Another protection against Windows XP illegal copies ?

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Originally posted here by Sharez
Hmm there is already a method for that SP1 thing.
The truth is MS is going to lock down computers that has stolen keys. One thing they are sure of is most of the illegal copies use FCKGW-xxx-xxx something key. What MS is doing is the SP will lock the computer that uses that cd key.
So all you have to do is to change the cd key. I dont think that it is right to post here how to change your cd key and get a original key for your mechine.
here is a web page explaining how to break the new security for WinXP.
http://www.windowsxp.nu
(I hope I am not breaking any rules of AO by giving out this webpage)

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Block, not lock... you simply won't be able to apply the updates easily, which if your using a lot of leaked keys, will become a pain in the ass.... but you will still be able to use your installation, just won't be updated....

/me shakes his head at Sharez

hmm I thought it was lock ok..
Lets start thinking this whole issue in MS's point of view. There are around 8000 people in MS just working for Windows. And these 8000 people if they are good enough to program a O/S they must be getting a shitload of money. Thinking that MS spend something like between 2 to 5 years to release XP. They must have spent some money on it. So they want to get the flower from degir seeds. They want to earn some money. That is normal BUT it is true that MS sells its products real expensive. I mean why go buy a O/S for over 100$ when you can buy it like 5$. I think MS MUST(!) half their priceses. In that way people might consider buying their products. They will accutually make more money than they do now. Because more people will but it. I bet more than %50 of home users dont have original copies.
I always see flames to MS. Ok I accept the fact that they are trying to monopoly and they suck. But think in this way IF MS didnot exist do you think that the computer world will be where it is now?

*wonders why he posted this under this topic hmm :confused: *

If MS halves the cost of its products... it will also half its staff, leaving everyone worse off.... What exactly are you comparing it to as being too expensive!?!? something that is free? Your dreaming..

Why is it that everyone ignores that microsoft is just like any other company, and it has responsibilities to its stakeholders.... How much do you think it costs them to make a product.... You've got salaries, development equipment, research and development and marketing...... your easily looking at 100's of millions of dollars, most likely more than that.....

Now, once you've made a reasonable return on a product, the companies move on and begin the cycle again... that's when the prices go down..... so, of course one of their new OS's is going to be expensive, they are trying to make back their expenditures....

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There are around 8000 people in MS just working for Windows. And these 8000 people if they are good enough to program a O/S they must be getting a shitload of money

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Lets do the maths on this shall we... lets say they earn next to nothing, *like me*, and are on around $17K US a year...

8000 X 17,000 =... ummm, one moment.. *breaks out calculator* $136,000,000 per year

Now, lets put that by a realistic number for what it takes MS to pump out an OS..
136,000,000 X 3 = $408,000,000..

Now, you look at just that.... and how much they charge for their operating systems... and you see that its not that much, especially considering I've left out many other financial factors...

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Why is it that everyone ignores that microsoft is just like any other company, and it has responsibilities to its stakeholders.... How much do you think it costs them to make a product.... You've got salaries, development equipment, research and development and marketing...... your easily looking at 100's of millions of dollars, most likely more than that.....

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Okay, I agree with you, MS is a company just like other ones, it has to make benefit. All right.
But don't forget that MS always tries to impose users to use HIS OS, not any other.
And very often, (that's not to say every time) when a new windows version is commercialised, it's always full of bugs (jsut look at all the "security fix", the "service pack", immediately available . You'll say that the perfect software doesn't exist, yet. Maybe, but I think MS should make *serious* efforts to improve the quality of his products.
Another thing : MS is trying to gain 100% control on his users : for example, in the latest winXP, there are a lot of "hidden" functionnalities that always redirect to microsft, or its affiliates. In the Explorer, when you're browsing a directory that contains audio files, what does explorer offers to you ? "Buy music on the Internet". Of course, it redirects you to a MS affiliate. And also : the 404 errors, when using internet explorer : when attempting to reach a non available page, windows automatically redirects you to the MS search engine, MSN.
So in conclusion, this SP1 for XP is certainly another attempt to gain more power on the end users, under cover of software protection.

Concerning the prices, i think that they are too much expansive. But MS can sell his products at this prices, because, there no other choice !
Linux is certainly not the best choice for newbies, and there are definitely too few applications for Mac. Windows is very user-friendly, that's why all contructors choose this os, instead of linux, or other unix...

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And very often, (that's not to say every time) when a new windows version is commercialised, it's always full of bugs (jsut look at all the "security fix", the "service pack", immediately available . You'll say that the perfect software doesn't exist, yet. Maybe, but I think MS should make *serious* efforts to improve the quality of his products.

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We're not debating the reliability/security of MS here... That would be kinda one sided, as most MS OS's require a lot of work to keep secure *not that the alternatives don't either*... But look at this side of it.... Microsoft can only do limited beta testing, mainly because people don't play by the rules and share the beta copies... again, hitting MS where it hurts, in the $$...

We are discussing the blockage implemented in the service pack, and I say, good on Microsoft.. I mean, they fork out lots of money to develop a product, sure it's got its problems, the patches are the way to fix that.... Now, why, in any sense, shouldn't they try to stop people who didn't pay for the product in the first place, getting the benifit of their further expenditure??

I fully support this blocking.. Piracy is a big problem for Microsoft, and they are trying to protect themself from it... If this upsets you, that a company is trying to protect themselves, prepare to be very upset in the future, because more of them are going to start doing it.....

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Concerning the prices, i think that they are too much expansive. But MS can sell his products at this prices, because, there no other choice !
Linux is certainly not the best choice for newbies, and there are definitely too few applications for Mac. Windows is very user-friendly, that's why all contructors choose this os, instead of linux, or other unix...

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Do the ~figures (we can't do it exactly, there are too many variables), with the size of Microsoft and its yearly expenditure in its projects, its not charging that much, when it could charge more... people would bitch and whinge, but as you said, there really isn't much else out there, so people would be forced to take it....

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So in conclusion, this SP1 for XP is certainly another attempt to gain more power on the end users, under cover of software protection.

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How so? I mean, its piracy protection doesn't affect legitimate copies of XP.. only the illegal copies that are being used....

Yes but matty 100$ is alot of money.
if 20 000 people buys their products that makes 2mil. 20 000 is nothing.
minimum(!) 1 milion was sold JUST to some companies.
Which makes MS to get alot of money.
What I am saying is IF their priceses was halfed I am talking about my self for the product they produce the effort in it I will spend 50$ or so.
Which brings another subject. I dont really think that MS cares about home users. Because he does not get anything from them.
Home users are divided into 2.
1) Computer wiz
2) new computer buyers that has a Compaq sticker.
the first group no one buys original products. The second group dont know damm about computers and dont need new products. When they learn they go to first group.
Thats what I think of MS correct me if I am wrong please.

Your kinda correct...

Microsoft doesn't really care about home users....
Home users don't really produce that much revenue for MS.. sure, they will always keep something special in the cookie jar for the home user, but MS is after corporations.....

Now, Microsoft charges corporations quite a lot for using their software... why would this be? I mean, its not like that expenditure from a corporation actually gets them anything.... oh wait... what do they use the software for.... working... and what does the working get them? $$$$.. If you think about the costs of purchasing the software against what it enables business's to do, you'll see where I'm coming from.....

You'll also notice that there are two versions of XP, Home & Professional.... that was Microsoft's effort of giving the home user a price cut... if you choose to go with XP Pro, that's your choice, but don't start complaining because you have to pay more for something aimed at businesses, since they have more money to spend....
As for other products, they have versions of those aimed at different consumer groups.... such as student's and the like....

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Originally posted here by sniper001


In the Explorer, when you're browsing a directory that contains audio files, what does explorer offers to you ? "Buy music on the Internet". Of course, it redirects you to a MS affiliate. And also : the 404 errors, when using internet explorer : when attempting to reach a non available page, windows automatically redirects you to the MS search engine, MSN.
So in conclusion, this SP1 for XP is certainly another attempt to gain more power on the end users, under cover of software protection.

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These options can very easily be changed. My IE doesn't do auto searches for me. And when I do a search from the address bar it goes to google. Can't blaim them for making it work that way by default, but they do give you the ability to change settings.

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Originally posted here by mohaughn



These options can very easily be changed. My IE doesn't do auto searches for me. And when I do a search from the address bar it goes to google. Can't blaim them for making it work that way by default, but they do give you the ability to change settings.

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Yes, you're right, but you have to do it manually. Otherwise the defaul tconfig brings you to msn.