Pirates Get Blacked Out Vista News Discuss Pirates Get Blacked Out in the Windows Vista forums; "Microsoft has just turned on Reduced Functionality mode, worldwide, and sent a letter to OEMs explaining the consequences of Vista piracy. These include a black screen after 1 hour ...

[Wiggles]

"Microsoft has just turned on Reduced Functionality mode, worldwide, and sent a letter to OEMs explaining the consequences of Vista piracy.

These include a black screen after 1 hour of browsing, no start menu or task bar, and no desktop. Using fear as a motivator, the email warns resellers to 'make sure your customers always get genuine Windows Vista preinstalled.'"


Personally, a good and fair way to get rid of the pirates.

I've got people at my school bragging about how they have managed to get a full working cracked Vista Ultimate, well now I can rub that in their faces!

[Vistanoob]

I say right on Microsoft!!!! Pirates should be made to pay, and I guess they will now eh?? One way or the other.

[felix8406]

Yes, you are right, we all pay one way or another. That was good news for Vista users in China though, as the price of Vista was drop to hopefully prevent people from buying illegal copies.

[Vistanoob]

Right on!!

[JoshW02@hotmail.co.uk]

Just turned on as far I as, I know it's been since day one *for home users anyway PS: Wiggles how old r u?

[Snuffy]

BSoD Takes On a Whole New Meaning
Today, September 11, 2007, 2 hours ago | Shane Pitman
The definition of the Blue Screen of Death acronym BSoD may soon be replaced by a more ominous meaning, Black Screen of Death. In an e-mail sent to Windows distributors a Microsoft representative laid out the details of what unlicensed Vista users can expect.

"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 non genuine 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 anti piracy initiative from Microsoft to your resellers -- note this function has only just been activated in Vista worldwide and therefore any issues with non genuine versions will start to arise from now onward."

While it isn't unusual for Microsoft to impede upon the functionality of unlicensed or falsely licensed copies of Windows, this seems to be a new direction in regards to their stance on warning users. Typically users of unauthorized copies of Windows have been alerted to the status of their software legitimacy via Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA). The new "Reduced Functionality" approach is certainly more aggressive, and according to the Microsoft representative, will reduce the functionality of an unauthorized Windows system to the point of being near useless until properly licensed.

News source: ComputerWorld
http://www.computerworld.com/action/...icleId=9035478

[Snuffy]

This was just sent to me via EMAIL .

Pinned: Microsoft: Vista's 'Black Screen of Death' Is a Hoax
Posted by Arneh on Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007, 10:22 pm

Many other news sites have just picked up the original article believing that it's legit. We have already updated our original post from last night and are posting the following to correct any disinformation out there.

Has Microsoft adopted an even tougher stance on piracy? According to recent e-mails warning of new, harsher anti-piracy measures in Windows Vista, that was believed to be the case.

Australian PC World printed an e-mail Tuesday it says was sent from a Microsoft representative to an unspecified large Vista OEM distributor. The e-mail describes a new initiative which renders computers running a pirated copy of Vista unusable by making the screen totally black.

Microsoft was quick to debunk this e-mail warning of a Black Screen of Death. A Microsoft representative told Wired News "the reporter received inaccurate information," and that the company has not rolled out any updates to Windows Vista's anti-piracy platform.

View Full Article: Compiler - Wired Blogs

http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/20...oft-vista.html

PS: All the Pirate site have many comments on They have not been effected
so the HOAX seems true..(I just left (reviewing) 5 major Pirate Sites, with NO reports BSOD.)

[JoshW02@hotmail.co.uk]

Why would someone make a hoax saying about a BSOD what is their to gain

[Snuffy]

Originally Posted by JoshW02@aol.com

Why would someone make a hoax saying about a BSOD what is their to gain

Why do people write program to HACK your computer?
Why do people steal your KEYS for your programs?
Why do people write Malware programs?
Why do people Kill ea other?
I'd guess to try and scare Pirates! Pirates are guys that wear Ear Rings!
I don't think he is scared.

[Vistanoob]

There really is some kind of reduced functionality mode, if copy does not pass WGA right? I know of someone with a pirated copy of XP and it has some countdown setting, to reduced functionality if not activated.
Of course how many pirates go to Windows Update?
So much easier to bite the bullet, fork over the cash and get updates etc with a clean conscience. (those that I know of can well afford it) Too bad the other was a hoax.