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Both legitimate and unlicensed users of Microsoft's XP operating system software will be able to download the Service Pack 2 security patch for free. Microsoft's increasing concern over information security has translated into its decision to bite the bullet and make its upcoming SP2 (Service Pack 2) security patch available to all users - including those using pirated copies of its Windows XP software.

"We haven't explicitly done anything to SP2 to exclude it from pirated copies," said Microsoft group product manager Barry Goffe. The United States-based executive was interviewed via telephone. This is unlike SP1 (Service Pack 1), which had features to prevent users with pirated copies from downloading it. In SP2's case, the mammoth 80MB to 250MB patch can be downloaded and installed on computers running both legitimate and pirated copies. Users can also request a free CD copy of SP2, although shipping charges could apply, something which the company has yet to finalise, said Mr Goffe.

"It was a tough choice, but we finally decided that even if someone has pirated copy of Windows, it is more important to keep him safe than it is to be concerned about the revenue issue," he added. He admitted, however, that it is more than altruism that helped Microsoft come to this decision.

Funny Picture

That is incredible. I have never even heard of Microsoft referring to a group of "illegal users" like they have their own rights. "It is important to keep the pirates safe and happy." Is this like needle exchanges for heroin addicts?

Maybe MS has finally understood that no matter what they do, someone will crack it somehow, so they might as well just not waste the man hours trying to secure a service pack. But why, if that is the case, admit it that way? Maybe they are trying to win favor with the 1337p1r8s for some unknown reason. Very interesting.

SP1 had security?

Administrative note - I find this topic so interesting I split it into its own thread.

Also on the ODK here.

Plus here is the full article.

... I'm working on part of SP2 right now.

Im running SP2 RC1 right now!

SP1 did look for the well known pirate keys, but thats about it for security.


Did you see in the screenshot that if you choose pirate, you have to enter your address.

... I didn't look at it due to my present location. Pfft! Like anyone is going to put any relevant information there. That's silly. Watch, they'll try to use it later, by suing everyone like that RIAA does.

That screen was a mockup joke. We all know that right?

But J3RK, you should see if you can get any inside info on why the decision was made. I imagine it has something to do with just getting SP2 on all desktops. Sure there are the security fixes, but there is also Media Player 9, a new Outlook Express and more. What are you working on?

The thing that is just so fishy about this is that they would announce it like that. Seems like such a publicity stunt. Why not just not put in any protection but not tell anyone. There must be some motive.

If they stopped pirates from using the update, they would all run linux instead. They would loose their market share.

Besides who's gonna report all the bugs, if all you have running sp2 is the people that are dumb enough to pay $100+ for an OS.

... was not made. It will not be available to pirate users. Just saw that on HardOCP. Oh well, that's what they said about everything else. I've actually got an XP disc (proper one) but I still use that volume distribution version because I don't have to activate it. So I have a license to use it, just not the exact copy that I'm using.

I have a legal version as well. I dont like the fact that my constant re-installing of windows would eventually run me out of licenses.

So i also use the volume edition.

... it easier to buy my games, and own a legal OS but use the non-legal one. I don't buy production software like imaging, audio, or video apps, because since I'm not making money off of them, I don't feel I should be paying what the people who are making money off of them do. Several hundred for a sequencer, and several thousand for imaging apps is ridiculous for an end-user. If I made money off of music or something, I'd go straight out and buy all the apps I used to make it. Since I use it all for just me though, it's like I don't even use it at all to anyone else.

excelent justification.

I consider it educational use, for training purposes.

... excellent short description

To tell you the truth I actually have a legal copy of XP as well. But the volume lic is easier. The ultimate crack it is.


http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1590320,00.asp
WOW!! Good to see the forces of good and evil are back in order. Everything was all out of whack there for a minute. The idea of MS making an announcement like that just didn't make any sense. But its all okay now.

I got SP2 RC2 Build 2149 installed. They removed the concurrent connections for RDP, which sucks, but i think i can get it back.

It does have Direct X 9.0c although this doc claims it will only have 9.0b

'SP2 Features'

I'm hassled almost daily to run the latest SP2. But by-GOD, my host runs SP1 and every one of the 200+ Windows servers in my lab that just by chance have XP loaded run SP1 ONLY. The other 200+ run Unix/Solaris 9....ooops!!! Did I say that??? Solaris 9 can't run XP SP2!! Why aren't these machines in the inventory??? OH!!! Because they don't exist!!! I get it now!!! Why?? Why??? *WHACK CHOKE COUGH GAG*

teh l)runken l2ikcsr0! ahs a legimatee compy of XP!!!! you bastareds!!! Damn this Frechs Le bleue absinthe doens;t tastae that great.

Well im not running a legitimate copy, and i installed sp2 fine.

SP2 installed fine, but going to windows update is a different story...

Well it appears SP2 is already been cracked, before it has even been released.

Full story here:

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=17010

Score one for the good guys! It is great to see everything is back to normal in the world of good vs evil.

Now that MS has switched to windows update V5, it now checks your product key. When i tried to get on it said cannot validate product key.

Well i got ahold of the SP2 keygen, and tada... windows update works again!

HEE HEE HEE!!!

Funny stuff. You're behind on your build though. By about 30 or so.

They have done somthing more with the anti-piracy?

Im only doing official relaese candidates.

Ahh, I see. No, I doubt they've changed anything as far as that goes. They've changes other things though.

BETA 1 - Build 2055 - Released 18th Dec. 2003
BETA 1 - Build 2082 - Released 24th Feb. 2004
RC1 - Build 2096 - Released 18th Mar. 2004
RC1 - Build 2120 - Released 1st May 2004 (By Mistake)
RC1 - Build 2126 - Released 13th May 2004 (Again... By Mistake)
Pre RC2 - Build 2138 - Released 2nd June 2004
Pre RC2 - Build 2142 - Released 2nd June 2004
RC2 - Build 2149 - Released 15th June 2004
RC2 - Build 2162 - Released 14th July 2004

Ok i got sp2 Build 2162 installed. I had some bad performance with the 2126 DX9C, playing UT04. So once you get SP2 you should see beter results.

That sucks that they decided to not put out DX9c seperately.

I imagine they will. They still have a DirectX site and all that with the current version.

So this is how i have to install windows.

• Install with a Volume edition generated key
  once windows is up change somthing in the registry
  switch to a second key wich doesnt seem to be valid
  Instead of retry, just close, then reboot.
  Run the program again, and it says already activated.
  Enyoy windows update.

Microsoft Corp. expects to finalize work on Service Pack 2 for Windows XP in the coming days. The much-anticipated security focused update should be available to users shortly after that, a company spokesman said Thursday.

Microsoft had hoped to wrap up work on Service Pack 2 (SP2) this week. The software maker planned to announce release to manufacturing, or RTM, of the code late Wednesday. However, the plans changed to ensure that the software meets quality standards.