Microsoft's gift to Vista pirates: the Black Screen Of Darkness

[Hard core Rikki]

Black Screen Of Darkness to haunt Vista pirates
Buy the software or suffer the consequences

September 11, 2007 (Computerworld Australia)

Microsoft Windows' infamous "Blue Screen Of Death" has become synonymous with an operating system crash or freeze, but that's nothing compared with what users of pirated copies of Vista worldwide can expect from now -- a Black Screen Of Darkness.

In an e-mail to a large Windows Vista distributor titled "Pirated Vista -- A darkness descends!" -- a local Microsoft representative made it quite clear what Vista pirates can expect to happen to their unlicensed installations.

A copy of this e-mail was obtained by Computerworld.

"Good afternoon, as of this week, Microsoft has activated a function in Vista called 'Reduced Functionality.' This is a specific function in Vista that effectively disables nongenuine copies of Windows. Therefore anyone who has a pirated copy of Vista will experience:

A black screen after one hour of browsing
No start menu or task bar
No desktop

Please communicate this antipiracy initiative from Microsoft to your resellers -- note this function has only just been activated in Vista worldwide and therefore any issues with nongenuine versions will start to arise from now onward."

Microsoft's new tough antipiracy move also proves the company still controls its software releases with an iron fist, but it marks the first global use of heavy-handed tactics for pirated copies of Windows.

The e-mail message also included what resembled an advertisement of the new antipiracy initiative.

Titled "Don't let this happen to your customers," the advertisement indicates nongenuine copies of Windows Vista will lose access to key features, have limited access to updates, and thus risk attack from viruses, malware and spyware.

"If Windows Vista is not activated with a genuine product key, your customers will experience reduced functionality," according to the ad. "The blocking of nongenuine product keys is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. To help protect honest partners and fight piracy, Microsoft will continue to block product keys that are determined to be pirated, stolen or otherwise deemed nongenuine."

The ad concludes with "Don't risk it!" and "make sure your customers always get genuine Windows Vista preinstalled."

Linux LiveCD's finally find a use for Random Joe. Welcome to the Linux community in advance

UPDATE: seems like the story was either exagerated or innacurate

[Proto]

Amen to that. I would applaud this movement by Microsoft against piracy, a movement that damages closed and open software altogether... if I didn't know it won't be long since legit users will start having problems with this kind of actions...

aw well, though luck.

[Godwin]

Hold on, I heard about this weeks ago.

[BigIg]

I'm sure it'll be cracked quickly.

[Godwin]

It already has been cracked! I swear this is old news! Or else I know the future!

[Hard core Rikki]

Originally Posted by Godwin

It already has been cracked! I swear this is old news! Or else I know the future!

Something else probably, as Reduced Functionalty has *just* been activated *this* very week, and all tech news site brought the story today exactly, after the intimidating letters leaked

[Proto]

... this is almost pathetic. A 3 second google search. A for dummies restore method. Yay for Micro$oft.

[Coolsvilleman]

Originally Posted by Proto

... this is almost pathetic. A 3 second google search. A for dummies restore method. Yay for Micro$oft.

Wow... just wow. Here I thought Microsoft had actually done some good against piracy. They should really just build in a delay of about a year so that if you copy of windows is not verified in a year it just won't work at all.

[Xtreme2damax]

The story was Bogus, just read it at neowin with links to the updated (Bogus) Article. Just some kid probably spreading BS, as Microsoft commented that it was false and this has been in Vista since RTM minus the black screen part and already has been bypassed.

[Hard core Rikki]

Originally Posted by Xtreme2damax

The story was Bogus, just read it at neowin with links to the updated (Bogus) Article. Just some kid probably spreading BS, as Microsoft commented that it was false and this has been in Vista since RTM minus the black screen part and already has been bypassed.

Remote rules can still be *enforced* at *anytime*, and new software doesn't need to be pushed to a desktop for functionality to suddenly disappear or get restricted, especially when its dormant since integration into OS. Everything can be managed and scheduled server-side.
Look for Driver Revocation, and it suddenly starts looking worse than this Reduced Functionality crap that doesn't survive even in virtual machines, so never mind with "proper measures"

[doggieiscool]

Heh, Black screen. No 3 red circles on your desktop? Ah well, good news.

[BigIg]

Originally Posted by doggieiscool

Heh, Black screen. No 3 red circles on your desktop? Ah well, good news.

I love Xbox 360, but that was just too funny. It would be funny if they did it that way, too.

[Cid Highwind]

I'm pretty sure it wasn't that long ago Microsoft stated they'd rather have people use pirated MS software than software from other companies.

[stumpjoemed]

I applaud that initiave ,i hope that one day all pirates will be gone...

[BigIg]

Originally Posted by Cid Highwind

I'm pretty sure it wasn't that long ago Microsoft stated they'd rather have people use pirated MS software than software from other companies.

I think this may be what you're thinking of: Techdirt: Microsoft Exec Admits That Company Benefits From Piracy



"if you are going to pirate software, it hopes you pirate Microsoft software."
Thats all the reasoning I need.

[igsmrlmmu]

hmm doesnt seem to work for me...

[Rebel_X]

Originally Posted by igsmrlmmu

hmm doesnt seem to work for me...

Shhh! or you will be banned

[voxmortis]

there is a certian thing out there for vista it is a dell oem modded installer that gets installed after vista is installed makes microsoft thinkl the comp is a dell oem thus allowing all updates, patches ect, but its very hard to get ahold of... Also I purchased a copy of vista damn buggiest os ever I have had to block updates, and I am a bit annoyed a new windows is coming out in just three years, seem vista was a money maker like windows me... so yeah I got the shaft from microsnot... each time I update my bios ect I have to call microsoft talk to some one that does not speak good english and get my copy re registered or do a fresh reinstall of vista it has become very annoying and very tired of it at this point.... But with what I said above thats all I have to say about that. And the dudes comment on pirates, dude some things are just not worth buying in some peoples eyes or they want to try something out before dishing out say 40-80 bucks on a game yes some go up very high due to being collectors editions... My personal feeling on it if you like the game, movie, software package ect, buy a copy and support a company for a job well done...

[galson]

Originally Posted by voxmortis

there is a certian thing out there for vista it is a dell oem modded installer that gets installed after vista is installed makes microsoft thinkl the comp is a dell oem thus allowing all updates, patches ect, but its very hard to get ahold of...

Actually it takes ~15 sec. of searching on net, but shhhhhh....

[Hard core Rikki]

Originally Posted by Galson

Actually it takes ~15 sec. of searching on net, but shhhhhh....

Saying "google is your friend" doesn't take 15 seconds