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Microsoft has blocked Massgrave's KMS38 activation method for Windows (lemmy.ml)

submitted 7 months ago by mr_MADAFAKA@lemmy.ml to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com

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https://massgrave.dev/changelog#38

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[+] the_q@lemmy.zip 151 points 7 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

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[+] Unknown_0671 93 points 7 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

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[-] curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 44 points 7 months ago

My wife is not technical and has no interest in adopting and learning anything.

The web works the same way regardless of the OS, and LibreOffice has all the same features as Word that she uses.

The "hard part" is choosing and upgrading hardware, and maybe installation (depending on distribution).

I mention this because I think we should evaluate these differently. With a preloaded desktop/laptop, I've had no issues with anyone that actually relates to Linux (except my BIL who was trying to build an arcade stick for gaming).

Explaining to my other BIL how to select hardware for his custom build, that took some time, as did guiding him through the installation.

[+] Unknown_0671 30 points 7 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

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[-] curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 31 points 7 months ago

i write often and libreoffice writer is difficult to say the least, not because of lack of features but a lack of most ‘little things’ and ‘tweaks’.

I think you're missing the fact that you are doing more 'expert' things than most here. The majority of the time, my wife opens a document she made once, saves as a new file (no, she's not using templates - don't get me started), and writes her invoice. She then PDFs it and sends it via email.

She does the same thing with Calc and a previously made blank "monthly calendar". Opens the blank, saves for the client, enters in the days and renames the month at the top, notes what she'll be doing for them on each day with an hour estimate, PDF and email.

That is the kind of thing most people do.

[-] Natanox@discuss.tchncs.de 16 points 7 months ago

Yeah, LibreOffice stuck with the old UI/UX for better and worse. Luckily we do have a nice selection of Office Suites in addition to them. OnlyOffice, WPS Office, Collabora, KDE Calligra, Softmaker Office… surely there's one for everyone on Linux.

Personally I like OnlyOffice.

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[-] Grumpy@sh.itjust.works 8 points 7 months ago

I would say give onlyoffice a try. It's not FOSS but does have free tier for home use and it's what I go to for non-main work computer. Beats libre imo.

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[-] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 32 points 7 months ago

You need to dedicate time to adopt and learn how to get a local account on Windows and clear out the bullshit you don't want.

I recently switched to Linux. At first I was surprised at how easy it was to set up and get working, then I was annoyed at having to look up how to do every little thing I know how to do on Windows and considered switching back.

Then I booted into Windows and in less than 10 minutes was fed up the whole OS. I realized I had to look up things just as often as I was on Linux, but in Linux it was because I didn't know where it was, where as on Windows it was actively hidden from me and fighting me every step of the way.
Windows is in no way easier, It's just the struggle you've gotten so used to fighting with every single day that you've forgotten it exists.

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[-] wheezy@lemmy.ml 25 points 7 months ago

I don't disagree in general. However, my mom has been running Linux with a Windows XP skin for almost 8 years now without knowing she's using Linux. Literally just keeps her from running a random .exe and she does everything on a browser anyway.

[-] jcarax@beehaw.org 7 points 7 months ago

In my experience, it's usually power users or basic users with very specific application requirements, who have trouble moving between operating systems. There's usually a FOSS alternative to those applications, but often requires reworking a workflow or upskilling more than they want to. But they're still basic users so it's more a speed bump than a road block.

So yeah, most people can switch to MacOS without an issue, and the vast majority of those can switch to a distro like Fedora or Ubuntu and quickly feel comfortable.

Power users get stuck in this situation where they've learned how to do advanced things in Windows, have things tweaked to support more complex and peculiar workflows, but often don't understand the actual concepts behind them. And even if they do understand the concepts, they still have to learn the alternatives in a new OS, and rebuild their workflows. Now, there's a lot more ability to learn behind the scenes about the why and how with Linux and BSD, so I'd argue they'd be better off to just suck it up and get started, and they'll be better off before long.

[-] Chais@sh.itjust.works 18 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Well, the whole reason people have to "adopt and learn" is because M$ bought their way onto virtually every new PC sold back in the 90s, so people's first experience would be their "operating system."
Talk about leveraging anchoring bias.
I'd argue you'd have a hard time selling Windows to people if you were honest about it.

For just 145€ you get:

an operating system that assumes you're an inept idiot

ads in your application launcher

a screenshot taken every minute, which gets stored outside your control and analysed by "AI"

an invasive "assistant" that listens in on your microphone at all times

forced to create an account to log in to "your" machine, so we can collect even more personal data

Especially when the alternative is free and let's you do whatever you want with your hardware. And if you happen to misconfigure something you get to be an adult about it and learn from your mistakes.

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[-] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 13 points 7 months ago

I don’t think you realize just how complicated it has become to administer windows these days.

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[-] UberKitten 24 points 7 months ago

not really

[-] Shirasho@lemmings.world 29 points 7 months ago

Can confirm. Just switched to Linux about 2 weeks ago. I am happy enough, but there was a brutal learning curve. This was for a distro that is user friendly, too. I was able to install just fine, but actually getting my environment set up is an ongoing process.

Many Linux distros are getting there, but they still aren't ready for casual users.

[-] meldrik@lemmy.wtf 28 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Wouldn’t you have the same experience if you moved from iOS to Android, never having used Android before? Does that make Android not ready for casual use?

If you have used Windows your whole life, there will definitely be a learning curve getting used to Linux and whatever desktop environment you choose to use.

I personally have better experience having casual users use Linux than Windows.

[-] TheRealKuni@piefed.social 14 points 7 months ago

In fact, one has a similar learning curve going from Android to iOS (as I learned when I transitioned to iPhone) even if iOS is broadly considered more “user friendly.”

I think you’re onto something. Switching to Windows would be painful to anyone used to Linux regardless of all the philosophical differences simply because the OS works differently. Lord knows I despise MacOS despite people who use it saying, “it just works.”

[-] meldrik@lemmy.wtf 6 points 7 months ago

I was only using "from iOS to Android" as an example. I believe it would be equally difficult going from Android to iOS. As you, I also despise using MacOS. It's a struggle, because I'm not used to it in any way.

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[-] orygin@piefed.social 12 points 7 months ago

I'm curious what setup you have to do?
I do some customization of KDE on my desktop, but for my laptops it's always install and use without the need to setup anything.

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[-] tomiant@piefed.social 12 points 7 months ago

I've been using Linux for 20 years. The learning curve is still too steep for me.

[-] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 6 points 7 months ago

I don't think the learning curve is any harder than someone who's learning Windows for the first time.

It's just different. Honestly in some ways simpler IMO. But if you were a life long Mac user and touched Windows for the first time today you'd probably have a rougher time I think.

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[-] 42beansinapod@discuss.tchncs.de 12 points 7 months ago

I am a Linux user, I dual boot Kubuntu and Windows.

On Friday I bought a new game on steam, checked on protondb and it is platinum, tried to launch it and it failed. I tried 4 different proton compatability modes and it failed to launch each time. While I am a sysadmin and am well capable of troubleshooting it, I really just wanted to play that game so I rebooted into windows.

If I hadn't had that other win11 SSD in my machine, I would have had to not play that game because I had no energy to troubleshoot that on a friday night after fighting with linux all day at work.

Tldr: some times Linux is a seemless as Windows, but not always, even when it is supposed to be and is for others. Even if you have that activate windows watermark.

[-] Ilandar@lemmy.today 6 points 7 months ago

Nah, these "hacks" are very easy. Easier than installing and learning even the most basic of Linux distros.

[-] Bongles@lemmy.zip 6 points 7 months ago

It's true. You run one single command in cmd, then follow the prompts. It literally highlights what you probably want too, nevermind the guide online. Even Linux mint you still have to learn where stuff is and what it's called. That's not hard, by any means, but this is literally a single command and then you're back to your routine.

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[-] HouseWolf@pawb.social 64 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

From the devs Github

KMS38 has now been removed from the MAS script. Users are advised to use HWID or TSforge activation instead.

So you can still activate Windows through the other means in the script already. I dunno the ins n' outs, of what makes one method better than another. When I checked it seemed HWID was the first option and the one most people use anyway sooooo...

[-] theangriestbird@beehaw.org 28 points 7 months ago

You're right, but still. Reduction of options is never good for the community.

[-] Lolen10@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 points 7 months ago

Here are the differences between the methods: https://massgrave.dev/chart

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[-] Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 27 points 7 months ago

One more reason never to install windows.

[-] Ceruleum@lemmy.wtf 24 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Windows has become too shitty to pay for. And now they do this.

[-] Engywuck@lemmy.zip 11 points 7 months ago

Always has been.

[-] SeeMarkFly@lemmy.ml 13 points 7 months ago

Instead of FIXING the problem.

[-] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 8 points 7 months ago

I am waiting for SteamOS Desktop to be released before abandoning Windows. Way I figure, that is the best way to get a 'casual' Linux, without scrimping on utility. Having Valve as the distro provider would also ensure that my flavor of Linux is stable, well supported, and documented.

[-] melroy@kbin.melroy.org 8 points 7 months ago

What is Windows?

[-] aReallyCrunchyLeaf@lemmy.ml 8 points 7 months ago

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this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2025

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