Windows Piracy Check Now Mandatory

[hobferret]

Hey you guys, if you have an illegal copy, take note. I came across this today

Software pirates beware - Microsoft on Tuesday 26th officially launched Windows Genuine Advantage, a program aimed at curbing the problem of software counterfeiting and enticing users to ensure their software is legitimate. WGA now makes it mandatory for a user to verify the authenticity of Microsoft software on his or her computer before downloading updates through Windows Update, Microsoft Update for Windows content, and the Microsoft Download Center.

Critical security updates will still be made available to users with or without WGA validation.

"During the 10-month pilot of WGA, we have been very encouraged by the large number of customers -- more than 40 million in all -- who chose to participate in WGA," Will Poole, senior vice president of the Windows Client Business at Microsoft said in a statement.

"It also became clear that customers want to take advantage of special offers reserved for genuine users, with the peace of mind that their software will deliver the features, options and performance they need."

To entice users to take advantage of WGA, Microsoft is offering $450 in software offers to consumers who participate. This includes discounts on MSN Games, SharePoint web hosting, and a 6-month trial of Office OneNote among other offers.

Users who may have unknowingly purchased counterfeit software would be eligible for a free genuine copy at no cost as long as they fill out a piracy report as well as provide proof of purchase and surrender the counterfeit CDs.

Customers who send in piracy reports would be eligible for a full copy of Windows XP Home for $99 USD or XP Professional for $149 USD.

Joe Wilcox, senior analyst at Jupiter Research, wrote in Microsoft Monitor Tuesday that WGA currently seems more about Microsoft's bottom line than the customer.

"The company has demonstrated sensitivity to customer reaction and put in place several reasonable Windows replacement options," he argued. "But I also see, at least at this point, the program being more about curbing piracy than rewarding legitimate customers."

But does it come down to Microsoft not trusting its customers? "Certainly for Apple, which doesn't require product authentication or validation and sells Mac OS X "family packs," maybe now would be a good time to re-emphasize the customer trust relationship," Wilcox said.

/hobferret

[virus]

Hi!

Look here:
http://forum.exetools.com/showpost.php?p=39287&postcount=24

;-)

cu!

[hobferret]

OK, apologies, never read that thread as it's been going a long time

Sorry JMI for wasting space

/hobferret

[aldente]

Well, can't you understand Microsoft?

Everyone who uses a pirated copy in fact STEALS their property and deprives them of the money they deserve and which they spend on research and development of the operating system we all use.

I have to admit: I am using a pirated Win XP and other pirated Microsoft software myself, but on the other hand I develop some software tools and I am really angry about each pirated copy out there, so I can fully understand Microsoft.
That they are a big and successful software company does not mean stealing their software is better then stealing software from smaller companys or stealing DVDs from the supermarket.

[dyn!o]

Originally Posted by Big_or_what

Well, can't you understand Microsoft?

Everyone who uses a pirated copy in fact STEALS their property and deprives them of the money they deserve and which they spend on research and development of the operating system we all use.

I have to admit: I am using a pirated Win XP and other pirated Microsoft software myself, but on the other hand I develop some software tools and I am really angry about each pirated copy out there, so I can fully understand Microsoft.
That they are a big and successful software company does not mean stealing their software is better then stealing software from smaller companys or stealing DVDs from the supermarket.

Actually it's not so simple as it may look.

In fact Microsoft doesn't fight piracy in the way they should not because they are dumb and cannot but because they are very wise and don't want to. It's a complicated paradox but I don't want to type another full screen of post. This time just quick facts to let you think if the piracy is really a problem for Microsoft:

Past: without world's piracy Microsoft wouldn't succeed in the size they did.

Present: with world's piracy Microsoft, using very sensitive and clever strategy (they do it very well), is able to gain a control over the amount of pirated Microsoft products. I guess you know the second side too (Linux fighting advantages thanks to MS piracy).

Future: who knows? I guess they will continue their actual "anti-piracy" strategy since it's really hard to imagine a better one (at least I'm unable to, despite many virtual attempts).

You see, Microsoft is the world's best organized company so far. Concerning their history, size, effectivity and incomings others can just watch and learn. Microsoft and piracy are two different stories with a couple of undersongs.

I totally agree Big_or_what.

We all (or most of us) have pirated version of Windows, Office and other M$ products and we feel very comfortable with that, like everything is natural. And when we see our tools being pirated we are getting upset. It doesnt matter if its a small company with 3 employees or a Microsoft with 3.000 employees. Piracy is piracy, and we know it very good here at ExeTools

Im planning to buy a licensed version of Windows, sometime in the future (near or far). Meanwhile, anyone have a good way to prevent this check?

I have a simple solution that has worked for me so far to bypass the validation failure and regain Windows Updates.

Go to Windows Update site. Install the Windows Genuine Advantage component. After installing and continuing to validate your Windows version and failing, go to Tools Menu and Manage Add-Ons and find the Windows Genuine Advantage name and select DISABLE in the settings below. Believe it or not you can now do custom or express updates again!! Don't know what they will do next but this is working on my machines.

Wackyass

[peleon]

Hello,

Wackyass: Yes, it works!!! Amazing

Thanks.

To bypass the validation and gain Windows Updates, you can do,
1.create a file named "data.dat" by notepad.exe, but the file must include a blank space character.
2.chang it's attribute to "readonly".
3.put the "data.dat" to "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data".

Now you can pass the validation and gain Windows updates.

The ActiveX Disabling method doesn't work for download links that are WGA-protected, only for Windows Update. If you try and download a WGA-protected link like this one:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0c4bfb06-2824-4d2b-abc1-0e2223133afb&displaylang=en
you will be asked to download an exe file and provide a serial it creates to continue, since the ActiveX control is disabled. The only viable workarounds are the script method described here:
http://forum.exetools.com/showpost.php?p=39424&postcount=42
or to have a patched LegitCheckControl.dll, like the ones posted in this thread:
http://forum.exetools.com/showthread.php?t=7638

[virus]

Originally Posted by md5

The only viable workarounds are the script method described here:
http://forum.exetools.com/showpost.php?p=39424&postcount=42
or to have a patched LegitCheckControl.dll, like the ones posted in this thread:
http://forum.exetools.com/showthread.php?t=7638

My hash generator should work as well (and u can use it on all Windows machines, not only on XP/2003)

There are two ways to bypass WGA.

1. Follow these instructions in IE:
Tools
Manage Add-Ons...
In either 'Add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer' or 'Add-ons that have been used by
Internet Explorer'
Locate and select "Windows Genuine Advantage"
Then select the 'Disable' radio button
OK

2. When you get to http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us ,
where you have to choose between 'Express' and 'Custom' buttons,
before pressing the desired button, paste:
javascript:void(window.g_sDisableWGACheck='all')
in the address bar and press enter.
And remember, respect is everything.

[aldente]

I dunno why you repeat this known stuff again. Also, it's NOT true, there are other ways, e.g. the patched DLL (which is the solution I prefer).