How to permanently activate Windows Vista, at least for now
While Microsoft's Vista hasn't quite had time to make it out to us normal folk just yet, there's certainly versions floating around thanks to the November 30th corporate release, which has in turn led to the new discovery of a method to circumvent Redmond's most valiant efforts to make us activate the darned software. With the help of a few background apps, a little registry tweakin', and whole lot of deviousness, you can reportedly freeze the 30-day countdown timer within the operating system in order to prevent it from ever leaving the fully functional evaluation mode. Purportedly, the TimerStop Vista crack works "on all 32-bit x86 editions" including Ultimate and Premium, but the success rate in 64-bit (x64) environments is "likely to be low." Notably, the folks behind the crack suggest that Windows Updates will still be accessible, as will Microsoft's "value-added software downloads" typically only available to those who pass the WVGA validation process. So if you're looking to hit up a new OS in the coming weeks, or you've already got 'er up and running, be sure to peep the read link if you're interested in pulling this off -- but don't count on Microsoft to sleep on this one, holiday break or not.[Via Digg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
strider_mt2k @ Dec 26th 2006 7:36AM
HA HA
(points)
Eddie @ Dec 26th 2006 7:51AM
Time to torrent a ripped ISO.
Woot!
Eddie @ Dec 26th 2006 8:02AM
It's funny; A quick Google search reveals that some of the ExTrEmE AsIaN Haxx0r sites have already been working at this "2099-ReArm" exploit for a while:
http://www.google.com/search?q=2099-ReArm
Mischa Lockton @ Dec 26th 2006 8:37AM
I am willing to bet that very soon, you will need to avoid needed updates using these methods- all ethical questions aside. While the OS is so new, we don't need security patches quite yet, but there is a 100% we will soon.
I find it amusing that people want to stick it to M$ yet simply can't wait to try out their latest OS. Thanks for making it more expensive to those of us that build machines and want the legit sh*t. Now go shut 'em down M$.
Whats this about 6 major new flaws?
Rivet @ Dec 26th 2006 7:12PM
I don't know of anyone that "wants" to stick with microsoft. That's the point of a monopoly.
John Doe @ Dec 27th 2006 3:02PM
No because with a good Firewall, AV software, and browser you don't need to run updates more then once a year. God knows I don't on my desktop. And the solution for this is simple. Download the patch from ms's www.miscrosoft.com/security website from a "good" version of Windows, copy the patch over to your "bad" version of Windows, and install the OMG! We are all going to die if we don't install it today! Patch.
MS is never going to remove the ability to manually download the patch from their site. The day they do is the day MS loses the enterprise market.
clicclic @ Dec 26th 2006 9:02AM
M$ makes their OS dough on new machines you purchase from Dell, HP, Gateway, Sony, etc... Their aftermarket windows revenues are a pittance compared to the enslaved/bundle software that comes with new PCs.
Someone has to say the obvious so it might as well be me...
Eric @ Dec 26th 2006 10:24AM
csnoke "If it's this easy to make the software free... what hope is there of any security in Vista at all?"
Easy, Windows Genuine Extortion... they will use the forced patch method to correct for this flaw quickly.
JasonCompUSA @ Dec 26th 2006 11:07AM
This is not new at all, first, the "hack" is done using the already known "Frankenbuild workaround", second the updates are not good same with the windows xp piracy softwares out there, if you are looking to make a dumb out of yourself go ahead with the "hack", microsoft already has an update against this, i read about it 2 weeks ago: Microsoft Updates Windows Vista to Block 'Frankenbuild' Counterfeits at http://blog.americasnewstoday.com/2006/12/16/microsoft-updates-windows-vista-to-block-frankenbuild-counterfeits.aspx
AndrewG @ Dec 26th 2006 11:37AM
I think I just lost any shred of respect I had for Engadget now that I see them making posts like this. On any other respectable site, the admins would warn and/or ban the poster by now for talking about ways to circumvent .
Let us know if MS sends any Cease and Desists for having 'helpful info' of sorts up here.
tiuk @ Dec 26th 2006 12:19PM
Was wondering how long it would be before someone bitched about this. If you don't respect Engadget anymore, fine, just don't visit.
Alexander @ Dec 26th 2006 12:12PM
Information should be free. People who mis-use said information should be held accountable for their actions.
A kung-fu teacher should not be brought up on accessory to murder when one of his students kills someone using moves taught to him.
It is up to the student to use the information in a way that does not violate the law.
Andy @ Dec 26th 2006 12:40PM
that's not true.
Information that gives power should be used with responsibility. If the Kung Fu teacher taught to Charles Manson, then the teacher indeed would be responsible for the people Manson would hurt. People with power have to hold responsibility, want it or not.
Anyway, that's beside the point. I personally am gonna buy Vista, I'm ready to pay for my software, and $200 should be enough to hold me on for another 5 years. But I don't judge, and actually encourage, people who can't spend hundreds, or even tens of dollars, in stuff like this, like in third-world countries, to use any kind of "free software" that could help them educate themselves, have better opportunities and progress in life.
George @ Dec 26th 2006 1:20PM
Actually, the kung fu teacher would not have any liability unless he knew or had reason to know that Charley Manson was going to use this new found abilities to hurt or kill someone. If I taught people how to shoot a gun and they go off to shoot someone, I am not liable. If someone came up to me and told me that they wanted to learn how to shoot a gun to kill someone and I taught them how, I would be liable.
And the other stuff, eh. MS claims that they have to keep the price of their OS high because of the theft rate. But if the prices were lower, they wouldn't have such high theft rates. But because of the costs of R&D, I believe they should be able ot charge whatever they like in a capitalist market. Just my two cents.
Andy @ Dec 26th 2006 11:43PM
I used the Manson example assuming that the this teacher knows the crazy bastard.
Anyway, if I can afford it, I am glad to pay more, if it means that 3rd world students and people in general are getting it for free. I was once one of them, and I will give back.
Iuri @ Dec 26th 2006 1:48PM
;)
perhaps they could save a bit on R&D (and on servers) if they stopped all this Genuine nonsense
I'm glad people are still working hard on Linux usability, 5 years ago I wouldn't have thought I'd have the patience to migrate completely!
Chuckles McGee @ Dec 26th 2006 2:02PM
Just to confirm that this activation trick does work for Ultimate x32.
The copy is viewed as genuine as of now since it appears to remain in evaluation mode (with full-functionality)
Molly C @ Dec 26th 2006 2:34PM
"So if you're looking to hit up a new OS in the coming weeks, or you've already got 'er up and running, be sure to peep the read link if you're interested in pulling this off -- but don't count on Microsoft to sleep on this one, holiday break or not."
This is the one thing I hate about this site - the open advocacy of piracy, including providing links to the sites that provide instructions on piracy. I saw it with FairUseWM and FairUseITMS (or whatever they were called). At lease engadget had the "fair use" excuse for those incidents (even though the comments were full of people signing up for music subscriptions, downloading all they wanted, ripping the DRM, then cancelling the subscription, all while engadget's staffed nodded in approval, and even berated MS and Apple's attempts to curtail the wanton piracy that engadget themselves advocated).
Now, they are openly advocating piracty of Vista. And the peanut gallery that bitches and moans about activation and WGA, are the same folk that pirate software. If they didn't do so much piracy, then activation/WGA would not exist. You can't bitch about WGA while pirating at the same time (at least not with any level of intellectual integrity).
This is a great site, except for the advocacy of piracy. After I come here and read articles like this, with the cheering by engadget's staff and their followers, I feel like I need to take a shower to wash off the filth.
Jamar @ Dec 27th 2006 12:24AM
fine- then why does Apple not feel the need to do the same even with OSx86 floating around?
Molly C @ Dec 26th 2006 2:38PM
Oh, and it's interesting that so many that jump through hoops to pirate Vista are the same that insist how horrible Vista is. Hypocrisy at it's finest.
Many of you proclaim Mac love, so why don't you pirate that (it requires no jumping through hoops), instead? (Well, many of you probably are pirating OSX. Many here have no scruples regarding such activity.)
Zorque @ Dec 26th 2006 2:53PM
I figured out how to do this without touching the registry. Basically it centers around the fact that they let you neglect to input a serial. You just set your BIOS time a few hundred years ahead. After Windows installs, you can then close msoobe.exe since they let you open a command prompt, then you log into safe mode, enable the Administrator account, and disable internet time updates. Then just run msoobe.exe again to set up your account. After that, you can set your BIOS time back to whatever it's supposed to be. Too bad I hate Vista and its constant hand-holding, and it's complete lack of support for any of the wireless drivers I've come across. Pretty sure most people with a laptop don't sit around with a patch cable plugged in all the time.
(*prepares for low ranking*)
SBGamesCone @ Dec 26th 2006 3:12PM
Can someone please tell me how this is not an endorsement for piracy? I mean, seriously. My copy of Vista, that is 100% legal, isn't going to require re-activation unless I perform a major hardware change. Even then, a re-activation is a minor issue since my copy is in fact legal. C'mon Engadget, you are better than this.
waffles @ Dec 26th 2006 5:54PM
by far the best crack so far is Dr.Chang's, worked like a charm and got rid of that white writing in the bottom right.
Fuumin @ Dec 26th 2006 9:07PM
I must add my bit and call poor form on engadget for this story. I'm an avid reader of the site, and even agree with a multitude of drm hacks, from playsforsure on music, to encryption on games. Now, I'm not the most moral guy around, but I know what I think is right: We should be able to take our music wherever we want, we should be able to test a game before buying it, etc.
These things may not be legal, but it just seems just and fair to me.
This, on the other hand, is completely and utterly wrong. There's absolutely no real legitimate use for this other than to steal.
People who don't like the price of the new OS can quiet down and stop acting like spoiled children. If you don't like the price, don't buy it, but don't steal it, it's not your right to use their OS, it's a choice you may make. Sure, your personal theft might not make much of a difference, just as one vote honestly doesn't do much, but you really should have a brain and know when enough is enough.
Stealing to steal is stealing, simple enough? Eh, go ahead and neg rep me.
Intrepid @ Dec 26th 2006 9:48PM
Are you f*cking insane/retarded? You must be to post this on your front page! You could be sued by Microsoft... remember them? The ones that gave you Zunes to give away! This tool could only be used for piracy!
...and the screenshot is of an ooooold version of Vista... or a skinnned one.
waffles @ Dec 26th 2006 10:13PM
by far the best crack so far is Dr.Chang's, worked like a charm and got rid of that white writing in the bottom right.
csnoke @ Dec 27th 2006 12:08AM
If it's this easy to make the software free... what hope is there of any security in Vista at all?
If they can't keep someone from stealing shit from them.. how are they going to help protect my shit?
AndrewG @ Dec 27th 2006 10:38AM
Your comparing 2 totally different things.
After all, YOU are the one responsible for your own info. There are safety features on cars too but it's still not their fault if they can't stop every potential threat from killing you.
Circumventing a registration method of a program you have full access to, has nothing to do with hacking into a computer somebody else owns through the inter/intranet. One's a preventative feature and one is a security vulnerability.
If your not smart enough to run a firewall of some sort then that's not really Microsoft's fault. Plenty of Linux servers are hacked and nobody gets 'outraged' on the same level as if it was an MS server. (Although, most people that use linux seem to know more about security in general and if Windows admins are good, they can make it just as secure. There's just too many Windows admins for them ALL to be good.)
LK @ Dec 27th 2006 2:48AM
This keznews website is a plagiarism site, how come Engadget can promote this kind of site?
Original link:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/12/20/permanently-activate-windows-vista-by-skip-activation-with-patched-timerstopsys-crack/
Arpad @ Dec 29th 2006 7:30AM
Oh no, prepare for tbe deluge of comments about how "I can't believe you'd post this piracy." and "You're going to burn in hell for promoting piracy."
If you don't have slightly intelligent comments, then please don't post them. Otherwise, if you don't agree with or like the news on this site then $TFU and go somewhere else but let the people that enjoy it do so in peace.
Alex @ Jan 2nd 2007 7:57PM
As a regular Engadget reader and the blogger for Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (http://blogs.msdn.com/wga) I'm dissapointed to read a post that seems to encourage hacking to enable theft, unlicensed use, piracy etc. of a Microsoft product. It's one thing to report that it's happened, seems like another to encourage it. I didn't expect this from an Engadget poster.
ahmed_speed @ Feb 11th 2007 5:47AM
Coool Man you rule it really work thanks....