...FSX Product Key checks...

[Fozzer]

Remember our discussion regarding security against pirate copies of FSX...?
2nd DVD left in the drive..?
Phone Uncle Bill for permission to install the program...?
..etc...etc...!

Well, it seems the program can be run without the DVD in the drive....(so no DVD cracks)......!
...but when we type in the product key during the installation process, there is a wait while something happens....
.....are the product key details automatically mailed to Microsoft for approval, which then allows the installation to complete...?
Or are the details just encrypted, and then stored in our hard drive boot block, and then checked again each time we run the program...?

Paul....just curious, as usual...
...(and there's no-one more curious than me!).........!
LOL......!

[Felix/FFDS]

It is my understanding that the product key is transmitted and collected to a central Microsoft server.

Check out the "Privacy Statement.rtf" document installed in you FS-X main folder for details.

[wealthysoup]

if it was encrypted and stored on your harddrive then you could install it on as many computers as you like...since uncle bill doesnt like pirates that do that he will make you send it to a central server  ;)

[Hagar]

Don't blame Uncle Bill. Blame the pirates & file sharers.

[Fozzer]

It is my understanding that the product key is transmitted and collected to a central Microsoft server.

Check out the "Privacy Statement.rtf" document installed in you FS-X main folder for details.

What happens in the case of the Folks who bought FSX, and dont have an Internet connection fascility...?
....like ordinary games players..?

I purchased, and played zillions of computer games long before I joined the high-speed Internet Fraternity......!

ie; the days of posting Registration cards...with a postage stamp on.....!

Paul... ...!

[The Ruptured Duck]

Don't blame Uncle Bill. Blame the pirates & file sharers.

What happened to the good old days when pirates had eye patches and pillaged towns?

Now they wear thick glasses and steal files.

Where is the romance?!

The thing that pirates new and old share is anti-social behavior that is probably the product of a personality disorder

[Hagar]

What happens in the case of the Folks who bought FSX, and dont have an Internet connection fascility...?
....like ordinary games players..?

That's what the aforementioned phone number is for.

[Scudrunners]

What is pirating about installing software on 2 or more computers in your home that are setting side by side and only used by you? I happen to think that if you buy sofware it should be yours to install on as many computers as you own for your own use. What if you buy a new computer? It is a plain fact that uncle bill is not just happy with his share, he wants it all. If left up to him, the software would self destruct after 1 month and you would have to go buy it again and again and again and again etc, etc, etc. One of these days, MS is going to self destruct on it own greed.

[JBaymore]

skidmark,

It doesn't matter what YOU think about how the product should be sold.

[Felix/FFDS]

What is pirating about installing software on 2 or more computers in your home that are setting side by side and only used by you?  

Absolutely nothing.  For that matter, we purchased Microsoft Office, and guess what, it allows you to install it on not one, not two, but THREE (3) computers in your house.

I all depends on the EULA for the product group....

[Scudrunners]

(Until people strop buying the products because of the EULA policies.... )

Sounds like a good idea to me. I have already stopped using IE and Outlook Express because they work like crap. Just had a round with MS about IE 6 and 7. It seems they don't like Flash files (probable because they are open coded and MS can't control or make money off them) so they put a thing in IE that makes people using IE to have to click twice on an embedded flash file to activate it. I use Firefox which doesn't do that.  I also bought Incredimail for my email program because in Outlook Express, the spell checker is grayed out and won't work.

(It is up to the seller to determine the terms of how they want to sell the product.  It is sold to you under a certain set of restrictions and conditions.)

Right again. However, the terms set by the sellers tells you a lot about what type of company or person you are dealing with. Do they see human beings out in the world to deal with or only dollar signs. I believe that MS sees nothing outside their offices but $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Sure, maybe Uncle Bill gives away millions to charity but do you gladly let someone steal from you just because they are going to give 1 penny out of every $100.00 to charity? Like I said earlier, one of these days, MS is going to self-destruct on their own greed.

[vololiberista]

I have NEVER used IE or Outlook express (except in an office enviroment) They are probably the worst two programmes ever available for the PC.
It seems to me that FSX may encrypt onto the HD as does Win XP. (Note that to upgrade XP onto a new HD or motherboard is a nightmare) Even with broadband one doesn't have to stay on line permanently and if one installed  while offline then Zio Guglielmino would ask you to connect if he wanted to have a peek at your system. (to do that BTW is illegal!!!!!! at least here in Europe)
For me personally it will be 12 - 24 months before i go onto FSX as I'm not interested until DX10 is up and running.  FS9 with the best addons is still I think as good as FSX if not better in some circumstances!
Vololiberista

[flymo]

its more than likely just checks the key against an algarithm table, if it matches up to its orders etc etc then it allows it if not then probably not, it might upload to a central microsoft server but you can probably still install it on as many PC's as you like, jsut wouldnt be able to go online with it as thats probably where the key checks come into play.

john

[vololiberista]

its more than likely just checks the key against an algarithm table, if it matches up to its orders etc etc then it allows it if not then probably not, it might upload to a central microsoft server but you can probably still install it on as many PC's as you like, jsut wouldnt be able to go online with it as thats probably where the key checks come into play.

john

This is what they tried when XP first came out. But, here in Europe they had to make it volountary!!!!!!!!!!!
I suspect that European copies behave in the same manner as European XP's
Vololiberista

[flymo]

thats how every CD key, product key what ever you want to call it works.

just sometimes the algarithm table is on a server that you have to connect to e.g. windows activation