Windows 7 has yet to even be released officially to the general public, and already the dodgy folk on the Internet have fully cracked and activated the Ultimate version, with help from a leaked Lenovo OEM DVD .ISO file.The news comes from various Chinese forums who state that you can already pass Windows Genuine Advantage validation offline, OEM style.
The leaked .ISO was originally posted on a Chinese forum, which was then downloaded in order for people to get hold of the boot.wim, and in turn retrieving the OEM-SLP key, plus the OEM activation certificate. Microsoft uses the same digitally signed OEM certificate, which has an .xrm-ms extension, as that in Windows Vista. Another point to note is that the key is a master one, which can be used to activate other OEM branded installations, like ones from Dell, HP or indeed Lenovo.
This is quite concerning; as mentioned, Windows 7 has yet to even be released, and it can be fully activated. This demonstrates the risk such a huge company as Microsoft takes when distributing a product as significant as an operating system, but this was essentially inevitable, regardless. It's interesting that a product can be pirated and activated before it's properly released to customers.
Microsoft was not available for comment at the time of writing.
Updated: A Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed to Neowin: "we are aware of reports of activation exploits that attempt to circumvent activation & validation in Windows 7, and we can assure customers that Microsoft is committed to protecting them from counterfeit and pirated software. Microsoft strongly advises customers not to download Windows 7 from unauthorized sources. Downloading Windows 7 from peer-to-peer Web sites is piracy, and exposes users to increased risks – such as viruses, Trojans and other malware and malicious code—that usually accompany counterfeit software."
Update 2: Microsoft has confirmed that they will be blacklisting the key. According to Alex Kochis, Director of Genuine Windows at Microsoft: "we've worked with that manufacturer so that customers who purchase genuine copies of Windows 7 from this manufacturer will experience no issues validating their copy of Windows 7. At the same time we will seek to alert customers who are using the leaked key that they are running a non-genuine copy of Windows. It's important to note that no PCs will be sold that will use this key."
Its not really a proper crack, it can easily be detected and disabled when Microsoft want to
This one is different, no RC files used, only oem certificates and keys...
but when is this "when Microsoft want to"? Vista's similar activation is still valid till now, even though many said after the release of SP1 for vista this kind or cracks will be disabled and blocked, but nothing has been done for neither of the 2 variants (soft and hard mods), as MS declared that the hard bios mod is too complicated for people and they care for the small percentage of users who do it, but softmod which can be detected easily is still active too, and i saw (in a country where copyright is not an issue) Vista DVD's with softmod auto installed for $1 (and no, i didn't get them as i already own authentic copies of xp and vista)...
Last edited by ramik on 29 Jul 2009 - 10:42
you really dont want to use that program, it replaces certain files with the Earlyer Pre-RTM builds files to pass the activation with an RC key.
Aside from being easaly detected it also expires in march.
Microsoft can't fix a key based activation method using a master OEM key. Those OEM master keys can pre-activate a ton of computers. The only way that it could be fixed is to blacklist the master key but then all of those other systems that use it would need to be reinstalled with a new key. If Lenovo acts quickly they can get the master key blacklisted and reissued. They also need to seal the leak.
As it stands the retail and oem discs are virtually identical as far as the install is concerned. The only differences are OEM specific ones. The retail discs will accept, install with, and activate with OEM keys fine.
thats whywe disable auto pdates
I really doubt that will happen, because MS doesn't really care - it's just a further means to ensure market penetration of Windows.
If MS really cared about it, they would use a method that can't be cracked that easily.
and yet the Vista activator still works,,,,
This is why they probably don't send out clean reinstall media...
Well, good thing it wasn't an OS X leak. Hate for someone to have to kill themselves over it.
iPhone, not Mac OS X.
It's a shame since Win7 is so much better than Vista, for once, MS should be rewarded with some money for that OS!!
It's a shame since Win7 is so much better than Vista, for once, MS should be rewarded with some money for that OS!!
It's not like: oh if I can get this for free. then won't buy it. They were not going to buy WIn 7 in the first place.
Those who are interested in upgrading/buying will buy in any case.
Those who are interested in upgrading/buying will buy in any case.
Nah, that's just a theory people cooked up as an argument against DRM. There's no real evidence that that is the case. There are cases of game developers that distributed their games without DRM and paying the price of it.
IMO, people will always try to save their money. If a person wanted both Win7 and a new audio player but only have the money for one and suddenly someone told them that they could have both, what do you think will happen?
Those who are interested in upgrading/buying will buy in any case.
Nah, that's just a theory people cooked up as an argument against DRM. There's no real evidence that that is the case. There are cases of game developers that distributed their games without DRM and paying the price of it.
IMO, people will always try to save their money. If a person wanted both Win7 and a new audio player but only have the money for one and suddenly someone told them that they could have both, what do you think will happen?
Some people are taught by their parents as young people not to steal.
Oh wow! You just solved piracy! And probably burglary and thefts! The world is saved. Hooray!
We don't need law and enforcement anymore. Yay!
For some, there are plenty of reasons why they would choose the illegal route.
1. They have chosen the illegal route before and nothing every happened to them. They know that it would be bad PR for MS.
2. The illegal version works just as well as the legal one.
3. MS is a mega-corporation. Faceless and nameless. MS has a history of "shady" dealings. They will feel no shame or guilt from stealing from MS.
4. They thought Vista was crap and Win 7 is what Vista should have been. So they think they are entitiled to get Win 7 for free.
5. People can justify and rationalize their decisions for anything.
Those who are interested in upgrading/buying will buy in any case.
Nah, that's just a theory people cooked up as an argument against DRM. There's no real evidence that that is the case. There are cases of game developers that distributed their games without DRM and paying the price of it.
Can you give me an example of these game developers?
The exact same thing that would have happened when they couldn't get both, they would buy one and not the other. Your example pretty much disproves your earlier point. Either the person would pirate or not buy, but both ways the company wouldn't see money from them. Doesn't that support the argument that pirates should just be ignored?
...
2. The illegal version works just as well as the legal one.
That depends on how long it takes microsoft to block the method.
...
2. The illegal version works just as well as the legal one.
That depends on how long it takes microsoft to block the method.
sometimes methods are never blocked.
We don't need law and enforcement anymore. Yay!
That about sums it up. I am pretty sure most people are taught by their parents not to steal, rape, or murderer but we still have prisons full of people who did just those things. Pirating software is just easier for people to rationalise as a victimless crime. They are stealing something that can't be seen or touched. They are never going to meet anyone affected by the crime. Many of the same people wouldn't go into a store and steal the boxed dvd off the shelf, even if they knew they would get away with it.
The problem is that the people who do get it from a torrent, and use this key actually have a superior product to the people who actually bought it. They can change hardware as much as they want, they won't have to prove that they bought it ever again. That sucks.
Those who are interested in upgrading/buying will buy in any case.
Nah, that's just a theory people cooked up as an argument against DRM. There's no real evidence that that is the case. There are cases of game developers that distributed their games without DRM and paying the price of it.
IMO, people will always try to save their money. If a person wanted both Win7 and a new audio player but only have the money for one and suddenly someone told them that they could have both, what do you think will happen?
As usual, the truth is somewhere in between. Both of you are wrong. There are both kinds of people. Some only care for the warez, others always stay legit, yet others try to get away cheap.
1. They have chosen the illegal route before and nothing every happened to them. They know that it would be bad PR for MS.
2. The illegal version works just as well as the legal one.
3. MS is a mega-corporation. Faceless and nameless. MS has a history of "shady" dealings. They will feel no shame or guilt from stealing from MS.
4. They thought Vista was crap and Win 7 is what Vista should have been. So they think they are entitiled to get Win 7 for free.
5. People can justify and rationalize their decisions for anything.
or
6. M$ is going to over charge for it again ( i don't mind paying for it but im not prepaired to be gauged in the wallet for it)
Source?Or are you making that up?
Last edited by Raa on 29 Jul 2009 - 10:03
Easily patched by Microsoft. Enjoy the next version of WGA
Yeah, it was inevitable. This news comes as no surprise at all.
Until that time there will be around 17 other activators available... or full ISO of corporate edition...
Your ISOs might not be so "untouched" after all...
I may recommend you reading this article
Quoting a Wikipedia article that has no reference is not the greatest idea I've ever seen.
Here ya go: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd197314.aspx
Just because Wikipedia doesn't have a source does not mean it's wrong.
Your ISOs might not be so "untouched" after all...
Correct. All the installs in a corporate require activation to a master server in the network once every 6 months. That server needs activation once every 3 months.
I wont, I'm glad that I can get Windows 7 Pro for €99 inc postage from Amazon....
Gee luck for some isn't it i'd have loved to have been able to pre-order mine but NOOOO MS chose to rip new zealanders off AGAIN
Although people do get pirated copies, it's up to individual to use pirated or a legitimate software. And as per the statistics lot of corporates/individuals use legitimate copies.
Piracy is generally spread in developing countries as the prices seem exorbitant there and become unaffordable for individuals/small business.
well New Zealand isn't classed as a developing country but MS sure do love to over price their products here take the initial price of vista ultimate $999.95 i just about had a heart attack when i saw it as for it's price now it's still $568.97 and buggar me if vista home basic isn't $379.00
As a partner with Microsoft, it will be interesting to watch this post develop.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
The problem is, that if the key i banned, every machine legally sold with it will be marked as non-genuine.
So once machines hit the store, those keys has to be genuine forever
Basically, if you go the piracy route with this one, you're good to go despite what any of the MS partner zealots say.
On a side note, any idea how many keys will be available from MSDN? will it be one as it was for Vista?
MS knew this, but know its almost futile to try for a "flawless", uncrackable system. Nobody has managed to do this yet, and until they do, they are at the mercy of the masses.
Its all about OEM licensing to the big companies, thats where they make their money.
Every machine sold with Windows 7 pre-installed? All 0 of them? Damn!
Maybe MS can ban this key (as they did with the FCKGW for XP long ago in the SP1 or SP2), as this seems to be a test key for OEM's and not for a specific brand one, and Win7 is not yet public, but it will be useless as the day the first oem pc is sold the keys will be available everywhere.
I was just going to post the same thing. People seem so willing to boast about their illegal activities on the internet - it's a strange condition frankly.
The keys for Vista was the same for most of the OEM's, so it working with several OEM's is not an indication of it being a test key.
Why should they give them test keys, since they have been having test keys for all the test builds they have got from ms?
Sure it might take some extra time, but that's the price you pay for a big mistake.
Sure it might take some extra time, but that's the price you pay for a big mistake.
for the reason i just mentioned above, it's useless as when oem pc's are out many many new keys are going to be released, by blocking this leaked key microsoft will only earn 1-2 months without keys leaking around...
Nothing to see here. Move along.
The problem is, that if the key i banned, every machine legally sold with it will be marked as non-genuine.
So once machines hit the store, those keys has to be genuine forever
Yea but the systems hasn't hit the stores yet so Lenovo can go back and reimage them. It would be different if this leak had happened in say December.
Basically, if you go the piracy route with this one, you're good to go despite what any of the MS partner zealots say.
On a side note, any idea how many keys will be available from MSDN? will it be one as it was for Vista?
You can still ban the PID which is how they deal with VLK leaks reported by the corporation.
It's because they think they are annonymous...that illusion makes people admit to things or say things they wouldn't normally say or do. IF you think nobody will know who you are, you can say anything to them....like for the fact that I'm gonna kick your a$$ up one wall and down the other Chicane-UK...nevermind the fact that maybe you're 220, 6'2", and can bench maybe 600 lbs in real life, and I'm 5'9", 175lbs, and can maybe bench an empty bar..... get the drift?
btw, i'm not 5'9, i don't weigh 175, and i can lift more than a bar...just making a point.
As a partner with Microsoft, it will be interesting to watch this post develop.
IT IS NOT ILLEGAL, there is no way that this is illegal. Sure, it is illegal to copy windows, but this key may be encouraging it, but that does not make it illegal.
Sheesh, you people will jump on anything.
I'm not ashamed to admit it,i've ordered win7 and i don't see why i can't try out the software i'm buying,like in shareware,rather than an old beta version.
The rtm runs much better than 7100(i've installed premium,which is what i'm getting).I don't think people realize that alot of your info goes to m/soft wether u have updates on or not
only took about 5yrs for a winXP key to be blocked by MS
You do know you can rearm until you get your legitimate key.
You do know you can rearm until you get your legitimate key.
Rearming and using an activator are the same in legal terms. So what difference does it make?
You do know you can rearm until you get your legitimate key.
Rearming and using an activator are the same in legal terms. So what difference does it make?
A rearm is only usable 3 times and only for 30 day segments. An activator is "permanent" until WGA shuts you down. The latter is not legal.
Come on microsoft, do away with activation and whilst your there make it all in one dual-layerd disk: one side 32bit and the other side 64bit.
Also make the installer a custom installer, let us choose the crao, sorry, i meant good wholesome applications to install!
Come on microsoft, do away with activation and whilst your there make it all in one dual-layerd disk: one side 32bit and the other side 64bit.
Also make the installer a custom installer, let us choose the crao, sorry, i meant good wholesome applications to install!
Dual Layer, and Double sided are two different things....you're thinking double sided.
Concerting? Why? Are you a part of Microsoft?
Also, "It's interesting that a product can be pirated and activated before it's properly released to customers."
Seriously? Do you think this is new? This has been done many times before, this is neither new nor interesting.
Excuse me, but I'm not trying to look like a hero. Also, what you said makes no sense at all.
Huh?
LOL. How did MS become a multi-billion $$$ company? Hint: selling OEM preloads and VLK licenses of Windows. Don't worry about MS, even with poor sales of Vista it made billions. Windows is a cash cow from hell.
No, this is not a volume license method, and the key cant be blocked by microsoft, without it hurting alot of customers.
lol
Wait, what customers? Are PC's shipping with Win7 already? It's so early in the process MS can go in and fix it.
Didn't we all? :-p
They can say "blame lenovo".
Then another OEM key will be leaked.
I think most of you don't realize how OEM validations work. You need an OEM BIOS, or something that emulates one (one of those so-called "loaders"). Vista/7 checks to see if you have the BIOS and key and then validates you. WGA can't tell if it's fake or not, it thinks you've got an OEM PC with an Ultimate license.
But seriously... Over here, the piracy rate is huge. I think only 1 out of 10 people I know uses legal Windows. Probably even less than that.
Looks like MS has given up trying to beat the pirates as they totally ignored the fact that their protection system was blown apart years ago and have released 7 with exactly the same flaws...
Looks like MS has given up trying to beat the pirates as they totally ignored the fact that their protection system was blown apart years ago and have released 7 with exactly the same flaws...
Very old saying (originally attributed to Robert A. Heinlein) - What one brain can do, a better brain can (and will) undo.
Also, nowadays, the rewards favor the undoers (especially when the target is Microsoft, or the United States, or anyone connected with either) simply in terms of "street cred" (in case nobody has noticed, there is a rather large amount of anti-Microsoft and/or anti-United States in general fervor these days).
I don't like it (I'm a Microsoft Registered Partner, and an American); but I can't ignore reality, either.
I'm surprised it's given the time of day considering all the hoop-la over even mentioning RTM in the forums. Yet, right here on the FP is the name of the site that's largely responsible for all the BIOS mods to activate XP, Vista and 7.
This can be the only unreliable piece of software in the process, as using the softmods you are allowing some software to run before windows kernel load, they might be able to do somekind of Blue Pill malware, but the self-made hardmod remains safer but much too complicated..
Last edited by GreyWolfSC on 29 Jul 2009 - 15:09
heck the article writer even posted the site where the crack can be found on a front page story. unbelievable
This is bad for ms because more ppl now can pirate their flag product. This is bad for neowin because it now links to warez and can be prosecuted. This is bad for pirates because as this method gains publicity a fix might eventually be introduced.
bad bad poster.
Th"is is bad for neowin because it now links to warez and can be prosecuted." - no one will do anything , and the link and the files can be foundi n google and all major torrent sites
"This is bad for pirates because as this method gains publicity a fix might eventually be introduced." - until that time there will about 10 more activation hacks anyways
good poster!
Fixed that for you.
Yeah, so can lots of other pirated software. Does that mean it should be ok to post links to them on Neowin? I really don't think so.
bad bad poster.
The key is most likely going to be blocked anyway, we didn't link to any warez and are within our community rules. We're reporting a exploit, and we've contacted Microsoft and have let them know of the situation.
Would you say the same if someone reported that this crack was available on Demonoid or The Pirate Bay? Usually in cases like this Neowin simply reports that something is available on "torrent sites" or that an unnamed site is reporting the information. The web site in question is clearly named in this article, which is generally taboo in cases like this around here. And it's not as if you really have to dig around on the site to find it.
+1. It'll be funny if a lot of people use the key and it gets blacklisted.
But this Chinese company bought IBM's pc business...
it was a pre-order so you didn't actually pay anything yet
Last edited by GreyWolfSC on 29 Jul 2009 - 14:51
it was a pre-order so you didn't actually pay anything yet
I don't know about pre-orders at Amazon, but to order anything you have to pay, probably its the same with pre-orders.
Or maybe they charge only when shipping...
it was a pre-order so you didn't actually pay anything yet
I don't know about pre-orders at Amazon, but to order anything you have to pay, probably its the same with pre-orders.
Or maybe they charge only when shipping...
I pre-ordered one from Microsoft and another from MicroCenter, neither will bill me until the release date.
This will never be patched unless they redesign OEM licensing and replace it completely due to the nature of how it works. To the software, the bios IS a genuine OEM bios, there is simply no way to detect that the machine was not built by a valid OEM. This is why MS have not bothered to touch the protection in 7, because anything they do will have no effect whatsoever. The ultimate 100% fix is to actually install the OEM-SLP into the BIOS, so it checks out every time from hardware however this can potentially destroy your BIOS if you do it wrong.
freeloaders are OK for another iteration of Windows.
Last edited by ZombieFly on 29 Jul 2009 - 11:18
(snipped)
Last edited by GreyWolfSC on 29 Jul 2009 - 14:54
Last edited by GreyWolfSC on 29 Jul 2009 - 15:16
What is that 10 times crap?
You can register your windows as many times as you wish without a phone call as long as you have not changed the configuration.
I even changed my graphics card and Vista activated a new activation fine.
Activation is so much better now than on XP.
Last edited by GreyWolfSC on 29 Jul 2009 - 15:16
You can register your windows as many times as you wish without a phone call as long as you have not changed the configuration.
I even changed my graphics card and Vista activated a new activation fine.
Activation is so much better now than on XP.
well i could register only 10 times for some reason, thats why i hate it. Also beta/RC key i had from technet i could use only 10 times, before i needed new one.
so true
For you it might be, but for many people this is day of celebration
I don't plan on canceling my pre-orders, I'm sure they'll find some way to block this and make Lenovo feel the hurt.
I don't plan on canceling my pre-orders, I'm sure they'll find some way to block this and make Lenovo feel the hurt.
Yeah, because $49 was WAY too much for an operating system!
I don't plan on canceling my pre-orders, I'm sure they'll find some way to block this and make Lenovo feel the hurt.
Yeah, because $49 was WAY too much for an operating system!
The crack and the post here are about Ultimate, a $219.99 upgrade or $319.99 full install purchase.
This crack wouldn't be news if it was for Home Premium.
Not that it will stop piracy in exactly the same way later, and then it's much worse of course, with legit OEM systems in the market.
And then whomever leaked it will leak the new one. Vicious cycle.
It could depend on how many of those machines that have already been made ready. If it's massive quantities, I can see complain going on if they have to redo all of them
Hooray! Now quick let's blame DRM or evil corporations or some other made-up scapegoat for what is in reality pure and simple greed on the part of the ordinary person to get something for nothing.
Last edited by GreyWolfSC on 29 Jul 2009 - 14:56
Hooray! Now quick let's blame DRM or evil corporations or some other made-up scapegoat for what is in reality pure and simple greed on the part of the ordinary person to get something for nothing.
I have to wonder what the Internet was like before the Entitlement Generation got ahold of it.
Last edited by GreyWolfSC on 29 Jul 2009 - 14:57
Did the internet exist before the Entitlement Generation got ahold of it?
And they're very easily bypassed with emulation.
Imagine if all software required this. You would have tons of dongles and have to remember which is which. Take the time to change them when you run something and not lose it. Also, they have easily bypassed for a while now, as stated.
I must be too old, i must hav forgots how to read teh Interwebz... cannot understand the previous post...
Mr.Ed
QFT, it just really surprised me when many of the users here have this holier than thou attitude about piracy when thats what this site was founded on. I remember the member only section of this site had all kinds of stuff. It was the reason I originally joined neowin. I remember back when they had the devils own xp edition.
Yup, this is how I found out about neowin as well. XP was the last OS I "warezed" though. For me, it's too much to hassle with WGA and all that crap.
Heh
The BIOS cert is actually the easy part, since it is already present in (and easily recovered from) the BIOS of any recent computer, or from a BIOS flash update file.
There are no OEM PCs available on the market yet that use SLIC 2.1. The only place it could have come from is Lenovo. The Vista ones are a different version with a different key.
There are already BIOS updates available that have the SLIC 2.1 tables in them. Take a look at the forums on the site named in this article if you don't believe me. Machines that are eligible to take advantage of the free upgrade are also available, and those would have SLIC 2.1 information as well, most likely.
Free upgrades don't use SLIC. The the fulfillment copies of Vista that were shipped were OEM copies or retail. There's no way that there are already PCs out with Windows 7 BIOS certificates as the final version was just signed off on and OEMs just got it last week. Someone stole or leaked the cert.
OEM copies from big companies are exactly what SLIC is used for.
You are wrong, period. There ARE systems available that have SLIC 2.1 information in the BIOS. The OEMs have had the information on SLIC 2.1 since around the beginning of the year. Believe whatever you want, but if you read through those forums, you will find lots of reports of people with CURRENT systems that shipped with SLIC 2.1 enabled BIOSs, or have found the information in BIOS updates available on the OEM's web site.
You are wrong, period. There ARE systems available that have SLIC 2.1 information in the BIOS. The OEMs have had the information on SLIC 2.1 since around the beginning of the year. Believe whatever you want, but if you read through those forums, you will find lots of reports of people with CURRENT systems that shipped with SLIC 2.1 enabled BIOSs, or have found the information in BIOS updates available on the OEM's web site.
An OEM copy is just a disc that's issued by the manufacturer. An OEM pre-activation disc is different. The license certificate must match the product being installed. SLIC 2.1 is not a Microsoft key. It's an activation method. My Vista x64 disc is OEM. My roommate's that came with his ASUS system is OEM-PA. There is no key to enter on his computer if he uses my disc, and his disc will not activate on my computer.
Yes, I'm aware of the difference between the two types of disc, but that wasn't my point anyway. My entire point (which was verified by the poster above you) is that there are in fact systems with SLIC 2.1 information available.
Now please stop commenting on things you clearly don't understand.
They can't delay it.
They already spent money on marketing, etc....
This news should NOT be posted on the frontpage. Maybe a back article and even I disagree with that. I know it is news but this will make every pirate on Neowin know it is out there and look for it.
These protection schemes serve only the purpose of annoying legitimate consumers and defying brilliant minds to prove nothing is really bulletproof.
And to go one step further, I'll say this current OS distribution model may became obsolete in a near future if the browser and the OS eventually consolidate into a single entity.
These protection schemes serve only the purpose of annoying legitimate consumers and defying brilliant minds to prove nothing is really bulletproof.
And to go one step further, I'll say this current OS distribution model may became obsolete in a near future if the browser and the OS eventually consolidate into a single entity.
I disagree with you. Most average users will look for a cracked version and wont find it. Neowin says it is out there and working. Average user will look for it again and evenually find it and have it working.
(I use Neowin as a example)
Only a government can do censorship. This isn't a free speech issue. It's up to Neowin as for which stance they are to take against promoting piracy news.
Of course you arent stating how to crack but just look at this:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Windows+7+U...ex=&startPage=1
This is the news title of the article. I put it in Google and pages with files/methods/etc come up. Dont like Google?
http://www.bing.com/search?q=Windows+7+Ult...m=QBLH&filt=all
Bing shows a bit of the same.
These protection schemes serve only the purpose of annoying legitimate consumers and defying brilliant minds to prove nothing is really bulletproof.
And to go one step further, I'll say this current OS distribution model may became obsolete in a near future if the browser and the OS eventually consolidate into a single entity.
Uh no i was waiting for this information and i came home from work and read neowin and found out here first.
[google]Windows+7+Ultimate+cracked+and+activated+with+OEM+master+key&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1[/google]
This is the news title of the article. I put it in Google and pages with files/methods/etc come up. Dont like Google?
http://www.bing.com/search?q=Windows+7+Ult...m=QBLH&filt=all
Bing shows a bit of the same.
You can find information on a search engine about blowing up bridges, too. Should news outlets stop reporting on bridges being blown up because someone might look it up?
There is your proof. One, like problably many Neowin users, that found out about this (and are intrested) thru Neowin first.
Likewise, All authentic since Win 95! For what I've paid MS over the years I ought to get Windows 7 free and maybe a fruit basket to go with it!
The complications I had with Vista initially trying to bypass its authentication and then updating it was too much of a hassle. I mean a good copy was eventually released but that was almost a year into its release. At the end of the day, for an OS, I rather keep it authentic.
The retail ISO and OEM ISO got leaked a long time ago.
Also, from what I know whatever is out there the 16385 are 'edited' ISOs.
You are misinformed, most of the ones currently being circulated are genuine, as evidenced by the fact that they match the hashes published in the Technet blog.
"BECAUSE WE CAN"
..and then follows the saga of inter-twined networks of the underlying, umm, s--tuff.
Itz just the end-user who gets it "free of cost": that end-user who is absolutely clueless about any of the above stuff, and probably the concept of "licensing" a software (or code in part or whole)
"BECAUSE WE CAN"
..and then follows the saga of inter-twined networks of the underlying, umm, s--tuff.
Itz just the end-user who gets it "free of cost": that end-user who is absolutely clueless about any of the above stuff, and probably the concept of "licensing" a software (or code in part or whole)
That is fake.
Proper scene groups say at the end of their NFO to pay for software.
Well, that makes it ok then.
Sorry to moan but it really gets up my nose when people cannot be bothered to spend a few hundred on an operating system. 199.99 is not expensive, well to me it's not.
Exactly - It IS alot of money in one go !
314$ is less than 230€, so basically its much more expensive to buy it in Europe.
I was planning to buy legit copy of 7, but there are 2 drawbacks:
1. Pre order offer was valid only in US and Canada
2. Europe has to pay much more for same software
Of course eventually i will be getting a legit copy.
Piracy will always exist and there's only so much MS can do to stop it without creating a haggling and annoying system that could cause them to lose paying customers. Everyone knows from experience, that a hacked version of WinXP was very easy to install. Pop the CD in and you are pretty much set - even someone who has very minimal computer knowledge can do it. But these bios hacks etc, can be a challenge for those who are less computer -savvy. For most of us here, it's a few more steps and easy as pie but for some others, it might be just too complicated to understand and follow and they decide to just go out and buy it. That 1/100 that converts is 1 less pirate.
I don't understand why people are eager to download 7 illegaly, aren't they doing a good job on this one?
I'll have it via Technet on August 6th... Legally.
lol MSFT might be gone by Christmas
anyway M$ did a good job with win7 so i will definitely buy and update my old trusty XP.
does anyone know if upgrading from XP to 7 is possible/supported?
cheers!
It was a Chinese IT guy that was able to swipe a VSD of Windows 7 last year...now it's another Chinese person that has Windows 7 cracked.
For a country that is under marshall law....they have a lot of smart people over there.
No it's not. It has always been this way since Vista. What else is new?
You really don't seem to understand the whole OEM activation thing, do you? You don't have to have any special disc, you can use ANY copy of Windows Vista or Windows 7 to do it. After install, it is a simple matter of running 2 commands from the command line (the program for this is built in to windows), one to install the certificate file (which is a simple XML file), the other to install the product key (if you didn't type it in at setup). Boom, you're activated.
Please refrain from commenting further on OEM activation until you read up on it yourself and find out exactly how it works, as it seems from your previous comments that you really don't understand the subject.
Please refrain from commenting further on OEM activation until you read up on it yourself and find out exactly how it works, as it seems from your previous comments that you really don't understand the subject.
That's how you steal it. I'm a Microsoft Partner. I know how it works. An OEM will NEVER give you the certificate. They are never supposed to be detached from the Windows installation or the BIOS and an average end-user would never be able to install a SLIC PA certificate. There IS NO PRODUCT KEY TO ENTER FOR PRE-ACTIVATION. You just install the OS and it's activated.
An OEM installation is simply a disc that's sold in bulk to a PC manufacturer with a license limiting it to the machine it was installed on. It comes in a white cardboard sleeve with the product SKUs printed on a label and a clear DVD case inside with one version (x86/x64) on it. It still has a key, and it doesn't self-activate.
I have Win 7 Pro on pre-order and will be paying for it on release Oct 22.
That said, as soon as the ISO's hit MSDN I will be torrenting it so I don't have to wait. I can probably get away with the activation extension period thing, but this helps too.
C:/Windows/system32/slmgr.vbs -rearm
1) Anyone who wants to pirate windows will always be able to do so getting around any activation methods Microsoft has in place.
2) The Legit users who are the honest users get inconvenienced either to activate their copy of windows or have the legit version get flagged as pirated get frequently harassed by WGA.
All in all product activation is worthless.
As a TechNet subscriber I'll wait for Aug 6th to get my copy. I was just interested in how the hack was coded.
They should put their energy into making better features that respond to feedback requests. Fear of viruses isn't going to deter people eager to try the latest from downloading it.
Last edited by bertmace on 31 Jul 2009 - 01:16
I'll get the new OS-X version too.
What does bother me is the money I laid out for three Vista Ultimate's and that "Dog" never wagged it's tail until the service pack came out. Even with the service pack it was sluggish at best.
I was surprised at the prices that they want for 7. I'll pay for 7 because having tested it for awhile, I know it will work for me, unlike VISTA. This is the last Windows OS that I'll buy unless they come up with something incredible like Digital Auto-Suck.
I registered here simply to reply to this post having stumbled across it while researching windows 7.
Having sat and read this section on windows 7 being cracked and pirated my thought is simply this, wether its movies, music, or software, once it hits the net (legit or not) it'll get cracked, patched, copied and or redistributed no matter what, there is no way around it. Take movies for example, a lot of news media lately with the release of harry potter 6, and trying to stop anyone from the inside leaking screeners for it. It will happen, if not from production once the dvd is out it'll appear online.
So, my point is, the only way piracy of digital media / software will ever stop is the day they pull the plug on the internet and pass it off as a bad joke, which ofc will never happen.
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