One in five Windows installs not genuine

Author: Tim Smalley
Published: 24th January 2007
Comments (31) Stumble
Microsoft reckons that more than 22% of Windows installs are counterfeit.

Microsoft reckons that more than 22% of Windows installs are counterfeit.

Software giant Microsoft has disclosed that over one fifth of all Windows installations have been deemed non-genuine via the company's Windows Genuine Advantage anti-piracy programme.

WGA has been in the press for the wrong reasons ever since its launch in July 2005, but Microsoft claims that over 512 million users have attempted to validate their copy of Windows.

Of that number, over 22% of the validations have been non-genuine, while 56,000 people have reported counterfeit software. Reporting pirated versions of the operating system grants the customer a free genuine version of the operating system in return for providing information about where the bootlegged software was obtained.

Although the software giant claims that over 22% of validations have failed, WGA has come under attack after a large number of false positives were reported. In addition, it's safe to say that not every pirate uses Microsoft's Windows Update service because of WGA's introduction.

This obviously brings the actual numbers revealed by Microsoft into question, but it should still shed some light on a best-case scenario for the number of counterfeit Windows installs. To put this into perspective, the Business Software Alliance has reported that 35% of the world's software is pirated - Windows piracy may be as high as this, but it's not easy for the company to extract accurate data if a pirate opts out of Automatic Updates.

Discuss in the forums.
Quote DougEdey 24th January 2007, 08:43
Not surprising at all. Look at China's massive illegal software and piracy market.
Quote djellison 24th January 2007, 08:51
I figure 22% of my time is spent wondering why XP is being clunky, giving me grief or causing me technical issues - maybe it's the balance of nature for XP to be pirated to the tune of how much is can annoy people :)

At least it's cheap compared to Vista.

Doug
Quote r4tch3t 24th January 2007, 09:00
I am not surprised at this figure,
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
Not surprising at all. Look at China's massive illegal software and piracy market.
That is were the largest portion would be from. What percentage would it for the rest of the world?
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Article
Reporting pirated versions of the operating system grants the customer a free genuine version of the operating system in return for providing information about where the bootlegged software was obtained.
Totally untrue, my dad bought a computer which came with XP pro, and when he went to validate it, it came back counterfeit. Promptly rang M$ and told them everything. Their answer "for the low low price of $100 more than what it cost in the shop, we will validate yours for you"
He promptly told them to **** off and just went on without those precious updates.
Quote Emon 24th January 2007, 09:17
What about the people who have genuine copies obtained illegally? Corporate licensing coming back to bite them in the ass, now is it?

**Notice: This post does not imply that I may or may not have or had an illegal installation of a legitimate license that may or may not have been obtained through a person who may or may not be my brother who may or may not work at a university which may or may not be named CWRU.
Quote WhiskeyAlpha 24th January 2007, 09:25
Quote:
Originally Posted by Emon
What about the people who have genuine copies obtained illegally? Corporate licensing coming back to bite them in the ass, now is it?

**Notice: This post does not imply that I may or may not have or had an illegal installation of a legitimate license that may or may not have been obtained through a person who may or may not be my brother who may or may not work at a university which may or may not be named CWRU.

Wow, why don't you just phone Microsoft and give them his details.

You fallen out with your brother? lol :D

EDIT: On a side note, I run a genuine copy of XP pro obtained through MSDNAA. Out of curiosity though, is windows update (and WGA validation) the only way to obtain updates for XP? I know there are sites like this one that allow you to manually update but does it still depend on a WGA check? If not, how would this ever deter pirates?
Quote DougEdey 24th January 2007, 09:33
Corporate licensing keys are only legal for that company/license.

IF you're talking about the FCKGW then thats just stupid. MS have banned that for years.

If you obtain a Genuine Copy Illegally then how can it be Legal?
Quote oasked 24th January 2007, 09:47
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
IF you're talking about the FCKGW then thats just stupid. MS have banned that for years.

Yeah, thats so 2002. :p

I've got a legit copy of Windows XP Home, which was conveniently free from Uni.
I am tempted by Vista Home Premium though, I think I'll get it with my next upgrade. :)
Quote DougEdey 24th January 2007, 09:58
Vista Business is on MSDNAA
Quote WhiskeyAlpha 24th January 2007, 10:11
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
Vista Business is on MSDNAA

Doug, I have the Business version from MSDNAA but I'm yet to install it.

Do you know what restrictions are in place in terms of changing hardware (i.e. mobo) on the MSDNAA license fpr Vista Business?

I know with the OEM copy it's a bit of a no-go, with full retail you get like 10 validations or something so what's the deal here?
Quote chimaera 24th January 2007, 10:30
Is it bad that I honestly thought that 20% was lower than expected?
Quote DougEdey 24th January 2007, 10:38
Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiskeyAlpha
Do you know what restrictions are in place in terms of changing hardware (i.e. mobo) on the MSDNAA license fpr Vista Business?

I know with the OEM copy it's a bit of a no-go, with full retail you get like 10 validations or something so what's the deal here?

I've not changed any hardware, but I think it won't cause any problems, it's a specific MSDNAA keycode, so when you re-activate it shouldn't cause a problem.

I know this because there was a problem with our Universities MSDNAA account and my original key was rescinded temporarily untill the problem was sorted. I got a warning from Windows that a hardware change had occurred and Windows needed to be re-activated, it refused my original key (I didn't realise the problem with the Universities account originally) and I had 30 days to get a new one. I got an email from MSDNAA with the new one and there was an option to request a new key (IIRC) if you needed one. So it should be OK.
Quote WhiskeyAlpha 24th January 2007, 11:02
Cheers mate ;) ,

When I get home from uni today, I'll give it a whirl.
Quote mikeuk2004 24th January 2007, 13:49
With the price tag for an OS and the fact that every PC needs one and the fact that most people have a PC now and MS pushing for every home in the world to have one ,and that there is no real other choice. Is it realy that suprising that 1 in 5 are pirated.

I would expect there to be 1 legal Windows to 30 pirated.

Yes there Unix Linix and what have you but they are not compatible with 90% of the software and hardware out there like windows.
Quote ChromeX 24th January 2007, 14:07
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeuk2004
I would expect there to be 1 legal Windows to 30 pirated.

Yeah ditto, i'll be totally honest with you I don't know a single person who runs a legit copy of the OS. Now I don't think £50 for a copy of XP home is a bad deal its just that when its so easy to get a copy for free and theres no fear of retribution what ya gonna do?
Quote DXR_13KE 24th January 2007, 20:08
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChromeX
Yeah ditto, i'll be totally honest with you I don't know a single person who runs a legit copy of the OS. Now I don't think £50 for a copy of XP home is a bad deal its just that when its so easy to get a copy for free and theres no fear of retribution what ya gonna do?

i think i am the only person i know that has a legit copy of it.....
Quote wehopeuchoke 24th January 2007, 20:31
There is a workaround with windows server 2003 std that will allow WGA authentication all the time every time. If it can be done to their server software surely it has been done with XP?

I must admit I don't know anyone who has a legit copy either, unless it came with their pc as oem.

I don't use XP but would probably consider buying an OEM copy of vista as around £100 aint that bad for an os that should last a good few years + all the updates/service packs that will come FOC. However to limit the changes you can make on your hardware is a bad, bad move. Not much point buying the damned software if I'm guna have to run a crack when I change my hardware!

*oops old sig with a win xp machine, cant quite remember if that one was legal....* *fixed*
Quote oasked 24th January 2007, 21:46
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChromeX
Yeah ditto, i'll be totally honest with you I don't know a single person who runs a legit copy of the OS.

I'm guessing that most of those people have an old computer or built their own computer?

99% of users buy a box and it comes with Windows. Unless the store is particularly dodgy it will come with a legit copy.
Quote matt.slysnake 24th January 2007, 22:39
Years ago when i got my PC upgraded at a shop they put corporate winxp on my PC... ofc i didn't know anything about PC's then and i didn't even notice till a couple of years later :Z
Quote r4tch3t 25th January 2007, 02:18
Quote:
Originally Posted by DXR_13KE
i think i am the only person i know that has a legit copy of it.....
Heh, same here.
Quote Cthippo 25th January 2007, 02:24
Given what they make in margins, I can't say I feel bat at all about them being massively pirated. Despite having switched to Linux, I am sorely tempted to get a pirate copy of Vista just to feel like I'm shafting MS. ;)
Quote Generic42 25th January 2007, 02:42
I run a legit copy, got it for $63 so it wasn't so bad a price... still not something I'd to pay

Linux comes in handy in that aspect, it just really needs to become more supported
Quote ChromeX 25th January 2007, 03:53
Quote:
Originally Posted by oasked
I'm guessing that most of those people have an old computer or built their own computer?

Absolutely, I cant remember the last person who i know that bought a computer.
But I bet there'll come a time when the average bloke who buys his computer gets a virus and a format is needed.

Since a lot of these companies install the os for you but don't actually give you a hard copy they're screwed. And then its a case of installing a cracked copy that your techie-mate has. Now I know that most purchases probably say your entitled to a copy (in the small print somewhere) to be done by an engineer or some-such but who actually bothers going through all that hassle?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Generic42
Linux comes in handy in that aspect, it just really needs to become more supported
Yeah it does its a shame in a way, people wont use it without support (at least the support windows has) but developers dont usually bother because people dont use it.
Quote David_Fitzy 25th January 2007, 06:08
So enthusiasts are screwed?

I'm frequently formatting and reinstalling windows, either for a HDD upgrade or a general clean out and the want of that new OS smell. Tuff @#$% if you run a power rig and at least twice yearly upgrade your mobo/CPU.

Unless ultimate comes with unlimited re-validations (as enthusiasts would need) then M$ are really living up to the $ part of their name. Single copy for say 2-3 computers would be nice too (WHOO WHOO next stop fairyland :| )

I have a legit copy of xp home (came with my laptop) I run xp pro (which I will probably buy now that vista will start knocking prices down) (because I use a network where i don't want my shared folders accessable to anybody)
Quote DougEdey 25th January 2007, 07:17
Most people I know went legit when they went to uni because they didn't have to pay for it. Mainly due to our ages and jobs we couldn't afford £150 on an OS.
Quote cpemma 26th January 2007, 19:15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cthippo
...I am sorely tempted to get a pirate copy of Vista just to feel like I'm shafting MS. ;)
That argument always falls flat when you find the pirate gets all his software for free, with the possible exception of a game or two.

I bet the figure for Photoshop is 99 illegal in 100. :| And Dreamweaver.
Quote DivineSin 26th January 2007, 21:50
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpemma
That argument always falls flat when you find the pirate gets all his software for free, with the possible exception of a game or two.

I bet the figure for Photoshop is 99 illegal in 100. :| And Dreamweaver.

Wouldnt doubt it, those programs prices are outrageous.
Quote GiGo 27th January 2007, 14:06
Um.. Legit, think so, well maybe not, manily becasue I hate a validation process to any software. If they didnt have validation I would buy a copy for £50 purhaps.

Example:
Co-Pilot; I got this with a GPS unit I had a while ago, comes on a 1gb CD card. I recently got a new phone and it is a GPS unit aswell, so I had to re-install the program. Come to activate the software, it tells me that it's already activated, please de-activate the other version first. So, an email and 2 days later they let me activate it! After I explain that my old GPS unit went funny, and that my last desktop installed I re-formatted.

I got the job done but its hassle. I normally re-install windows twice a year, why have to ring up M$?????

Talking about update processes, Autopatcher does they job for me, just cant use Windows Media Player 10, oh boo-hoo, no bother there!

Regards
GiGo
Quote ikra 27th January 2007, 15:25
my laptop blew up.. used the os key for my new desktop instead... is that legal?
Quote XuhQshinR 29th January 2007, 05:03
Quote:
Originally Posted by ikra
my laptop blew up.. used the os key for my new desktop instead... is that legal?

Absolutely Not.... Blowing Up Laptops are strictly forbidden Therefore Illegal!
Quote DougEdey 29th January 2007, 07:04
ikra: That is not a legal transfer of the license. If the laptop is in warranty then you would get a new key, if not then you have to purchase a new unit.

Unless your license is a retail one, extremely unlikely.
Quote kergareth 29th January 2007, 13:40
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpemma
That argument always falls flat when you find the pirate gets all his software for free, with the possible exception of a game or two.

I bet the figure for Photoshop is 99 illegal in 100. :| And Dreamweaver.


I don't know... The amount of corporate bulk license isn't that insignificant. 20:1 perhaps
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