Submitter: Starlight - (http://www.computerworld.com)
Site Tags: microsoft updates wga detect counterfeit windows xp pro
Category: PC/Tech
Microsoft Corp., tacitly acknowledging the continued popularity of Windows XP, said recently that it was updating the operating system's antipiracy technology to detect illegal copies installed with newlystolen or faked product keys, or with new activation cracks.

In an entry to a company blog, Alex Kochis, director of Microsoft's Genuine Windows group, spelled out the update to WGA Notifications.

That's the antipiracy component that provides the messages and other on-screen prompts when the other half of WGA, dubbed Validations, detects an illegal copy of the operating system.

"This update includes the latest validation information, including recently stolen or misused product keys and other information," said Kochis, who elsewhere in the blog noted that the "other" category included "attempts to circumvent product activation." Such circumvention methods, called "cracks," are popular downloads on file-sharing sites that also feature pirated software.

The update applies only to Windows XP Professional, added Kochis.

Although Microsoft tried to put a stop to Windows XP sales last year -- and will be shifting it into a more limited support plan next month -- it has relaxed its rules several times since then as customers have continued to demand new PCs with XP rather than Vista. Windows XP Professional is the only version that Microsoft allows users and computer sellers to "downgrade" from Vista.

The company has also acknowledged that Windows XP Professional is preferred by pirates over Vista by wide margins, and last year, Microsoft promised that it would roll out a campaigns during 2009 to warn people that XP is widely counterfeited.

Kochis touted installation changes to WGA Notifications, although he wasn't clear on what those changes were. "Once the update has been downloaded by Automatic Updates, completely in line with your existing AU settings, after the next log-in or reboot the install wizard will be presented to the user and they will be able to choose whether to install the update in the same way as in past releases," Kochis said.

That description, however, is essentially the same as the one he offered in August 2008, when Microsoft last updated WGA Notification for Windows XP Professional. At that time, Kochis said that users who installed the August update would receive future updates automatically once they had approved WGA's installation.

In a reply to questions about what, if anything, has changed in WGA, a Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed that there have been no alterations in how WGA Notifications installs and updates. "The Notifications experience will be the same as the previous release of WGA Notifications Update for Windows XP that began deployment in August of 2008," she said via instant message.

Last August was also when Microsoft brought Windows XP's counterfeit nagging into line with Vista's. Counterfeit copies of XP Professional display an initial black desktop, which reverts back to black after an hour if the user changes the background. Pirated copies also show a permanent notice in the bottom-right corner of the screen, and additional notices appear regularly in the system tray.

Those characteristics of WGA Notifications haven't changed, said Kochis.


Microsoft Updates WGA to Detect Counterfeit Windows XP Pro

Posted 230 days ago      10 Comments      PermaLink


Comments

#1
By ninjad on 33 weeks ago:
i recently received this warning. I had caught some wicked viruses that i couldnt get rid off so i decided to re install xp again. I entered the xp sticker code and what happens?? the code cant no longer be used..I think you only get to use it 2 or 3 times before you have to purchase the expensive cd again.

#2
By JeffJ on 33 weeks ago:
Quote:
Originally Posted by ninjad View Post
i recently received this warning. I had caught some wicked viruses that i couldnt get rid off so i decided to re install xp again. I entered the xp sticker code and what happens?? the code cant no longer be used..I think you only get to use it 2 or 3 times before you have to purchase the expensive cd again.
the cd is worthless. its the COA that cost the money. and you dont have to buy a new one. call i then activation like every one els. Windows XP Pro has had a 2 activation grace since it came out. so the message you're getting is old news on a legit copy thats been activated more then once.

#3
By Tsusai on 33 weeks ago:
In my experience, you have like 2 activations within 1.5 months before you have to call in, else if you could probably space it so you could do an activation every 6 months without a problem.

Don't forget you can use the touch tone pad to activate. If they're giving you the return code for the challenge key, press 2 to make them jump to the next block.

#4
By mofokid on 33 weeks ago:
I was emulating xp pro in virtualbox when the new wga hit, went back to the last save state so not a problem. Was just wondering why only xp pro? Why not hit up vista too, or maybe that'll come soon?

#5
By gtosurf on 33 weeks ago:
Microsoft would do like a promotion in order to reduce the price of the pirate copies of windows xp..

#6
By JeffJ on 33 weeks ago:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsusai View Post
In my experience, you have like 2 activations within 1.5 months before you have to call in, else if you could probably space it so you could do an activation every 6 months without a problem.

Don't forget you can use the touch tone pad to activate. If they're giving you the return code for the challenge key, press 2 to make them jump to the next block.
Not true. you get 2 activations period. and then u have to call in. dont matter if they are 10min or 10 years apart.

i have activated thousands of copies of XP pro. i work 6 days a week as a PC Tech and network administrator.

#7
By CyanCaze on 33 weeks ago:
This is funny since you can't buy XP anymore....

Why the hell does Microsoft care anymore if A: They don't plan on selling it anymore, and B: Pro isn't the most pirated anyway, it's Windows Dark.

Although they give the name windows dark to any pirated windows. It's really a custom build someone made.

#8
By PS3 News on 33 weeks ago:
I actually just installed that WGA update to my PC (XP Pro) a few days ago... so far so good though, it passed. :D :shhh:

#9
By ana3zoz on 33 weeks ago:
For the guys who r worried about their genuine :D
can check these NEWS SITES:

http://scenereleases.info/2009/03/windows-genuine-advantage-validation-v1991-cracked-ind.html

http://www.rlslog.net/windows-genuine-advantage-validation-v1991-cracked-ind/

good luck ;)

#10
By exa on 32 weeks ago:
Their genuine system never worked fine, I haven't bought a microsoft operating system since windows 95 and their genuine system always thought I had geniune windows :p



Post a Reply


Please Register or Login to Reply!



Affiliates | Categories | Contact Us | PS3 Hacks | PS3 Reviews | Privacy/Terms | Copyright © 2009 PlayStation 3 News.