The price of a pirated copy of Windows?
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I have often wondered what the price tag is for running an ill-gotten operating system (like an illegal version of windows or what ever suits your fancy), especially for the non-tech savy. I understand that the upfront cost is very compelling (free) but what about all of those times that you have to send your computer into some 'guy' in his parents basement to fix your computer? How much will that cost you in the lifetime of the computer? Even at 20 dollars per 'fix', which I assume is a backup and reinstall of your stuff, it just doesn't seem to be worth the time and money, especially when you could just backup all of your stuff to cd/dvd/internal/external harddrive and do a clean install yourself. Not to mention that you probably can't run any of the updates for the OS leaving your computer wide open to attacks and/or little Johnny's spyware/cracks/viruses that are installed on your system to make it 'work'.
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I have often wondered what the price tag is for running an ill-gotten operating system (like an illegal version of windows or what ever suits your fancy), especially for the non-tech savy. I understand that the upfront cost is very compelling (free) but what about all of those times that you have to send your computer into some 'guy' in his parents basement to fix your computer? How much will that cost you in the lifetime of the computer? Even at 20 dollars per 'fix', which I assume is a backup and reinstall of your stuff, it just doesn't seem to be worth the time and money, especially when you could just backup all of your stuff to cd/dvd/internal/external harddrive and do a clean install yourself. Not to mention that you probably can't run any of the updates for the OS leaving your computer wide open to attacks and/or little Johnny's spyware/cracks/viruses that are installed on your system to make it 'work'.
Hm, I hear some false myths.. If the pirated copy is barred from updating, it's just broken. There are better ones. Of course you shouldn't be getting any pirated copy, but if you do anyway then at least get a Corporate edition with Volume License key that passes WGA validation. You can have it fixed the normal way, the repair guys don't care how your got your windows. In fact, you can even call Microsoft and tell them you lost your key, chances are they'll give you a new one (it's how 2 of my friends got their keys..) those keys are guaranteed to be clean. In short: same price as usual, minus the initial cost. And get XP. If it will fail the WGA validation some day, it won't die like Vista would.
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Hm, I hear some false myths.. If the pirated copy is barred from updating, it's just broken. There are better ones. Of course you shouldn't be getting any pirated copy, but if you do anyway then at least get a Corporate edition with Volume License key that passes WGA validation. You can have it fixed the normal way, the repair guys don't care how your got your windows. In fact, you can even call Microsoft and tell them you lost your key, chances are they'll give you a new one (it's how 2 of my friends got their keys..) those keys are guaranteed to be clean. In short: same price as usual, minus the initial cost. And get XP. If it will fail the WGA validation some day, it won't die like Vista would.
Ah, so the person who installed these versions of XP is either an evil genius to have installed one that doesn't allow for updating... or he is just dumb
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Hm, I hear some false myths.. If the pirated copy is barred from updating, it's just broken. There are better ones. Of course you shouldn't be getting any pirated copy, but if you do anyway then at least get a Corporate edition with Volume License key that passes WGA validation. You can have it fixed the normal way, the repair guys don't care how your got your windows. In fact, you can even call Microsoft and tell them you lost your key, chances are they'll give you a new one (it's how 2 of my friends got their keys..) those keys are guaranteed to be clean. In short: same price as usual, minus the initial cost. And get XP. If it will fail the WGA validation some day, it won't die like Vista would.
harold aptroot wrote:
If it will fail the WGA validation some day, it won't die like Vista would
After SP1, Vista doesn't "die" anymore from not being genuine. It simply nags you the same way XP does.
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I have often wondered what the price tag is for running an ill-gotten operating system (like an illegal version of windows or what ever suits your fancy), especially for the non-tech savy. I understand that the upfront cost is very compelling (free) but what about all of those times that you have to send your computer into some 'guy' in his parents basement to fix your computer? How much will that cost you in the lifetime of the computer? Even at 20 dollars per 'fix', which I assume is a backup and reinstall of your stuff, it just doesn't seem to be worth the time and money, especially when you could just backup all of your stuff to cd/dvd/internal/external harddrive and do a clean install yourself. Not to mention that you probably can't run any of the updates for the OS leaving your computer wide open to attacks and/or little Johnny's spyware/cracks/viruses that are installed on your system to make it 'work'.
I seriously doubt that any of the people here send their systems out to "a guy" to get "fixed". That means the cost to *us* is negligible. At the very worst, you wouldn't be able to get non-critical updates or service packs. If you're worried about it, format the drive and install linux.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001 -
I have often wondered what the price tag is for running an ill-gotten operating system (like an illegal version of windows or what ever suits your fancy), especially for the non-tech savy. I understand that the upfront cost is very compelling (free) but what about all of those times that you have to send your computer into some 'guy' in his parents basement to fix your computer? How much will that cost you in the lifetime of the computer? Even at 20 dollars per 'fix', which I assume is a backup and reinstall of your stuff, it just doesn't seem to be worth the time and money, especially when you could just backup all of your stuff to cd/dvd/internal/external harddrive and do a clean install yourself. Not to mention that you probably can't run any of the updates for the OS leaving your computer wide open to attacks and/or little Johnny's spyware/cracks/viruses that are installed on your system to make it 'work'.
The people who ask me to fix their systems don't know how to re-install Windows. Generally, they do have actual disks (generally OEM) and valid keys, although getting them to dig both out is generally a long and frustrating process. It doesn't matter; they're not asking me to fix things because they don't have a license to Windows anymore than they're loaded up on IE malware because they genuinely like IE - they just don't know any better. Heck... It's becoming more and more common to just see people throwing out / giving away their systems at the end of the year and buying new ones. It's very nearly cost-effective, especially if they can get a few bucks from someone else for their old box. And faster than doing a clean install. The only "home" users who care about the cost of Windows are those too strapped for cash to pay for it anyway. They're sure as hell not doing speculative estimates on the long-term cost of pirating software.
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You're right. These facts that you've laid out totally contradict the wild ramblings that I pulled off the back of cornflakes packets.
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I have often wondered what the price tag is for running an ill-gotten operating system (like an illegal version of windows or what ever suits your fancy), especially for the non-tech savy. I understand that the upfront cost is very compelling (free) but what about all of those times that you have to send your computer into some 'guy' in his parents basement to fix your computer? How much will that cost you in the lifetime of the computer? Even at 20 dollars per 'fix', which I assume is a backup and reinstall of your stuff, it just doesn't seem to be worth the time and money, especially when you could just backup all of your stuff to cd/dvd/internal/external harddrive and do a clean install yourself. Not to mention that you probably can't run any of the updates for the OS leaving your computer wide open to attacks and/or little Johnny's spyware/cracks/viruses that are installed on your system to make it 'work'.
Squirrel Hacker wrote:
what about all of those times that you have to send your computer into some 'guy' in his parents basement to fix your computer? How much will that cost you in the lifetime of the computer? Even at 20 dollars per 'fix'
As opposed to what, having a real license and going to "the other guys" with an actual store, who charge much less than $20 per fix?
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I have often wondered what the price tag is for running an ill-gotten operating system (like an illegal version of windows or what ever suits your fancy), especially for the non-tech savy. I understand that the upfront cost is very compelling (free) but what about all of those times that you have to send your computer into some 'guy' in his parents basement to fix your computer? How much will that cost you in the lifetime of the computer? Even at 20 dollars per 'fix', which I assume is a backup and reinstall of your stuff, it just doesn't seem to be worth the time and money, especially when you could just backup all of your stuff to cd/dvd/internal/external harddrive and do a clean install yourself. Not to mention that you probably can't run any of the updates for the OS leaving your computer wide open to attacks and/or little Johnny's spyware/cracks/viruses that are installed on your system to make it 'work'.
How does one hack a Squirrel?
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Ah, so the person who installed these versions of XP is either an evil genius to have installed one that doesn't allow for updating... or he is just dumb
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How does one hack a Squirrel?
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The people who ask me to fix their systems don't know how to re-install Windows. Generally, they do have actual disks (generally OEM) and valid keys, although getting them to dig both out is generally a long and frustrating process. It doesn't matter; they're not asking me to fix things because they don't have a license to Windows anymore than they're loaded up on IE malware because they genuinely like IE - they just don't know any better. Heck... It's becoming more and more common to just see people throwing out / giving away their systems at the end of the year and buying new ones. It's very nearly cost-effective, especially if they can get a few bucks from someone else for their old box. And faster than doing a clean install. The only "home" users who care about the cost of Windows are those too strapped for cash to pay for it anyway. They're sure as hell not doing speculative estimates on the long-term cost of pirating software.
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You're right. These facts that you've laid out totally contradict the wild ramblings that I pulled off the back of cornflakes packets.
Shog9 wrote:
The only "home" users who care about the cost of Windows are those too strapped for cash to pay for it anyway.
And they're really hurting Microsoft's revenue.
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I seriously doubt that any of the people here send their systems out to "a guy" to get "fixed". That means the cost to *us* is negligible. At the very worst, you wouldn't be able to get non-critical updates or service packs. If you're worried about it, format the drive and install linux.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001I have friends who do send their system out to some 'guy' who loads the system up with the most recent copies of the pirated versions of what ever they have on their machines... I find it kind of sad...
