Hackers 1 Vista SP1 0

[messerchmidt]

looks like its been hacked again;

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/02/11/windows-vista-sp1-activation

&

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=1267

Makes sense, M$ cannot easily block the bios mod hack without creating a nightmare for legitimate OEM users that have their bioses modified from the factory.

Pig of an OS - first thing I did was format my new laptop and load xp sp2.

[messerchmidt]

M$ may thwart the counter fitters, but they will never stop the pirates

[RangerSVT]

This type of stuff used to be underground and private, it's getting so much publicity now . I already know of several local divisions that are cracking down on counterfitt copies of software at the local swap-meets and such.

In the near future I can see tagged discs with dedicated serial numbers, with higher prices.

I really wouldn't want to fuck with Microsoft...Their software is used on 95% of the PC's.

[LstOfTheBrunnenG]

Didn't they actually loosen anti-piracy measures in SP1?

I wouldn't know, since all my copies of this pig of an OS are legal...

[Mithent]

They backed down from their "kill switch" strategy of all but disabling systems which were not correctly activated outside the grace period in SP1, going back to a nag system. That's not saying that they want you to pirate their OS any more, but rather due to problems people have had with their systems becoming deactivated for some reason (you can deal with nagging for a bit while the problem is sorted, but not reduced functionality mode). However, SP1 breaks some previously-used exploits to get past activation.

It kinda annoys me how acceptable it is to pirate Windows, to the point that press articles virtually say "Stupid Microsoft, thinking you can stop the brilliant pirates". The main defense offered by people who pirate is that they wouldn't have bought it anyway and they're therefore not causing the company to lose any money, which is almost certainly not true for things like Windows (uh, yeah, they'd all have been using Linux if they couldn't pirate Windows? I bet).

[messerchmidt]

hehe, they loosened some of the security measures but tried to kill the hacks that people were using to circumvent the rather austere security measures. its funny because i knew that it would not work.

well people could buy the OS, but that takes $ away from buying video cards, cpus, etc - most pirates would rather spend the cash on that or just pocket it. Especially if they can get away with it.

[messerchmidt]

another point, all their security, kill switches, etc just seem to annoy legit users. pirates are usually back in business using some sort of anti-wga/wpa, etc within hours.

[eeyrjmr]

ie the pirates get the better product ;)

short of windows being shipped with a PCI card and that card does some core windows function it will always be bypassed

[Mithent]

well people could buy the OS, but that takes $ away from buying video cards, cpus, etc - most pirates would rather spend the cash on that or just pocket it. Especially if they can get away with it.

Well, of course; that's why it happens. People have all these fancy rationalisations as to why it's not stealing, and maybe they have a point in some cases, but where they would purchase but don't because they can pirate it is pretty much stealing to me. Sure, I'd like to get Windows free, but I'd feel guilty, quite apart from the risk of getting your OS deactivated.

[Finn]

If MS made it really hard to pirate, people would just switch to free alternatives such as linux. Now that would hurt MS way more than a few pirates will. Pirating only enhances MS market domination more.

[Jakalwarrior]

If you could pay 10 or 20 bucks to upgrade XP to DX10 I bet there would be a lot less pirating ;) I recently saw vista for around 50 bucks though. Soon as it stops being so darn slow ill buy it.

[VanQuiShEr]

This type of stuff used to be underground and private, it's getting so much publicity now . I already know of several local divisions that are cracking down on counterfitt copies of software at the local swap-meets and such.

In the near future I can see tagged discs with dedicated serial numbers, with higher prices.

I really wouldn't want to fuck with Microsoft...Their software is used on 95% of the PC's.

If M$ jacks up the price. Theyll be on 5% of PCs. And itll open a market for new OS because the incentives will be there.

[RangerXML]

If M$ jacks up the price. Theyll be on 5% of PCs. And itll open a market for new OS because the incentives will be there.

Good one, like paying $500 bucks for an OS ;-)

I don't use any pretty rationalizations, its flat out stealing. I also agree hackers get the better products, has anyone seen Windows XP variants that are out on the net based on VLK Editions!

[xveganx]

They backed down from their "kill switch" strategy of all but disabling systems which were not correctly activated outside the grace period in SP1, going back to a nag system. That's not saying that they want you to pirate their OS any more, but rather due to problems people have had with their systems becoming deactivated for some reason (you can deal with nagging for a bit while the problem is sorted, but not reduced functionality mode). However, SP1 breaks some previously-used exploits to get past activation.

It kinda annoys me how acceptable it is to pirate Windows, to the point that press articles virtually say "Stupid Microsoft, thinking you can stop the brilliant pirates". The main defense offered by people who pirate is that they wouldn't have bought it anyway and they're therefore not causing the company to lose any money, which is almost certainly not true for things like Windows (uh, yeah, they'd all have been using Linux if they couldn't pirate Windows? I bet).



Actually, I use linux 99% of the time. I only recently had to start dual booting windows so I could properly sync my ipod touch with all the artwork and such. Honestly that is ridiculous, but I can thank apple for that one!