Microsoft will cripple PCs running pirated copies of Vista

We all thought that Microsoft was asking for trouble when the company announced previously that it would be including all the versions of Windows Vista on a single DVD, setting the stage for those in the know to crack the disc and save themselves some cash by installing Ultimate when they likely bought (ok, probably pirated via BitTorrent) a Vista DVD. Well, Microsoft has fired the first salvo in this war on pirates -- according to The Associated Press, the Redmond crew will be taking "much harsher steps to curtail piracy" than in years past. First, the company will "deny access" to some of the "most anticipated features," including Windows Aero, the new GUI. Then, Vista will start issuing ransom demands (we're not kidding about this part), demanding that a legitimate copy be bought within 30 days, or else. What would such consequences entail? How about limiting Web access to an hour at a time? Further, what about not being able to open documents from the desktop or "run other programs such as Outlook e-mail software" ? However, the article goes on to say: "Microsoft said it won't stop a computer running pirated Vista software from working completely, and it will continue to deliver critical security updates." So for those of you keeping score, Microsoft wants to make using your computer as miserable as possible, while keeping it as "safe" as possible, ok? Now, if we were betting types, we'd guess that the odds are pretty favorable that this anti-piracy measure will be defeated just as fast as PlaysForSure was.

[Matt @ Oct 4th 2006 2:41PM]

I demand you do 50 jumping jacks in order to open this file.

[Chris @ Oct 4th 2006 2:42PM]

"Microsoft wants to make using your computer as miserable as possible, while keeping it as "safe" as possible"

And this makes Vista different from any other MS product how?

[Killian @ Oct 4th 2006 2:43PM]

oh Windows, they try so hard. It's kinda cute

[LongStar @ Oct 4th 2006 2:52PM]

the 30 day activation limit was cracked on Media Center and the rest of WinXP editions, after testing Windows Vista i can say that it is only Windows XP with a new skin.

It will be cracked , it will be hacked , it will be pirated , all Microsoft products are hackable , Windows hacked , XBox Hacked , XBox360 Hacked.

[Wildside @ Oct 4th 2006 2:53PM]

before opening any files, it will ask questions like, "is ur Vista is pirated?" click no, "is ur Vista is pirated?" click no, "is ur Vista is pirated?" click no, "is ur Vista is pirated?" click no............on n on n on etc.

[Austin @ Oct 4th 2006 2:56PM]

"Vista, access the internet."

"I can't let you do that, Dave."
"Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over."

[666steph @ Oct 4th 2006 2:59PM]

I, for one, welcome our MS Overlords to controll my digital life ! +++ go unix derivat +++

[Nick @ Oct 5th 2006 5:45AM]

I'll stick to Mac OS X - but thanks for the sentiments.

[sammy mazola jr� @ Oct 4th 2006 3:00PM]

So Microsoft is ditching PlaysForSure in favour of PaysForSure, yes?

[Paul @ Oct 4th 2006 3:03PM]

This sounds like a good idea, I know people will complain, but really if you follow the law you have nothing to complain about.

[nezromatron @ Oct 4th 2006 3:18PM]

Obviously you never had to authorize a copy of XP over the phone because the internet authentication failed.. Nothing like sitting there on a Sunday reading off a 50-digit key to someone that can't speak english while they read you back another 50-digit key..

If this is what paying customers are subjected to, then I'd rather be a pirate.

[Bria @ Oct 4th 2006 3:48PM]

"This sounds like a good idea, I know people will complain, but really if you follow the law you have nothing to complain about."

So Paul, can I come over and search your house for drugs, illegal guns, illegal cable or any illegal thing I can think of. I mean, honestly, if you are following the law, you have nothing to worry about, right?

Please come over and fix my Dell A620 Laptop and my parents HP which both, every few months start failing the dam WGA check and I have to go thru hoops to fix it. Furthermore, I would say 1 or 2 out of every 20 machines at work -- using the same corporate image -- will start failing WGA checks.

But hey -- *we* have nothing to worry about, right?

[hotmonkeyjunglelove @ Oct 5th 2006 12:42AM]

Well, you do have something to complain about, when you get false-positives. On a helpdesk, we already have enough things to worry about without people ringing up asking why they can't open documents, and after 2 hours of working on the problem they'll say, "oh btw, this little balloon keeps coming up saying i'm using a pirate". We already get heaps of licencing problems where Citrix stops working because the MSLicencing registry key on the users machine is broken/corrupt/expired.

Our only saving grace is it will be years before we decide to look at upgrading to Vista. And at home, there is no feature of Vista that makes me want to upgrade, only to be hassled by UAC everytime a delete a shortcut, or put an Explorer icon back in the start menu. The only compelling thing might be the new DirectX, but even then, I haven't bought a new game since CS:S, so that's probably a mute point.

[Russell @ Oct 4th 2006 3:12PM]

I won't be upset about this at all... unless it happens for some reason on a legal copy after upgrading hardware, repair install of the os, etc... Then I'll be furious.

[Ignacio @ Oct 4th 2006 3:12PM]

So, an illegal copy of Vista will work just as "well" as a legal copy of XP does after a few months of use? How will people used to XP crapping out recognize this behavior as unusual instead of "just another virus/trojan/worm - I must reinstall"?

Sure, Vista will claim "This isn't a legal copy" but most trojans show similar messages anyway...

[Paul @ Oct 4th 2006 3:42PM]

No, I have had to do it two or three times now and its not that big of a deal, it takes a few minutes but its not that bad.

Not that I am condoning it, but if you have one valid key you can pretty much install with it as many times as you want... Just call them up and have them revalidate it, just remember... you just reformatted your computer and it is the *wink* only computer its installed on *wink*

[�3gg13 @ Oct 4th 2006 9:18PM]

"Obviously you never had to authorize a copy of XP over the phone because the internet authentication failed.. Nothing like sitting there on a Sunday reading off a 50-digit key to someone that can't speak english while they read you back another 50-digit key.."

Actually this had worked about 4 times for me in the past. I have re-re-reactivated a MSDN copy of WinXP that was past its limit over the phone just by filibustering with the clerk. They get tired of listening to my story and just give me the key. The last clerk even gave me a key that he said should work for another 10 times.

More of socio-engineering hack but it works.

Developers, developers, developers...what are you going to do with them?

[Mike S. @ Oct 6th 2006 4:55PM]

I recently had to authorize my copy of XP by phone because it didn't recognize my modem at first, and I didn't even have to speak to a human being - it was completely automated, and the phone-bot recognized each number I spoke (no, not dialed - spoke) perfectly. No outsourcing to foreign workers at all!

[Gil @ Oct 4th 2006 3:19PM]

OH NOES!

...wait... they can tell it's a pirated copy how exactly?
That's right... they can't if it's properly cracked.

[quahogian @ Oct 4th 2006 3:21PM]

All you do when you tell somebody that they can't do it, is encourage them TO do it. Put a big and bright sign in a perfectly peaceful and clean neighborhood saying -
"You can't shit in the middle of this street!"
...shortly after you'll have to get a shit truck to clean once good smellin suburbia street out, that's way it is...

[disciple83 @ Oct 4th 2006 3:23PM]

Certain questions come to mind as I contemplate what this could potentially mean. If the OS will ask you to show your proof of purchase everytime you ask it to do something, what happens when an inevitable glitch occurs that causes the same behavior well after you have bought your license. You do realize this is what will happen, and hundreds, if not thousands of people will ned up getting screwed out of two or more licenses, one on the initial purchase, and the others when microsft says that there is no existence of the registered license in their servers. I think they are setting up the OS to be distributed primarily with prepackaged machines like Dell or Gateway. The custom PC sector will either crumble or switch to Open-source, which I am not a fan of at all.

[TS @ Oct 4th 2006 3:23PM]

"I won't be upset about this at all... unless it happens for some reason on a legal copy after upgrading hardware, repair install of the os, etc... Then I'll be furious."

Nah, I bet M$ will just completely disable the OS if you swap hardware. Toss in a new motherboard? Woops - automatic blue screen informing you to call M$ and confess that you are a pirate, seeing as how changing out hardware is a sure sign of piracy... *shakes fist at Win XP*

[Alexander @ Oct 4th 2006 3:48PM]

The reason that it BSOD after you change the motherboard is because of a long-standing 'bug' in the NT kernel that freaks out when you change the chipset... which usually happens when you upgrade your motherboard.

To solve this issue, simply 'Repair' the install after you do your hardware upgrade. put your windows CD in, and do a 'automatic repair' NOT A REPAIR CONSOLE! It will delete a bunch of files (All your updates, actually) and you will have to put your key back in... But all your programs should still work.

And on another note... I just recently upgraded my motherboard in my Fedora machine. The upgrade process in it went like this:

# root@spanky / >yum -y upgrade

And then I walked away for about 45 minutes, and then I came back and rebooted. Bada-bing, bada-boom. I went from a Athlon XP2500+ to a 4400+ with a brand new videocard/motherboard and ram all in about 5 hours.

*gives Microsoft the finger* SWIVEL ON IT, PUNK!

[Blake @ Oct 4th 2006 3:24PM]

Easy/Fast tricks for a whole new breed of virus/trojans

Wouldn't it be fun if someone made a hack/virus/trojan that TOOK AWAY whatever digital key M$ saves on your computer during a 'valid' install. Or even accessed whatever backdoor/protocol M$ uses for this remote control. That would simplify the lifes of so many script kiddies...

[Nick @ Oct 5th 2006 5:52AM]

This isn't a "remote control" - just simply coded methods of the OS automatically disabling key functions needed by a user.

Tinfoil hat time eh?

[E71 @ Oct 4th 2006 3:30PM]

Programmer writes software, hacker destroys its protection. Whoever gets the second move is the winner. I'm afraid to say you can't piracy you use the same sort of system that multiplayer games use to register a unique key that can only be used by one machine at a time (in which case only systems with permanent access to the net can use their computer! lol).

[E71 @ Oct 4th 2006 3:31PM]

Oh crap, I left "E-Mail me when someone replies to this comment" enabled. Why's it selected by default? Grr.

[brian welch @ Oct 4th 2006 4:34PM]

Yeah, try being the first guy to post in the engadget "reply here" contest to win a zune. After two thousand posts, hundreds of dumbasses thought it'd be cute to reply to the top comment to get "near the top".

And as you noticed, the "notify if someone replies" was checked by default.

The upside is in your case, you only get notified if someone replies to your exact post (like me) instead of every darn comment on the article, right? *(:=

[Tingler @ Oct 4th 2006 6:20PM]

That's a shame!

[fastm3driver @ Oct 4th 2006 3:33PM]

So if I build a computer I have to pay some silly $300 MS tax?
If I'm forced to buy Vista(I mean really forced(no crack available)) I will just get a apple because it will be cheaper.
All windows is worth is $50 for "home" and $80 for "super home." If it was priced that way everyone would just buy it. They keep the price high so they can charge business's that amount. My large company is still on 2000 because of the expense of a upgrade.
Now all the hackers will forget about XP and move onto Vista, thus making XP more secure. Of-course if you spend the $300 you should be good for another 6 or 7 years. Good luck MS.

[Kspraydad @ Oct 4th 2006 4:56PM]

That is assinine.

If you buy an Apple you are FORCED to buy their OS too..as well as being forced to having it preinstalled and buying your hardware from one source. This is an improvement in your eyes.

Why don't you just go linux or something if you have an aversion to paying for an OS?

[boynamedsue @ Oct 4th 2006 8:44PM]

no. you have plenty of free options for a OS.

Use one of them.

I'm not going to cry for microsoft when people steal their shit. but i'm not going to cry for you when you can't steal their shit.

[Speed @ Oct 8th 2006 2:52AM]

apple's the name. i would rather invest in apple hardware than risk getting stuck with windows licenses. XP license was enough a bummer.

[Rikko @ Oct 4th 2006 3:33PM]

I find myself angry that MS would waste all those developers adding MORE code to their OS to add stupid booby traps..
This is just adding more cmoplexity to a system and MORE checks that need to be performed. That opens up MORE bugs and leaves other bugs UNFIXED because they put developers onto this ridiculous task instead.

Just cut the crap, guys. If you detect Windows is pirated, make it unbootable. If there's a problem, let people call tech support and acquire a new license key if MS was to blame. If it WAS pirated and the PC is no longer usable... So what? They don't owe them anything.

This perverse hybrid of getting wide use of their brand while still protecting it from IP theft has become an utter mess. If pirates can't run their copied Vista, they'll probably suck it up and install Linux. If pirates can run their copied Vista but it becomes nigh unusable, they might do any number of things, but I can almost guarantee that going out and purchasing it isn't one of them.

[pokysharpy @ Oct 4th 2006 3:34PM]

"nezromatron: Obviously you never had to authorize a copy of XP over the phone because the internet authentication failed.. Nothing like sitting there on a Sunday reading off a 50-digit key to someone that can't speak english while they read you back another 50-digit key.."

As an IT professional and former small business tech consultant, I have had to authorize many copies of XP (and even Windows Server 2003) over the phone. The process is completely automated and computerized, you can say it or punch it in, and it takes about 5 minutes tops.

[Axel Aguado @ Oct 4th 2006 3:38PM]

All Microsoft is doing is daring pirates to crack their OS. And you know what? There will be a great number of people willing to take them up on that dare.

Any bets on how fast Vista Ultimate gets cracked?

[mobilezen @ Oct 4th 2006 3:41PM]

Can't wait for Leopard to be released...time to switch to Mac...wait I have already... Need to switch out my desktop now. Granted I'll probably buy vista but eh, is microsoft not making enough? ha!

[Crono141 @ Oct 4th 2006 3:52PM]

Has anybody cracked the current WGA yet, so that it doesn't get fixed on MS's end the next day?

I didn't think so. This will be a pain in the butt for pirates, no matter how good their "original" crack is.

It'll be cracked for a little while, and then MS will update their software on the server side to recognize the crack. Then all the cracked OS's plus a bunch of non-cracked legit OS's stop working, and legit people get pissed.

Its the legit people who are going to end up boned the most, same with any DRM/copy protection scheme.

[KilgoreTrout XL @ Oct 4th 2006 4:01PM]

Windows Vista: "Midget pron? You seriously want to use DirectX 10 for Midget pron?"
Owner of Pirated Vista: "..... Nooooooooooooo!"

[mike @ Oct 4th 2006 4:04PM]

" including Windows Aero, the new GUI. "run other programs such as Outlook e-mail software" ?

sounds to me like a pirated version of vista will be better than the full thing then

[greatsunjester @ Oct 4th 2006 4:09PM]

My regret is that game developers are going to migrate to DX10 over the next year, virtually requiring you to buy Vista. If MS would cut the OS (and Office) prices by 50% and skip the anti-piracy expenses, they would likely sell far more copies than will be pirated.

[telepheedian @ Oct 4th 2006 4:17PM]

Microsoft apparently thinks that torture is more effective than death. Now we know what to avoid when they take over the world.

[ml @ Oct 4th 2006 4:18PM]

I gave Vista a shot and installed the beta on my MacBook Pro using Parallells for OS X. I can't believe that THIS is Microsoft's best efforts after so many years in development. I've seen better looking skins on WindowsXP made by kids on the Internet and applied using WindowBlinds. Now that Apple machines can run everyone's OS seemlessly, and now that the Mac Pro is cheaper than a similar machine configuration from Dell, anyone who buys a Dell and runs Vista other than when they absolutely have to, like for work or running a game they play, is not giving doing themselves right. OS X is so much better than Windows, and I was a confirmed Apple-hater before OS X, and I mean confirmed hater. Since switching to OS X, I have been so much more happier with my system security, performance and I don't give spyware a 2nd thought. Since I don't put crap on my WindowsXP or Vista installs running on OS X that would give me virus or spyware issues, I'm pretty safe. Hell, I'm even running Fedora Core 5 on this thing, that's four OS's on one ripping Mac.

[telepheedian @ Oct 4th 2006 4:20PM]

I agree. I tried the same thing on my XP box and especially without a 3d graphics card, Vista is bloated XP with a REALLY ugly skin.

[George @ Oct 4th 2006 4:19PM]

Your PC is already crippled if it has Windows.

Sincerely, a Mac and Linux user.

[telepheedian @ Oct 4th 2006 4:21PM]

Sorry about the double post but...

ubuntu pwns vista

[Joe Alien @ Oct 4th 2006 4:28PM]

So can I cripple Microsoft if their software causes data loss or loss of productivity because of their poorly implemented software?

[SethEaston @ Oct 4th 2006 4:30PM]

As much as I hate MS, this seems like a perfectly legitimate thing to do - after all, it's NOT free software. Even most shareware disables some features and nags you to update to the full product from time to time...so what's the big deal here?

The only issue I would have is if somehow my product registration got screwed up and it started doing this shit to me. That would not be cool.

In any case, who the fuck in their right mind would want to pirate vista in the first place???

[dLeet @ Oct 4th 2006 5:07PM]

People in their left mind -- and there are plenty of those.

[Alexton108 @ Jul 9th 2007 8:14PM]

Can you honestly say you ALLWAY PAID for all your softwares? I doubt it.