Windows authentication check now mandatory

Piracy-check mandatory for Windows add-ons

Published on July 26, 2005 By coffeegrinder In Windows Software

Article Link

Any Windows add-ons except security patches now require OS authentication check.

Comments (Page 1)

Dracil

on Jul 26, 2005

So... how long before all the authentication-required patches just end up on P2P?

CaptainWin

on Jul 26, 2005

My problem with this is that I have gone through the check only to be told that my copy can not be authenticated. I bought my computer from Dell with XP Home installed. Does this mean that Dell is installing pirated copies on the computers they sell?

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central

_02

on Jul 26, 2005

Does this mean that Dell is installing pirated copies on the computers they sell?

I don't know. My computer was bought new with Windows XP Home already installed, and it has been authenticated everytime. I do not have a Dell. Maybe you aren't using the right numbers. It is very confusing, and there are alot of them. It is the tiny little numbers on the back of the computer (at least on mine) that say product key.

Phoon

on Jul 26, 2005

Have you contacted Dell Tech support? The only issue you should have with a Dell OS is if you installed it on a non-dell system and used your Product ID that came with it. That will spawn a call to MS to Activate it, and a healthy round of QA.

George Rogers Jr

on Jul 26, 2005

I've done this & have had no problems so far.....my copy of Windows XP Pro is legitmate & don't mind them asking everytime in the least - I don't like cheaters!!

kona0197

on Jul 27, 2005

People have found ways around MS things like this in the past - no doubt they will now.

Dracil

on Jul 27, 2005

Wow, I was off. You don't even need to wait for the patches to appear on the P2P and/or warez scene, they're already available direct download on legitimate sites.

Taking bets on how long it takes for MS to decide to shut them down.

More info on Slashdot. http://slashdot.org/articles/05/07/26/1329231.shtml

Lotherius

on Jul 27, 2005

What I've been seeing for YEARS doing tech support are people who throw away or lose all the documentation that came with their copy of Windows. One woman that I sold a computer system to, complete with new copy of Windows 2000, was proud of herself for having organized her entire collection of CDs into those slim-line plastic containers. I asked her what she did with all the original packaging, and she said she threw it out.

She was quite upset when I informed her that I couldn't fix her computer (it needed reinstalled due to massive virus infestation) without selling her a new copy of 2000 (or XP at the time). She finally got her son to put a pirated key on her legit copy of 2000 so they could get it reinstalled.

I haven't tried this activiation, but if it requires the user inputting their product key or anything off of the original packaging, chances are there'll be a LOT of people in the same boat as that woman.

(EDIT): I was curious how this worked. I ran it. Said my key was valid. Interesting. As far as I know, Stardock keys are about the only ones on this particular machine that should pass such a test.

PurrBall

on Jul 27, 2005

I never throw away packaging, even the nice cow-spotted boxes the computer comes in.

starkers

on Jul 27, 2005

I have no objection whatsoever to the Windows Validation requirement, but I didn't have to provide any keys when I did so.

When asked if I wanted to validate my copy, I clicked yes and an Active X component was downloaded to my system which must have scanned it for authenticity. From that point on, all I do is click on yes to validate and I'm taken to the download without delay.

Seems like a simple and fair enough process to me, and even if some smart alecs find ways around it, MS has the resources at its disposal to engineer more effective ways to combat this piracy, I'm sure. Apparently the new Vista has even more sophisticated anti-piracy measures built into it....spawning, I guess, another illicit industry to produce cheap or free copies.

CaptainWin

on Jul 27, 2005

My problem is now solved. My first try that failed, was when I tried to download Microsofts Antispyware program. Today I went to Windows Update and completed the process without any problems. It downloaded a small file to my computer that, after installation, authenticated my copy of XP without any input from me. Must of been some sort of glitch at the AntiSpyware site.

bakerstreet

on Jul 27, 2005

The whole "download the patch from another source" thing won't work when the patch itself is set to check for a validated OS. All they have to do is set the encrypted patch to validate your activation code with the MS site before it will install, and send the key to decrypt it at the same time from the MS site.

Anyway, get over the idea that "you can get around anything". That is because of the hardware we have now. Within ten years, you won't be able to buy hardware that will allow you to get around it. We are maybe 2 OS releases and 1 processor generation from DRM at the hardware level.

This week there was a consortium on replacing the bios with a new format. Bank on that having DRM abilities. MS has even used the drive to HDTV to force DRM integration into monitors themselves. Play with your cracks and regkeys while you can.

Corky_O

on Jul 27, 2005

Good reason to stay legal, eh?

George Rogers Jr

on Jul 28, 2005

I hope that's true BakerStreet - I have my legit copy & don't mind harder security measures - should of happened along time ago! Save your receipts, packaging, licensing - everything!

bakerstreet

on Jul 28, 2005

I don't agree with piracy, but I utterly dispise hardware activation. I don't mind much of anything else, but I think it sucks to have to call Microsoft and beg permission to reinstall my OS after changing my hardware.

Mac sells a 5 machine license to home users for the standard price. There's no reason MS couldn't do that, too, and I hope someday they'll face Mac as real 'shrinkwrap vs. shrinkwrap' competition and be forced to consider the idea. If Mac ever sold a 5 machine license for the generic PC user, poppa Bill would lose a lot of business, I think. Now that Macs are being built on Intel architecture, we're one step closer to that.

If I have three computers in the same room, I think it is heinous to have to pay $600 for three copies of the same program. It doesn't make piracy right, but it makes in enevitable, I think.

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