Working on computers with illegal software.

[dstewart]

Different angle on the illegal software/filesharing software

These days with the RIAA and other similar organizations going after music downloaders you have to be careful what you allow to run on your customers PC's if it connects to your network.
We run two networks at our shop, one for the office machines, file/workorder server, service PC, etc. and the second network for the shop/service area to connect customers PC's to the net so they don't poison our own network if they are virus infected, etc.

Received an e-mail yesterday from our upstream provider noting that they had been contacted by the ESA (Entertainment Software Association) that had discovered an illegal copy of a new game being seeded out over bittorrent from one of our IP addresses.
Realized that the IP address was the address for our service network, and that it had come from a client's PC that was most likely running some bittorrent client in the background while we had it connected to the network for updates or something.

Needless to say, the bittorrent and other popular P2P ports have since been blocked in our router, while we wait to see if legal action is taken against us for the "infringement"

Just a heads up to all other techs out there with their own shop and network.

 

[geeksmobileusa]

I'll agree with Majestic on this one. If someone happens to have pirated software on their computer it's not my business. I don't care what they do with their computer.

I'll also say this: I believe there is not one tech on here that has been in the business for a while that has not used "questionable" software at some point to fix a computer. Or to try something out past the 30 day trial.



I can and have. I have yet to see a Windows machine that I could not update by one means or another.

Aside from a repair install how do you update to SP3 without WGA?

 

[abe]

This ignoring function is great, I wish it could block content from the user even when quoted by others.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Lately I've been thinking of just telling people with obvious illegal software on their PC that I can't work on their computer because of the illegal software on the PC. I also wonder if when I find a computer with an illegal copy of windows if i should require them to buy a legit copy before I work on it, even though they may be a victum. Same goes for other software.

How do you handle situations with illegal software?

I think that is admirable of you wanting to take the high road like that. But the reality is if you send everyone packing from your shop who has "questionable" software, you are probably going to starve and send all this lost revenue to any one of your competitors that goes by the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Just the way of the world unfortunately. But Microsoft will thank you as lose your home to foreclosure!

Pirated OS's are sort-of a non issue on the Mac side (thank goodness). As far as pirated applications go, I hear plenty of sob stories about if I can't transfer their apps across, they don't have the disks to reload them. I just do what modern technology allows me to do legitimately. If I am able to copy those apps across by any legitimate means and they still function, good for the customer. If I copy the app and the app has the built in intelligence to realize its been copied and won't function correctly, sorry about their luck is all I can say. I know ways around it, but that is where I draw the line.

 

[geeksmobileusa]

I don't think that anyone here is going to tell you how to do anything illegal, I'm sure you will have to find out that stuff on your own, sorry.

In my experience its not, that's why I was shocked when someone said its possible to update a machine regardless of the status of WGA. But thanks for assuming I'm trying to figure out how to do something illegal.

 

[K007]

In my experience its not, that's why I was shocked when someone said its possible to update a machine regardless of the status of WGA. But thanks for assuming I'm trying to figure out how to do something illegal.

Hey guys, yes it is perfectly possible to update a non-genuine copy of windows.
Everyting is possible, just don't ask how it is done.
Not in this forum anyway.

The term "illegal" applies to countries who adhered to international copyright regulations.
I very much doubt is illegal to use non-genuine windows in a country like Iran or Syria and many other.

 

[MrMille]

My understanding is that if it's illegal,
MS used to turn off the OS, essentially bricking the box,
but now, if the install is illegal, MS changes the wallpaper to all black with a "this is warez" message in the bottom right hand corner.

Has anyone seen this?

 

[gunslinger]

Hey guys, yes it is perfectly possible to update a non-genuine copy of windows.
Everyting is possible, just don't ask how it is done.
Not in this forum anyway.

Exactly.

My understanding is that if it's illegal,
MS used to turn off the OS, essentially bricking the box,
but now, if the install is illegal, MS changes the wallpaper to all black with a "this is warez" message in the bottom right hand corner.

I have seen the black background.

 

[SOHO-NZ]

It may be possible to update non-genuine windows - I don't know how to do it, and I don't want to know. I would NEVER try to circumvent the piracy protection on a customer's PC (except if it was causing other problems on a legitimate system).

When you update pirated software, you are collaborating with the software pirates and taking away the advantages of using the genuine item.

Those of us who build and sell PC's to customers, and supply genuine software lose revenue to those that use pirated software. I have had customers ask me to remove the WGA piracy warning, and have always flatly refused, and suggested they buy a legitimate copy of Windows.

Would you take a stolen car to your local mechanic and even when he knows that it's stolen, expect him to work on it?

 

[ejsaunders]

Personally, if its not kids or animals, I'm easy in so far as that I didn't install it, if its already on there, and it looks a bit fishy with CS3 or Orifice2k7 'cos the family live in a run down, rented place, then I'd look the other way.

If it was some flash git who actually admits its phoney, and is driving a BMW, maybe, I've been known to delete it after I've asked if he saved it or has a backup.

The one thing I do draw the line at, is when people bring my blatant software and want me to install it, like a guy who broke his comp and gave me all the 'disks' to reinstlal and they were all home-labelled and the windows required a crack to boot lol.

 

[ClickRight]

There's nothing I hate more (well there is, but I've been seeing a lot of this lately) than customer that has a pirated copy of windows and doesn't know it. They're getting the Windows Genuine Advantage notifications popping up left right, and center, and it really sucks telling them that there's really nothing that they can do other than buying a new copy of Windows.

 

[ejsaunders]

Slightly OT Anyone noticed its harder and harder to validate XP? I've been noticing lately it takes an age, and once even had it moan my XP licence was pirate! Thankfully, I formatted it again and it worked on the second install. Hope they'll keep it running for the foreseeable future at least.

 

[SOHO-NZ]

Yes - I've had to call MS for activation a lot more recently.

 

[isiahw1]

In my experience its not, that's why I was shocked when someone said its possible to update a machine regardless of the status of WGA. But thanks for assuming I'm trying to figure out how to do something illegal.

It's is possible to update XP SP3 that isn't legal. I just attempted it in vmware just to test if it was possible, its was actually pretty easy!

 

[ejsaunders]

You can if it auto downloads and asks before it applies I think

 

[krutoi]

They're getting the Windows Genuine Advantage notifications popping up left right, and center, and it really sucks telling them that there's really nothing that they can do other than buying a new copy of Windows.

One option is buying a valid license online from Microsoft. Just run windows update, and when you get the warning about your system being pirated there is a link to the online store where you can legitimize that copy. Once you pay, they will email a key + a link to a program that will perform a quick scan of your system and then install the key. You will also receive via snail mail a proper install disc. I wonder how much longer this will be possible with XP if MS are planning to yank official support. If you can't buy it in a retail store, will you still be able to legitimize a copy on a machine with a pirate system?

 

[usacvlr]

I don't really even think about it. I'm not going to help them use a pirated program and I won't install something that they don't have a key for but at the same time I'm not going to delete their downloaded music collection.

I'm starting to see more and more computers with not only illegal software on them but also people using limewire like P2P apps to download music and movies. It appears bittorrent is too complecated for the average user to figure out so I havent' seen alot of that.

I run into two types of customers with illegal software, those who know and thoses who don't know.

I recently fixed a computer for a couple who bought the PC from antoher "computer tech" who sold it to them and didn't give them any discs with the computer. They had Windows XP Pro Corprate, Office 2003, Photoshop, McAfee etc. They said that's the way it came. I told them that the software on their computer was illegal but I fixed their spyware infection any. I told them to call the guy they bought it from and have him "make it right" with them. I'm sure they never did and I've never heard from them again.

Then there are people who use P2P and bittorrent to steal music and movies. If they have any questions like how do i burn this to cd, dvd, etc I refush to help them.

Lately I've been thinking of just telling people with obvious illegal software on their PC that I can't work on their computer because of the illegal software on the PC. I also wonder if when I find a computer with an illegal copy of windows if i should require them to buy a legit copy before I work on it, even though they may be a victum. Same goes for other software.

How do you handle situations with illegal software?

 

[Daifne]

And then we have situations like the one I'm working with right now. Customer calls me about his computer crashing and tells me that he already had another tech work on it. I get there and the other tech had improperly installed XP Pro over the original XP Home OEM from HP. Both were showing on the boot screen but neither worked. Took it with me and started to work. Booted with UBCDWin and first check the key and registration information. Surprise, surprise. XP Pro was a pirated version. Called the customer and he went on to tell me that this was from one of the National tech companies... GeeksMobileUSA! Told him I'd reinstall legally with the COA on the box.

OK, still crashing and determined that he had a bad stick of RAM. Basically, the tech from GeeksMobile USA had tried to fix bad memory by installing a pirated version of windows and doing no hardware diagnostics.

I have told the customer to contact GeeksMobileUSA and get his money back. I also told him that I would very willingly talk to GeeksMobileUSA and tell them what I found. If our friend who has been banned has any integrity, he will want to know what his techs are up to. If he doesn't, they will be reported to Microsoft.

 

[abe]

hey daifne,

if you get a chance to talk to geeksmobileusa then task to speak to the guy who had an account on technibble using the name "geeksmobileusa" he'll be very happy to hear from all of us!!!!

Abe

 

[Daifne]

That's exactly the person I'm hoping to talk to... ;-)