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SP2 bomb

S

sciencewhiz

Diamond Member
http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/showstory.jsp?storyid=53153
This time around Microsoft may have found a much more destructive way to get rid off Illegal copies of WindowsXp than Service Pack1. Users installing SP1 on illegal copies would simply get a 'This is a pirated copy' error message. But now Microsoft has armed itself with a huge list of illegal CD keys ensuring that not only does the SP2 not install, but also destroys the computer hard drive by rendering it unusable.
Click to expand...
 
If this were true it would be all over the web and not on just some obscure website somewhere. I wonder how it renders the drive unusable? Talk about FUD.
 
Originally posted by: mikecel79
If this were true it would be all over the web and not on just some obscure website somewhere. I wonder how it renders the drive unusable? Talk about FUD.
Click to expand...

It could render it unreadable, but that's nothing a simple format wouldn't fix. Despite the possibilities, it's highly unlikely that they'd do that.
 
I wasn't doubting that it can't do that. I was wondering what it actually did to make it unreadable or unusable.
 
Screw with the low-level format.
I don't like MS's business practices as much as anyone, but this would be hilarious. >=)
 
Weren't there rumors on the complete OPPOSITE end of the spectrum just a few months ago? That Microsoft would allow SP2 to be installed on even pirated XPs in an effort to eliminate them as security threats?
 
<sarcasm>
Wow, that's such a great way to stick it to those hackers! Oh yeah, those hackers shouldn't be pirating a $300 operating system from the all powerful big brother Microsoft!

And of course their 'anti-piracy' measures won't affect us legal end-users! Just because it happened in SP1 won't mean SP2 will screw over the legal users.
</sarcasm>

<nosarcasm>
That is such a stupid thing. Can you imagine how much trouble they'd be in if they accidentally screwed the hard drives of the legal, paying users? No to mention that the moment the service pack comes out hackers will figure out a way to circumvent these measures, just like what they did to SP1.
</nosarcasm>

EDIT: Forgot the <sarcasm> tags.
 
Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/showstory.jsp?storyid=53153
This time around Microsoft may have found a much more destructive way to get rid off Illegal copies of WindowsXp than Service Pack1. Users installing SP1 on illegal copies would simply get a 'This is a pirated copy' error message. But now Microsoft has armed itself with a huge list of illegal CD keys ensuring that not only does the SP2 not install, but also destroys the computer hard drive by rendering it unusable.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

ERRATA: The following line was carried previously and though the story holds true, the statement is an inadvertent error and is regretted -"but also destroys the computer hard drive by rendering it unusable."

(ie they've corrected their mistake on the WWW page)
 
This is just one more reason why I don't like M$, it's not ok to destroy people's data in their hdd. I'm so glad that I moved away from M$ and that I use linux, where you don't have problems with propietary software and other propietary protocols/formats. Why don't you guys give linux a try?
 
Originally posted by: pitupepito2000
This is just one more reason why I don't like M$, it's not ok to destroy people's data in their hdd. I'm so glad that I moved away from M$ and that I use linux, where you don't have problems with propietary software and other propietary protocols/formats. Why don't you guys give linux a try?
Click to expand...

I doubt it destroys any data whatsoever.

At most it just renders the OS unusable, everything will probably be accessable.

But like everything else that comes out of MS, I'll beleive it when I see it. Everything is automaticly redflagged as "BS" in my mind. Either it's a misrepresentation, exageration, or a feature that will never make it to final product.


Of course MS may just be picking up some tips from me:
Personally I think that MS should release the 2nd service pack for everybody to use, but insert a posion pill that will in a few months will bring up a activation notification.

This activation notice will give people a chance to call MS and activate it if it's legal or purchase a discounted OEM liscence if it's a illegal copy. A memo should be "accidently" "leaked" describing a painfull and technically involved way of defeating this 2sp-based activation sceme.

Then after the activation will be "cracked" and on the April 1st of every year the OS will e-mail MS technical details about the OS, the Mac Address, cpu, motherboard type, harddrive type, and other objects used in fingerprinting a machine for the original activation.

Then the OS will quietly and silently corrupt itself and everything on the drive and anything it has access too.

Then when people finally give up and try to activate a real version of MS their computer will be recorded and documented as using stolen software. In order to activate WinXP then the bastards will have to pay for TWO full priced liscenced of windows. One for the stolen copy, one for the legit copy.

Now that's a activation sceme I would use if I was incharge of MS
Click to expand...

Of course they won't be able to use the full evil of my plan, that will have to wait for longhorn. 😛
 
There is already a way to install SP2 without activation on corp...

As far as rendering your hard drive unusable is laughable. They'd get sued left and right.
 
Originally posted by: drag
Originally posted by: pitupepito2000
This is just one more reason why I don't like M$, it's not ok to destroy people's data in their hdd. I'm so glad that I moved away from M$ and that I use linux, where you don't have problems with propietary software and other propietary protocols/formats. Why don't you guys give linux a try?
Click to expand...

I doubt it destroys any data whatsoever.

At most it just renders the OS unusable, everything will probably be accessable.

But like everything else that comes out of MS, I'll beleive it when I see it. Everything is automaticly redflagged as "BS" in my mind. Either it's a misrepresentation, exageration, or a feature that will never make it to final product.


Of course MS may just be picking up some tips from me:
Personally I think that MS should release the 2nd service pack for everybody to use, but insert a posion pill that will in a few months will bring up a activation notification.

This activation notice will give people a chance to call MS and activate it if it's legal or purchase a discounted OEM liscence if it's a illegal copy. A memo should be "accidently" "leaked" describing a painfull and technically involved way of defeating this 2sp-based activation sceme.

Then after the activation will be "cracked" and on the April 1st of every year the OS will e-mail MS technical details about the OS, the Mac Address, cpu, motherboard type, harddrive type, and other objects used in fingerprinting a machine for the original activation.

Then the OS will quietly and silently corrupt itself and everything on the drive and anything it has access too.

Then when people finally give up and try to activate a real version of MS their computer will be recorded and documented as using stolen software. In order to activate WinXP then the bastards will have to pay for TWO full priced liscenced of windows. One for the stolen copy, one for the legit copy.

Now that's a activation sceme I would use if I was incharge of MS
Click to expand...

Of course they won't be able to use the full evil of my plan, that will have to wait for longhorn. 😛
Click to expand...

you're right knowing M$ they probably mean making their data unaccessable through windows, but that doesn't mean that it is unaccessable through a Linux bootdisk, but that doesn't disregard that M$ could also just screw up the partition table making it really hard to get your data back. Again, I guess we'll see what comes along. I personally don't have anything to worry about since I don't pirate M$ Windows. I do use M$ Windows, but not as a choice. My main OS is Debian Linux 😉
 
Just wondering if a long list of keys will leave everyone vulnerable. I mean if the key works then it is either a real key that was leaked or some generated key that may match a real key. Basically everyone can be affected if this is true.

On the other hand wouldn't hard disk destruction categorize SP2 as a virus and expose Microsoft to federal criminal prosecution as some virus makers recently?

Also this statement may have come from hackers to prevent people from updating and leave systems more open to attacks.

Either way I will not be updating to SP2 for some time after it comes out. Maybe test it on my work systems first.
 
Didn't they try this with an earlier version of Word?

I remeber reading they did, but can t remeber what site, and if it was true.

Anyways, I call BS
 
Why don't you guys read the original article again, which has since corrected their silly mistake?

Yes, it's BS.
 
Originally posted by: dclive
Why don't you guys read the original article again, which has since corrected their silly mistake?

Yes, it's BS.
Click to expand...


Well their retraction is pretty crappy. Stupid website did this crap on purpose, I bet. Get people to link to it.
 
Perhaps the boot sector modification is already in place;

I just installed XP pro with SP1a over the weekend knowing my floppy drive did not work and I had to load SCSI drivers to install the OS I made a bootable of XP install with my SCSI drivers streamlined. I was able to install the OS to the point where is reboots then I got a message saying the file structure was corrupt and install failed. I had to go and but a USB floppy for SCSI drivers and use original XP CD to finally get my OS re-installed.
 
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