Tuesday, July 8th 2014

Microsoft to Revamp Activation System with Windows 9

by
btarunr
 Discuss (87 Comments)
Microsoft is expected to introduce a radical new software activation system with its next major release of Windows, in a bid to stem piracy. According to BetaNews, citing a Russian source with a reasonably good track-record in leaking stuff out of Redmond, the company is planning to do away with software keys, 16-character alphanumeric passwords unique to each copy of the software, which let you prove the validity of your purchase, and unlock the software. The next Windows will use a system in which having a Microsoft Store account - which isn't necessarily the same as a Microsoft Account - is mandatory, and acquiring machine-specific images of the Windows installation disc from the store.

The way we understand it, it works like this. After paying for your license while logged into the Microsoft Store, you're made to download a generic install disc image. After its installation, your machine's details (usually just motherboard-related details) are logged with Microsoft, and the software stays activated on your machine. When you need to install your OS on another machine, you untie your current machine from your licence online, and install your software on the new machine. The software will stop working on the older machine, ensuring that only one single-user license is running on a machine at a given time. The concept can be suitably adapted for 3-user and 5-user family licenses.

The same source also goes on to claim that Microsoft's removal of a Start Menu continues to be unpopular, and that its next Windows release - the so called Windows 9 - could bring a highly functional Start Menu back. Microsoft could launch a gargantuan marketing campaign to make sure people are motivated to upgrade from older Windows versions, because they get their Start Menu back. Microsoft could begin talking Windows 9 this fall, with early public and semi-public, pre-retail versions of the OS being circulated.
Source: BetaNews

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87 Comments on Microsoft to Revamp Activation System with Windows 9

#26
TRWOV
RCoonI have an Office 365 license for Office Pro that can have 3 users on it. I used it 3 times, it derped out after I had to format my machine, and reinstall everything. Obviously office said it couldn't activate, asked me to call the number. I called it, put in the 32 digit install code, it still said it couldn't activate, and so it would put me through to some human to help me activate it. They guy on the other end of the phone said it wouldn't activate, I'd reached my limit, and hung up.

Feels good to pay for Office Pro and be told I can't use it after 3 reinstalls. The issue is not tech savvy people being lazy, the issue resides with M$ and their activation hoops. I'm out of pocket, therefore I have to pirate my Office software so that I can use what I've paid for.
Why don't you de-authorize your old PC from your account? :confused: I can log into my account from any PC and de-authorize any PC that I have Office installed on.

Posted on Reply
#27
RCoon
TRWOVWhy don't you de-authorize your old PC from your account? :confused: I can log into my account from any PC and de-authorize any PC that I have Office installed on.
The old PC is the same PC. It's been formatted 3 times, twice down to hardware failure, once down to me raging at something or other.
Posted on Reply
#28
TRWOV
Your account should show three entries then. Just de-authorize all of them. :confused:
Posted on Reply
#29
RCoon
TRWOVYour account should show three entries then. Just de-authorize all of them. :confused:
There is no such option on my Microsoft HUP account page, only download options and order details.
Posted on Reply
#30
Disparia
I'll keep my hopes up that it's not a complex mess. I know, I look like the stupid one for saying that, not Microsoft which probably won't reach my expectations :banghead:

Was already doing the subscription thing essentially with TechNet until that program was canceled. Did it force me into buying Windows 8? No, I kept my copies of Windows 7 and they lost the $250 I would have paid for another year. I'll get on board with Windows 9 as long as I feel its worth it.
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#31
Ahhzz
Same here. I've got legit licenses of 7 Ult and Pro, nothing for Win8 except my fiancee's laptop. Have no intention of moving to 8 at all on anything I use. Getting 9 will depend on usefulness. I passed on Vista because of its many issues, and lack of serious value, except for one machine at work to make sure I could find something if a client had issues. Kept a TechNet until they cancelled it. I'll do the same thing I've always done. If it's worth it to upgrade, they'll get a license from me, and then I'll make it work the way I need it to.
Posted on Reply
#34
FX-GMC
RCoonIt's Office Pro Plus, and no, I do not have that option on my account.
Do you have an associated Office 365 Exchange Account? If I sign into 365 Outlook Web Access and click the gear > Office 365 settings I can see the software section references in the below article. You should be able to deactivate there as well.


Managing Office 365 ProPlus installations:
blogs.technet.com/b/office_resource_kit/archive/2012/11/28/managing-office-365-proplus-installations-activating-deactivating-and-reactivating.aspx
Posted on Reply
#35
Deadlyraver
I cannot wait for pirates to "mingle" with the activation system. It is gonna be priceless if such a product was released and cracked in a short period of time.

I remember such claims for DRM management from Ubisoft being shot down in just two days.

Uncrackable.....nope. :D
Posted on Reply
#37
Ahhzz
Scrizzthis reeks of FUD
I would disagree... this reeks of M$. This is the same drastic measure that they took when moving to activation on XP. While I do understand this is the Internet, this would not surprise me in the least. Look at the Xcock One: that was the precursor. M$ attempts yet another method to lock down piracy, inconveniencing their legit users in the process? Completely legit.
Posted on Reply
#38
MxPhenom 216
ASIC Engineer
RCoonSo nobody will bother getting Windows 9? Instead they'll just pay for cheap 7 or 8 keys, because that OS is perfectly serviceable for the near future.

Or at least they'll do that for the first week, until some crack scene group comes in and wipes the floor with microsofts activation system and entirely undermines all their effort. M$ should just stop bothering to waste time and money on that stuff. Pirates are going to pirate something in any way that they can, making activation a little harder isn't going to stop that. capitalise on paying customers that are going to pay and make their lives easier.
Yeah, I dont see why Microsoft is rushing to release Windows 9. Just give us Windows 8.1 Update 2 that has the option to have the tradition start menu back.

Otherwise we will be paying for pretty much what everyone wanted in the desktop version of Windows 8/8.1 from the beginning.
AhhzzI would disagree... this reeks of M$. This is the same drastic measure that they took when moving to activation on XP. While I do understand this is the Internet, this would not surprise me in the least. Look at the Xcock One: that was the precursor. M$ attempts yet another method to lock down piracy, inconveniencing their legit users in the process? Completely legit.
Your hate for Xbox One seems way out of line.
Posted on Reply
#39
Roel
Because they make more money selling Windows 9 than when they would provide it as free update.
Posted on Reply
#40
Ahhzz
RoelBecause they make more money selling Windows 9 than when they would provide it as free update.
This.
All. Day. Long.
Posted on Reply
#41
dogchainx
Great. And I was so looking forward to what Windows 9 had to offer.

Thanks M$ for causing huge head aches for your legit customers.
Posted on Reply
#43
remixedcat
MusselsSo in other words, they've made it more annoying for end users, to make it more likely they'll just pirate it.


got it.

(i've got legit windows 7 and 8.1 and i've had to crack over the top of both, since they crack the megashits about me changing hardware. my windows 7 laptop deactivated itself because drivers changed the name the APU reported itself to windows device manager, so it assumed i'd pirated windows to another laptop)
I hope it won't flip it's shit when I upgrade the wireless (in my laptop)! I've had that happen to an HP desktop before! All I did was change the wireless (PCI-E) to something else and it triggered it!

Server doesn't seem to give much of a shit about major network changes though. But that comes with the territory...
Posted on Reply
#44
Bansaku
What I read here is Micro$ost's Death Knel. :clap:
Posted on Reply
#45
stinger608
Dedicated TPU Cruncher & Folder
suraswamiThis ?

www.ubuntu.com/desktop
Yes, if the major game developers would work on perfecting gaming with Linux; probably tens of millions would jump on the Ubuntu wagon!
Posted on Reply
#46
Relayer
TheMailMan78I would call them back and get a manager. I've installed 360 about a dozen times now without an issue.


I'm willing to bet you have pirated software on your PC.
Not good to accuse people when you have no evidence.
Musselsthat laptops running the genuine OS it came with, and has nothing but teamspeak, minecraft, starcraft II and MPC-HC installed. MS just really, really hate that AMD changed the name of the GPU in a driver rebadge.
Posted on Reply
#47
linoliveira
RCoonI'm out of pocket, therefore I have to pirate my Office software so that I can use what I've paid for.
You sir made my day.
suraswamiThis ?

www.ubuntu.com/desktop
THIS!
I would totally love to migrate from windows to Ubuntu... but no one wants to support gaming on that, all good titles stuck in freaking .NET that are a pain to port properly to linux based systems. And even if you make it, then some update comes, and it starts all over again...
Got done with that a few year ago and went back to W7 (yes, it is genuine! I got it free from the university partnership with M$)
Posted on Reply
#48
Unregistered
I bought a retail yes retail windows 8 pro key for £25 so why pirate it.
#49
TheMailMan78
Big Member
Musselseverytime i install or update my graphics driver, i have to do it again. every time the time and date resets, i have to do it again.


i'm not saying piracy is the answer - i'm saying microsoft have serious flaws with their current system, and they need to fix that before making it even more restrictive.
RelayerNot good to accuse people when you have no evidence.
First off I know Mussels. He's a pirating scallywag and proud of it. I didn't accuse him. I said I was willing to bet knowing his capt. hook ass's history on this forum.

Second I have a HP laptop with an APU I have installed windows on a dozen times. Never had an issue. So..........yup.
Posted on Reply
#50
stinger608
Dedicated TPU Cruncher & Folder
Plus, LOL, @Relayer, you would have to know @TheMailMan78 to realize how he gives other members crap all the time. :laugh:
Posted on Reply
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