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(" Stop ! WPD ...show me your serial number!!")
Guys...every now and then some friend,collegue,cousin comes up with something like "Hey dude, don't use a pirated copy of Windows cos if you connect to a Microsoft site they will find out and they will freeze your PC..."
To me it sounds a rumour,one of those that circulate via email...but I'm sure
it could be done...I mean : reading your serial number from a website,checking if it's a legal copy...and so on...
Whattya think ?!
In most cases, to be able download Windows updates (or extra bits of software, such as SQL Server Express) you need to install a program from Microsoft (Genuine Advantage?) - which is designed to check that your copy of Windows is not pirated.
I have no idea if they have any method of disabling your copy of Windows if it is pirated, but I see no reason why they shouldn't.
I've heard it is true but only in Vista
Yeah...I heard that Vista is almost uncrackable
They won't go after individuals but they can go after large organizations blatantly using pirated versions of Windows. But it's mostly about being unprotected and being unable to get service packs and security updates.
It was actually cracked a long time ago. Crackers jump on any loopholes in any system...Quote:
Originally Posted by horazio
"...But a friend of mine had a friend that knew this guy who got busted and went to JAIL for having a pirated copy of Windows....."
It's one of those things you are 90% sure it's just a rumor...but there's also that little 10% that's kinda scary epsecially now that (at least in Italy) copyrights are taken very seriously...
I reinstalled Vista on the laptop I'm on about 3 weeks ago. I mistyped the license and about once a day, I get a popup from Windows asking me to Purchase, Re-Enter or Cancel. Naturally, I just hit cancel because I don't want to go downstairs and find it again. Other then that, no FBI storming my apartment, keyboard and mouse are responsive enough for me to post, I can install things and get on the internet... Eventually, I'll fix it.Quote:
Originally Posted by chris1990