IP: One way to prevent piracy: Leave customers helpless

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 21:12:33 -0600
> To: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
> From: Brett Glass <brett () lariat org>
>
> Win2K and ME users up creek without a floppy
>
> By: Andrew Thomas
> Posted: 26/06/2000 at 16:53 GMT
>
> Microsoft today confirmed that users will have no easy way to update
> system BIOSes after upgrading to Windows Millennium or Windows
> 2000. M$ commendable aim of removing all those dangerous
> command line bits has an unfortunate side effect - there's no way to
> build the bootable floppy needed by BIOS upgrades.
>
> [Note: This restriction may also prevent the user from installing an
> alternative operating system, recovering data in the event of a
> crash, performing system diagnostics, running partition management
> software, or even reinstalling Windows. Some "anti-piracy" device...
> -BG]
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/1/11599.html