what exactly happens on non-activated or pirated vistas

[JustFYI ...]

... is written in this official knowledgebase article from Msft itself :

also good to know what might happen to you if these services are accidently
claiming you to use a pirated copy ( that happens with XPs WGA check not too
seldom... )

"The behavior of reduced functionality mode in Windows Vista"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925582/en-us

"[..] Vista may enter reduced functionality mode if one of the following
conditions is true:
You do not activate Windows Vista within the specified activation period.

You modify the computer hardware so that Windows Vista determines that it is
running on a different computer.[...] for original equipment manufacturer
(OEM) Windows Vista products, this reactivation grace period is three days.
For volume licensed Windows Vista products, this reactivation grace period
is 30 days.

[..] You are running a version of Windows Vista that the Windows Genuine
Advantage (WGA) service detects as a "non-genuine" version of Windows Vista.
[..]"

read on for full article ... http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925582/en-us

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

.. is written in this official knowledgebase article from Msft itself :

read on for full article ... http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925582/en-us

That's so strange. From a quick glance it seems that you have more
functionality available with Non-genuine reduced functionality mode than you
would if you have just not activated in time.

ss.

 

[Hillbilly]

Careful you don't get told about "quoting"web page content like someone else
did.
Seeing that there is no law against quoting then I will always qhote web
page content to help others

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

It is just a point of netiquette.

Careful you don't get told about "quoting"web page content like someone
else did.
Seeing that there is no law against quoting then I will always qhote web
page content to help others

.. is written in this official knowledgebase article from Msft itself :

also good to know what might happen to you if these services are
accidently claiming you to use a pirated copy ( that happens with XPs WGA
check not too seldom... )

"The behavior of reduced functionality mode in Windows Vista"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925582/en-us

"[..] Vista may enter reduced functionality mode if one of the following
conditions is true:
You do not activate Windows Vista within the specified activation period.

You modify the computer hardware so that Windows Vista determines that it
is running on a different computer.[...] for original equipment
manufacturer (OEM) Windows Vista products, this reactivation grace period
is three days. For volume licensed Windows Vista products, this
reactivation grace period is 30 days.

[..] You are running a version of Windows Vista that the Windows Genuine
Advantage (WGA) service detects as a "non-genuine" version of Windows
Vista. [..]"

read on for full article ... http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925582/en-us

 

[MicroFox]

linux

 

[Robert Firth]

A much better explaination is provided in the Windows Vista Product Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...a12-afe1-5b40b2ad3725&DisplayLang=en#filelist

Aero, Windows Update, Defender, and ReadyBoost require guinuine validation
to function.

An interesting section of the product guide involving two common scenarios:

"First, a user obtains a copy of Windows Vista from a street vendor or other
non-authorized source. To work around product activation, the copy of
Windows Vista comes with a hack that tampers with license files and bypasses
product activation. In this scenario, the SP Platform will detect that the
license files have been compromised and will set the system to a non-genuine
state. In that state, the user will have the non-genuine experience
described above. The user will be able to go online to learn more about how
the computer got into that state and learn about possible remedies if they
are a victim of piracy."

"A second scenario stems from experience with Windows XP in which Microsoft
learned that some range or set of keys will be abused or stolen and used for
piracy purposes. In many cases of piracy, an unknowing customer is sold a
copy of Windows Vista with one of these keys provided to activate that copy.
If the key is already blocked by Microsoft, the user will not be able to
activate the copy of Windows, and the system will be moved into reduced
functionality mode after 30 days. If the key has not yet been blocked by
Microsoft, the system can activate and the user can use the copy of Windows
Vista. However, if at some point the key were to be blocked and the user
attempted to access content or downloads that required validation, their key
would be identified as blocked, the system would be placed in a non-genuine
state, and the user would have the non-genuine experience outlined above. In
addition, the user might be asked to reactivate; failure to do so within the
30-day grace period would cause the system to be moved into reduced
functionality mode."

--
/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Robert Firth *
* Windows Vista x86 RTM *
* http://www.WinVistaInfo.org *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */

 

[Lang Murphy]

Is that anything like tourniquet? :-D

Lang

It is just a point of netiquette.

Careful you don't get told about "quoting"web page content like someone
else did.
Seeing that there is no law against quoting then I will always qhote web
page content to help others

.. is written in this official knowledgebase article from Msft itself :

also good to know what might happen to you if these services are
accidently claiming you to use a pirated copy ( that happens with XPs
WGA check not too seldom... )

"The behavior of reduced functionality mode in Windows Vista"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925582/en-us

"[..] Vista may enter reduced functionality mode if one of the
following conditions is true:
You do not activate Windows Vista within the specified activation
period.

You modify the computer hardware so that Windows Vista determines that
it is running on a different computer.[...] for original equipment
manufacturer (OEM) Windows Vista products, this reactivation grace
period is three days. For volume licensed Windows Vista products, this
reactivation grace period is 30 days.

[..] You are running a version of Windows Vista that the Windows Genuine
Advantage (WGA) service detects as a "non-genuine" version of Windows
Vista. [..]"

read on for full article ...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925582/en-us

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Croquette anyone?

Is that anything like tourniquet? :-D

Lang

It is just a point of netiquette.

Careful you don't get told about "quoting"web page content like someone
else did.
Seeing that there is no law against quoting then I will always qhote web
page content to help others
.. is written in this official knowledgebase article from Msft itself :

also good to know what might happen to you if these services are
accidently claiming you to use a pirated copy ( that happens with XPs
WGA check not too seldom... )

"The behavior of reduced functionality mode in Windows Vista"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925582/en-us

"[..] Vista may enter reduced functionality mode if one of the
following conditions is true:
You do not activate Windows Vista within the specified activation
period.

You modify the computer hardware so that Windows Vista determines that
it is running on a different computer.[...] for original equipment
manufacturer (OEM) Windows Vista products, this reactivation grace
period is three days. For volume licensed Windows Vista products, this
reactivation grace period is 30 days.

[..] You are running a version of Windows Vista that the Windows
Genuine Advantage (WGA) service detects as a "non-genuine" version of
Windows Vista. [..]"

read on for full article ...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925582/en-us

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The PG is a pretty good read, eh?