Contrary to the remarks it made to the ComputerTimes, Microsoft now claims that it will not permit users who have obtained Windows XP illegally to upgrade to its latest service release. Instead, the software giant will continue to enforce compliance with its licensing.

In a nutshell, Microsoft group product manager Barry Goffe told ComputerTimes that Windows XP Service Pack 2 would not exclude pirated copies from upgrading, and that it was more important to keep user safe than to be "concerned about the revenue issue."

To clarify its position, a Microsoft spokesperson told BetaNews, "Press reports indicating Windows XP Service Pack 2 will install on pirated or illegal copies of Windows XP are not entirely true. Prior to installing, SP2 will check the OS' product ID (PID) against a list of known pirated PIDs. If a PID is found to be invalid, SP2 will not install."

BetaNews confirmed the accuracy of the spokesperson's statement with a source within the company.

View more at http://www.betanews.com/article.php3?sid=1084264398

ill give it 2 weeks before its cracked

I suppose our doubts were not ill-founded. Stupid M$.

Kind of a silly move by MS, but all it really means is that the public key lists will be blacklisted.

Anyone running from a self-generated key MS doesn't konw about, or smart enough to change to one won't be affected.

As of 11:30am PST (US), there is already a thread going on regarding the announcement by M$ that the Windows XP SP2 install will fail if the PID matches any known pirated/cracked installation. The gist of the thread I'm following is this:

"We already have a working patch for the SP2 update. The patch checks all known 'invalid' PIDs and will notify the user prior to the actual installation of SP2. The user then has the option to use our built-in tool to change their code to one that will be accepted by SP2 before installation proceeds. No reboot is required. We will update this tool as necessary as SP2 nears official release. Frodo Lives!"

Just thought folks might like to know that you won't even have to wait a few days or weeks to "update" to SP2. It is cracked even before release.

God loves hackers...
-ManX

P.S. -> Please don't ask me for more details. I will post them as all of this unfolds. I happen to be privy to an unusual source, and I WILL NOT be able to offer any further info regarding the source. When information is verified, I will let the forum know. -- Peace, Love, and lots of hot sex! -ManX

Interesting info ManX. Thanks mate.

This is becoming a very interesting story indeed, watching the cracking teams/pirates vs. Microsoft.

I wonder if this fight will go down the track of radar detectors? (radar detector-->radar detector detector--> radar detector detector detector etc.)
We'll have a product, then a crack, then a workaround for the crack, then a crack for the workaround, then a workaround for the crack of the 1st workaround, then a .....

Actually it will more than likely work like Server 2K3 works ... Illegal PID = Windows Update will not work .. it checks with every attempt to install updates

Peace

well, along with the SP2 there will be new windows update site... (I'm beta-testing both.. so far so good - thought they are both pretty much under NDA )

A peek at what SP2 will contain:

'http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5212568.html

anyone know the official release date of SP2?

Here's a long thread over at slashdot.org:

Slashdot WinXP SP2 discussion

Here are couple of interesting snippets:

1. "As of build 2142 of SP2 (the latest release to beta testers), setup won't install on an installation that doesn't have a 640 ProductID. This has been tested with randomly generated keys, so it's more than just the top 20 pirate keys."

To find the product ID:

2. "To find your PID, right-click on My Computer and hit properties to bring up the System control panel. The PID will be right under the "registered to" section. It will be, e.g., aaaaa-bbb-ccccccc-ddddd. If bbb is not 640, you or definitely out of luck. If it is 640, feel free to give it a shot. Or, you can always make you a new CD Key that works."

"And there's a new keygen (which, BTW, also makes keys for Win Server 2003 Corp, but we aren't concerned with that right now). It's called MSKey. Start it, set Product Family to "Windows XP Pro. VLK", set Product ID range from 640-500 to 640-600, and gen away."

captbics

Sounds like BS to me... because I don't have a 640 in place of 'bbb'... and my copy of XP is 100% legit.

Twine,

Are you running a legit WinXP Corporate? I think that's what they are talking about, not WinXP Pro.

Glad to hear that, though, if it's true.

captbics

Im actually running a ligit version of XP also. Thank god for DeVry. Got XP Pro, Office Pro, and Visual Studios for free through school, and all updated versions when they come out as long as im in school

Twine,

In all fairness, the thread was all over the map. The Volume License Key for the Corporate version is just the most widely pirated version since it requires no activation (or is it registration -- whatever the term is, you don't have to call M$).

I should have been a little more specific.

I hope your legit version has no problems. But hey, M$ is so intent on complicating the process that they could screw it up for legit users. I'm sure they're testing to make sure that doesn't happen...talk about alienating your customers if that happened.

captbics

as a sidenote.. SP2 RC2 has just some time ago been released I should have the cd in week and half or so..

Here's another news update on this subject from the Inquirer:

Inquirer story

"Windows XP SP2 cracked already?
By INQUIRER staff: Monday 05 July 2004, 06:28

"Even though Microsoft has not yet released service pack 2 for Windows XP, word reaches the INQ that its anti-piracy features have already been cracked open. Microsoft has claimed that it's introduced features in SP2 which mean that illegal users of stolen or cracked activation codes won't be able to upgrade the OS, which is due for release in August of this year. However, sources in the community are claiming that there's already a keygen for service pack 2 out in the wild that will bypass the security arrangements. Meanwhile, Microsoft is previewing a better version of Windows Update software on its web site, which can be found here <Windows Update>, with appropriate caveats. It requires you to install a fresh piece of Update code, but certainly looks quite a bit cleaner. * WARNING! DON'T INSTALL this stuff unless you're absolutely sure what you're doing. We've already heard from one reader who had to do an XP system restore."

captbics

I attened a Microsoft Service Pack 2 Oem System Builders Conference at Crown Palladium on June 28th. The session went for a few hours and it was informative at most. AMD were hand in hand with MS at this, and there wasn't an Intel sign or slogan to be seen. As we now understand SP2 is going to be a large step in home user's security and assisting those who are not as IT equiped as others. The new features and personal firewall etc has been revamped and a number of new enhancements to the OS, including the ability to utilise some of the new AMD64's Hardware Buffer zone. All in all it is a good step towards less computers being vulnerable. Once SP2 is installed you will be plagued to update and update, if you wish to be rid of these little popups then you will manually need to go back and turn them off as saying no once it will no longer just assume that is your future practice.


Enjoy

- Joel