Microsoft Removes Windows Vista 'Kill Switch'

		Gamethreat » General » General Chat
Microsoft Removes Windows Vista 'Kill Switch'

General Chat General chat, but in a disciplined manner. No spam.

LinkBack

Thread Tools

12-05-2007, 12:35 AM

post #1 (permalink)

gamepin126

Senior Member
Retired Staff Member

Celestial Entity

Join Date: Oct 2004

Posts: 19,604

gamepin126 has a reputation beyond repute

Microsoft Removes Windows Vista 'Kill Switch'

Quote:

Microsoft on Tuesday said it will cease hobbling Windows Vista installations that fail the company's validation processes in its forthcoming Service Pack 1 update, scheduled for next year.

Currently, Microsoft penalizes Vista users that fail to activate their operating system software within 30 days, or three days after a major hardware configuration change, by restricting Vista to running in "out-of-grace reduced functionality mode." This denies access to games included in Window Vista and to premium features like Aero Glass, ReadyBoost, and BitLocker. It also limits the amount of time the user can remain logged in to one hour.

A more restrictive state, "non-genuine reduced functionality mode" may also be imposed if the Vista detects a blocked or counterfeit product key, or incorrect or modified activation binary files.

Microsoft characterized its decision as part of an effort to bolster its anti-piracy enforcement by disabling two types exploits used to bypass the Vista activation process. The company attributed the 5% growth of Windows desktop OEM revenue in the past quarter to declining piracy and noted that the piracy rate for Windows Vista is less than half of Windows XP.

"Although our overall strategy remains the same, with SP1 we're adjusting the customer experience that differentiates genuine from non-genuine systems in Windows Vista and later in Windows Server," said Michael Sievert, Corporate Vice President for Windows Product Marketing, in an interview published on Microsoft's site. "Users whose systems are identified as counterfeit will be presented with clear and recurring notices about the status of their system and how to get genuine. They won't lose access to functionality or features, but it will be very clear to them that their copy of Window Vista is not genuine and they need to take action."

But Microsoft's elimination of the so-called Vista "kill switch" also looks a lot like a retreat, particularly in light of the difficulties the company has experienced telling legitimate customers from illegitimate ones. Back in August, Microsoft erroneously forced many new Vista customers into reduced functionality mode when its servers began rejecting activation attempts as a result of human error.

Alex Kochis, senior product manager of Windows Genuine Advantage apologized for the mistake in a blog post, but the snafu prompted people to post comments like "Again, Microsoft is a master at shooting the customer in the foot."

Microsoft Removes Windows Vista 'Kill Switch' -- Windows Vista -- InformationWeek

Set a trashcan on fire and keep a bum warm for a night. Set the bum on fire, and keep him warm for the rest of his life.
--
If debugging is the process of removing bugs, then programming must be the process of putting them in. - Edsger Dijkstra

$gamepin126 15 0FF11|\|3$

Remove advertisements
Gamethreat Advertisement	Sponsored links

12-05-2007, 10:23 PM

post #2 (permalink)

Super Gold Member Prophet Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Grandma's basement Posts: 7,268	Now if they would just remove those gay "are you sure you want to do this" messages and Vista might actually be worth using.
$Super 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

12-05-2007, 10:43 PM

post #3 (permalink)

CrazyGerbilEater

Blessed

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: I...Dont...Know...

Posts: 2,196

CrazyGerbilEater is a jewel in the rough

Send a message via MSN to CrazyGerbilEater

Quote:

Originally Posted by super duper

Now if they would just remove those gay "are you sure you want to do this" messages and Vista might actually be worth using.

that and better compatibility still, but your right, that thing annoys the crap out of me whenever i use my f's computer.

do you want to play this disk
YES why the **** would i put it in the disk drive, if i didnt want to.
would you like to run this program
I DOUBLE CLICKED DIDNT I

turn it off TURN IT OFF!!!!!!

Woot

An open source rts engine with mods better than most paid for rts games. http://springrts.com/

$CrazyGerbilEater 15 0FF11|\|3$

12-05-2007, 10:48 PM

post #4 (permalink)

Tensaei Senior Member Zealot Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Pirate Cove Posts: 995	Learn to turn it off then. Turn Off or Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Windows Vista » My Digital Life (☞ﾟ∀ﾟ)☞☜(ﾟ∀ﾟ☜) RUN AWAY RUN AWAY RUN AWAY RUN AWAY RUN AWAY RUN AWAY RUN AWAY
$Tensaei 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

12-05-2007, 11:20 PM

post #5 (permalink)

CrazyGerbilEater Blessed Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: I...Dont...Know... Posts: 2,196	them doing it for me would be much better in my opinion. and now ill TURN IT OFF as in turning vista off, and turning xp on == win Woot An open source rts engine with mods better than most paid for rts games. http://springrts.com/
$CrazyGerbilEater 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

12-05-2007, 11:30 PM

post #6 (permalink)

BD-ICY Blessed Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Detroit, Michigan USA Posts: 1,977	Those annoying messages have saved my ass more than once from unwanted program DLs/Viruses. BD-ICY Seems that way. > Successfully injected Heroin.dll < Found my old account. ston3rpimp69: my mother told me id have my own personal ball-washer some day. im glad all that hard work paid off.
$BD-ICY 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

12-06-2007, 04:20 PM

post #7 (permalink)

NickF Do Not Return to Shelf Senior Member Gold Member Crusader Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ShopRite Posts: 3,799	And Who's fault was it for going on virus-ridden wesbites? Not theirs.
$NickF 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

Remove advertisements Sponsored links
Gamethreat Advertisement

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts BB code is On Smilies are On [IMG] code is On HTML code is Off Trackbacks are On Pingbacks are On Refbacks are On Forum Rules

Similar Threads

Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Useful Keyboard Shortcuts	lpxxfaintxx	Tips and Tricks	15	10-18-2006 11:45 PM
Useful Windows Software	Dan	Hardware and Software	12	12-28-2005 02:24 AM
Windows Vista Beta 1 Released to MSDN Subscribers	BloodyBlade	Hardware and Software	5	07-28-2005 04:54 PM
Windows Vista	IversonAli3	Hardware and Software	6	07-26-2005 02:54 AM

All times are GMT. The time now is 12:57 AM.

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.3.0