Screen of death threat to Windows 7

Computer giant Microsoft has confirmed it is investigating a problem called the "black screen of death", which is affecting their operating systems, including the brand new Windows 7.

The error occurs that all users of Windows 7 are the computer screen totally black after making the log in.

The company said it is reviewing reports suggesting that its latest security update, released on Nov. 10, is the cause of the problem.

Reports indicate that the fault also affects other Microsoft operating systems like Vista, XP, NT and Windows 2000.

"Millions affected
The software company Prevx, which created a program to solve the problem, says that "millions" of people may be harmed.

"Users have made a reload (reload) of Windows as a desperate attempt to solve the problem," he wrote in a blog on the firm's chairman, David Kennerley.

"We hope to help many of you to avoid the need for a recharge," he added.

However, Kennerley said the solution did not work in all cases, since "there can be many causes."

"But if you began to see her black screen in the two weeks following a Windows update or after installing any security program (including Prevx) to remove malware (malicious software) during this time, then this solution will have a high probability of working .

Kennerly said the firm had identified "at least 10 different situations that cause the same effects of the black screen.

"It seems that they have been around a few years ago," he said.

Unknown issue
Microsoft advises that all people who experience this problem with their computer should contact their customer service line.

A company spokesman said the reports "did not match any known problem" documented by Microsoft.

It has not yet submitted any solution for this bug, which causes the screen, taskbar, icons, and the vertical bar disappear.

This problem arises within two months the release of Windows 7, with the expectation that their success (or failure) will determine the future of the largest software company in the world, as outlined by the BBC journalist Tim Weber.

"90% of the world's computers use Windows, the company itself estimates that more than 1,000 million people use it," Weber said.

Pirated version of Windows 7 is still circulating in Chinese market

In the bustling shops of Shanghai Xinyang market, fake iPhones from Apple and Bose speakers are displayed in an orderly manner from illegal copies of the new operating system Microsoft Windows 7, days before its official release.
"Which version do you want?" The "Ultimate"? Is normal? In English or Chinese? ", Gesturing a seller, proudly showing his wide range of discs packaged in white boxes with no name.
Microsoft is preparing the world for the launch of its latest version of Windows, but the Chinese can buy pirated copies this month for only 20 yuan (2 million) each - a fraction of its price reaches 320 U.S. dollars (215 euros) .
The early release of Windows 7 in China highlights the challenge facing the leading supplier of software to try to do business in China, the second largest worldwide computer market.

Research firm IDC estimates that about 80 percent of software sold in China last year was pirated. While this figure does not fall is still twice the world average and about four times that in developed markets like U.S. and Japan.

"The main issue that drives piracy in China today is the price," said Matthew Cheung, an analyst with Gartner, another research firm.

"If you try to sell a program that costs 2,000 yuan to a student who lives at 400 yuan per month, simply does not work for most consumers."In a sign accusing these pressures, Microsoft lowered the price last year of its Office 2007 Home and Student Edition up to 199 yuan from 699 yuan. Sell the basic version of Windows 7 Home by 399 yuan, little to Western standards, but still 15 times higher than the pirated copies.

The violation of intellectual property rights has been a common dispute in China's relations with its major trading partners, despite having taken harsh measures against the rampant piracy of all kinds of items, from fake Gucci handbags to pirated versions software.
A Chinese court jailed four people in August to spread their version pirate "Tomato Garden" of Windows XP from Microsoft, in what the official news agency of China, Xinhua, called the greatest destruction of piracy in the nation.
"Many people are willing to continue with this for a long period of time," said Steve Vickers, president of FTI-International Risk. "There are signs that the legal efforts are taking effect, and this should help improve things."

The Business Software Alliance, a trade association created by the software industry, said the sector lost more than 6,600 million (4,430 million euros) last year in China because of piracy, only surpassed by the U.S. .

For better or worse

Most experts agree that piracy in China is a long-term issue, but many additional issues must improve as a reduction in prices of manufacturers, users are more educated and increase living standards .
"Piracy in China has been decreasing year after year because the government is paying increasing attention and price between the original and the fake has been approached," said Qian Liyong, director of the US-China to protect intellectual property rights , based in Beijing.

Gartner estimates that piracy rates in China will fall to 50 percent in 2012, almost on a par with developed Asian markets like Hong Kong.Educating clients is also taking off in China that is beginning to understand the dangers of installing pirated software that sometimes comes with virus and spyware.

"It's a long-term issue, 10 to 20 years, does not leave at a time," said Edward Yu, CEO of research firm Analysys International.In a bid to tackle the problem, Microsoft last year launched a campaign in China that caused unusual display of pirated Windows XP users are put in black every hour.
But this only provoked the anger of thousands of Chinese who switched to free software provided by national companies like Kingsoft, leaving Microsoft with its own black eye.