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Microsoft wants you to license your pirated copy of Windows XP
How's this for a sales pitch? We know you've got a pirated copy of our software. We're willing to turn a blind eye to the fact that you shouldn't have it in the first place, and allow you to get an official license and ongoing customer support. But you'll have to pay us for both the license and the support. Isn't that better than free?Essentially that's what Microsoft is saying with its new Get Genuine Windows Agreement. Basically, the company is trying to turn people who are using their software into customers, which isn't unreasonable. Microsoft estimates that 35% of the software installed on computers around the world is counterfeit or stolen. We're just not entirely clear on why a person or company using pirated software would take Microsoft up on the offer.
It's also worth noting that Windows Vista sales haven't been so hot. Microsoft has extended its sales plans for Windows XP, and the Genuine Windows Agreement program might be another way to keep people paying for software, even if they're not so much upgrading as legitimizing.
Comments
9
Subscribe to commentsRob HOct 2nd 2007 8:19PM
Isn't this old news?
I know of a few people who have installed XP and then taken MS up on their offer in the last year. It saves a trip to PC World to pick up a legit copy after all!
Aren't the three first letters of "news" a bit of a give away as to the supposed content? I can't see much that was "new" in this article....
R.
burnblueOct 3rd 2007 2:22AM
Some of the stuff that Microsoft only offers if your Windows copy validates is really good stuff.. like the excellent Windows Media Player 11 and the most recent version of Internet Explorer
Maybe not worth the entire cost of an OS, but certainly cuts annoyance
ShibathedogOct 2nd 2007 11:51PM
For people that don't realize this, This guy is being sarcastic.
...I hope
SchwinnOct 3rd 2007 9:52AM
My question is: Most pirated versions of XP were the old corporate edition, which didn't require activation of any kind (the infamous FCKGW VL key). So, does MS plan to allow these people to simply buy THAT license? Somehow, I doubt it...
On the other side, these people chose the VLK version because it won't do any of the dumb activation tricks... I expect that the license MS sells these people might somehow re-activate the activation scheme... though I'd be curious to know how it could do that without a reinstall.
Michael C. SherrinOct 3rd 2007 9:57AM
So where is Microsoft getting that 35 percent piracy rate from? Cause from one of the richest companies in the world, it's kinda hard to swallow. Or do they count Linux in that 35 percent?
******
Michael C. Sherrin
http://www.prodigeek.com/
LeeOct 3rd 2007 10:50AM
A sign of the times. Market saturation is approaching. *Almost Everyone* has a licensed copy of xp, including people without computers or electricity, dead people, animals. Now Microsoft, in a desperate attempt to keep on selling targets those who've been thus far left out in the cold by marketing efforts.. Nice ;)
Christina WarrenOct 3rd 2007 4:46PM
"I expect that the license MS sells these people might somehow re-activate the activation scheme... though I'd be curious to know how it could do that without a reinstall."
They have a program you can download that resets the whole thing. I once had a major computer crisis that required me to unexpectedly reinstall XP while away from home (thus my discs and valid license were not with me) and had to download a copy of XP and use a VLK to get everything up and running. Naturally, it came up as "pirated" in Windows Advantage, but as soon as I got home and got my valid license, I called Microsoft, explained the situation (and they were totally understanding - though it didn't hurt that I have six separate Pro licenses registered with them, I'm sure), they pointed me to an address to download the file, gave me the new stuff to enter in, and I was good to go. They told me the procedure was the same for people in their Genuine Advantage program, I just didn't get charged. I think the only way people have to reinstall is if their pirated copy was altered with something more than just slipstreaming updates -- as long as the integrity of the Windows installation checks out, the program can successfully change the product activation - even if it is from a VLC or VLK license to an individual or OEM license.
ExcaliberOct 4th 2007 9:05AM
i want the WinXP pirated edition wallpaper..
where to download?
keithNov 30th 2007 9:36AM
I never had any luck with xp home wore the disk out from having to reload os every two weeks ,kept locking up .Installed vista after some hardware upgrades been using it about a year now no problems