Windows 10: Microsoft continues campaign to shut down stupid software pirates

They should do KMS activations differently, so it won't activate them and will keep the legit systems activated.

I thought KMS activates legit systems every week automatically.


As far a home user & pro user, how many time are you allowed to activate legit systems without having to phone Microsoft?

 

You cannot use the same key on different systems. If you have a retail key (not OEM) then you may uninstall Windows from one system and then install on another. This may be done about 3 times, I think, before you'd have to call Microsoft.

 

I wonder, with the focus on (and the main revenue source from) corporate accounts, just what percentage of the overall revenue is from consumer market and what percentage are the illegally installed Windows copies compared to to genuine consumer installations? In other words, just how much of a problem we're talking about?

 

People still steal Windows, when they can buy keys cheap everywhere, just like keys for steam games?
I enjoy all my 10 Pro licences bought for $15, I liked 8 Pro bought for $30 from Microsoft store as well.

 

Hi there

The much loved Technet was a source of Piracy though -- to a lesser extent the same happens with MSDN (although it's much more expensive and people aren't so likely to be in "Pirate mode" as subscribers on the whole tend to be professional I.T people).

However a load of VL licences seem to find their way out into the wild at times . Perhaps Ms could (or should) link actual Subscribers to serials so people can get banned / fined etc.

Using Geolocation or IP adresses is a silly way as there's about three quadrillion ways of "spoofing" those

Cheers
jimbo

 

I'm sure there is a full paper trail with all of the VL licences. Both in Microsoft as to where the particular licences went, and within the various enterprise customers as to what exact system/User they were allocated.

I doubt though that this sort of information would be freely posted in the event of the theft of these licences, and appearance for sale on-line. it is not in the interest of either Microsoft or the enterprise customer to air their dirty washing in public.

I'm sure there are frank discussions in private on these incidents *Wink

BTW the normal Phone Home requirement for KMS server based licensing was always set at about 90 days to allow for use away from the server for laptops. not sure if this has been reduced with the greater availability of fast internet access or how it will work on Windows 10 enterprise (KMS or Digital entitlement)

 

I was conned into buying a cheaper W7, which I thought was personally imported from the USA where the prices are much cheaper than in Blighty. With help from the Seven forum and the good will of Microsoft, I was sent a complimentary disc from Microsoft in Dublin.

 

Strange it would be an Earthlink IP. The reason, aren't they just a 3rd party that resells the phone companies dsl service? I know in my area, I can't get AT&T dsl service directly anymore but I could through still get Earthlink dsl if I want it, which is AT&T. I can get AT&T Uverse Internet in my area but the cost is about the same with Comcast.

 

Look, you have to understand something. When you go to a local shop, buying Windows license is expensive, especially in countries with lower income (let's take my own country, Croatia, as an example). You can get a PC for $300-500, but license on it's own is another $120-150 (and it was even more 5-10 years ago). People don't have that kind of money if they're going for a low budget PC. So store sells them PC without OS and they get their friend/neighbour/etc to install it.

Yes, it's basically a theft, but it's Microsoft's fault for letting this get out of hand. You don't steal someone's car and get away with it, do you? But you can easily download illegal copy, install it and nothing bad will happen to you (usually).

Back in the day when I was in high school / college, I didn't have all legitimate copies either, unless it came pre-installed. Nowadays I don't mind spending a couple hundred dollars on games and software, so I can actually afford it, plus I have a business at home so I need everything done by the rules as well. But back then there was no way for either me or my parents to spend so much money on just a license, you have to understand this, because there's a huge difference between being able to afford it and not being able to do so.

Things are even worse in less developed countries. I don't really blame people for obtaining Windows illegally if they can't afford it - but if they can and still do this, well then, that's another cup of tea. Again, I'd rather put the blame on Microsoft for not killing it two decades ago with Windows 95.

 

That poster you replied to was making a joke, he/she doesn't support piracy & neither do I.

You can get a low ended computer at Walmart for $500 or less that included windows 7 sp1 pro or windows 10. They even have some refurbished systems that is cheaper. Most system included the Windows operating system pre-installed. I am sure Wal-mart would make sure the systems they sell are legit.

If you can't afford the license, then use Linux or bsd.


The only thing that could be a issue, is resellers, you don't know if the system is legit or not if it has windows operating system on it. My grandmother wouldn't know if it was legit.


Microsoft has lower cost versions that a consumer can buy legally if they live in a real poor country.

 

I think that the point Clam is making is that many people in less developed countries don't have the money available to purchase a 500 dollar computer. And in many cases they can't use Linux because they need to run software that will not run on Linux.

I understand your point but living in the US is not the same as say, living in India.

 

I hear ya there! Fully agree *Biggrin

 

@VBJP

How do you think I am posting? I bought an all-in-one at Wal-mart for around 400 dollars in the U.S. and it included windows 7 service pack 1 pre-installed. However, dell sent me a windows 7 re-installation disk so I could do a clean install, when it was under warranty. The motherboard was also replaced under warranty & that was refurbished. I have since done a clean install several times. I am tester. In the U.S. budget pcs include the windows operating system. Like I said above poor countries Microsoft provides a reduced cost cd/dvd for anyone. I remember reading the lowest cost was $20.00 for the legit dvd installation. I was using Wal-mart as an example, I am sure other countries have similar stores that would make sure the pre-installed operating system is legit. What I am trying to say, is you can get a cheap pre-installed windows system for under $300.00 U.S. dollar not necessarily at wal-mart but it maybe a used or refurbished item and most are legit.

Just because it is cheap, doesn't mean it won't work. You don't have to buy the most expensive system available. I don't need a gaming system. My hard drive only has 500 gb and it is not full, currently I have two operating system (one w7sp1 & Linux Mint 17.3), I had 3 at one time and the hard drive still wasn't full. May have 3 again.

 

You are so right! You got a good deal on that all-in-one, the newer, more fancier ones are usually a little more than that, but yes if it works, that is good enough *Smile 500gb is a lot if you think about it, I could never fill my 750gb or my 1 TB.

@VBJP
I have seen an HP laptop at Best Buy, brand new, everything for $199! There was an ASUS laptop with Windows 10 had a some great stuff on it for $299. I am going to have agree with @groze on this one, he is telling the truth and I believe that he got a $400 computer. I am using my laptop right now, HP 15 (not Envy), and I got it for $379.99 back in 2014, when Windows 8.1 was around. No touchscreen though, I could have gotten that option with a 500gb HDD, but man now I look back and say, "Why didn't I get that, errrrrrrrr!"

I hope I am not offending you in anyway at all. *Smile

 

I bet it was Robin Hood of Loxley who stole the copies from the Sheriff of Nottingham, or, or maybe it was the Barefoot Bandit who gave them away he lives close to Microsoft in Redmond. Wait I bet this how Donald Trump made his billions, bootlegging Bill Gates software. yep that is the one I am hanging my hat on.