Microsoft Genuine Software Check!! A joke??

[khattam_]

Hi ppl,
When we try to download MS-Softwares (eg. MS-AntiSpyware or any other software download), it says that downloads are availabe to only those who use Genuine Windows. However, in the next screen, it gives an option that "No validation now" or something like that...........(shown below)


So, if the downloads are availabe to Genuine Users only, what the hell is goin' on...........
I, being a Pirated Windows user will choose the second option, so is this some kind of a poll??

Then, after i got the download, i hit the back button and chose the first option, it said that i needed to download a validation tool (download it from http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...nuineCheck.exe ) and post the code provided by the tool in an entry
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...displaylang=en
to download "MS-Application Compatibility Toolkit". Surprisingly, my Windows was validated. I use a 100% pirated copy of Windows and it is still validated................
So, what the hell is goin on??????????????

[devilhead_satish]

This is a real problem. Dunno why they have it in the first place. I safely clicked on No, do not validate and went ahead with the download.

[aadipa]

Ur Win copy was validated means most probably u have a corp. version of XP.

Since corp versions are mean't to be installed on many systems with same key, all such systems are validated.

But if ur key is not a valid corp key but one generated by keygens, or it is a known leaked key, it will not validate.

Corp versions are not required to be activated after installation while retail versions must be activated within 30 days of install.

[icecoolz]

true So in that case how does the verification go ? I dont get it. Or do they check for known corp versions which has been leaked or warezed ?

[VD17]

they had blacklisted a few batch of Corp. keys too... but then keychangers became easily available on the net and the whole idea fell flat...

[khattam_]

Originally Posted by aadipa

Ur Win copy was validated means most probably u have a corp. version of XP.

Since corp versions are mean't to be installed on many systems with same key, all such systems are validated.

But if ur key is not a valid corp key but one generated by keygens, or it is a known leaked key, it will not validate.

Corp versions are not required to be activated after installation while retail versions must be activated within 30 days of install.

Man!! No way it is a corp version. It would require to be activated but i patched Winlogon.exe to disable this. Now, it says that Windows has been activated when i run

%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

.
And the serial I'm using is which i got from a Serial and cracks providing Website................
But the question is How come it is validated and Why does it say that validation is required for download while it is not required at all...............

May be they are running some kind of a poll............
The user with a pirated copy will certainly choose not to verify Windows and the one with Genuine one is most likely to verify Windows. This might help them to find out what is happening to their products.................
But the same user can download many programs and many things can happen........
Are they tracking the IP of the users with Pirated Copies........ Don't Know?? Who does??
Whatever, the reason to say that downloads are only available to Genuine Users and providing the option of "Do not validate Windows now..........." is really messy and some kind of a trick by MS.

Earlier, when I had XP Pro (I have Home Edition now), and when i tried to validate, it said that "Your Windows is not Genuine so Use a genuine copy". But now, it thanked me for taking time to validate Windows and said nothing about the result.

Really Surprising.....................
Don't Know What is in their Minds...............

[aadipa]

Well currently validation is optional with MS products but soon u will need to validate to download softwares from MS site or even to use AutoUpdate. (Soon means mid-year of 2005).

But even then MS will ALLOW to download critical updates to all copies of Windows including pirated.

[khattam_]

Originally Posted by aadipa

Well currently validation is optional with MS products but soon u will need to validate to download softwares from MS site or even to use AutoUpdate. (Soon means mid-year of 2005).

But even then MS will ALLOW to download critical updates to all copies of Windows including pirated.

I think they are gonna allow this because they cannot stop this. Nor they can stop piracy. However i have a pirated copy, i still passed the validation test. So no probs for me, anyway..........

[Satissh S]

I think, May be they are fed up with the Linux Craze! So they are even ready to allow piracy to cut out the Linux Rampage!

[technovice]

Originally Posted by Satissh S

I think, May be they are fed up with the Linux Craze! So they are even ready to allow piracy to cut out the Linux Rampage!

Yeah rite....chances for that happening are as high as me going to mars next month!!

[enoonmai]

First off, I am not entirely sure how the WGA tool works, but I know what it does. It compares your CD key to a list of known bad keys, starting the stolen volume license keys from you-know-whom to the generally other known bad license keys available to them. Its obvious that you can easily bypass this if you use a key for a pre-activated Windows XP OEM key, but they're gonna start start pushing hardware-encoded System Locked Pre-Installation (SLP) a bit more rigorously, where the hardware hash is stored in the BIOS and compared to the activation info when the computer boots up. This should deter the casual pirate. Which means, that in the future, its gonna be more and more difficult to pirate pre-activated OEM editions.

I dont how many of you beta tested SP2, but those who did would know that if you had a pirated copy of Windows at the time, you couldn't even access WU to see what updates were needed and recommended, leave alone download them. So, while Microsoft allows you to bypass the WGA validation for now and get the download anyway, they are planning to curtail all major updates for pirated copy users. Microsoft is planning to roll this out in China first, followed by Europe and then the rest of the world. If you fail the test, then you have to fill out a piracy form, contact your reseller or purchase Windows XP online, and your computer would be locked out until you do so.

Originally Posted by khattam_

Are they tracking the IP of the users with Pirated Copies........ Don't Know?? Who does??

Actually, they are. Microsoft has said that while the process for WGA validation is anonymous, the user's hardware information, the hardware hashes, installed software details, your Windows Product Key as well as your IP address will be collected during the validation. So, you see, its hardly anonymous.

Originally Posted by khattam_

But now, it thanked me for taking time to validate Windows and said nothing about the result.

Also, if you clear the test, you will only get a "Thank you for participating. Click the Continue button to access your download" text, nothing else.

[khattam_]

Originally Posted by enoonmai

Also, if you clear the test, you will only get a "Thank you for participating. Click the Continue button to access your download" text, nothing else.

When I fail, it says that "You have a pirated copy of Windows. Get a Genuine Windows now".................