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    A quick question about software piracy...

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by BondEternal, Mar 18, 2009.

  1. BondEternal

    BondEternal Notebook Consultant

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    Let's say you have an original version of Vista on your computer, i.e. you have your own unique product key. Is it possible, that in the whole wide world of people using Windows Vista, a pirated copy of Vista which has the exact same product key as yours exists?
     
    BondEternal, Mar 18, 2009
    #1
  2. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    I'd say it's absolutely possible..
     
    namaiki, Mar 18, 2009
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  3. Brawn

    Brawn The Awesome

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    nopeeeeeeeee
     
    Brawn, Mar 18, 2009
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  4. CrazyTasty

    CrazyTasty Notebook Consultant

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    It's actually nearly impossible. Generating valid, unused keys is quite difficult so most pirated copies are either OEM or enterprise versions which don't require activation or they are cracked to avoid activation.
     
    CrazyTasty, Mar 18, 2009
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  5. sikyon

    sikyon Notebook Enthusiast

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    almost impossible, unless the code uses a very weak algo.

    and windows, I highly doubt it.

    What is more likely is that:

    A) the item you bought was previously opened and had the code copied
    B) the code was stolen from your comp via spyware somehow (I have not heard of any cases where this has happened, and somewhat doubt the feasability of it, due to the one time use).
     
    sikyon, Mar 18, 2009
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  6. Buhdahl

    Buhdahl Notebook Evangelist

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    Someone would have had to have seen your product key.

    (That's a mouthful of a sentence...)
     
    Buhdahl, Mar 31, 2009
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  7. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Depends on what you mean by pirated. Hundreds of thousands of people uses the same product key that you're using for their windows Vista OS.

    BTW.. pirated OS could also be VLK. 1 product key = several licenses.
     
    jackluo923, Apr 1, 2009
    #7