internet - Microsoft might kill millions of PC's

Panic is hitting Chinese users of Microsoft's Windows. I just received a message from people in China who claim that a change in Microsoft's updating policy might kill millions of PC's that are using illegal software. Unlike in the past, Microsoft is pushing you to their website for updates and recognizes whether you have a legitimate key to the system or not.
Engineers have founds a growing number of PC's is stopping functioning and they actually advise people to buy a legal copy of Windows. And next year they can buy a copy of the new platform Vista of course.

Update I: I got some feedback from Microsoft. They have never hear about it; most likely an urban myth. Or a smart way of some Chinese engineers to increase their turnover.
Update II: From reactions I understand that PC's are in fact being disabled and consumers are being forced to reinstall systems with a legal copy. From Microsoft I understand that they have been playing with the idea but realized it would cause an adverse reaction from the public who often has non-legal copies for private use. But even if it is not the intention of Microsoft to block the usage of illegal software that seems in quite some cases the nett effect.