Microsoft is testing a new feature in Edge Canary which locks you out of some settings in the Edge browser if Windows is not activated.
  • Ech@lemm.eeEnglish
    10·
    2 months ago

    Is downloading a different browser one of the blocked settings?

  • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    2 months ago

    I despise what Microsoft has become just as much as the next guy, but that’s arguably a better experience than some previous versions of Windows. In some previous versions of Windows, you had to activate it within a couple weeks or you couldn’t use it at all.

    • purplemonkeymad@programming.dev
      3·
      2 months ago

      Oh the fun of recovering windows xp to new hardware!

      “Sorry you have had the install for too long so it must be activated.”

      Ok but I need to install new drivers for the network card, can I do that so I can activate.

      “No fix, only activate.”

      Was fine until they turned both internet and phone activation off.

      • IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world
        3·
        2 months ago

        Whatever floats your boat. Just don’t be surprised when a pirated product doesn’t work is the point.

        • Mesophar@lemm.ee
          4·
          2 months ago

          The OS itself is free to download and install, the activation key is what costs money. So technically, installing Windows isn’t a “pirated product” unless you dupe the activation, at which point it is activated and doesn’t run into this issue.

          Second, there are plenty of situations where a legitimate user of Windows may find themselves no longer activated. Switching motherboards due to hardware failure or upgrading their system comes to mind as a big one. Imagine having paid for Windows, your motherboard fails, you replace the motherboard, and it turns out you had an OEM version of Windows and can no longer use that key to activate Windows on the new motherboard even when the rest of the system is the same hardware!

          So yeah, sure, surprised Pikachu face if you pirate something and it doesn’t have the full functionality. Whatever. But more than just that demographic would be negatively affected by this.

  • EmperorHenry@infosec.pub
    2·
    2 months ago

    Oh no! I can’t use microsoft edge! what am I going to do?!

    I might have to just block its internet access with simple wall as soon as I install brave