AfterDawn: News

Update: Microsoft adds a caveat to the 'even pirates get free Windows 10' news

Yesterday, Windows VP Terry Myerson shocked the world when it announced that even Chinese pirates of the operating system would get a free upgrade to Windows 10 when it launches over the summer.

Since the initial announcement, Microsoft's PR team has kicked into high gear, adding some caveats to the news.



First, the offer is actually good for everyone around the world, not just China, so every market of pirates can get on the upgrade to Windows 10. Secondly, and admittedly a bit more confusingly, Microsoft just said this, as well:

The consumer free upgrade offer for Windows 10 applies to qualified new and existing devices running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1. Some editions are excluded from the consumer free upgrade--including Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise, and Windows RT/RT 8.1. Active Software Assurance customers in volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to other Windows 10 enterprise offerings.

We have always been committed to ensuring that customers have the best Windows experience possible. With Windows 10, although non-Genuine PCs may be able to upgrade to Windows 10, the upgrade will not change the genuine state of the license. Non-Genuine Windows is not published by Microsoft. It is not properly licensed, or supported by Microsoft or a trusted partner. If a device was considered non-genuine or mislicensed prior to the upgrade, that device will continue to be considered non-genuine or mislicensed after the upgrade. According to industry experts, use of pirated software, including Non-Genuine Windows, results in a higher risk of malware, fraud (identity theft, credit card theft, etc), public exposure of your personal information, and a higher risk for poor performance or feature malfunctions.

The big question after that press release is what kind of problems will non-genuine Windows 10 owners have when they upgrade? Will they receive full updates and patches?


Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Mar 2015 8:17

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• 18 comments

• Dragon3000

  I can't see this making a difference. There are theiving punks out there that will simply find a way to make sure they get their updates and patches on whatever version of windows 10 they get. And to think that they will probably have the audacity to moan about it too, when they paid nothing for it!
  

  ZX Spectrum 128K

  20.3.2015 09:15 #1

• Mysttic

  A corporation may steal from consumers or other competitors and that's okay. A single person pirates an over-priced OS, and are called punks. Priceless. News flash for you; everyone has someone in their life that steals / pirates unless they don't own a single piece of technology in their life. You may as well be calling your own family scum of the earth.

  20.3.2015 09:51 #2

• xbkrypt0n

  For more info on mislicensed Windows operating systems, visit Microsoft's information page at:
  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/mislicensed
  
  
  Most likely all pirated Windows 7 operating systems will report as being genuine by all checks Microsoft has to offer.
  
  E: For those that didn't get why the link doesn't work, it's because there's no such thing as a mislicensed operating system. I bet it's just something Microsoft is planning to use to deny pirates their promised free upgrade.

  20.3.2015 10:12 #3

• Dragon3000

  A corporation may steal from consumers or other competitors and that's okay.
  
  No, that's not okay either.
  
  You may as well be calling your own family scum of the earth.
  
  Scum of the earth may seem a little too harsh of a description, but yes, I've been trying to tell some members of my family to stop thieving too.
  
  Just buy it, if you can't afford it, TOUGH! I can't afford a Ferrari so does that mean I can go and take one? No, but if I really really wanted one I would try my hardest to save and get one....eventually.
  
  

  ZX Spectrum 128K

  20.3.2015 10:20 #4

• xbkrypt0n

  Ah, the old piracy = theft argument rises it's head again. Piracy is piracy, has nothing to do with stealing. It's wrong, yes, but don't confuse it to stealing. It's not 2005 anymore.

  20.3.2015 10:31 #5

• scorpNZ

  You are correct! all illegal copies of eligible windows will be flagged as genuine when they upgrade,they will also get all updates for the life of win 10,however you have to install within the year of the win 10 preview release to become legit.Dam i'm in,tho i'm not sure if i need to sign up,that'd mean they know who i am,next thing fbi choppers will be overhead of my mansion & cops busting down my door just like .com,he likes fame i don't,me wonders if he can spare a few dimes to help me fight the man.
  
  http://www.pcworld.com/article/2873214/...l#tk.nl_pcwbest
  
  http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/82410...oftware-pirates
  

  http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/
  http://www.realmodscene.com/
  
  

  20.3.2015 16:11 #6

• Mysttic

  Quote: A corporation may steal from consumers or other competitors and that's okay.
  
  No, that's not okay either.
  
  You may as well be calling your own family scum of the earth.
  
  Scum of the earth may seem a little too harsh of a description, but yes, I've been trying to tell some members of my family to stop thieving too.
  
  Just buy it, if you can't afford it, TOUGH! I can't afford a Ferrari so does that mean I can go and take one? No, but if I really really wanted one I would try my hardest to save and get one....eventually. My point was piracy isn't that big of a crime and in most cases actually benefits corporations to spread word of mouth easier, farther and faster. Those who like the product, usually end up buying it anyhow. This will go for the licensed version of Windows 10.
  
  If corporations want piracy to stop; stop with restrictive apps inside like DRM, lower cost for digital purchases for less than the MRSP considering there is no such thing as shelf space, shipping, stocking or warehousing fee's for digital content. It's bullshit just how much not just Windows cost, but any freaking content. It's why when I buy digitally it's through sales on Steam, PSN, XBL, and so forth. They want piracy to stop, then they can start by being reasonable on their sale price and equal it to the value it truly is.

  20.3.2015 19:10 #7

• xbkrypt0n

  Originally posted by Mysttic: lower cost for digital purchases for less than the MRSP considering there is no such thing as shelf space, shipping, stocking or warehousing fee's for digital content. Digital content is usually much more expensive than physical content. At launch they're the same price and then the physical copy quickly goes down in price while the digital content will stay just as expensive as when it was first made available. When the price finally does drop on the digital content, the physical media has lowered it's price significantly. These days I would be so bold to say that it's not about having enough places where you can purchase content online, it's that the pricing is not linked to the real world.
  
  Well, that was wildly off topic. I hope this (Windows 10 free for pirated versions) isn't some strange marketing scam by Microsoft, like offering pirates "free" Windows 10 for 60 days and then holding their computer hostage until they pay up for a genuine license. That mislicensed stuff they said makes it sound like they'll do just that.

  21.3.2015 03:21 #8

• scorpNZ

  Last time it was only china that got a free OS can't recall if it was win 7 or not or giving away copies of xp,frak that pissed me off,all is forgiven now..lol..tho to be honest it'll be wait & see as win 7 is pretty stable
  

  http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/
  http://www.realmodscene.com/
  
  

  21.3.2015 03:42 #9

• hearme0

  Originally posted by Mysttic: A corporation may steal from consumers or other competitors and that's okay. A single person pirates an over-priced OS, and are called punks. Priceless. News flash for you; everyone has someone in their life that steals / pirates unless they don't own a single piece of technology in their life. You may as well be calling your own family scum of the earth.
  
  First off, who are you to say the OS is "overpriced"?? 100 bucks isn't bad for several years of use and I don't really recall MS ever "stealing" from anyone. Your mentality is along the lines of a rampant leeching pirate that says "Hollywood produces crap therefore, I'm not gonna pay for anything and I will download it illicitly." yet, you like the "crap" well enough to acquire it one way or another.
  
  This my friend is a schlomo mentality.
  
  
  
  
  As for non-genuine Win 7 updating to non-genuine Win 10, GOOD!
  
  Anyone that actually jacks an OS is a complete and total LOSER and a thief and deserves ALL ill will that begets them from doing so. Apps, programs, music, movies are one thing but your core OS should be legit.
  
  This can be likened to stealing a car but paying for gas to drive every day. RETARDED!

  21.3.2015 10:08 #10

• hearme0

  Originally posted by scorpNZ: You are correct! all illegal copies of eligible windows will be flagged as genuine when they upgrade,they will also get all updates for the life of win 10,however you have to install within the year of the win 10 preview release to become legit.Dam i'm in,tho i'm not sure if i need to sign up,that'd mean they know who i am,next thing fbi choppers will be overhead of my mansion & cops busting down my door just like .com,he likes fame i don't,me wonders if he can spare a few dimes to help me fight the man.
  
  http://www.pcworld.com/article/2873214/...l#tk.nl_pcwbest
  
  http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/82410...oftware-pirates
  
  
  WOW! Your statement is made with absolute conviction!!!
  
  And we are to put stock in your nonsense comment why??????????
  
  Because you sited similar articles from 2 different sources that are more reliable than what MICROSOFT has said and this has merit how??????
  
  Perhaps PCWorld.com and theverge.com have more info and insight into Microsoft's business and daily workings and know more than those that work for/at MS??????
  
  
  This is no different than me passing on to others that your claims are factual and legit. THEY AREN'T!
  
  You're an AD "addict" and you should know better!
  
  
  
  Point being, STOP YOUR PROPAGANDA and passing your opinion because like A-holes, it stinks!

  21.3.2015 10:16 #11

• xbkrypt0n

  Originally posted by hearme0: you like the "crap" well enough to acquire it one way or another. Most stuff people pirate, they wouldn't acquire if it wasn't available for free as an illegal copy.
  Originally posted by hearme0: As for non-genuine Win 7 updating to non-genuine Win 10, GOOD! This isn't what the news item is about. There has never been an issue with upgrading a non-genuine Windows to a newer version.
  Originally posted by hearme0: This can be likened to stealing a car It can't be "likened" to stealing because it is not stealing. Stealing is always against the law, but pirating eg. an operating system for personal use or downloading a music track from a youtube video, not so much. Both are wrong, but they're not illegal in most countries.
  
  Also, please use the edit button if you're the last poster :)

  21.3.2015 10:31 #12

• Mysttic

  Ah hearme0 - your rants never stop being entertaining. You assume the world is only black and white, when there is in fact shades of gray.
  
  Now as for things MS stolen, I'll leave it to you to look up Patent cases MS lost. Oh, but let me guess, that's not the same as stealing but piracy is... As always Hearme you are the hypocrite.

  21.3.2015 15:57 #13

• ddp

  2nd that motion about Hearme being a hypocrite.
  

  21.3.2015 22:48 #14

• scorpNZ

  Absolute conviction & PROPAGANDA...lmao..
  
  edit:forum title is irrelevant duh!
  

  http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/
  http://www.realmodscene.com/
  
  

  22.3.2015 13:17 #15

• xboxdvl2

  i'm assuming microsoft don't care how much windows 10 makes they just want as many pcs as possible using it.
  
  piracy isnt theft, copying something and stealing are 2 different things.
  piracy = cloning,
  theft = taking an item without permission.
  
  owning something and owning the rights are blurred areas, i pay $30 for a cd i won the cd and should own all the contents on that cd to do freely what i want with but due to laws & legal paperwork the company owns the music rights,even when i have paid for the cd.same principal on other media,products and content.
  
  families arn't perfect ( we accept the faults cause they are family) ,humans are the most destructive things on the planet, we are greedy,destructive,dominating & put our personal wealth & greed before that of the the world.
  dig around enough you will find skeletons everywhere.
  
  

  custom built gaming pc from early 2010,ps2 with 15 games all original,ps3 500gbs with 5 games all original,yamaha amp and 5.1channel surround sound speakers,46inch sony lcd smart tv.

  23.3.2015 15:03 #16

• xbkrypt0n

  Just remembered that Microsoft offered Windows 8 similarly "for free" during it's official launch, although accidentally, because they offered a free Media Center upgrade key for the operating system. Only problem was that everyone could request a key and illegal users could use that free Media Center upgrade key to activate their illegal operating systems. It was only for like a week, but many pirates got a free genuine copy of Windows 8 that way.

  23.3.2015 15:44 #17

• DXR88

  if your using Winloader, MS will be none the wiser. I've been Getting Windows 7 updates for years and have passed all validation checks so far even the more invasive ones.
  
  inb4 some one calls me a Scumbag punk.(you might hurt my feelings....NOT!)i actually pirated Windows 7 because Microsoft owed me a half way decent operating system after that crashing Buggy ass nightmare they called Vista...and i wasn't about to wait 5 years for them to fix it.
  
  I will not be testing Microshafts Bait&Hook program, in 40 years they've Never EVER! given anything away for free. i for one do not believe there going to start now.
  

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  24.3.2015 14:21 #18