my windows.
I guess it is a matter of using what works for your individual requirements.
Paul
Not really, some of that stuff is built in, and
a lot of stuff is free. Everything is
automatic. Nope, don't even really have to
tweak that.
It's pretty much all about workflow, and that's
improved a lot in Win7. Aero Snap makes drag
and drop stuff pretty easy. The Start menu has
been a single keystroke for ages (Why do I have
to reconfig Linux to have a single keystroke
menu?). I can see what's going on in other apps
with a hover. It all seems pretty fluid and
fast.
I suppose those things can be done in Linux,
with although with varying degrees of tinkering
required. I'd rather have all of the helpful
stuff on by default rather than have to tinker
around to get it.
a lot of stuff is free. Everything is
automatic. Nope, don't even really have to
tweak that.
It's pretty much all about workflow, and that's
improved a lot in Win7. Aero Snap makes drag
and drop stuff pretty easy. The Start menu has
been a single keystroke for ages (Why do I have
to reconfig Linux to have a single keystroke
menu?). I can see what's going on in other apps
with a hover. It all seems pretty fluid and
fast.
I suppose those things can be done in Linux,
with although with varying degrees of tinkering
required. I'd rather have all of the helpful
stuff on by default rather than have to tinker
around to get it.
...you have to PAY for versions of Mandriva Linux (formerly Mandrake)? And Red Hat? and what about Linspire Lindows? And the various retail sold versions? I mean, yes, there are MANY free distros, but there are that cost comparable to Windows. The fact that you say "$0 for Linux EVER!" is giving people a wrong idea - you need to specify possibly that "Price: $0 necessary to spend for MANY usable, and highly capable, Linux Distros (and list examples "gOS" and Ubuntu, for example).
... software under Win that you never will be able to use under that other thing which's name I don't remember?
Sounds like a lot of fun to me.
Sounds like a lot of fun to me.
If you're not using Windows for anything other than evaluation purposes, why bother activating?
Just install an evaluation copy of Windows in a VM and then just blow away the diff disk each time you want to review something new.
Just install an evaluation copy of Windows in a VM and then just blow away the diff disk each time you want to review something new.
Hardly the definitive source for all things Google! If the site owner is that google orientated then I suggest they pay to use Google excellent "Ad Words" service rather than spam tech blogs/forums!
... Microsoft to achieve their win7 marketshare goal faster.
But I'm confident that they will fix this soon. Even before they fix the SMB exploit. Why? Because this affects their bottom line even while helping their marketshare goal. The customers can wait for SP1.
^o^
But I'm confident that they will fix this soon. Even before they fix the SMB exploit. Why? Because this affects their bottom line even while helping their marketshare goal. The customers can wait for SP1.
^o^
Romania, Russia, etc are all seeing a huge adoption in Win 7, several times the adoption you can see in the West.
Eastern Europe alone will take win7 adoption to the top of the charts in no time.
Eastern Europe alone will take win7 adoption to the top of the charts in no time.
Windows 7 bootlegs sold for around $3
"If you're trying to sell a program that costs 2000 yuan to a student living on 400 yuan a month, that's simply not going to work out for most consumers.
...
"Because of the internet, we are seeing a trend that software is by and large becoming free for consumers from point to point," Mr Yu said."
What do you suggest they do to stop it?
This is one option. But I think this will be hard to enforce ...
@Mentalist: -- Give me your best answer. No jokes.
thx
^o^
"If you're trying to sell a program that costs 2000 yuan to a student living on 400 yuan a month, that's simply not going to work out for most consumers.
...
"Because of the internet, we are seeing a trend that software is by and large becoming free for consumers from point to point," Mr Yu said."
What do you suggest they do to stop it?
This is one option. But I think this will be hard to enforce ...
@Mentalist: -- Give me your best answer. No jokes.
thx
^o^
"What do you suggest they do to stop it?"
The biggest issue with China is, frankly,
really bad economics. A communist government
has tight control over the supply side of their
economics, which means that efficiency is
thrown out the window in favor of control. That
can easily lead to situations like this.
I don't think there's much Microsoft can do.
China has tight reigns on its economics.
The biggest issue with China is, frankly,
really bad economics. A communist government
has tight control over the supply side of their
economics, which means that efficiency is
thrown out the window in favor of control. That
can easily lead to situations like this.
I don't think there's much Microsoft can do.
China has tight reigns on its economics.
In Brazil if u want to buy a Genuine Copy of Windows 7 Ultimate.
you pay around $700,00 Real or US$365.00 US Dollar.
Now where people make around R$ 465,00 or US$243.00 a Month (Minimal Wage).then you see WHY Most PC MANUFACTURERS is Offering LINUX. with the PC`s.Windows Cost Almost the same price of the Computer Hardware.
http://www.shoptime.com.br/home/begin.search?home=ShopBusca&query=windows+7&siteDepartmentId=&x=0&y=0
http://www.livrariasaraiva.com.br/informatica/?ID=45CB094A7D90B1015182E0764&PAC_ID=25604
http://www.magazineluiza.com.br/Linha_Setores/linha_setor.asp?linha=IN&msl=TO
http://www.americanas.com.br/AcomDept/590
You you CAN NOT make the Software Affordable,people Will SWITCH to a different Platform.
you pay around $700,00 Real or US$365.00 US Dollar.
Now where people make around R$ 465,00 or US$243.00 a Month (Minimal Wage).then you see WHY Most PC MANUFACTURERS is Offering LINUX. with the PC`s.Windows Cost Almost the same price of the Computer Hardware.
http://www.shoptime.com.br/home/begin.search?home=ShopBusca&query=windows+7&siteDepartmentId=&x=0&y=0
http://www.livrariasaraiva.com.br/informatica/?ID=45CB094A7D90B1015182E0764&PAC_ID=25604
http://www.magazineluiza.com.br/Linha_Setores/linha_setor.asp?linha=IN&msl=TO
http://www.americanas.com.br/AcomDept/590
You you CAN NOT make the Software Affordable,people Will SWITCH to a different Platform.
This is one option. But I think this will be hard to enforce ...
Because of this, it's a double-edged sword. Congress puts up barriers and U.S. companies that rely on Chinese-made goods (that number into the thousands) will suffer. Thanks to our stupid outsourcing model, we probably rely more on China than they rely on us.
Watch them shoot themselves in the foot.
Because of this, it's a double-edged sword. Congress puts up barriers and U.S. companies that rely on Chinese-made goods (that number into the thousands) will suffer. Thanks to our stupid outsourcing model, we probably rely more on China than they rely on us.
Watch them shoot themselves in the foot.
percent will pay for their license.
I suppose a hacked warez version of the latest edition of Windoze on hand, is necessary in order to create new malware kits
And this was to be expected, its happened with previous versions of Microsoft Windows. Some were actually cracks, some would just reset the 30 day timer to day 1 on every reboot. Not really news worthy.
There's been a recent spate of articles that have linked to a source report at CNET NEWS.
I understand citing sources, but the ZDNet posts have simply copied CNET's opening paragraphs, and then linked to the original post. And, like this item on ZDNet, the CNET article only offers an additional paragraph or two.
Hey, ZDNet: Please stop with the copy & paste!
It's sad, but this trend reminds me of porn sites - clicking on a picture instead takes you to another porn site, which then sends you to another porn site, and so on... Lots of links and clicks, but no real content.
I understand citing sources, but the ZDNet posts have simply copied CNET's opening paragraphs, and then linked to the original post. And, like this item on ZDNet, the CNET article only offers an additional paragraph or two.
Hey, ZDNet: Please stop with the copy & paste!
It's sad, but this trend reminds me of porn sites - clicking on a picture instead takes you to another porn site, which then sends you to another porn site, and so on... Lots of links and clicks, but no real content.
just another way to get the link/page hit traffic up between all of their sites?
Who knows.
Who knows.
What I want to know is how much revenue M$ is actually making on this whole activation gig. Copy-protected software (which activation makes Windows) is like locks on doors; it only discourages the casual and opportunistic. It only slows down the die-hard burglar. Yes, activation prevents (or at least interferes) with casual copying, but the die-hard cracker will find a way.
In the meantime, copy protection (activation) adds inconvenience to the legal user (remember the weekend the Vista activation servers went down and so did a whole mess of Vista users?) and thus "buys" ill-will for the company. I DO wonder how many people are running Linux or the Mac OS at least in part due to the hassles with activation and WGA. Who wants to do business with a company that treats them like a criminal from the get-go?
If it weren't for their dirty-tricks-supported monopoly that keeps them on top and people were REALLY given a real choice, I wonder how many people, corporations and government agencies would abandon that buggy, DRM-laden, security-vulnerable piece of crap known as Microsoft Windows for a cleaner, meaner, less-demanding OS such as Linux.
I switched over 2-1/2 years ago and am not going back. Every time I do something with a Winmachine I'm reminded why.
Back to my foundational question; how much revenue is Microsoft REALLY getting because of product activation, considering the offsets of the costs of maintaining the activation system (which is passed along in the cost of every copy of Microsoft Windows, Office and other software that requires activation) and the customer dissatisfaction involved? Enquiring minds want to know!
In the meantime, copy protection (activation) adds inconvenience to the legal user (remember the weekend the Vista activation servers went down and so did a whole mess of Vista users?) and thus "buys" ill-will for the company. I DO wonder how many people are running Linux or the Mac OS at least in part due to the hassles with activation and WGA. Who wants to do business with a company that treats them like a criminal from the get-go?
If it weren't for their dirty-tricks-supported monopoly that keeps them on top and people were REALLY given a real choice, I wonder how many people, corporations and government agencies would abandon that buggy, DRM-laden, security-vulnerable piece of crap known as Microsoft Windows for a cleaner, meaner, less-demanding OS such as Linux.
I switched over 2-1/2 years ago and am not going back. Every time I do something with a Winmachine I'm reminded why.
Back to my foundational question; how much revenue is Microsoft REALLY getting because of product activation, considering the offsets of the costs of maintaining the activation system (which is passed along in the cost of every copy of Microsoft Windows, Office and other software that requires activation) and the customer dissatisfaction involved? Enquiring minds want to know!
Ed went on and on and on about how this one is different,
this one is better, this one will be hack-proof, blah-blah-
blah, blahdie-blahdie-blahdie, blaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh yech!
http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/
Who predicted right?
this one is better, this one will be hack-proof, blah-blah-
blah, blahdie-blahdie-blahdie, blaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh yech!
http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/
Who predicted right?
... that the "hacking" Ed usually referred to was the scenario of "someone on the internet gaining unauthorized access to your PC without your knowledge or consent".
Users deliberately bypassing the authetication on their own machine is hardly the same concept.
Users deliberately bypassing the authetication on their own machine is hardly the same concept.
... that you can hack Windows registry, right?
So all this time I wasn't hacking the registry?
^o^
So all this time I wasn't hacking the registry?
^o^
he probably meant something more like this...
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=4938&tag=wrapper;col1
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=4938&tag=wrapper;col1
Perhaps they should concentrate on putting out a better product that doesn't need weekly updates at a REASONABLE price. That would probably do more for their bottom line than spending millions to patch holes, etc.
Maybe the Mac vs PC commercial is a little closer to home than MS wants it?
By doing so they are helping Microsoft in their monopoly. No one will use alternatives if instead of 500$ for windows and office they get it for free. Good strategy by Microsoft.
It does seem like "Hackers" somehow foil M$ at every turn right before and immediately after a new launch of an OS product when it would be most helpful to MS.
Like nickle bags, maybe MS uses security "flaws" just to get the disgruntled user hooked on the stolen product that they can then shut down when the user starts chasing the Win7 dragon for more.It would be a really sneaky way to give the people that wouldn't buy it a copy that they can legally stop at any time through GA updates.
Remember how that OEM Win7 key leaked just as everyone started talking about the incompatibilities in Windows and the lawsuit in Europe over IE? Yeah, that key doesn't work anymore, go buy a copy of Windows 7 if you want your data.
Course that's always the problem with Windows isn't it, it's easy to get hooked because "it just works" from "A-W" until it doesn't then it costs another $300 for "X", $600 for "Y", and a thousand for "Z".
Like nickle bags, maybe MS uses security "flaws" just to get the disgruntled user hooked on the stolen product that they can then shut down when the user starts chasing the Win7 dragon for more.It would be a really sneaky way to give the people that wouldn't buy it a copy that they can legally stop at any time through GA updates.
Remember how that OEM Win7 key leaked just as everyone started talking about the incompatibilities in Windows and the lawsuit in Europe over IE? Yeah, that key doesn't work anymore, go buy a copy of Windows 7 if you want your data.
Course that's always the problem with Windows isn't it, it's easy to get hooked because "it just works" from "A-W" until it doesn't then it costs another $300 for "X", $600 for "Y", and a thousand for "Z".
funny thing is if they stopped all the activation crap and just charged $20 for the software in the first place then almost the entire world would pay them (sure use cdkeys for installation and access to the update servers) lets face it, its less hassle to have a legal copy but down to the stupidly high prices most people look for the fakes and an ok price (and most pirates charge around $20 per copy instead of $10 a few years ago)
personally i never understood the need for activation, just make it registration required for updates and one key can only be used once, people will stop being careless with there os (in general after activation and patching i clone the hdd ready for 6 months time when i want to reset it back to the same state)
most people couldnt care less about who they pay for there software so long as it isnt much, besides if MS dropped there prices for retail customers (they should still charge buisness's $200 per user since its tax deductable) down to a reasonable ammount (in fact the same goes for all software companies) then people wouldnt be so keen to use craked/pirated software (what with the benefits of having a licence like being able to register and update)
personally i never understood the need for activation, just make it registration required for updates and one key can only be used once, people will stop being careless with there os (in general after activation and patching i clone the hdd ready for 6 months time when i want to reset it back to the same state)
most people couldnt care less about who they pay for there software so long as it isnt much, besides if MS dropped there prices for retail customers (they should still charge buisness's $200 per user since its tax deductable) down to a reasonable ammount (in fact the same goes for all software companies) then people wouldnt be so keen to use craked/pirated software (what with the benefits of having a licence like being able to register and update)
Vista SP2 is not Windows 7. I can tell you from at least 6 months of exp running Windows that it is way faster than Vista. It is also less intrusive and with the UAC. Windows 7 boots up and shuts down faster. Networking is faster, browsing is faster. Bottom line you are wrong by saying the Vista is the same as Windows 7. Is it what Vista should have been two years? ---yes. That is why I did not buy Vista. My experience with Vista comes from supporting users for a year now at my call center. I have seen all the bugs with Vista, SP1 and SP2 and Win 7 is no Vista.
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