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Pirated Windows XP fades to black
Microsoft has announced a significant update to its Windows Genuine Advantage system. In future users of pirated copies Windows XP Professional - which, it says, is the version most commonly stolen - will find that their Windows desktop has been replaced by a plain black screen. In addition, a translucent message will display in the bottom-right hand corner, warning that the copy of Windows "did not pass genuine Windows validation":
Users will be able to replace the desktop wallpaper if they choose, but after one hour it will change back to the black screen. The notifications produced by previous versions of WGA, which pop up from the system tray, will continue to appear.
The new notification system mirrors the one used in Windows Vista, but with one crucial difference. A Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed to Zdnet that the new WGA system for XP Professional does not include the "kill switch" that severely limited the abilities of non-validated copies of pre-SP1 Windows Vista.
More information on the WGA blog.
Users will be able to replace the desktop wallpaper if they choose, but after one hour it will change back to the black screen. The notifications produced by previous versions of WGA, which pop up from the system tray, will continue to appear.The new notification system mirrors the one used in Windows Vista, but with one crucial difference. A Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed to Zdnet that the new WGA system for XP Professional does not include the "kill switch" that severely limited the abilities of non-validated copies of pre-SP1 Windows Vista.
More information on the WGA blog.
Pirated Windows XP fades to black - Mmmm..!!
Does it show a skull & crossbones in white..??
posted-by David Elliott | August 28, 2008 9:50 PM
So what happens to those of us who have second hand computers and don't know the origin of the software. Still many computers are sold with op systems.
Perhaps microsoft should consider dropping the price of their software to bring it within reach of most users not just those who can afford it!
posted-by Bob | August 29, 2008 5:42 PM
Microsoft should sell the operating system without any rubish,like: media player, movie maker, photo gallery, windows calender, windows contacts, internet explorer, windows fax and scan, windows messenger, and windows meeting space. There are sooooooooo many better products on the market.
posted-by Marcel Ledermann | August 30, 2008 3:15 PM
Microsoft should sell the operating system without any rubish,like: media player, movie maker, photo gallery, windows calender, windows contacts, internet explorer, windows fax and scan, windows messenger, and windows meeting space. There are sooooooooo many better products on the market.
posted-by Marcel Ledermann | August 30, 2008 3:16 PM
Ah Microsux, blue screen of death one day, black screen the next.
What happened? I think I killed it.
Naah, it comes like that normally.
posted-by Rex Alfie Lee | August 30, 2008 10:01 PM
kill all pirated WinXP
posted-by Lance | September 3, 2008 6:57 AM
No, Kill Windows
posted-by linx | September 3, 2008 7:47 AM
I've found that pirated copies have saved me in the past... but you don't have to do a Windows update. If your copy of XP is working fine without an update then why bother?
posted-by Omar Ebrahim | September 23, 2008 10:30 AM
ask google to develop operating system for free.
posted-by samantha | September 25, 2008 9:26 AM
I suggest that icons on the Desktop are copied or sent to Quick Launch, adjacent to the START button. I already have done that. One can live with a black desktop, as long as the rest of the system works.
Find the Quick Launch folder at: Local Disk / Documents and Settings / "Your" file / Application Data / Microsoft / Internet Explorer / Quick Launch.
Also, right click on the bottom toolbar, click on Toolbars and place a tick at Quick Launch.
Once you have done all that you will have no more need for the Desktop.
posted-by Optimist | October 1, 2008 11:35 AM
Hahaha. Google making a free OS.
But seriously, Microsoft is being a *****
Do you honestly think we'll buy expensive OSs like yours?
Think about it.
Windows Media Player
VS
Winamp
Linux
VS
Windows
Windows Calender
VS
A Notebook (>_>)
I mean, the only thing I can think of that's good is that it's compatible with most programs, but that's it. That's just it.
posted-by ddrsensation | October 20, 2008 5:03 AM
did microsoft will block our pc when had detected we used pirated windows??
posted-by aniff | October 27, 2008 4:40 PM
They start banning computers i will call microsoft my self and tell them me and my company will start to use linux cause you have no right to do so cause i do have a legally windows but if they make a mistake like bannin people on xbox360 for no damn reason at all that will make me wanna sue them...
posted-by fearful | November 20, 2008 2:54 PM
I updated my XP to see if my XP crack program worked. I got the black screen and then used the program to alter the serial number. Happy to find out that it accepts my fake copy as genuine and also checked the Microsoft website to make sure. Is that the best they can come up with? Boring and a waste of 10 minutes!
posted-by BlackDogg | November 21, 2008 9:36 AM
Fade to black is ironic.
Just torrent a copy of XP Black Edition, it passes the validation test.
posted-by Jimbo | December 14, 2008 4:59 PM
think about it this way you can spend over 200$ for a desktop backround.
posted-by cactusfrog | March 3, 2009 1:06 AM
One thing is for sure, linux O.S. an mac computers are being more and more popular. Really, windows is the only o.s. that can damage you hardware such as hard drives, etc. If people could bother to learn a new os from the start, ubuntu linux (i love it) they would find out that it is more reliable, flexible, usefull and more powerfull. Even then, one can just have windows and multiple other o.s. in other partitions. microsoft should learn the meaning of the words "stability", "flexibility", and "badget"
posted-by Dev_Null | April 14, 2009 8:16 AM