microsoft deteting piracy?

Da_cOmRaDe_MiKe

hey just a quick question.
how do microsoft know if someone install's win xp home on 2 computers?

Zapho

They'd only know if you registered your copy of XP ,online, on both PCs (shouldn't have to register anyway).

Chalk

you have to activate xp, either online or over the phone

Zapho

not necessarily.....

Chalk

were not encouraging piracy are we...

Zapho

Of course not, but the original question was "How does microsoft detect piracy" and the answer is that they don't, as long as you don't register your copy.

Chalk

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation.mspx

the only way around would be to "crack" the software, yes?

Sherifu

NO.
"Customers who acquire licenses for most products through one of Microsoft's volume licensing programs will not be required to activate those licenses."

Chalk

why would he be worried pircy when installing 2 copies of xp if he has a volume license agreement?

Zapho

Very true. And I like the way you put crack in inverted comma's! If he wants to crack it let him off. He's not going to have Bill Gates showing up to his door with 2 FBI agents to confiscate his pc. There's plenty of cracks available, he'll just have to find them himself

koneko

Modified wrote:

NO.
"Customers who acquire licenses for most products through one of Microsoft's volume licensing programs will not be required to activate those licenses."

Err... if he had acquired a volume licence, he'd know about it. Assume he has a normal copy.

Legally (without cracking), you can't. You have to activate each copy if you're playing by the book and that means you can't activate it on two systems.

Sherifu

Chalk wrote:

why would he be worried pircy when installing 2 copies of xp if he has a volume license agreement?

i am just pointing out the statement below can be wrong

Chalk wrote:

the only way around would be to "crack" the software, yes?

smoke.me.a.kipper

if he has it cracked, can microsoft tell?

Zapho

The only way they can tell is if you use a microsoft online service on your pc, like auto-update, which checks your volumn license, but it will only do that if you try to install a service pack, it doesn't do it with normal upgrades. Also it only gives you a message on-screen saying there's an error with your license and service pack installation cannot continue. It doesn't actually notify microsoft.

CyberGhost

piracy makes baby billy cry.

Da_cOmRaDe_MiKe

ok lads, appreciate the help ! thanks a mill!

Capt'n Midnight

Modified wrote:

NO.
"Customers who acquire licenses for most products through one of Microsoft's volume licensing programs will not be required to activate those licenses."

You need to buy at least 5 full price licences to participate so not your average home user.

jessy

Da_cOmRaDe_MiKe wrote:

hey just a quick question.
how do microsoft know if someone install's win xp home on 2 computers?

Is this 2 desktops or a desktop and a laptop? I'm nearly sure that it’s legal to install a single licensed copy of XP on your Desktop and laptop.

Capt'n Midnight

jessy wrote:

Is this 2 desktops or a desktop and a laptop? I'm nearly sure that it’s legal to install a single licensed copy of XP on your Desktop and laptop.

I'm very sure this only applies to non-oem versions of microsoft office where the laptop belongs to the designated primary user of the desktop and only one if them is used at a time.
There are radio adds about the academic version of office - check the license
IIRC you have to uninstall it when you finish full time education, but you are allowed to install it on more than one pc in a household

SantaHoe

Just use opensource, problem solved

Da_cOmRaDe_MiKe

ok, at my parents house, whn i use to live there, i bought win xp home edition.
i installed it, and registered it...
now, i moved out, and bought my own p.c...
and now i want to install that version of windows on to that 1. but would microsoft cop on to it?
ive got auto updates turned off, and all that.
and no 1 will upgrade it, as the other people dont have admin rights to the p.c.

so im guessing they wont?

Chalk

youll still have to activate it in within 30 days
which means going online and registering your xp with microsft
if you dont do this windows xp will disable it self and youll have to ring to get the activation code

CyberGhost

I have windows xp pro, and I have it installed on 3 computers, you just ring MS free activation line, input the registration code that ms activation program gives you(it's always different) and the bot tells you the code that you have to enter, that's it! get updates and everything!

The_B_Man

yeah i thought when the screen comes up after u install, u just click "Phone Activation" or watever and then it just assumes u've registered! i never did any registerin!