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Techworld reports that Microsoft has gone live with its blocking technology that will require people to validate their copies of Windows before being allowed download access to updates.

The novelly titled Genuine Advantage 1.0 program will check that anyone accessing Windows Update, Microsoft Update for Windows or the Microsoft Download Center has a genuine Windows operating system before allowing any downloads. Security updates will however be exempt from the ban.

Microsoft has been testing the program since September and has validated more than 48 million systems so far, said David Lazar, director of Genuine Windows for Microsoft. Until now the program has been voluntary.

Customers who discover they have a counterfeit copy of Windows will either be given a free version of the operating system or can purchase it for a discounted price, he said.


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fac51 wrote:
Customers who discover they have a counterfeit copy of Windows will either be given a free version of the operating system or can purchase it for a discounted price, he said.

have i read that right? if you want a cheap (or possibly even free) legit version of windows, downlod yourself a dodgy version and then try to update and they'll offer you it on the cheap?

personally wouldnt like to try it, may as well just buy it OEM for ?55 and save the hassle of basically admitting copyright theft

To get the free version of Windows, a customer must fill out a counterfeit report identifying the source of the software, provide a proof of purchase and send in a counterfeit CD of the software. If customers don't have all of that information, they can still fill out a counterfeit report and receive a copy of Windows XP Home Edition for $99 or a copy of Windows XP Professional Edition for $149, Lazar said.

Its been cracked already:


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Chris wrote:Its been cracked already:

yeah read about that a few days back, mud in the face really as they said it was uncrackable

I don't think anybody over at Micro$oft would know 'uncrackable' even if they ran straight into it

I just validated mine (thought i'd done it in the past but just now clicked auto update and went through it all).

it wont let you validate if you're using firefox, teh sucks

why am i not surprised?

30 - 15 microsoft.

NEW genuine advantage patch now installed

30 love

cracked again http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/04/workarounds-to-disable-non-genuine.html

someone will always find a way