Linux is a Genuine Windows? turns out it is. - bit-tech.net Forums

Zidane · 6th Aug 2005, 18:20

whilst attempting to download directX (to see if i could install it on Wine and crack up B&W on my linux box, i was very bored) i came accross a lil "Windows Genuine Advantage" check before i could download it.

being a Linux Zealot, this is the first time ive actually seen it, but ive obviously heard lots about it. so, i think, lets see what microsoft makes of a linux box then.....

clicketyclick. copy-paste-code. clicketyclick.

a few brief moments later....

(this is me, having just passed the Windows Genuine Advantage check, about to d/l directX)

et voila. whaddya know, it turns out that linux, using Wine, is an actual genuine copy of windows, according to the WGA checker exe.

its at times like this i fear i may have damaged some internal organs after laughing so hard.

its not often us linux folk get to have our day against MS, but i suspect you all know what my new desktop is

`Zidane
(the one who cant stop laughing)

XUntitled · 6th Aug 2005, 18:31

Way to go Bill... thats all I have to say

)

6th Aug 2005, 18:44

hehehe!!

furqan · 6th Aug 2005, 19:17

hmm.. now try downloading updates

*for the rest of us*

Zidane · 6th Aug 2005, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by badboy

hmm.. now try downloading updates

*for the rest of us*

thats easy...... *waves his magic wand and discreetly turns on automatic updates*

tadaaaaa, now you get updates without having to do the WGA.... automagically.

see, you can do this stuff when you use linux.... rofl

RotoSequence · 6th Aug 2005, 20:36

Which now brings up an interesting possibity involving WINE; if WGA recognises that as a true copy of Windows, whats stopping people from writing software that makes ANY copy of Windows get recognised as genuine?

Zidane · 6th Aug 2005, 20:49

actually Roto, thats a very good point, ive just been talking about it with a freind (im showing everyone i know that screenie, tis too funny).

this linux box doesnt have *any* windows stuff on it, i only installed wine a couple of hours ago to see if it could play a windows game, and the first thing i did was go to grab directx.

so, if there is no windows components (aside from the api's that wine emulates), just what, exactly, is the checker exe actually checking? cause it sure as hell wont find windows on my box.

Shadow_101 · 7th Aug 2005, 10:55

Thanks for the validation code

fullfat · 7th Aug 2005, 11:00

lol!

furqan · 7th Aug 2005, 21:25

*quickly writes it down*

HA Microsoft can't beat me

*I have a genuine copy of windows*

Anakha · 8th Aug 2005, 15:49

Beware. This has been submitted to /.

Lynx · 8th Aug 2005, 21:17

Why has this been submitted to /. Its not news! Wine identifys itself as windows 98 hence why it works with windows programs. You can also get it to id itself as win2k.
Nothing to see here.

sui_winbolo · 8th Aug 2005, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by RotoSequence

Which now brings up an interesting possibity involving WINE; if WGA recognises that as a true copy of Windows, whats stopping people from writing software that makes ANY copy of Windows get recognised as genuine?

Well you can turn off validation in IE and you can download all you want even if your copy isn't legit.

Anakha · 8th Aug 2005, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynx

Why has this been submitted to /. Its not news! Wine identifys itself as windows 98 hence why it works with windows programs. You can also get it to id itself as win2k.
Nothing to see here.

It's news, as there is absolutely no Windows code in WINE, yet Microsoft's "Windows Genuine Advantage" tool (That is written by MS to ensure that all copies of Windows that download from Microsoft's site) still reports that WINE is a "REAL" copy of Windows.

So, in other words, the "Windows Genuine Advantage" offers no "Advantage" at all, no matter if your copy of windows is genuine or not.

kenco_uk · 8th Aug 2005, 21:50

I thought it ran using Java?

Anakha · 8th Aug 2005, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenco_uk

I thought it ran using Java?

Nope. It runs using ActiveX in IE, or with a seperate executable for any other browser.

insomniacity · 9th Aug 2005, 10:11

Any chance of you hosting the image somewhere else? I just see an imageshack 'excessive usage' image.

Cheap Mod Wannabe · 9th Aug 2005, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheap Mod Wannabe

Ehhh don't you guys think that Microsoft did this on purpose? I mean the security is made so it would check Genuine Microsoft Software, not REdHat or OSX genuinity, however the content is made available for wider spectrum of users than just MS thus it allow downloads from other OS's. Imagine how many people would be bit**ing about MS if you could not download nothing from MS website on your MAC/Linux (or other). Downloads such as Windows Media PLayer and etc. Also MS would get sued by a lot of companies and individuals if they would block other OS's. And I think MS would not have right nor reason to make checks for other OS's thus it just allows them to go through.

What is the big fuss about daaamn.

The_Pope · 9th Aug 2005, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by insomniacity

Any chance of you hosting the image somewhere else? I just see an imageshack 'excessive usage' image.

I'm just waiting for Zidane to pop back online and send me the image - we can host it without any bandwidth problems. This story got slashdotted, and nobody thought to grab it before it died. Sorry about that.

GreatOldOne · 9th Aug 2005, 11:34

Thanks for the offer, PJ, but as soon as Zidane wakes up and gets online, we'll be hosting the pic on bit-tech.

Sorry for lack of picture - we'll get you back to our scheduled programming as soon as possible!

6th Aug 2005, 18:20	#1
Zidane Hypermodder Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: At my desk. Posts: 687	Linux is a Genuine Windows? turns out it is. whilst attempting to download directX (to see if i could install it on Wine and crack up B&W on my linux box, i was very bored) i came accross a lil "Windows Genuine Advantage" check before i could download it. being a Linux Zealot, this is the first time ive actually seen it, but ive obviously heard lots about it. so, i think, lets see what microsoft makes of a linux box then..... clicketyclick. copy-paste-code. clicketyclick. a few brief moments later.... (this is me, having just passed the Windows Genuine Advantage check, about to d/l directX) et voila. whaddya know, it turns out that linux, using Wine, is an actual genuine copy of windows, according to the WGA checker exe. its at times like this i fear i may have damaged some internal organs after laughing so hard. its not often us linux folk get to have our day against MS, but i suspect you all know what my new desktop is `Zidane (the one who cant stop laughing) __________________ You dont need a reason to help people. `Zidane Tribal. Bit-Tech Folding@Home Team 33346 -> here Join the Bit-Tech Folding@Home team -> here need a hand joining or setting up? ask us on the bit-tech forums -> here Last edited by The_Pope; 9th Aug 2005 at 12:47.

6th Aug 2005, 20:36	#6
RotoSequence Lazy Lurker Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 'States Posts: 4,554	Which now brings up an interesting possibity involving WINE; if WGA recognises that as a true copy of Windows, whats stopping people from writing software that makes ANY copy of Windows get recognised as genuine? __________________ Technology Schmecnology

6th Aug 2005, 20:49	#7
Zidane Hypermodder Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: At my desk. Posts: 687	actually Roto, thats a very good point, ive just been talking about it with a freind (im showing everyone i know that screenie, tis too funny). this linux box doesnt have any windows stuff on it, i only installed wine a couple of hours ago to see if it could play a windows game, and the first thing i did was go to grab directx. so, if there is no windows components (aside from the api's that wine emulates), just what, exactly, is the checker exe actually checking? cause it sure as hell wont find windows on my box. __________________ You dont need a reason to help people. `Zidane Tribal. Bit-Tech Folding@Home Team 33346 -> here Join the Bit-Tech Folding@Home team -> here need a hand joining or setting up? ask us on the bit-tech forums -> here

7th Aug 2005, 10:55	#8
Shadow_101 Mudkips. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Harborne, Birmingham Posts: 1,091	Thanks for the validation code __________________ Network Engineering & Security, CCNA, ITIL (F). GM IT Security Analyst

8th Aug 2005, 15:49	#11
Anakha Supermodder Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Regina, SK, Canada Eh! Posts: 406	Beware. This has been submitted to /. __________________ Robert "Anakha" Johnston Going to Canada on Nov 28th! I'm going home!

6th Aug 2005, 18:31	#2
XUntitled Supermodder Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: PA Posts: 454	Way to go Bill... thats all I have to say )

6th Aug 2005, 18:44	#3
charl3s_fatal1ty Guest Posts: n/a	hehehe!!

6th Aug 2005, 19:17	#4
furqan Supermodder Join Date: May 2004 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 480	hmm.. now try downloading updates for the rest of us

7th Aug 2005, 11:00	#9
fullfat Supermodder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 404	lol!

7th Aug 2005, 21:25	#10
furqan Supermodder Join Date: May 2004 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 480	quickly writes it down HA Microsoft can't beat me I have a genuine copy of windows

8th Aug 2005, 21:17	#12
Lynx Hypermodder Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Cambridge Posts: 860	Why has this been submitted to /. Its not news! Wine identifys itself as windows 98 hence why it works with windows programs. You can also get it to id itself as win2k. Nothing to see here.

8th Aug 2005, 21:50	#15
kenco_uk meow Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bourne, Lincolnshire, UK Posts: 6,510	I thought it ran using Java? __________________ MSI X58M - i7 920 4Ghz - 6GB Corsair - GTX275 720/2538 ::: Am I the only one Voting for bit-tech? tweetsabc

9th Aug 2005, 10:11	#17
insomniacity What's a Dremel? Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1	Any chance of you hosting the image somewhere else? I just see an imageshack 'excessive usage' image.

9th Aug 2005, 11:34	#20
GreatOldOne No, Luke. I AM YOUR TEDDY! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Terrorising Ewoks Posts: 10,549	Thanks for the offer, PJ, but as soon as Zidane wakes up and gets online, we'll be hosting the pic on bit-tech. Sorry for lack of picture - we'll get you back to our scheduled programming as soon as possible! __________________ "I find your lack of fur disturbing..." A GOO-ster is Born - Build Diary Electronics Help Needed! RSS Twitter