Vista "Kill Switch" Eliminated in SP1

Tue Dec 4, 2007 11:55AM EST

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Before its release, Vista earned some wallops for its inclusion of a "kill switch" feature that would cause rebooting in the middle of your work and other nefarious features, if Microsoft deemed you were using pirated software. Microsoft eventually trimmed back the kill switch's awfulness, but a version of it ended up in the final product: If Vista determines your license key isn't genuine, it will immediately drop into a "limited functionality mode" and bombard you with "you're a criminal" messages.

Now the good news: Bowing to consumer pressure, Microsoft is yanking the kill switch from Vista when Service Pack 1 arrives next year, or at least toning it down. Systems deemed counterfeit will still get the pop-up messages, but reduced functionality mode is headed out the door. That's great news: In fact, I've been wrestling with a Vista PC stuck in reduced functionality mode for days... a brand-new PC straight out of the box.

Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA), the tool Windows uses to determine if software is legitimate, has had a series of setbacks throughout 2006 and 2007.

Rest assured, Microsoft is still clinging to anti-piracy technologies. Vista will still require product activation and periodic validation from the mothership. As Microsoft itself says, "It's worth re-emphasizing that our fundamental strategy has not changed."

LINK: 'Kill switch' dropped from Vista

Comments on Vista "Kill Switch" Eliminated in SP1

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  • 26 Posted by cbchome@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've had XP, now I have Vista. Both have worked for me. It's not always the computers fault.

  • 27 Posted by phillipprichard on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    prp dos was the first that i have used vista is much easyer to us much of vista problemsisits updates dont allow auto updates,example nvdida 6150le updateis bad check for info about update internet

  • 28 Posted by phillipprichard on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    microsoft is trying to stop pirateing it is posible that the computers are knockoffs that have pirated microsoft programs this where you complain to the better busniess bureau and the store you purchased computer

  • 29 Posted by sn0w60ard3r on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    ripley2000_es purchase a computer online and you can request XP with it. I know Dell & Gateway will do it.

  • 30 Posted by rilott on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    Who deserves to be the richest man in the world? Bill Gates has the 'honor' of being world's richest man, but would you vote for him if given a choice? If anyone drove an automobile that could suddenly announce "system error" and stop where ever it happened to be, we would bring war criminal charges or worse against the company that made such a car. Or, suppose you came home to a rancid, foul smell after vacation, and your refrigerator said "system has been automatically shut down; contact your system administrator" there would be lawsuits by the millions. Likewise, if your washing machine washed everything in pure hot-water because of a software "bug", you and every other owner of that machine would be demanding refunds, claims for shrunken, ruined clothes, and all other kinds of damages. I say we stop being sheep and start a campaign to give the title of 'richest man in the world" to someone who makes a worthy product or service. Will any of you sheep step forward??

  • 31 Posted by jumpingjanice on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    Maybe MS dropped the kill switch in Vista, but that doesn't stop them from disallowing one to open two copies of MS Office apps on XP or iMac. Message on one iMac in livingroom, " 'Name Name' already using one copy of Word on computer number 0009988008." (In same house, next room; payed for and registered products used on computers paid for and registered to same person. Now MS can come through the wires, read what I'm doing, and kill or refuse to allow me to use my apps? Go Linux!).

  • 32 Posted by gego1000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    because I do not have the verification codes for my office it reduced it to opening documents. talk about high handed.

  • 33 Posted by wilson_duran17 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    too bad mine is pyrate and im still running and getting updated ahaha. ;ike about 6 moth already

  • 34 Posted by klludlam on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    EVIDENTLY # 29 IS NOT VERY TECHNICAL IF THIS PERSON THINKS MAC IS OWNED BY MICROSOFT! EVER HEARD OF APPLE ? AT FIRST I DID NOT LIKE MY VISTA 64 . I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT NOT BEING COMPATIBLE BUT OVER ALL I LOVE IT.I HEAR ITS A NIGHTMARE TO UPGRADE FROM XP BUT MINE WAS ALREADY INSTALLED, AND NO PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST 10 MONTHS.LOVE IT!

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