14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 7 will not reinvent the anti-piracy wheel for Microsoft. Instead, the next iteration of the Windows client will be based on Windows Vista's Software Protection Platform, especially in regard to the activation and validation experience. Microsoft is apparently going with an “if it ain't broken don't fix it” strategy. Just like Vista, Windows 7 will have a certain level of self protection when it comes to actions designed to circumvent the normal activation process. In addition, the very activation tasks have been simplified in order to permit the user to better perform the tasks and to deliver a deeper understanding of the process.
“Overall the technology we designed for Windows Vista allows Windows to better protect itself and be updated over time. As a result, Windows Vista is harder to pirate, and we’re seeing fewer copies of non-genuine Windows Vista on customers’ machines. Windows 7 includes the latest generation of this technology and provides the technical foundation of our ongoing anti-piracy efforts,” revealed Joe Williams, general manager, Worldwide Genuine Windows at Microsoft.
Williams was little shy of applauding Windows Vista's low levels of piracy as a success of the anti-piracy technologies implemented into the operating system. The latest range of tweaks delivered by the software giant to the precursor of Windows 7 came with the release of Service Pack 1.
“With Windows Vista Service Pack 1, if a PC was not activated during the login process, customers would periodically see a dialog box as a visual reminder they still needed to activate their copy of Windows. Within this prompt, they could choose to activate immediately or later. But the option to push the “activate later” button was grayed out for 15 seconds. Customers told us that while the prompt grabbed their attention, they didn’t understand why they needed to activate immediately and that the delay was annoying,” Williams added.
As a direct consequence, Microsoft optimized the process in Windows 7. In the end, the Redmond company's goal remains the same – convince users of non-genuine software, which the company regards as victims of piracy, to buy the genuine products.
“When customers choose to activate later they will see a dialog box highlighting how activation helps them identify if their copy of Windows is genuine and be allowed to proceed immediately without a 15-second delay. In Windows 7 we’ve made changes so that users will see more informative notifications messages and be able to more easily complete the tasks they need to,” Williams explained.
In addition, Microsoft will from now on start referring to the anti-piracy updates, mechanisms and technology of Windows 7 and Windows Vista as the Windows Activation Technologies. The Window Genuine Advantage will remain the brand for the anti-piracy updates only for the Windows XP platform.
32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 (Release Candidate) RC Build 7100.0.090421-1700 is available for download here.