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What are the benefits of having a genuine version of Windows as opposed to a "cracked" version? From a real user perspective, not from Microsoft perspective of course. In particular Windows 7.

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Aside from having no idea of the provenance of a pirate version (does it have a nice preinstalled rootkit or other amusing malware) the simple difference is that one is legal and you are entitled to support for it and the other is not legal and you have no entitlement to use it at all and any problems are entirely yours. – Mokubai May 13 '10 at 10:30
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Super User is not a discussion forum. i've removed the budding holy war from the comments; please take further argument elsewhere. – quack quixote May 13 '10 at 11:18
@quack quixote, I understand. Though I really would like to know what is the actual difference, aside from moral or legal issues. – HeavyWave May 13 '10 at 11:32
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you can only know that by examining a single "pirate version" and comparing it to the "geniune article". there's potentially many "pirate versions" available, and the set of differences between any given "pirate version" and the "genuine article" will vary. i think the only real answers you'll find have already been given. – quack quixote May 13 '10 at 11:38
@Mokubai - Has anyone actually seen a version with a preinstalled rootkit(or malware, for that matter)? I hear about the idea a lot, and it seems kind of like a boogeyman. It's always held up as why you shouldn't but it never actually happened. – Fake Name May 14 '10 at 1:35
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closed as not constructive by Gnoupi, quack quixote May 13 '10 at 10:58

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2 Answers

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You get more than just security updates. If it breaks you can actually get support.

You know that it isn't going to have had extra back-doors or root-kits inserted by the people who cracked it.

If you get caught using it (the genuine copy, that is) you won't be prosecuted.

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I've heard Microsoft does not provide free support? Only in form of MSDN Social or something like that. – HeavyWave May 13 '10 at 11:33
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Well the real version will pass verification tests and update a pirate version wouldnt. therefore leaving you a huge security risk. I dont think pirate versions are changed from the base OS i think they are just cracked to run without a serial key. So I'm guessing its just the fact that you cannot update that makes it different.

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