Tuesday, July 8th 2014
Microsoft to Revamp Activation System with Windows 9
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
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.
87 Comments on Microsoft to Revamp Activation System with Windows 9
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 $250 I would have paid for another year. I'll get on board with Windows 9 as long as I feel its worth it.
Managing Office 365 ProPlus installations:
blogs.technet.com/b/office_resource_kit/archive/2012/11/28/managing-office-365-proplus-installations-activating-deactivating-and-reactivating.aspx
I remember such claims for DRM management from Ubisoft being shot down in just two days.
Uncrackable.....nope. :D
Otherwise we will be paying for pretty much what everyone wanted in the desktop version of Windows 8/8.1 from the beginning. Your hate for Xbox One seems way out of line.
All. Day. Long.
Thanks M$ for causing huge head aches for your legit customers.
www.ubuntu.com/desktop
Server doesn't seem to give much of a shit about major network changes though. But that comes with the territory...
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$)
Second I have a HP laptop with an APU I have installed windows on a dozen times. Never had an issue. So..........yup.