Windows Nag Windows to Counter Piracy

Vicegrip writes "Microsoft is enhancing its Genuine Advantage program in the US, Australia, UK, Malaysia and NZ to now include persistent nag screens to remind that your version of Windows is not licensed. These nag screens will keep appearing until you license your version of Windows or, presumably, convince Microsoft they've made a mistake."

Best thing ever...

[rsborg]

to happen to Linux and, to a smaller degree, Mac OSX.

And not at the expense of existing paying Windows customers.

I don't think Microsoft is going to be convinced otherwise, and if people are pirating when they would really not use anything else, then hell, they should pay for their Windows license.

It might move those who pirate just for fun into other OS's :-)

Re:Easy to circumvent...

[Valdrax]

Install a virtual desktop manager. Move nag screen to an unused desktop. Voila, problem gone (or at least out of sight).

You, sir, are brilliant.

Of course, that's assuming that the dialog isn't modal and that it obeys whatever scheme you're using to hide the other Windows and never deliberately pops to the front of all desktops.... But Microsoft would never break functionality to wring more revenue out of....

Eh, never mind. Maybe not.

More interesting: how it's described.

[millia]

From my standpoint, what was more interesting was:
a) This was a high priority item. Yes, this is as important as fixing IE flaws. Surely.
b) How it's listed in the license agreement:
MICROSOFT PRE-RELEASE SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS
MICROSOFT WINDOWS GENUINE ADVANTAGE VALIDATION TOOL

So they're putting BETA software into high priority updates?

Planet Microsoft

[Ed Almos]

I sometimes wonder what planet Microsoft are on. On todays page we have news that the Vista firewall is to be crippled and now we find that there will be nag screens.

Do these guys WANT to drive users to open source?

Ed Almos

Re:Now that's funny!

[DrXym]

Or walk into any computer store and copy down the Windows licence key helpfully stuck on the outside of any PC on display. An OEM version of XP might be required, but that's hardly an obstacle.

DMCA: Anybody pointing to or discussing a crack ..

[schwit1]

The new DMCA has a provision for civil forfietures (if you are in the US) that would allow the feds to seize every computer component you have for posting cracks, linking to cracks, or discussing the use of cracks.

Welcome to the new world order.

Re:obligatory

[DaHat]

There is very little in the userland side of an operating system that cannot be easily removed... likely this will be the same, they just won't provide a mechanism or instructions on how to remove it.

With some time and testing it would be possible to come up with a diff of both before and after its installation and come up with manual removal process... Sure it can be beaten, but I doubt this method is meant to be impenetrable from the l33t hax0rs of the world, instead they are trying to stop casual piracy and those who unknowingly purchases illegal copies of Windows.

Re:This is priceless!

[TheJediGeek]

I fear that Vista will be the next Windows ME. Which means that when people I know buy a computer with Vista and they ask me about the problems they're having, I'll tell them to get a copy of XP installed on it instead.
I had to do the same thing with Win ME. It pained me to say that Win 98 was the better alternative, but compared to Morons Edition, it was true.

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[account_deleted]

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I hope not!

[babbling]

I fully support Microsoft's anti-copying measures. I'd love to see them really lock up Windows updates so that only legitimate users can get access to them, or even better, I'd love to see them create a Windows and an Office that is too tough to crack.

I don't think all of the current Windows users are willing to pay for Windows, and if they are forced into doing it, there's a good chance they'll look elsewhere. Those that do decide to pay for Windows will also eventually be tempted by any alternative that has zero cost.

In trying to make all users pay for Windows, Microsoft would be shooting themselves in the foot, and I think they realise that they need illegitimate copying. Not too much, but not too little, either...

What type of nag message windows?

[Psykechan]

Are they going to have the annoying Windows XP style message box hovering over the tray that tells me that my USB 2 device could work faster if it was plugged into a non-existant USB 2 port on my USB 1.1 system?

Maybe they could have the annoying Search Mutt take up the left hand window and do a little animation while I have to figure out how to turn it off?

Or they could have that bastard Clippy come on screen and tell me something like "It looks like your copy of Microsoft Windows" isn't licensed properly." with a list of solutions on how I can throw more money at MS.

Lastly there is the universal message box that could pop up right in the middle of the screen stealing focus. That's a classic.

Microsoft Windows has so many annoyances to choose from that most users will probably just click OK when the message box pops up. After all, it's worked so well for WinZip.

Re:Planet Microsoft

[east coast]

I sometimes wonder what planet Microsoft are on. On todays page we have news that the Vista firewall is to be crippled and now we find that there will be nag screens.

Do these guys WANT to drive users to open source?

Are you trying to make a joke here? The firewall is FAR from "crippled". That was mearly spin put on the article to continue the "Microsoft is evil" jabber.

Frankly speaking, it's going to take far far far less technical knowledge to turn on the outbound firewall than what it will take to download a Linux Distro and put it on CD. That's the long and short of it.

About a week ago there was an article about Linux snobs, these kinds of posts prove the arguement. LINUX ADVOCATES: Please understand that most users will be able to turn out the outbound firewall and probably won't have a problem getting past these "nag" screens. Most windows users who even know what Linux is still don't even know how to choose what distro is best for them let alone the install procedure for even getting to screen one. That is just part of the failings of the OSS community... you think that since you understand Linux everyone else will too. And if you honestly think that these two potential shortcomings in windows is going to convert even one user than you are completely out of your mind!

Why I pirate Windows.

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't enjoy using Windows. I don't believe Windows is a good product. I have no trust that Microsoft will work with Windows to make it an OS I want to use: Secure, Intuitive, Resilient, and Stable. Now, 5 years from now that might be different. I'm keeping my eye on Vista hoping that it will make some progress, and improve Windows. If Windows improves, I will be happy to pay for and use it. For now, I'm sticking to MacOSX.

However, sometimes I have no choice. I HAVE to use Windows. Why? Because there is some program that I want to use that will ONLY run on Windows. I refuse to shell out $250 CDN to get a copy of XP Pro when I need to run one or two programs. Especially becuase I don't like the product, in the least. If it was a good product no problem.

I have pirated, am pirating, and will continue to pirate (thanks to BootCamp, man is that handy). Until Microsoft produces a product I feel is worth $250 CDN. Windows is simply not worth what it sells for.

Re:obligatory

[NullProg]

instead they are trying to stop casual piracy and those who unknowingly purchases illegal copies of Windows.

I disagree. They see the sales of white box computers not matching the Windows Boxes sold and assume everyone is stealing from them. Never mind that people might be installing Linux/Win98/2000/BSD or whatever onto these computers. Look for them to lobby Congress about outlawing unlicensed computers next.

Enjoy,

Read about forfeiture law!!

[Unlikely_Hero]

Seriously, it's fucking scary.
The idea dates back to admiralty law in England. Basically if you violated law with your boat they would put your /boat/ on trial, and not allow the boat to defend itself (this sounds insane, but I'm totally serious) And then when the boat was found guilty of a crime it would be turned over to the admiral (nutsy isn't it?)

This seems quaint, antiquated and entirely absurd right?
IT IS STILL LAW IN THE US.
I think we can all collectively saw, wtf?!

Excuse me...I'm going to go put my neighbors Porsche on trial

May I take a moment to remind these users that...

[merc]

Linux does not nag you ;-)

Re:It is good that this happens

[MrSquishy]

That's not a pyramid, it's a stick.

It's all good.

[His name cannot be s]

I'm a tad suprised at the negative view that the Slashdot crowd has around WGA.

Seriously, it's nothing but good for everybody.

1. Microsoft gets to protect the copyright on its products. Protecting copyright is good for everyone. Proprietary, GPL, Open Source, it all boils down to Intelectual Property Law, and if there were no circumvention of it, people would be forced to make more appropriate choices. You're pretty pissed when companies violate the GPL, right? You should be equally pissed when someone violates the Windows EULA. Look at it this way: for every pirated copy of Windows, there is one less Linux User. If they can't afford Windows, welcome to the Free World.

2. If you can't run a bootleg copy of Windows, maybe you will try something else/better ... a perfectly functional WGA would be Linux's best friend. Who the heck is going to shell out $300 bux for an OS on a $300 PC? Suddenly the value proposition around Linux becomes much more appealing.

== feh ==

Re:Next move...

[lostvyking]

Windows Vista is becoming more and more "Windows XP warmed over". It seems to be less and less about innovation and improvement...and more and more about re-selling Windows XP with stronger piracy protection. At this point, what is new about Vista that cannot already be achieved with third-party software and drivers? This all translates to Vista being written for their own benefit rather than for the benefit of the users. So far, like the new version of office coming out...I have yet to see anything that is new that will compel me to purchase it.

Now, if they offered a scaled down version that contained only the most necessary of drivers and a simple user interface to access drives and programs (think 32-bit safe mode) that I could then build it up from there, I would jump on it in a heartbeat.

Re:Next move...

[Anonymous Coward]

Another immediate response to the likes of nag screen applications is to either use a crack on the application (in this case, the "genuine advantage" software -- btw, can someone tell me just what part of verifying your copy of windows is legal gives you a genuine advantage because, I haven't found it yet) or, occasionally you see the rare peice of software which automatically navigates nag screens for you (I used to use this a lot back in the 90s, back when shareware makers thought they should make the software as annoying and intrusive as is physicaly possible because that will SURELY convince you to buy their software if they tick you off enough...)

Re:Next move...

[IdleTime]

Well, all kneel down to the genious.

Alas, the majority of PC users have no clue, can't install anything and don't care for "Lusix" or "Apple POS" I know it's not what people here on /. wants to hear and I'm sure I'll be modded as flamebait when it is really just a snapshot of how the world is.

Re:Next move...

[tmasssey]

I feel exactly the same way about Windows XP: it's Windows 2000 warmed over. There are a couple of half-features that make it slightly better, but certainly not worth *paying* for. Most of my clients have standardized on Windows 2000 and will skip XP completely.

Several years ago, I had hoped that Linux would be a possible upgrade path from 2000 by the time Longhorn (now Vista) gets here. But it won't be, and it looks like we'll end up paying for that upgrade, even if there *still* isn't a compelling reason to upgrade...

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[account_deleted]

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Re:obligatory

[NullProg]

Sorry... but you are quite wrong.

Your theory might hold some weight if there wasn't a huge market for counterfeit hardware, and other consumer goods. In such a case both the customer and the actual product maker end up losing because the customer doesn't have the product they thought they were buying and the actual producer's name gets tarnished if there are problems.

No, your mistaken. You would be right if we were talking about Asia. But this genuine check is targeted at the US, EU, UK, and AU were it is much harder to sell conterfeit goods (Yes I know it happens, but not on a broad scale).

This program is for the 60% of shipments White box PCs accounted for last year (See IDG/Gartner reports). Five of which I bought and installed Windows on none. See this article for more information http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/04/05/142521 6 [slashdot.org]

Your talking points read like a Microsoft Marketing campaign.

Enjoy,

Re:obligatory

[Sarisar]

Haven't you heard? You buy a computer with Windows XP. The computer dies so you buy a new box, and get the same copy of XP installed on it. You're a pirate!

And no I'm not (unfortunately) joking. A mate sells computers and got hassled by MS because if it is an OEM license that stays on the MACHINE and not the USER and when you buy a new PC you need a new license to run windows!

If you really want I can grab some of the literature for a laugh!

Re:Next move...

[dknj]

The 'switch user' functionality allows one to easily switch between users. This allows one to easily switch among accounts with different privileges, which is useful if you want your default account to only have normal user privileges (a good idea from a security standpoint), but you want to easily install software without having to logout of your current session, login with Administrator privileges, navigate to your default user's home directory, install the software, logout of the Administrator account, and login to your normal account, and restart all your programs.

Whats wrong with runas.exe or shift->right click->run as.. on an executable in explorer?

You *should* be able to install software as a normal user if you install it into your home directory and the software does not touch the registry or kernel.

You *CAN*. This is not a fault of microsoft, this is a fault of app developers that chose to write to %SYSTEMROOT%, to the Local Machine registry keys, or other areas that are locked down from User write priviledges.

And to you I say "Use Linux!! Gentoo would pe perfect for you!"

I have yet to find a linux distribution or any alternative operating system (besides BeOS and Mac OS X) that didn't run Gnome or KDE, had a functional desktop, and could run nicely under 256mb of ram. X and Firefox alone use ~100mb of ram on my machine AND i don't get an accelerated desktop. Looks like Windows has the desktop market in the bag with Apple looking for a piece. Linux is still the red-headed stepchild that has to eat in the basement. Not bashing, just laying the facts on the table.

Linux is okay for small-to-mid server environments and making headway into the enterprise market. Desktop, it is not.