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Microsoft to Revamp Activation System with Windows 9....!?!quote: Microsoft is expected to introduce a radical new software activation system with its next major release of Windows, in a bid to stem piracy. According to BetaNews, citing a Russian source with a reasonably good track-record in leaking stuff out of Redmond, the company is planning to do away with software keys, 16-character alphanumeric passwords unique to each copy of the software, which let you prove the validity of your purchase, and unlock the software. The next Windows will use a system in which having a Microsoft Store account - which isn't necessarily the same as a Microsoft Account - is mandatory, and acquiring machine-specific images of the Windows installation disc from the store....
» www.techpowerup.com/2028 ··· s-9.htmlWhile this remains to be seen I will point out that IMO there is always a bitter pill to be swallowed when dealing with Microsoft. Activation is a part of it as well as them attempting to get you to install additional software that does the user no good like the WGA initiative. I guess we will see how this plays out. |
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trparky Premium Member join:2000-05-24 Cleveland, OH ·AT&T U-Verse
3 recommendations |
trparky
Premium Member
2014-Jul-8 4:38 pm
This does actually make sense to do the activation this way, this is the same way that copies of Microsoft Office 365 works.
With Office 365 you have a central account that manages your Office 360 licenses. Each time you activate a license of Office on a computer it adds it to the list of devices that you have it licensed on. You can then activate it and de-activate a license for a computer as many times as you want.
Maybe this will do away with the process of having to call Microsoft and say "Yes, I only have it installed on one PC" and then having to read off that damned long code and inputting an equally damned long code. |
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intok (banned) join:2012-03-15
3 recommendations |
to Octavean
I thought they where going to make Win9 free, if so why would a free OS need activation to stem piracy? How exactly could you pirate a free OS? |
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darciliciousCyber Librarian Premium Member join:2001-01-02 Forest Grove, OR
1 recommendation |
I had read previously that there will be a free version offered but it won't be like Home/Pro/etc which will still cost and need a license. |
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1 recommendation |
I dont understand,....
Like Windows Starter Edition,....?
One would think that Windows 9, if indeed free, would be free only to s a specific set of users (IE Windows 8.1 Update 1 users for example) and only then at the forfeiture of their current license. |
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BlitzenZeusBurnt Out Cynic Premium Member join:2000-01-13
1 recommendation |
to Octavean
I can only see one benefit of this, making it easier for those who have had problems with keys after who didn't pay for the software have caused problems for others. In the past people had stolen, or created keys for volume licensing which effected real customers. Here they could revoke the old ones easier, and assign new ones.
I don't believe your average person who buys a package system will have to deal with any of this hassle.
I'd like to see the entire idea of non-transferable oem sold as retail to stop if they are going to do this, and allow them to move an install if necessary. They will also need a non-abusive way to allow you to reinstall when a system/motherboard dies. I moved my xp pro retail a handful of times, and never had issues with internet activation. I also never had it installed in more than one place at once, and never had to officially deactivate my old install. This reminds me too much of activating adobe software, which when you can't deactivate the old install is a royal pain. |
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kvn864 join:2001-12-18 Sun City, AZ
1 recommendation |
to Octavean
Sadly I see no difference, licence is tight up to a mobo (not same today for oem's?) MS account to have windows? Pirated version of this will be out before the honest customer would get a chance to create a new MS account. What is different? The only thing I see where some people call them few times on the same key, activating additional machine. |
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trparky Premium Member join:2000-05-24 Cleveland, OH ·AT&T U-Verse
1 recommendation |
to BlitzenZeus
said by BlitzenZeus:I'd like to see the entire idea of non-transferable oem sold as retail to stop if they are going to do this, and allow them to move an install if necessary. They will also need a non-abusive way to allow you to reinstall when a system/motherboard dies. I moved my xp pro retail a handful of times, and never had issues with internet activation. I see this new activation system as a way to address this very thing. 1. Motherboard dies. 2. Go to Windows 9 license web site and login. 3. Click on a DeActivate or Revoke button for old system. 4. Install OS on new system and activate. 5. ??? 6. Profit! |
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BlitzenZeusBurnt Out Cynic Premium Member join:2000-01-13
1 recommendation |
How though? A background service that phoned home to see if it was valid that was not tied to windows update? Would they just make windows update check? They can only go so far to not abuse their customers. What about managed systems under wsus? They need to accept some caveats while giving some at the same time. A recent trend in games has been to require a software manager to verify an online account even if you can't play the game multiplayer in place of even more invasive draconian drm, but you can't play the games when you're offline. All this assumes that you're going to be connected to the internet. There was a reason there has been phone activation too, and they can't really expect we're always online all the time. Unfortunately it's just not as simple as we would like it to be.
Win 8 is already almost windows starter, there's so many limitations on standard, and feature removed from 8 like the dvd codec, media center, dvd maker... Non-pro already can't use more than 32 GiB of ram, no multi-processor support, no domain support, no disk encryption, along with many other features in Pro. Other basic os features, and providing IE to download the software you actually want to run there's not much else of real value left on the "home" version in extras.
So businesses, and home builders hopefully might be the only ones who need to deal with this mess since starting with Win 8 the key was in the bios on package systems so they couldn't just sell off the shelf hardware to be in compliance with their new requirements which I actually think are excessive. I don't expect people to be able to transfer their windows off of package systems unless they also abandon putting the key in the bios. |
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intok (banned) join:2012-03-15
1 recommendation |
to trparky
And I see it as a reason to skip this and install Linux or OS X. |
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1 recommendation |
It honestly sounds like a fairly effective kill switch IMO.
It's been my opinion for some time that if you setup a set of circumstances for software to not function by design then it probably will do so at times that it wasn't necessarily intended to.
Activation has been around for some time and while I understand Microsoft's agenda I don't necessarily agree with it. People can get used to just about anything though, even if its something that they perhaps shouldn't get used to (like being treated poorly for example).
If the number of activations / deactivations are finite some people might feel the limitation keenly (clearly not everyone though). Also if nefarious individuals get a hold of someone's Microsoft account credentials it could be disastrous. |
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Mele20 Premium Member join:2001-06-05 Hilo, HI
1 recommendation |
to Octavean
So, if software keys are eliminated what happens with the OEMs? That article didn't even mention it.
The key thing is a mess though. I added a free copy of Media Center to my OEM Windows 8 Pro not realizing that meant Microsoft would delete my Win 8 Pro OEM key and substitute their own key. That's nuts and I would not have installed Media Center had realized this inanity would happen.
As for making Windows Store account mandatory to get Windows 9 that means I won't get Windows 9 as I would have to activate UAC which I have disabled in the registry. Now, as far as Microsoft is concerned, I no longer have an OEM Windows 8 so if I was willing to activate UAC I could go the store and upgrade, but as far as Dell and my 5 year support plan is concerned I have Windows 8 Pro OEM. So, with no software keys anymore how would I go about upgrading my Dell OEM Win 8 Pro while keeping my Dell next business day in home hardware and all software support intact?
Everything about Windows 8 and now Windows 9 is crazy. Plus, what about an ISO if one upgrades? I'm not upgrading if I had a problem and had to reinstall Windows and have no ISO. |
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1 recommendation |
to intok
said by intok:I thought they where going to make Win9 free, if so why would a free OS need activation to stem piracy? How exactly could you pirate a free OS? Free to those that have Windows 8. |
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78036364
2 recommendations |
to intok
said by intok:And I see it as a reason to skip this and install Linux or OS X. Linux has been free for ever and yet still can't crack 2% market share. that tells you something. OS X? Yeah if you want to overpay for an Apple. no thanks. |
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norwegian Premium Member join:2005-02-15 Outback |
to Octavean
said by Octavean:It honestly sounds like a fairly effective kill switch IMO. I haven't looked at the topic link in question; for what we call the Internet, an effective kill switch, effective sign in, or, log in measure for software, third party or operating system, nothing is really effective any more. Sorry, a little off topic I know. |
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1 recommendation |
to intok
said by intok:And I see it as a reason to skip this and install Linux or OS X. Linux looks better to me every day although I can see myself on Windows 7 for a long time to come. Blob |
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dvd536as Mr. Pink as they come Premium Member join:2001-04-27 Phoenix, AZ |
to Octavean
the winners keep on coming out of redmond. we'll just have to wait and see how the crackers deal with this. |
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1 recommendation |
to Octavean
Windows 9 Related links:• Rumor: Microsoft's 'Windows 9' campaign begins this fall ... Users could also back up the key to a special 'ESD-RETAIL' format on either a flash drive or another PC ...» www.pcworld.com/article/ ··· all.html• Windows 9 Activation System Details Leaked » news.softpedia.com/news/ ··· 05.shtml• Windows 9 release date, news and rumors Updated: What do we know about the future of Windows? » www.techradar.com/news/s ··· -1029245• Search: » www.bing.com/news/search ··· ORM=EWRE |
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1 recommendation |
I'm just picturing little old ladies (and less knowledgable users) getting scammed,....
You know that scam where they call you claiming to be Microsoft support trying to help you with a virus infection. I must have gotten something like 4 or 5 of those calls and it always amuses me when it happens (unless I am really busy). I usually mess with them for a little while until it stops being fun and then I let them know I know what they are trying to do. Then I laugh and hang-up.
The problem is some people really do fall for this and are willing to hand over control or sensitive information without realizing the consequences. This happened to my sister-in-law in Florida when we went to visit around the holidays. To help her, I had to start fresh using a restore on her Windows 8 system.
Now imagine how something like this would or could go if someone unknowingly hands over information to the requisite Microsoft Account allowing nefarious individuals to deactivate their Windows 9 OS install.
"You can't fix stupid" is a saying I don't much care for but it could be applicable to such situations if you will.
If I am not mistaken, I believe Microsoft's response to this type of scam was that their security improvements have been robust enough to force such individuals to resort to such a low tech attack (paraphrasing naturally). Thats all good and well but how does that help the gullibility of some users that they can't fix,....?
I'm sure some of the nefarious individuals would be happy to fix the problem of activations for a fee,...thus extorting money from the already victimized individuals.
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1 recommendation |
to Octavean
Seems like a logical progression of what they started in Office, at least with OEM versions. The "product key" that comes in the kit is not the actual key, its just a redemption code. Then you have to login with or create a Microsoft account, put in that code to get the key. Then they force you to use a "click to run" version of Office and deny you an MSI based version, and during setup you are encouraged to "login with your Microsoft account" or in tiny letters, enter your product key. What used to be a straightforward process of about 5 minutes now takes 20. |
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Msradell Premium Member join:2008-12-25 Louisville, KY |
to Octavean
This sounds more and more like they are going to start charging you an annual fee to use the operating system! Poor Microsoft needs to figure out how to make money somehow. |
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darciliciousCyber Librarian Premium Member join:2001-01-02 Forest Grove, OR |
said by Msradell:Microsoft needs to figure out how to make money somehow. Just like everybody else! |
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chip89 Premium Member join:2012-07-05 Columbia Station, OH |
to trparky
Expect that with Windows 8.X there is no key it is activated with the bios. |
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intok (banned) join:2012-03-15 |
to 78036364
said by 78036364:Linux has been free for ever and yet still can't crack 2% market share. that tells you something. OS X? Yeah if you want to overpay for an Apple. no thanks. Microsoft exclusivity contracts with all OEMs going back 30 years? |
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BlitzenZeusBurnt Out Cynic Premium Member join:2000-01-13
2 recommendations |
to Octavean
Yep, watch them deactivate keys, and steal them.
What about giving away your old computer? It won't be enough anymore just to have the key, and a dvd, otherwise restore partition to reload the os.
What a hassle. |
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salzanExperienced Optimist Premium Member join:2004-01-08 WA State |
to Octavean
MS should give this up and put the money toward lowering the price of Win9.
Regardless, it will be on TPB before it's released... |
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OZO Premium Member join:2003-01-17
2 recommendations |
to Octavean
I think it proves one more time, that the company has lost a clear vision what's important for their business and what's not. Instead of working hard on improving user experience and do what majority of users (and businesses) want / need / ask, they try to achieve impossible task - to make with code something, that couldn't be undone with another code... Remember WGA, fake KMS activations? What else is now? I'm positive, the result will be the same... And one more thing. Make it as a subscription service, requiring permanent network connection 24/7 and some mandatory login account, and we'll start talking about the Windows OS in a past tense... Clearly, they've lost their vision... |
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All my Microsoft Windows OS licenses are genuine (from 3.11 all the way through 8.1 Update 1). I'm a customer and I am willing to legitimately buy the given product. The thing I find objectionable is anything that gets in the way of me using said product and that is exactly what Microsoft's protection schemes do.
Then there are those of whom that are fixated in misappropriating said software products (by hook or by crook) but these people aren't necessarily customers. Microsoft can put their energy into fighting these people but they do so at the cost of inconveniencing their real customers.
The major reason I buy downloadable music is because the companies I do business with no longer use DRM restriction schemes. Therefore I can do what I please with my purchases and I do not abuse this ability (in other words I don't give the stuff away or give access to anyone). |
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salzanExperienced Optimist Premium Member join:2004-01-08 WA State
1 recommendation |
salzan
Premium Member
2014-Jul-9 9:51 pm
said by Octavean: Microsoft can put their energy into fighting these people but they do so at the cost of inconveniencing their real customers. This is the problem with most DRM schemes I've run across over the years. The people who are going to steal the product will get a cracked version and carry on. Those of us who pay get to jump through the hoops. |
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1 recommendation |
to intok
said by intok:said by 78036364:Linux has been free for ever and yet still can't crack 2% market share. that tells you something. OS X? Yeah if you want to overpay for an Apple. no thanks. Microsoft exclusivity contracts with all OEMs going back 30 years? Apple wouldn't allow OS X to be on anything other than an computer made by Apple and you know that. If Apple allowed OS X on all PCs do you think MS would have 90% market share and OS x would be hovering at 7%? As far as Linux as I said it's FREE and easily available to what's the issue? |
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