Microsoft Windows Legetimacy - And MS Fail - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 08:21:56 pm
content: I see a few youtubers and some I believe even making a living doing computer work, I won't point any out. However. Don't waste your money, if you don't want to pay for Windows.These videos suggest going to particular sites to get Windows keys for cheap. These are not legit keys and I would never put them on a customers system nor recommend they do it.I suppose it makes people feel better to pay something for them? You may as well pirate it.I'm not saying microsoft doesn't charge stupid prices so it is their fault. But do they even care about piracy?I stumbled upon someone selling "full retail" keys cheap locally and no one seems to care, what bothers me is what they are doing making false claims etc and making money off of it.Since the local classifieds would not remove it, I decided to go to Microsofts website to report it........Click on the online report form.....https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/piracy/reporting/default.aspx(try it)They have also not done themselves any favors with Windows 10, because there is literally no way to tell a legit copy from a non legit copy. So, imo if making purchases with windows 10 I wouldn't count windows 10 installed as a value in the cost of used computers or laptops.I'm not trying to encourage piracy, what I am trying to encourage is not falling for cheap prices. The old saying is.... If it's too good to be true. It probably is.Don't fall for wasting your money. It's too bad there is not any money in telling the truth.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 10:19:27 pm
content: Honestly if you're so piss poor to not be able to afford Windows, Linux is always there waiting.For me, I've always had, or known people with some sort of Microsoft subscription, so I've been able to get set up with legit copies of Windows from friends. Currently my version is a legit version of Server 2016 Enterprise from Imagine that I use as a daily driver.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 10:31:37 pm
content: Yeah, I;m surprised those turkeys flogging keys aren't being pulled over by MS piracy enforcersMS are losing big dollars while these clowns are making easy dollars and scoring heaps of Youtube views, what gives ?Best way to do the right thing, is to buy an OEM PC with legit Windows COA => No brainer and no worriesand no 6amdoor knocks from suits with court ordersbacked by S W A T teams posted on neighbors roofs in case SHTF

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 07:59:43 pm
content: Well small victory, the classifieds took the ad down after my second complaint.I had to basically pull out excerpts that said if it's sold without a COA it's not a legal copy. And for some irony? I bought some windows licenses without the COA from the microsoft store! So according to the excerpt Microsoft is not selling legal copies. LOLHow Can You Tell?Always look for a Genuine Microsoft Label or a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). Both of these are labels that help you identify genuine Microsoft software. A Genuine Microsoft Label or COA is not a software license – it is a visual identifier that assists in determining whether or not the Microsoft software you are running is genuine.However, without either one, you will not have a legal license to run Microsoft software.A Genuine Microsoft Label or COA should never be purchased separately from the software it authenticates

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 10:24:18 pm
content: Quote from: imidis on February 16, 2018, 07:59:43 pmSo what's the deal there? What proof do you have of purchase ? Receipt with keys listed ? I am assuming a Win 10 scenario ?MS marketing and sales 'teams' need to get the lead out, and give their customers good old fashioned service,like a DVD or USB stick perhaps locked to the key, a COA sticker,easy to read and understand documentation,as well as the separate EULA that no one in a hurry to install Windowsto log in to EEVblog and ask why the FlookNot $10 multimeter every one drools about failed miserablyreads or understands,a 24/7 telephone service to handle customer enquiriescough...they've done this before, they should know the drill...Anyway, does anyone here have an OEM PC with Windows 10 pre-installed? Say a Dell, HP, Acer etc ?Do they come with a COA sticker and key etc ?Is there a choice of Win 10 pro or standard/home or whatever they call itAny documentation supolied with the new PC?Recovery media or hidden Restore partition ?I'd like to know in case I decide in a year or twoor neverto get my feet wetor burned

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 10:26:52 pm
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on February 15, 2018, 10:19:27 pmIn all likelihood, you have a "working" license, but if you were to carefully read the terms of the Microsoft MSDN subscription, I'd bet you a couple beers that your usage is not "legit" per those terms.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 11:50:36 pm
content: Microsoft has never really seemed to care about individuals and what they did with Windows. I always assumed that was because they made most of their OS profits from OEM licensing and chasing down a bunch of individual pirates probably wouldn't be worth the effort. It has always been pretty easy to use Windows 7, and probably other versions, for free by exploiting the "free trial" period.

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2018, 01:54:20 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on February 16, 2018, 10:24:18 pmWhen Windows 8 was flailing they sold Windows 8 Pro for 20 bucks with the windows media player pack. So, I have 2 full retail copies and yeah, the only proof I have is the microsoft email. I figured I would snag it for file server /htpc ...But also an Windows 10 upgrades that exist I have no proof/COA at all. Even though I know they are legit as can be...

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2018, 02:07:35 am
content: Quote from: rdl on February 16, 2018, 11:50:36 pmI don't disagree, but what these people selling these keys are doing is still wrong, that bothers me more than the piracy part of things. It's always easier to focus on the source, they won't go after end users.

author: lundmar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2018, 02:27:30 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on February 15, 2018, 10:31:37 pmI can't even begin to put words on how infuriating it is to not be able to buy a new laptop from one of the popular vendors like Dell without also being forced to buy a Windows license that I will never use!

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2018, 02:49:15 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on February 15, 2018, 10:31:37 pmYou're kidding, right? MS probably makes more money off harvesting and selling your data than they do from Win10 licenses. Remember they were literally giving it away for free and forcing upgrades not long ago?They took down the listing selling keys as a token gesture, but probably still profit greatly from Win10 regardless of whether it was pirated.Win10 is literally spyware. I don't how anyone would willingly subject themselves to it.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2018, 10:57:23 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on February 17, 2018, 02:49:15 amOh yeah, no contest on that !Espi0nage and virtual nano-dr0nes asideit's a hassle to use and why anyone running a perfectly working Win 7 or 8x would go for it as their main OS has me baffledBetter off doing a clean install or recovery of Win 7 or 8 if having issues, rather than seeking salvation hell with 10I doubt many software authors solely script for it yet, much less have it as their main OS,even though they have to test their software on a Win 10 PC, or the brave beta testers doQuote from: lundmar on February 17, 2018, 02:27:30 amPretty sure you can order a laptop without Windows, well from Dell anywaySome Dell laptops at one time shipped with Linux installed IIRC.You could install Windows but it would not auto activate as would a pre-installed OEM Windows laptop,and you'd have to chase up drivers for it, some laptops have some weird hardware crap on board that's difficult to identify and get the correct compatible versionBesides I don't think there's a full retail Windows charge on top of the price of the laptop,the OEMs get a sweet bulk deal from MS so maybe you're paying 50 to 150 dollars on top = ?A laptop with COA has a better resale value too,LOL you may find the non-OEM version is nowadays more expensive, being a  ...'special order'

author: lundmar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2018, 11:30:19 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on February 18, 2018, 10:57:23 pmYes, you can buy a laptop from Dell without a Windows license but that only apply to a very limited selection of laptops (http://dell.com/developers) and usually not the latest and greatest ones. Dell is even one of the good guys in this respect. Most laptop manufacturers don't even offer a choice.50-150$ for something I will never use is still a waste to me. Also, my laptops never reach resale time - they usually get worn down or broken before that ha ha.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2018, 02:19:44 am
content: During its heyday, the OEM versions of Windows 7 ran around $100-$140 in single quantity for a boxed, physical disk version. I doubt the big manufacturers ever pay more than $50 per machine for the Microsoft OS license, it's probably closer to $25.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2018, 04:00:18 am
content: You are correct, and nothing I said conflicts with that. My point was that the actual cost of the Windows license on a new computer is relatively insignificant compared to the total price.

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2018, 06:48:05 am
content: QuoteNope. It stops being being "legit" the moment it leaves your friends' hands.But it runs, MS in none the wiser and life goes on.(unless they have a way of seeing the group of 10 keys issued to one entity, spread in 6 zipcodes)

author: gildasd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2018, 07:43:42 am
content: As a aside, my company started rolling out a heavily modded version of Outlook 2016.Yes, it took two years to mod and patch it to a “safe” level...