Is your Windows for realz?

I've been wondering, who among us has an authentic, store-bought (or computer-shipped) copy of Windows installed on their PC, and who has a pirated version of some sort?

Today I went to install Internet Explorer 7 beta. Apparently I have to validate Windows to install it. I saged that and downloaded a pirated IE7 to install on my pirated Windows XP Pro.

But at the same time I feel: most computer ship with Windows XP, even if it is Home edition. I had to pirate XP Pro for two reasons: to install IIS (webserver, so I can edit/test webpages locally) and to join Domains. (Actually, does Windows XP Pro have any useful features besides this?) In a way I feel I don't really owe MS that much because I already own their software, but in a crippled form.

I also like how even if you do have a valid copy of XP, after about 3 activations online, you can activate your installation of the OS anymore. At that point you have to call MS and explain your situation. This is retarded, since I must format C:\ five to ten times a year for various reasons. (After a while, the process of installing/uninstalling software causes things to break and I just feel much better doing a clean install.)

Anyway. Discuss.

Mine is ~ technically. It came from the MSDN Academic Alliance which I gained access to at Uni because my team project required some pretty specific MS software. (Well, I had Home, and I'd have taken any excuse to ditch it for a legit Pro, especially for free!)

I believe that I can only use it while I'm still a student, but to be honest, I'll keep on using it afterwards too!

Mine came with my notebook - so yes, it's legal.

Besides my two legit copies of home and pro --I guess I'm pirating windows too.
Like you Eleo, I reformat and reinstall the OS at least twice a year; per computer! And frankly I can't be bothered to fork over hundreds upon hundreds of dollars for another copy that'll only last me one or two years .

Sure I feel bad that I have to do it this way, but I'm one of those people that thinks its stupid to put a limit on the activation.

Quote:

Since the Windows Genuine Advantage debut as a pilot on 9/2004 Microsoft is slowly making the program more annoying and intrusive.

In the beginning the WGA was an opt-in feature, and then slowly it became mandatory. Users who choose not to validate their copy of Windows can not download updates from Windows update (they still can download critical security updates via automatic update feature in Windows).

On Tuesday Microsoft will make WGA more intrusive and will use scare tactics to make users validate and purchase a legal copy. On 4/25/06 Microsoft will start WGA Notification in the US, UK, Australia, NZ and Malaysia. The WGA notification has been running as a pilot in several countries such as Norway, Taiwan, Sweden, Israel, Denmark, Poland and other countries.

The new WGA notification campaign will have a new logo for OEM and system builders, as seen here exclusively for the first time.

The new Windows Genuine Advantage Logo

Some users will begin to receive the update as early as Tuesday next week. When a user goes to WGA to validate and/or download things like IE 7.0 or Media player or take advantage of the Buy Local offers they may receive the notification if their copy is not genuine.

Up until now if you didn’t validate your copy of Windows nothing happened, but now with the WGA Notification, every time you reboot your computer, log-in and periodically (every hour or so) Windows will display a nag screen “reminding” you to validate your copy.

Log-in Nag Screen

From the first time users get the request to validate they have 14 days to comply. After 14 days they will not be able to download security upgrades such as IE7 and Windows Defender. Critical security updates will still be available like it is now.

Tooltip baloon nag message

Microsoft hopes that by notifying users that they are not eligible for all security upgrades it will drive more users to purchase a legal copy of Windows, and also report the counterfeit dealers that sold them their copy. In some cases Microsoft will give a free license to users who are victims of a high quality counterfeiting.

However there are good news for those who still don’t wish to validate their copy (and no it is not GEICO). There is a way for users to turn off the notifier but it may be turned back on in the future as they try to download the latest updates to IE or Media player or take advantage of the Buy Local offers through their local system builder.

And last note, if you think that this is the end, Microsoft is preparing enhanced notification and better VLK validations in Windows Vista.
source

::everyone cracks::

That, or everyone moves onto the Firefox based Windows updates. (Speaking of which, what is the link to that.)

Actually, I have a legal version of Windows XP Pro (got for $5 because of Microsoft Campus Agreement,) but I haven't installed it on my computer because I don't care enough, and my pirated disc is just so much more awesome than the regular XP disc.

Not to mention, I plan on buying a new computer eventually, anyway, so why use my license on the computer I currently have, when I'm not going to be using it for a longer time. Although I think I can pick up a new copy of Windows XP in the Spring 2007 semester. Maybe by then I can get Vista for $5!

This computer came with a legit copy of XP Home, but I've yet to touch the disc. I'm on a pirated XP Pro ~

I have 2 copys of XP Pro, one is legit and the other is pirated. I also received my legitamate copy Windows XP from the college I go to, something like $15. I'm running of the legit copy right now, because I figure hey, it isn't inconveniant the first time to play by the rules. When I buy my new computer, I'll probably end up running my pirated version though.

All of my operating systems have been graciously granted to me for "free" through my school's MSDNAA program. I even have free access to their top of the line software development tools, as well as all of their server OSs.
And because I am a dual major of EE and ME, I have double the available licenses at my disposal.

My PCs all run Linux, so it's a non-issue for me. My brother's PC is running a pirated version of XP, and my Mac is running a legit version of OSX 10.4.

As a Linux user, it really pisses me off that more OEMs aren't shipping OS-less PCs, and that MSFT is now getting on the case of overseas or small-time providers for doing just that. They claim that "selling blank PCs is aiding pirates" because EVERYONE who buys a PC with no OS is going to pirate windows.

Because Linux doesn't exist. Or something.

This is why I'll always build-ideological soapbox ranting aside, I'm not paying extra cash for software I'm never going to use. If they sold a packaged standalone license of XP with OEM boxes, then fine, I could resell it. But no, can't do that either.

For the times I need Windows on my laptop for software that isn't available on Lin/Mac, I use a copy of XP that I get through Illinois Tech's MSDN partnership.

I use a CD-R copy of WinXP Pro with a illegal key. I don't really see the point in paying if I'm forced to upgrade every serveral years (due to new programs only running on the newest OS). Hell, you can't even play some newer games on Windows 2000, even though it's only one year older than Windows XP. I chose not to install that WGA BS Merv mentioned. Funny how doing a manual install allows this.

Pirated xp corp (pro), and had to put the pirated to laptop too because the legit wasn't accepted by windowsupdate.

There is a rumour going around that in the past, I ran a less than legitimate version of XP Pro corporate edition {as in the one that doesn't require registration}. Of course this is unsubstantiated. Currently, I run a fully legal and paid for version of XP Pro corporate edition. And I still don't care for this genuine advantage bs.

I heard similar rumors about my 2003 Server install...

Every computer in my house that runs Windows has a legal license, surprisingly enough. The Dell that my Siblings have came with XP. The P3 Dell we let my mother use I moved the XP License from my laptop (which I run Linux on) over to. When I built my Dad's computer he insisted on a legal license, and on my Desktop's XP Partition I use the $5 license I got through MSDN.

LOL, in my entire PC owning period I've never seen an original copy of windows, guess my dvd drive will never taste the original rotten work of bill 'the asshole' gates and his lazy good for nothing crew

When I ran Windows, it was always a pirated version. With pirated Office, pirated PowerDVD, pirated this, pirated that. Everything we had was pirated, and we gave copies to friends and family to pirate. Heck, the store we bought our first and second computers from (a mom-and-pop joint) sold it with pirated Windows. It came to a point that I was sick and tired of searching for serialz and crackz and warez for every little applicationt, that I just dumped Windows for Linux. And I have no regrets.

I've got a rather mixed situation going on. I've purchased a copy of Windows XP Home and I have the lamenated pamphlet with serial number to prove it. However, I didn't take very good care of the CD and after awhile it started to crack and warp to the point where my PC couldn't read the thing properly so I through it out. Of course, Windows is too fucking expensive for me to buy a brand new copy, and I was bound to need to do a reformat eventually. So a few days ago I downloaded a copy of XP Pro, reformatted and installed it onto my C partition, and then realized I had a Backup file from awhile ago. I'm guessing my Windows is not the most stable thing right now (two security updates fail to install and it's having trouble identifying some hardware) but since it isn't mission critical at this point I hardly see the point in worrying about it.

Uh, for all of you that have a pirated version of XP Pro...

Do you even use the "extra" features it has over Home? I have a legal version of Home, and I can't see any need to have a "Pro" next to my OS name.

I'm running a legit version of Windows XP that I got through my school. I've tried to buy a legit version of Office for a few years now, but every time I go to the computer store they're out of stock.

Does anyone know if educational copies of Windows have a different pool of registration numbers from other versions of Windows? Like, I know our CD is different from the general one since it shows our school's logo during some steps of installation and the default wallpaper is the one that's on most of our computer lab machines (which is plastered with school stuff all over it).

Originally Posted by CelticWhisper

My PCs all run Linux, so it's a non-issue for me. My brother's PC is running a pirated version of XP, and my Mac is running a legit version of OSX 10.4.

As a Linux user, it really pisses me off that more OEMs aren't shipping OS-less PCs, and that MSFT is now getting on the case of overseas or small-time providers for doing just that. They claim that "selling blank PCs is aiding pirates" because EVERYONE who buys a PC with no OS is going to pirate windows.

Because Linux doesn't exist. Or something.

This is why I'll always build-ideological soapbox ranting aside, I'm not paying extra cash for software I'm never going to use. If they sold a packaged standalone license of XP with OEM boxes, then fine, I could resell it. But no, can't do that either.

For the times I need Windows on my laptop for software that isn't available on Lin/Mac, I use a copy of XP that I get through Illinois Tech's MSDN partnership.

How many people do you know that would buy a Dell instead of building their own custom computer and prefer to have a Linux install on it over Windows?