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Can Microsoft track down Illegal copy of XP ?

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> All I did was take out a harddrive add a video card and decided to reinstall

It was the multiple changes that kicked in activation in this case. Some are treated differently than others (for example, adding memory and changing the video card should have been fine). The hd identifier is a big peice of the puzzle, so changing that with other items often causes reactivation.

Bill
 
bsobel: while the changing of the drive may have done it also, I think probably the fact that he reinstalled is what did it. It's not very clear, did Don66 do a complete wiped-drive reinstall, or just reinstall over the existing installation? Anybody know if activation comes up if you reinstall without wiping the drive (a "refresh" of XP).
 
> bsobel: while the changing of the drive may have done it also, I think probably the fact that he reinstalled is what did it.

A reinstall would definately cause activation to occur, however it should have completed via the internet without human interaction. It was the reinstall coupled with the hardware changes that caused the call into MS to have to occur.
Bill
 
So:

Change a couple of minor pieces of hardware: no activation.
Reinstall XP over itself without wiping: reactivate over the Net.
Change hardware AND reinstall over itself: call to reactivate.
And of course a wipe and reinstall: call to reactivate.
 


<< And of course a wipe and reinstall: call to reactivate. >>



No, I did this. Wiped out every partition on my RAID array, deleted the array in the BIOS, rebuilt it, repartititioned and reinstalled. No need to call.

edit: to clarify - reactivate: yes. *call* to reactivate: no.
 
I think that MS's activation was placed into action prematurely. I have reinstalled XP Home Edition many times, and twice I had to call to reactivate. I have no problem with their quest to find an anti-piracy solution. I just wish that it was smart enough to know that your are not dis-obeying their EULA.

I want to be able to re-install "MY" operating system -- the one that "I" paid for with "MY OWN" hard earned money, and not feel like I am doing something illegal. I just wish MS would have waited until their code was smart enough to know when an end user is actually doing something dishonest. I truley believe that MS is just trying to instill fear (which is OK, but it affects the people who are honest).

BTW: When the MS person asked "why was I reinstalling Windows XP" I answered "because I am very anal, and I enjoy reinstalling MY operating system that I paid for" I hope that the conversation was recorded!!!

I know this was totally off topic of the original post, but I just wanted to "honk my horn", while I could.

Also....A free downloaded copy of Windows Xp corporate edition? Shouldn't this thread be moved to the "Hot Deals" forum?
 
Windows XP is not *YOUR* operating system. Its Microsoft. You have a licence to run it. You agreed to that licence. If it includes stuff saying you need to activate you should follow the rules you agreed to. Or switch to something that does not promote the company that is "making" you do things you dont agree with.
 
You don't have access to read that license until you've already paid for it.

Besides, nobody is arguing that that is what the license says, they're just saying it's total crap. I'd use something different if that was an option for me, but MS is the only thing that will run all the stuff I want and it's the only thing my GF knows how to use. I can't just install linux on a machine and expect her to figure it out.


j
 
And before you say anything about it's not MS's fault that everybody makes things for Windows: yes, it is their fault, they first gained monopoly power and then have repeatedly abused it in order to remain a monopoly, which has made it essentially unprofitable for most companies to make products for anything besides Windows. They have a choice of making it for the 80% or higher Windows market, or for a 10% or lower market for other operating systems. Other companies ARE struggling to make alternatives, but MS is also struggling as hard as they can to continue maintaining their monopoly.

I don't think activation has anything to do with the monopoly though, of course.
 
You don't have access to read that license until you've already paid for it.

They have them on their site somewhere, although I can't find them right now. And like you didn't know about the WPA before you bought XP, it's only the most talked about 'feature' in XP.

I can't wait until MS starts charging monthly (or however often) fees for use of their software, then we'll really find out how badly people want to use their products.
 


<< I can't wait until MS starts charging monthly (or however often) fees for use of their software, then we'll really find out how badly people want to use their products. >>


I'm sure that someone will figure out a way around this as well.
 


<<

<< I have no sympathy for thieves.

-------------------------
3DMark2001 score:
9492 #1 in CPU/VC Class!!! (P4 at 2300) >>




It would be pretty funny if AMD and Intel could do the same thing.😛😉 >>



Apples and oranges. I'm not OCing CPUs and distributing them, nor am I stealing CPUs.
 


<< They have them on their site somewhere, although I can't find them right now. And like you didn't know about the WPA before you bought XP, it's only the most talked about 'feature' in XP. >>



Dude, you can't possibly be saying that a bunch of people "talking about" the activiation, plus it being available "somewhere" on MS' site that an avid ATer like yourself can't even find as a reason that an average joe should know the specifics of the user license before having one presented to him to read. Thats just silly.

Not to mention the fact that the average joe may be buying a new PC because he doesn't even have net access. Whats he supposed to do, refuse to accept the license once he has his new $1000 machine at home and has already creased the binding on his Internet for Dummies book? 😉


j







 


<<

<<

<< I have no sympathy for thieves.

-------------------------
3DMark2001 score:
9492 #1 in CPU/VC Class!!! (P4 at 2300) >>




It would be pretty funny if AMD and Intel could do the same thing.😛😉 >>



Apples and oranges. I'm not OCing CPUs and distributing them, nor am I stealing CPUs. >>


well they are not stealing software, because, you never -own- the software, you just acquire binaries and whatnot, to USE the software. then again, overclocking isnt stealing...its not illegal or anything, its like hot rodding your car.

if i didnt have a gf, i might not have to worry about MS's crap...unfortunately i do :/ (have to deal with MS, that is)

either way, even by pirating their stuff, you are still supporting them. think if all the people who now pirate MS stuff, instead went to mac or linux or bsd or something other than windows....MS would have WAY less market share. by pirating their stuff, you are advancing their monopolistic position in the market. unfortunately i am guilty of the same.......
 
The corporate and site licensed versions (for example at a major University) are very easy to distribute. UT was selling $5 copies of XP Pro Full to the entire student body. I'm sure none of those end users tried to copy it. I bought a University site licensed version and they just gave me a little certificate with the license number on it. They just sit around all day and burn it, which is totally legal under the guidlines of the site license.

My RIG
 
Actually, it would be very illegal for Microsoft to send a signal to de-activate your OS. This goes on the same line as somebody hacking into your box. Any unauthorized access to any portion of your computer is strictly against the law. This would make for a very interesting court battle. Also, in order for Microsoft to find out if you're running an illegal version they must first scan your box, they cannot do this as it is private information.
 


<<

<<

<<

<< I have no sympathy for thieves.

-------------------------
3DMark2001 score:
9492 #1 in CPU/VC Class!!! (P4 at 2300) >>




It would be pretty funny if AMD and Intel could do the same thing.😛😉 >>



Apples and oranges. I'm not OCing CPUs and distributing them, nor am I stealing CPUs. >>


well they are not stealing software, because, you never -own- the software, you just acquire binaries and whatnot, to USE the software. then again, overclocking isnt stealing...its not illegal or anything, its like hot rodding your car.

if i didnt have a gf, i might not have to worry about MS's crap...unfortunately i do :/ (have to deal with MS, that is)

either way, even by pirating their stuff, you are still supporting them. think if all the people who now pirate MS stuff, instead went to mac or linux or bsd or something other than windows....MS would have WAY less market share. by pirating their stuff, you are advancing their monopolistic position in the market. unfortunately i am guilty of the same....... >>



You're stealling intellectual property and using it without permission. You can attempt to justify it with all the convoluted logic you like, but it wont change that simple fact.

It would be the same as if I stole your music, ideas, book, or any product of your labor and then used it without your permission. It would be the same as your boss having you work a crap load of hours, and the telling you he's going to use the fruit of your labor, but not pay you.
 
I didn't think they needed to scan your box.

wouldn't they be able to write something in a service pack to effect of:

"if the 25 digit activation code = ' any of the known the warez ones (subsituting numbers of course)' then disable"?

(I'm not a software person, but that's what I'd tell them I wanted).

Isn't that what they did with Office a few years back? I vaguely remember that if you had an illegal version running and installed the office service packs that it killed itself after 50 more uses. I didn't pay attention too much bc my copy was legal.
 
Yeah, they could do that. But couldn't that be classified as a virus? Adding code to cause damage to the computer...
 


<< Yeah, they could do that. But couldn't that be classified as a virus? Adding code to cause damage to the computer... >>



It will not cause damage, just protect Microsoft's interrests. If the FBI can convince anti-virus companies that a keylogger is not a virus, than Microsoft (the people that keep the anti-virus companies in business!) can convince them that something this simple is not a virus.
 
> Yeah, they could do that. But couldn't that be classified as a virus? Adding code to cause damage to the computer...

No, it's quite obviously not a 'virus' by definition. Look, like it or not Microsoft has done this before (with Office). It's not illegal (as someone said), it's well within their rights. If your going to claim that this is illegal and they have somehow done damages to you, that requires you to admit to running stolen software in the first place.

Bill
 
This thread and the software community are still faced with that fact that copyright law allows

copying, provided it is for personal or educational use. The definition of "personal or educational" use

has been debated endlessly.........

Why doesnt M$ prosecute for copying of its software.....? The precedent that would allow such an action

has yet to be established....... even after so many years of debate.

You will see copy protection schemes, threats, posturing, etc. but you won't find a conciction.......

Despite the fact that "silver bullets" are VERY possible (if not easy), you will not find an instance of it.

This is exactly for the reasons mentioned above. M$ (or satelite TV, or Cable TV, etc.) have not been

able to establish a precedent proving there is no violation of privacy or personal property.



However, if you sell these copies, or distribute them to "unknown or unrelated" parties, then you cross

the line and prosecution is a viable option for the author.
 
I'm sure they can find out machines with a typical warez copy installed (XP is connecting to msft.net very often, not so many activation keys floating around...).

You will see copy protection schemes, threats, posturing, etc. but you won't find a conciction

There's another problem IMO: how do they know that Mr. Warez Dude doesn't have a valid license?

If I bought XP, I'd install some version without PA anyway. The EULA might prohibit this somewhere, but that EULA is not really enforceable many countries (probably US as well), because of clashes with local laws and regulations. I think MS want to avoid finding out in court how much the typical EULA is worth.
 
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