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I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

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Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#21

Post by wavephorm »

jcnnghm wrote: post #14
powertower wrote: post #10

If you're activating MS products by entering "100-digit" activation keys into your telephone, you're already doing something wrong... Or are a complete edge/outliner case.

Says the guy that doesn't have any family members that persistently fubar their systems, necessitating enough reinstalls to trip the activation limit.

I hit the activation limit on my family pack (3 copies) and was never given any instructions on what to do. My system would go black and eventually become unusable. Instead of telling me how to reactivate the copies I bought, Microsoft puts up a message on how to purchase another new copy of Windows.

I'm done with this company now. I bought a Mac, and I'm not coming back.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#22

Post by [deleted] »

jcnnghm wrote: post #14
powertower wrote: post #10

If you're activating MS products by entering "100-digit" activation keys into your telephone, you're already doing something wrong... Or are a complete edge/outliner case.

Says the guy that doesn't have any family members that persistently fubar their systems, necessitating enough reinstalls to trip the activation limit.

[deleted]

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#23

Post by melling »

If you don't like their product or policies, don't use it. If you use it then you should pay for it. Use Linux, a BSD Unix, or a Mac. People who pirate Microsoft products don't really hurt Microsoft, they hurt the rest of the competition.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#25

Post by funkah »

powertower wrote: post #10

If you're activating MS products by entering "100-digit" activation keys into your telephone, you're already doing something wrong... Or are a complete edge/outliner case.

Right, the customer is the one in the wrong here, not the company requiring him to jump through these hoops.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#26

Post by kermitthehermit »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #3

I don't use pirated versions of Windows so I don't know the answer to this but I would assume it's a bad idea because: Your trusting a .ISO image from a random website, how do you know there is not time bombed malware pre-installed? Do you still have access to Windows update? If so for how long, I assume it can't be difficult for Microsoft to figure out who is using it illegitimately since some versions must be using…

No, not really. They can check the hashes against those of official ISOs from M$, thus making sure they don't come with extra "features".

As for updates, they can get those too. However, MS might be reading their mail and all they type if they use a "cracked" version of windows without an original serial number.

However, his point is 100% valid. The need for serials / activations is giving people enough reasons to skip buying Windows and pirate it or simply install Linux.

If Windows would've costed 50 USD everywhere and had a milder "security" system, they'd be selling at least 5-10 times more copies.

Some countries have all sorts of big and small taxes which drive the prices of the windows licenses up by 10-40% and some shops also add their own profit margins. Having them be so expensive in the first place doesn't help at all.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#27

Post by [deleted] »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #3

I don't use pirated versions of Windows so I don't know the answer to this but I would assume it's a bad idea because: Your trusting a .ISO image from a random website, how do you know there is not time bombed malware pre-installed? Do you still have access to Windows update? If so for how long, I assume it can't be difficult for Microsoft to figure out who is using it illegitimately since some versions must be using…

[deleted]

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#28

Post by joebadmo »

jemka wrote: post #11
joebadmo wrote: post #4

While I'm entirely sympathetic to the author's DRM plight, buying the software and getting the pirate's cleaner experience are not mutually exclusive. If you want the best experience and a clean conscience (I'm assuming here you think piracy is wrong, since you've bought so many other copies of MS software), buy the software, then install a pirated a copy. I usually do this with new PCs that have Windows pre-installe…

I think that misses the point. The author wants MS to change and is attempting to get their attention via this post. Whether or not the author will actually pirate the software is moot.

Ah, that's a fair point. The post is, in the end, imploring MS to change. And I suppose part of that point is the economic one that MS is losing sales because of this. Adding the premise that you want to send an economic message to MS as well, and assuming that the author needs Windows, it doesn't seem like there's a good way to satisfy all of the requirements. Still seems like the closest thing would be to buy a copy, install a pirated version, write a blog post like this one, and threaten not to upgrade or to switch to a competitor.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#29

Post by wmf »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #3

I don't use pirated versions of Windows so I don't know the answer to this but I would assume it's a bad idea because: Your trusting a .ISO image from a random website, how do you know there is not time bombed malware pre-installed? Do you still have access to Windows update? If so for how long, I assume it can't be difficult for Microsoft to figure out who is using it illegitimately since some versions must be using…

MS publishes MD5s of the ISOs so you can know that you're pirating the right thing. If you pirate it the right way you also get updates.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#30

Post by gm »

sciurus wrote: post #24

If you already have a windows license but lost your installation media, you can download it without resorting to piracy. The link below has the URLs for the retail ISOs hosted by Amazon. http://www.mydigitallife.info/windows-7-iso-x86-and-x64-offi...

Lost installation media not at all the point of the post. Read it first.
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