How to use Live Hotmail Full Version With Linux
Posted on: Mar-15-2008 07:49:37 PM by Stevan Ljuljdurovic
Microsoft will block anyone who is using linux from being able to use the full version of Windows Live Hotmail. This should be 100% illegal because they do some user sniffing and check what you are using, if they don''t like it, they block you.
I noticed this when I was trying to add images to my email signature for windows live hotmail and could not do it properly without the full version. I had it finally set up on a different computer, but when I went back to my linux machine, the signature would not send properly unless I was using the full version of Hotmail.
Don''t worry, there is a simple solution and here is how you can trick Hotmail to thinking you are using IE7. Download this firefox add-on. User Agent Switcher.Click Tools -> User Agent Switcher -> Internet Explorer 7 (Windows Vista)Go to Hotmail, Click the options menu and enable the full version of Hotmail.
Somebody should tell Microsoft that this is illegal, and they could be in for another 1.4 Billion dollar lawsuit if they continue blocking Linux users from getting the same features that everyone else gets.
Note: My website is currently being hacked so some most of the time this article will be down. I guess expressing myself or posting an article is bad :). Either way this is a good thing because I will learn how to defend myself from these hacks and become a better coder :).
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Comments
ScarT Posted on: 2008-03-16 13:39:24
Why do you even care?
Almost every single site checks what kind of browser you are using. What you are saying in the article is simply untrue.
Cole Turner Posted on: 2008-03-16 14:01:33
You're wrong. It's completely legal for Microsoft to ban anyone from using the full version? Why? Because it's their product, and they can do WHATEVER they want with it.
Sim Yun Young Posted on: 2008-03-16 14:15:39
Bullshit. Firefox works very well for me in Ubuntu.
In fact this, this is just a minor mistake. There's a workaround for it. Hotmail full version supports very well with firefox.
In the case of Ubuntu. Firefox is bundled with it. Therefore the general.useragent.vendor was modified. All you need to do is as below.
Type about:config in a new URL and search for general.useragent.vendor and switch it from Ubuntu to Firefox and Windows Live Hotmail will work
The Th!ng Posted on: 2008-03-16 14:19:28
Why should Microsoft allow Linux users full access to their service? DEsktop Linux is a piece of over-hyped crap ware that is in beta for years and nerds like you would like to foist that on the world just to get one over on Bill gates & Co. If you don't like the way MS delivers it's service you're free to go ahead and develop a better one yourself.
LOL@U Posted on: 2008-03-16 14:24:53
Ahh, no, they can't. Simple. Why is this bad? Because they own windows. Its as simple as that. And you are not allowed to use your monopoly in one area to affect another.
Netmonger Posted on: 2008-03-16 14:31:04
@The Th!ng: Comments like yours are precisely why sites have to make people sign up before they are allowed to post. You obviously know nothing, and care less about desktop linux - yay. The fact that you still feel some incessant need to spout insult about desktop linux, shows your truly pitiful intellect.
Fran Michaels Posted on: 2008-03-16 14:31:05
To the MS apologists, if you've paid money for a product, and they don't let you use it, even though it works (they are just blocking it on your OS arbitrarily), it's called bait and switch. If you must have Windows to use hotmail (which makes no sense, since it works fine in other browsers on differnt OS's, this would be tying. This is illegal.) If you are still on MS's side, you may want to look up Stockholm Syndrome. :P
With that out of the way, my dad, not listening to me and still using hotmail as his main account (all boxes are Ubuntu) yesterday pointed out he had 119 non-delivered messages (from postmaster at hotmail.com). Could this be related?
Thanks for posting this Stevan.
Ryan Posted on: 2008-03-16 14:31:53
Why should it be illegal? It is their web site, their servers, their property. If you don't like it, use a decent email service, like gmail. If you need to keep your old address active, set it up so that it forwards mail from your hotmail account to your new gmail one. If hotmail doesn't have that feature, than it sucks more than I imagined.
And desktop linux is far more usable than Windows for me. I find Windows alien and difficult to use. Plus, their command-line interface is practically unusable.
dude... Posted on: 2008-03-16 14:34:59
Uhh.. I don't think it's about blocking Linux.. it's about compatibility. IE behaves differently than Firefox (ever try web developing for both?) so a feature from "full" Hotmail could work on IE and not Firefox. Cross-browser coding compatibilities are a huge pain that I suppose many would like to avoid unless it's absolutely required. In this way, Microsoft can provide support for only their products and not worry about what the competition is doing.
Wouldn't it make sense for a company to optimize their own websites for their own software? It'd be silly for them to make the "full" version 100% compatible with only, say, Konqueror.
I run Ubuntu.
- Posted on: 2008-03-16 14:50:19
Microsoft isn't blocking linux. It looks like they are not supporting the Firefox mozilla agent. It could be some type of compatibility issue that isn't noticeable yet. Maybe you shouldn't make post like this unless you know what you are talking about.
iamlost456 Posted on: 2008-03-16 15:00:26
You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. As others have pointed out this is simply a compatibility issue with different browsers, anyone in web design now of all the headaches that come with developing for multiple browsers, especially when trying to implement more advanced features. Also this isn't even remotely illegal, if you read on what Microsoft got in trouble for this isn't even close to that.
Incompatible with M$ Posted on: 2008-03-16 15:05:38
Most browsers actually take the exact same code and display things the same...except for stupid M$ IE. The reason that they have IE take different code is just so that they can pull crap like this and say that unless you're using IE, they can't support you. It's all just part of their "You need Windows" marketing.
Stevan Ljuljdurovic Posted on: 2008-03-16 15:09:19
Clearly a lot of people don't understand that microsoft is blocking the operating system, not the browser.
free mp3 Posted on: 2008-03-16 15:13:11
Microsoft ?
Alin Posted on: 2008-03-16 15:15:03
I checked on Ubuntu. It worked well (the full version) on Firefox 2 (also the signature modifications) but it loaded the classic version for Konqueror 3.5.6. There was even an explanation where they said that the Hotmail works only on IE 6 (or higher) or Firefox 1.5 (or higher). I hope that makes things clearer.
StevenIsAnIdiot Posted on: 2008-03-16 15:29:21
Wow Steven,
You are an idiot. I just tried using Firefox on Yellowdog Linux, and yes, full Hotmail version works.
Dick Long Posted on: 2008-03-16 15:54:52
Why would you wanna use Hotmail Full anyway? That's like taking a full nigger dick in the ass when you could just as easily take a little Chinese dick. Same thing.
Yonah Posted on: 2008-03-16 15:56:20
I hate Linux users because they lie so much. This article just re-enforces that for me. This is also one of the worst looking blogs I've seen yet. These colors are awful.
Mark Posted on: 2008-03-16 16:25:27
I think what we should really ask ourselves here is - who cares?
Anyone who would sue over this is a sad individual again. Maybe I'll go and sue toyota because I cant run my petrol car on diesel. What a pointless story.
loaf Posted on: 2008-03-16 16:39:40
You are fucking stupid. The full feature is available to people who use IE. It has nothing to do with operating system. If you run IE7 on linux then it will work fine. Or you can make firefox have an IE7 user agent to trick their software.
If you override your use agent in firefox to: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0)
(NOTICE how there is nothing there that says windows vista or any other windows os)
then refresh the hotmail page, you will have access to the full version.
You just picked the most obvious thing in the user agent extension, then came to a hasty conclusion about microsoft banning linux. So once again, you are fucking stupid. Stop making people who use linux look like idiots.
Dude Posted on: 2008-03-16 17:01:56
Do some more research dude. I used Firefox just 5 minutes ago on the Full version and not a hiccup in sight.
Read the comments.... Posted on: 2008-03-16 17:22:11
The most useful post in these comments is the one from Sim Yun Young that actually seems to explain what is going on. Ubuntu has modified the useragent.vendor in Firefox to ubuntu thus making it appear as an unknown browser. Resetting this to Firefox makes it work again. This really appears to be an article that hasn't been researched. The problem isn't Microsoft's its with the modifications that ubuntu has made to firefox and knock on effects.
pffft Posted on: 2008-03-16 17:28:00
saying this should be illegal is like saying it should be illegal that all Mac software won't work on Windows.
Not Loaf Posted on: 2008-03-16 17:51:31
@ Loaf:
"If you run IE7 on linux then it will work fine." Ummmm... LOL? Loaf you's a one dum muthafucka
PPX Posted on: 2008-03-16 18:14:57
Thanks so Sim Yun Young for clarifying the situation here.
konfusion Posted on: 2008-03-16 18:44:49
Uhm... DUH? This is a FREE Microsoft product. They have the right to do it as much as they want. Since some people buy their OS, they get to use the full version. It's kind of like a complementary service. What's the problem with that? If you want a good email service, just use gmail - much better... Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. It's their product, and it's free. If they were CHARGING you for it, then it would be a different matter. But guess what? They're not, so stop your whining.
Yert Posted on: 2008-03-16 19:37:14
Yahoo! does the same thing by blocking Windows 98 users from using their "new" service. Everyone does this sort of stuff. Remember when Flash player wasn't written for every other version for Linux?
Martin Fleming Posted on: 2008-03-16 19:42:54
Just typical of MS really. Allowing full functionality across all browsers will only strengthen their product and get more users having a windows live account.
Richard Brand Posted on: 2008-03-16 21:06:53
I could easily get the full version of Windows Live Hotmail using Firefox on Windows XP, but when I try it on my Linux machine it doesn't work at all. Then I did what Sim Yun Young said to do and the full version of Windows Live Hotmail works just fine now. Question is why is it that this one simple change allows you to use it just fine. Is Microsoft scanning for Linux software and denying it? Or is it a bug that Microsoft isn't fully aware of and will eventually fix?
Ben Mushol Posted on: 2008-03-16 21:19:14
Why complain? Hotmail sucks. I stopped using it years ago when they cleaned out all my old messages after not logging in for awhile.
Dank Guy Posted on: 2008-03-16 21:41:48
Why would Microsoft have to work around the bugs of different features not being able to work with Linux? I would block them too, that's too much to worry about. Have you ever tried to find a driver for Linux? Yeah, it's that gay.
Jesus Christ You People Love to Bash MS Posted on: 2008-03-16 22:08:14
Umm, if I read this right, it's checking your browser version, not your OS. From what I understand it checks for IE7 and if you don't have it, it doesn't work. Has nothing to do with your OS. If you wanna use this feature so badly then get IE7... ohh wait.
You chose to use Linux, live with it. Mac users have had to learn to get used to not having access to everything, so can you. Stop your fucking whining.
you Posted on: 2008-03-16 22:45:30
you are a f@g
anonymous Posted on: 2008-03-17 00:58:28
actually, its not illegal. Its the same as some websites blocking ie from using their servers. What? You going to sue everyone that has a different view depending on the OS or browser you are running? Fucking retard
anonymous Posted on: 2008-03-17 04:41:28
Actually it is illegal. When you have a monopoly. I hope EU steps in and bitch slaps MS a little more.
But Hotmail? Haven't used that piece of crap in a really long time.
who cares Posted on: 2008-03-17 05:46:12
Why does anybody care?
Honestly - if you're using Linux, you probably aren't/shouldn't using hotmail.
Juls Posted on: 2008-03-17 13:07:17
Gmail is better!!!
EJMS Posted on: 2008-03-17 14:25:41
Hey Microsoft! stop working with Hotmail it just sucks! I don't think (we) Linux users use that crap of mail service!
Gmail FTW!!!!!
Posted on: 2008-03-17 17:43:55
SK Posted on: 2008-03-17 23:00:14
Why bother M$ and it\'s stupid marketing policies, there are better free email service providers if you really want.
Michael VanDeMar Posted on: 2008-03-17 23:18:35
Acrually, Microsoft is just trying to encourage people to cloak what browser/OS they are using, so people will be less pissed that MS is cloaking who they are. :)
http://smackdown.blogsblogsblogs.com/2007/11/13/microsoft-needs-to-quit-fucking-with-my-adsense-scripts/
Whatchoo Doin Loius Posted on: 2008-03-30 12:59:02
Man, the rhetoric on here is like something of a religious war.
If it works, great.
Everyone wants too look superior and all your doing is looking like fools. There is no right or wrong OS/Browser/whatever just use what you need to get the job done. Windows has some great features, so does GNU/Linux. The great thing about the latter is it's free. Is there any specification in hotmail's T+C that indicate a limitation for non IE users? Are there any extensions to IE that other browsers do not have that may enable extra features. The key thing is, does the service provide all of the specified features to any user with a reasonably modern browser, if so the additional features for IE may be extra features for a specific browser capability. It looks to me as though the author is claiming that all of the features are enabled when you spoof the useragent, this indicates that it is a purely discriminatory process and not one which is based on any technical restrictions. This would be unfortunate.
You missed something Posted on: 2008-04-03 13:59:09
As someone said in this very thread. To allow full version of hotmail on Linux, there is a simple adjstment to do:
1-Type about:config in the address bar
2-Filter for "vendor" (without the colon)
3-Change general.useragent.vendor to "Firefox"
4-Change general.useragent.vendorSub to "1.5" or any other windows firefox release compatible with hotmail.
5-Enjoy until you switch to something better!
xangua Posted on: 2008-04-04 17:10:09
Hey i noticed something new, also if you try to load live mail complete in firefox 3 beta it redirectes you to the normal versión.
It is not also browser discrimination.
In second i do not realy thing change how the browser identifies is the solution, the bad part of the solucion is that we "apear" to use explorer
Violating our freedom
LotsOfDummiesHere Posted on: 2008-04-22 16:11:37
You guys don't get it. They ARE blocking the OS for no reason at all. If you are using Firefox on Linux, attempt to use hotmail, it redirects to the simple version. If you change the user agent to FOOL the hotmail website into thinking you have Firefox on Windows instead of Linux, the full version loads and it works perfectly.
That means there IS NOT A COMPATIBILITY PROBLEM. It runs quite fine on Linux and Firefox, it's simply being blocked because your browser is reporting you are using linux.
Not that hard to comprehend, people.
Luke Posted on: 2008-07-06 06:42:54
I absolutely agree with you! It\'s a shame that if I want to use Linux i can\'t use properly my account! I did as you suggested, and it all worked until now: Microsoft wants me to upgrade my browser, and even if i did it (and changed the options in the User Agent Switcher) now it is not working... Hope someone will start complaining with them...
ES Shoe Posted on: 2008-07-20 22:30:25
Microsoft also blocks everyone who wants to use HoTMaiL through an IMAP Client other then MS Outlook. You have to use the "Outlook Connector", available for Outlook, to access your Mails.
Marti Mc Fly Posted on: 2008-11-12 08:09:28
Modifying general.useragent.vendor from "Ubuntu" to "Firefox" did work for me.
Ian Nicholson Posted on: 2008-11-15 05:15:03
I've managed to get my Hotmail account (which I've had for 10 years, since before i ran Linux) by installing User Agent Switcher extension.
Once done, configure it: in Tools > User Agent Switcher, go into Options > options…, and add a new identifier:
* Field 1 : Firefox for Windows
* Field 2 : Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en; rv:1.8.1.11) Gecko/20071127 Firefox/2.0.0.11
Now when you want to send an email in Hotmail just go to Tools>User Agent Switcher>Firefox for Windows
Christofer Posted on: 2008-11-17 03:51:52
windows live hotmail doesn't work for me in Ubuntu either, until I change a tiny little unsignificant character string (vendor in about:config) from "Ubuntu" to "Firefox".
This change does not modify in any way how the browser handles data from any website, but still, after I change it, hotmail works.
Seems like the only thing not making it work is if hotmail knows you're using Ubuntu (Haven't tried any other distros)... Interesting...
Me Posted on: 2008-12-06 10:16:26
For all the people who say that this is not illegal, it is. It's called being anticompetitive, and it is definitely illegal. There are laws against it all over the world.
USA - United States antitrust law
European Union - Treaty of Rome
Australia - Trade Practices Act 1974
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