A nickname given to Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista, by those who have major problems with it.
My new computer came with Windows Hasta La Vista. I got a blue screen of death every time it booted up.
by computer_guy February 17, 2008
The act of illegally copying and distributing commercial software. Software piracy can range from simply letting a friend "borrow" a CD-ROM to actually selling pirated software and passing it off as genuine.
Software companies employ various methods to fight piracy, including product activation and CD keys.
Software companies employ various methods to fight piracy, including product activation and CD keys.
My friend let me borrow his Office CD; I accepted, even though this was software piracy.
Those guys selling copies of Windows Vista Ultimate for $15 a copy are guilty of software piracy.
Those guys selling copies of Windows Vista Ultimate for $15 a copy are guilty of software piracy.
by computer_guy February 18, 2008
Windows Genuine Advantage. It is a system from Microsoft that detects whether or not you have a genuine copy of Windows, and if not, displays annoying messages and denies access to many Windows downloads. WGA is prone to failure.
Oh crap... WGA keeps popping up a box telling me my Windows isn't genuine. Now I cant download Media Player 11. What the fuck, I've got the COA right here!
by computer_guy February 18, 2008
A program that uses brute force to obtain a valid product key for a software product. This is often used to bypass Microsoft's product activation without installing a crack.
My friend used a key generator to get a product key for her copy of Microsoft Office, since she didn't have the COA.
by computer_guy February 18, 2008
A nickname for Microsoft's Visual Basic .NET programming language, given by users of Visual Basic 6. The name originated from the fact that Visual Basic .NET differs greatly from Visual Basic 6 and thus should not use the same name.
Call it Visual Bob, Visual Fred... anything but Visual Basic. It's just not the same programming language!
by computer_guy February 17, 2008
An anti-piracy scheme created by Microsoft which requires users to "activate" their copy of Windows or Office. Activation sends your product key and a unique hardware identifier to Microsoft, so they know that a given copy of Windows is installed on a given PC. If a user tries to install that same copy of Windows on another computer, they are blocked. Activation is usually done automatically over the internet, but can also be done by calling Microsoft and talking to a rep.
Product activation was designed to stop piracy. But the only thing it's succeeded in stopping is the installation of legitimate copies of Windows by users who rightfully own it. Activation often fails when someone upgrades the hardware in their computer (since the hardware identifier is different). People who pirate software can easily get around product activation by use of cracks and key generators.
Product activation was designed to stop piracy. But the only thing it's succeeded in stopping is the installation of legitimate copies of Windows by users who rightfully own it. Activation often fails when someone upgrades the hardware in their computer (since the hardware identifier is different). People who pirate software can easily get around product activation by use of cracks and key generators.
When I reinstalled Windows on my computer, it failed product activation, because I had replaced my processor and video card.
I downloaded a cracked copy of Windows off of Warez and it doesn't even try to activate itself!
I downloaded a cracked copy of Windows off of Warez and it doesn't even try to activate itself!
by computer_guy February 17, 2008
In computers, a program that modifies the code of another in order to bypass copy protection techniques. Cracks are often applied to trial programs or programs requiring product activation.
by computer_guy February 17, 2008