No WinXP SP2 for ‘pirates’
p2pnet.net News:- Microsoft isn’t about to let users who obtained Windows XP illegally to upgrade to its Windows XP Service Pack 2, rumours to the contrary notwithstanding.
Microsoft group product manager Barry Goffe told ComputerTimes that Windows XP Service Pack 2 wouldn’t exclude pirated copies from upgrading – that it was more important to keep users safe than to be ‘concerned about the revenue issue,’ says David Worthington in BetaNews here, continuing:
"To clarify its position, a Microsoft spokesperson told BetaNews, ‘Press reports indicating Windows XP Service Pack 2 will install on pirated or illegal copies of Windows XP are not entirely true. Prior to installing, SP2 will check the OS’ product ID (PID) against a list of known pirated PIDs. If a PID is found to be invalid, SP2 will not install’.
"BetaNews confirmed the accuracy of the spokesperson’s statement with a source within the company."
In the meanwhile, "Microsoft is determined to get SP2 on as many Windows XP machines as possible in order to choke off the number of insecure machines out there," says a PcPro story here.
May 11th, 2004 at 4:57 pm
you can but not very easy to do is hack it in all ready did it to my machine
haaaa!
May 11th, 2004 at 5:24 pm
The problem is, once you change the product ID to install the service pack on such a copy, you can’t change it back to install updates or a new SP.
Unless there’s a process I’m not aware of.
I think M$ is making a mistake. They should have allowed unfettered access, as unprotected systems can harm a lot more than just the user of a pirated copy.
IMO, the SP’s shouldn’t check the product ID; this intentionally leaves some systems vulnerable.
May 11th, 2004 at 5:47 pm
M$ has 90% of all desktop computers. I don’t think that 1/100th of one percent of the opperating systems being a pirate copy is going to break old Bill.
May 11th, 2004 at 6:38 pm
M$’s list of pirated PID’s is pretty short. All you have to do is look up M$ office files with lists of standard PID’s and use one of them. M$ can’t do anything about it because those PID’s are for legit copies.
May 11th, 2004 at 9:14 pm
HAHAHA I’m beside myself with mirth…..
It’s already fixed Bill.
May 12th, 2004 at 1:53 am
Microsoft just lost the vote of many Windows pirates. Many of those pirates will consider switching over to Linux and getting better support. Thus the start of the revolution shall begin.
Mandrake 10 ($8): http://tinyurl.com/2cov8
Windows XP ($180): http://tinyurl.com/2kymx
May 12th, 2004 at 5:14 pm
ummmm, like MS cares one little bit about someone using a pirated version of their product? And do they care if they just lost your vote? Naw, I don’t think so. I don’t particularly like MS and the arrogant, pushy, deceitful way they do business: as is reflected in the recent antitrust cases. But I can tell you this, if I owned a product and people pirated it from me then expected me to help them keep it patched and protected, I would tell them where to go and how to get there.