Microsoft Looking to Tighten Up Windows 8 Activation Requirements

Microsoft’s activation service has always been somewhat controversial since its debut in Windows XP, but has turned out to be a necessary evil. The process started out being very forgiving, and to be fair, we have yet to hear of a single legitimate customer being turned away. Even when Microsoft was within its rights to deny activation as a result of terms in the EULA, a simple phone call was often all it took to resolve the dispute. Pirates have been taking advantage of Microsoft’s generous nature for years now, and new reports are suggesting they are looking to close down a few of the loop holes with Windows 8.

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Maximum PC | Microsoft Looking to Tighten Up Windows 8 Activation Requirements
 
Hi there

This just Wont' fly -- at least in Europe

What right does any O/S have of updating your BIOS.
I could boot on Monday say with W8 and on Tuesday with a version of Linux.

The O/S concerned has rights to ensure it's not being pirated etc -- but updating a computers BIOS --- no way jose

cheers
jimbo
 

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jimbo45, you're misinterpreting the information. MS doesn't update the BIOS, the necessary information is added by the OEM before the computer ships.

Ever since Vista came out, OEMs could register with MS to allow automatic activation without the user having to be online. The end user would just start the computer and be able to use it without restrictions like in good old Win 9x days. Pirates abused this by emulating dumped OEM-bioses to get Vista and 7 to boot up fully activated. All you need is a proper patcher that installs such a BIOS-emu and you're good to go. Since every BIOS uses the same serial, this is a relatively surefire way to pirate the OS and save yourself from updates that detect other forms of activation circumvention.

What MS wants, is to change the serial in every OEM-BIOS which is already present to be a unique one. All OEMs that registered with MS for this procedure have shipped their BIOSes with proper serials for years. This does not affect the end user, whether you plan to boot Windows, Linux or Mac OS... The serial is only queried when Vista/7/8 boots up, other operating systems ignore it.

People who assemble their own PCs aren't affected either, since they don't qualify for the automatic OEM activation procedure and thus have to rely on the other known activation methods.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Win8
Hi there
I have no problem with Ms doing whatever it likes to protect its "Intellectual copyrights" -- but the thought of it actually being able to update the BIOS in my computer is just horrific.

I don't regard Ms as "The Evil empire" and I know I can't do anything about corporations gathering all sorts of statistics -- but writing to MY OWN computer's BIOS is where I would draw the line.

Ms might want to change serial nr's or whatever - fine but do that by interrogating the INSTALLED software base.

No way on this planet do I need or want companies to be able to WRITE TO MY BIOS- I wouldn't even want them to be able to READ it either unless it was done via an OK API system.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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    1 X LG 40 inch TV
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    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
Hi there
I have no problem with Ms doing whatever it likes to protect its "Intellectual copyrights" -- but the thought of it actually being able to update the BIOS in my computer is just horrific.

I don't regard Ms as "The Evil empire" and I know I can't do anything about corporations gathering all sorts of statistics -- but writing to MY OWN computer's BIOS is where I would draw the line.

Ms might want to change serial nr's or whatever - fine but do that by interrogating the INSTALLED software base.

No way on this planet do I need or want companies to be able to WRITE TO MY BIOS- I wouldn't even want them to be able to READ it either unless it was done via an OK API system.

Cheers
jimbo

Again, you are reading it wrong. If you build your own computer and buy Windows 8, it has it's own serial key that you enter during install. Then, you activate it like you always did and Microsoft will not change/read/write your BIOS. They won't.

What they want to do is, pre-built computer wise, to require OEM that key that you get with the DVD within the BIOS. Then, if Windows 8 detects that in the BIOS, it will simply detect it's a legit OEM key and won't need further activation if a need to re-install is needed (I think).

Don't be paranoid.
 

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    Windows 7 Home Premium FR x64
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Yes Jimbo, please read the whole article and ask questions if needed before just flying off the handle half cocked. ;)
 

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    64-bit Windows 10
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    Custom self built
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    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
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    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
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    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
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    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
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    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Yeah, Windows 7 uses OA2.2 and activates offline against a SLIC table in the BIOS for OEM-SLP installs. Windows 8 will use OA3.0 (OEM Activation 3.0) for OEM-SLP installs and will activate online. The BIOS will still have a SLIC table but it will now be unique to each PC. You can't cheat by copying a SLIC table from one PC and adding it to the BIOS on another PC.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
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    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Sounds more stringent, and sounds like it should had been done A LOOOOONG time ago. Microsoft actually has been real generous with pirated copies and pirates. They even allowed pirated copies to still receive updates with 7 until and update flagged down all the pirated copies. I've heard that it's still easy to pirate 7, but doesn't sound at all easy with 8. Good work.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
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    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Sounds more stringent, and sounds like it should had been done A LOOOOONG time ago. Microsoft actually has been real generous with pirated copies and pirates. They even allowed pirated copies to still receive updates with 7 until and update flagged down all the pirated copies. I've heard that it's still easy to pirate 7, but doesn't sound at all easy with 8. Good work.

The somewhat easy piratability of Windows is one reason for its popularity. Try before you buy. The "generosity" of MS wrt piraccy has simply been marketing.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Compac Presario SR5518F
    CPU
    Dual Pentium E2180 (2 GHz)
    Motherboard
    MS-7525 (Boston)
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8500 GT
More than marketing.

It is the reason Windows is the most widely used.

Interesting strategic decision.

Time will tell if it is the right one.
 

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  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Sounds more stringent, and sounds like it should had been done A LOOOOONG time ago. Microsoft actually has been real generous with pirated copies and pirates. They even allowed pirated copies to still receive updates with 7 until and update flagged down all the pirated copies. I've heard that it's still easy to pirate 7, but doesn't sound at all easy with 8. Good work.

One way to do it was to add an OEM SLIC table to your BIOS and then USE the matching OEM Branded install media to do the install. I personally think that that is one of the reasons why you don't get OEM Branded Install media with a new PC anymore. It sounds like OA3.0 will detect that kind of mod.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Software can already rewrite your BIOS from inside the OS anyway.

MB BIOS updaters can be run from inside Windows.
I've used them and they work.

The latest Blackhat conference had a malware POC that could install itself in peripheral firmware.
It could rewrite the machine's BIOS whenever it "felt" like it.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), Linux Mint 18.3 MATE (64 bit)
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    n/a
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II x6 1055T, 2.8 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASRock 880GMH-LE/USB3
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333 G-Skill Ares F3-1333C9D-8GAO (4GB x 2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD6450
    Sound Card
    Realtek?
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S23B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital 1.5 TB (SATA), Western Digital 2 TB (SATA), Western Digital 3 TB (SATA)
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    Tower
    Mouse
    Wired Optical
    Other Info
    Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 17 MATE (64 bit) - 2014-05-17
    Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-11-13
    Ubuntu 10.04 (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-01-14
    RAM & Graphics Card Upgraded - 2013-01-13
    Monitor Upgraded - 2012-04-20
    System Upgraded - 2011-05-21, 2010-07-14
    HDD Upgraded - 2010-08-11, 2011-08-24,
Sounds more stringent, and sounds like it should had been done A LOOOOONG time ago. Microsoft actually has been real generous with pirated copies and pirates. They even allowed pirated copies to still receive updates with 7 until and update flagged down all the pirated copies. I've heard that it's still easy to pirate 7, but doesn't sound at all easy with 8. Good work.
Untitled.png
 

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Sounds more stringent, and sounds like it should had been done A LOOOOONG time ago. Microsoft actually has been real generous with pirated copies and pirates. They even allowed pirated copies to still receive updates with 7 until and update flagged down all the pirated copies. I've heard that it's still easy to pirate 7, but doesn't sound at all easy with 8. Good work.
Untitled.png
Snap son!
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
This has been the most exciting part.. The RTM leaking and getting it activated. I was very active on sevenforums (same username) when all the windows 7 leaks happened. That was fun. I found the whole windows 8 DP/CP/RP extremely boring and have only just installed 8 again in a dual boot setup. Microsoft say they will increase security but as we all know from the past, everything they ever make has been cracked. I will be honest though, I doubt I will buy or even use 8 unless I get a touch device, but I do prefer the RTM to the previous builds.
 

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This has been the most exciting part.. The RTM leaking and getting it activated.
SO, you are saying that pirating of the OS and getting it to work without having to pay for it is the most exciting part?

Microsoft say they will increase security but as we all know from the past, everything they ever make has been cracked.
Yeah, and because people crack it, even when it's going to be available for $40, means that MS keeps putting in measures to make life miserable for the rest of us who do pay for our software. Jeezus people, if you don't think Windows is worth $40, why pirate it? Use something else that is worth it to you.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
So what does this mean for people who have the Windows 8 Enterprise x64 version and they haven't installed it? You can install it, but will be nagged to activate constantly?
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    CPU
    Intel i7
    Memory
    Gigabyte P8Z68
Legimate Installs

Yeah, and because people crack it, even when it's going to be available for $40, means that MS keeps putting in measures to make life miserable for the rest of us who do pay for our software. Jeezus people, if you don't think Windows is worth $40, why pirate it? Use something else that is worth it to you.
It's $40 for people who have an existing legitimate Windows installations.

I haven't heard anything definitive about what everyone else is going to have pay to get it.

Will there even be boxed versions for the build-your-own-PC user?
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), Linux Mint 18.3 MATE (64 bit)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    n/a
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II x6 1055T, 2.8 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASRock 880GMH-LE/USB3
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333 G-Skill Ares F3-1333C9D-8GAO (4GB x 2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD6450
    Sound Card
    Realtek?
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S23B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital 1.5 TB (SATA), Western Digital 2 TB (SATA), Western Digital 3 TB (SATA)
    Case
    Tower
    Mouse
    Wired Optical
    Other Info
    Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 17 MATE (64 bit) - 2014-05-17
    Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-11-13
    Ubuntu 10.04 (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-01-14
    RAM & Graphics Card Upgraded - 2013-01-13
    Monitor Upgraded - 2012-04-20
    System Upgraded - 2011-05-21, 2010-07-14
    HDD Upgraded - 2010-08-11, 2011-08-24,
^ Most people do have previous installs on their computer, so that won't be too much of a problem.

I too haven't heard of a price yet for the home hobbyist builders. I've heard they are expected to purchase the "systems builder edition", which to me sounds like OEM and then technically you cannot move it to another computer. As a home hobbyist, I might instead really want to invest in a "retail" like copy that can be moved.

I've been extremely disappointed in Microsoft for not getting this information out to the public. They just keep trickling little bits here and there, but don't want to commit to anything. it's really quite annoying.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
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    Self-Built in July 2009
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    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
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    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
SO, you are saying that pirating of the OS and getting it to work without having to pay for it is the most exciting part?

You can hardly pirate something that has not been released or is impossible to buy. I will also never be using it as my main OS and more than likely uninstall after I have finished playing, just as I did with the previous builds, and if I do use it (unlikely) I will pay for it. But yes I find it exciting (not so much with windows 8) but I installed every single leak of windows 7 right up to the RTM and activated any copy possible, just like many others did on sevenforums. It does not make me a pirate. I sent a lot of feedback when testing the win7 leaks also.
 

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