Monday, April 16th 2007
Microsoft Confirms Vista OEM hack works
In an MSDN blog, Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage Senior Product Manager Alex Kochis has admitted that the OEM activation hack for Windows Vista does work effectively. The hack involves either using a custom BIOS to trick Vista into believing it is running on a different computer model and therefore allows activation without connecting to the internet or using the phone, or using software to fool the OS in the same way. Windows XP also suffered from a similar hack, which also fools the Microsoft website into thinking the Windows install is genuine, however it received little attention because of the numerous other ways to bypass activation. Unsurprisingly, Kochis' blog is largely trying to deter people from using this method due to its risks (custom BIOSes can be dangerous) and claiming that the software equivalent will be easy to detect and respond to, but it would suggest that Microsoft more worried about this bypass than the others.Notice: techPowerUp! does not support the use off illegal software
28 Comments on Microsoft Confirms Vista OEM hack works
There are so many variations.
But I can think of one way they could possibly stop them working. Bit of software used to look at the machines hardware configuration ie memory manufacturers etc and compare the parts to a master list for the hardware configs from these manufacturers.
But its only a thought, how easy it is to impliment and its feasability.
But im not sure.
I wounder if the crack where you replace certain files and enter a diff key will work, I rember trying one to see if it worked that said you could use existing RC1 RC2 BETA2 cd keys, and my RC1 key did indeed work. But I dont run vista at the moment anyway.
I have only tried that particular crack out of interest as I have the discs for RC1 and BETA2.
as someone said earlier they do it on purpose, if windows couldnt be cracked, Linux would overtake the market in the blink of an eye
btw i have since purchased vista for anyone who wants to start a flame war about piracy and i as well as many other people dont see anything wrong with trying before you buy
Only problem I have with Ubuntu is that's new versions are release too regularly - I like to be able to keep my OS for a few years to get used to it and still have time to do stuff with it. Even the small changes are annoying if they're every six months.
this also makes me lolive said threads in here regarding torrents etc that mods get into discussion with when it suits and also similar threads what get locked again when it suits, if its not allowed to be discussed it shouldnt have been posted in the first place to get feedback and a discussion going!, what about the marijuana thread ? maybe thats locked now i dont know but people dont have a problem with other people saying how they use or have used a drug which is illegal in most countries and kick up a fuss regarding piuracy lol i think youll find theres probably more people here who have "borrowed" software/music etc than have smoked cannabis. i dont condone or reccomend people do either.
if i try software/music/games etc and want to keep them i BUY them!! ever had a grape whilst walking round the supermarket ? :p