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Options for 'Fixing' A Pirated Copy of Windows
PunkOfLinux writes "My parents are running a pirated copy of windows that my mom received from a teacher at school. My parents want to go legit, and buy a copy of Windows, but they are afraid of deleting everything and having to reinstall all their programs. Seeing as I know you guys will have an answer, I'm going to ask you: What would you do in this situation?"
We always joke about how easy it is to just Google it, but seriously, it's the first result.
Heck, I think the new WGA process even allows you to buy a copy and update your license if a pirate version is found.
I would post as anonymous coward...
Call their help support line and you can buy a copy from them. They will tell you how to replace the cd-key, if they can't you can download a cd-key changer from the internet.
All you have to do is reinstall.
Buy a Mac?
Just install debian.
perpetually dwelling in the -1 pits
first post? or did i arrive too late?
You can change your product key.
09F91102 no, 455FE104 nope, F190A1E8 uh-uh, 7A5F8A09 that's not it, C87294CE no. Ah! 452F6E403CDF10714E41DFAA257D313F.
and just use this tool
3 b60-bff1-4f03-b06f-d3cbe8f8d9f4/KeyUpdateTool.exe
http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/9/c/e9c7
enter in your new key, reboot and you are legit
We'll handle it from here, crimin.., I mean Sir. Just call us. Nothing to worry about.
Seriously, though, I would think one big problem is that to to get legal you're Windows install is going to have to send a new registration message off to Microsoft. Not sure how you do that without a reinstall.
Maybe if they're on XP Home, buy them an OEM version of XP Pro?
Once they own the license, what does MS care where the original came from? Don't install the Genuine Advantage malware though!
TweakXP should do that for ya. Buy a new copy and key the serial number you get over the old one. Unless, of course, your parents have a volume license copy right now, and they buy a home version. Then you have to do a repair install.
http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakutility/
tinfoilmedia
1 - get a Mac or install Linux
2 - if parents insist on Windows (and I understand them, I'm not a rabid OSS fanboy), get a computer professional to do the backup/reinstall if they can't do it. Seriously, when people lose file, they usually wish they had forked off a bit of money to get it done properly
3 - Whatever they do, don't ask the neighbour's teenager "computer expert", or the wife's brother's cousin who works at IBM: firstly it's embarrassing to ask, secondly it pisses off computer professionals to no end, and thirdly the teenager is, well... I wouldn't.
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
take that copy of MS windoze and shuv it up teachers 4$$..
Are they losing sleep at night feeling like they're taking food out of the mouths of those in Redmond? Do they think their system will run better? Perhaps they feel it's a sin because technically it's stealing? My advice... don't even bother with it. Buy Vista if and when it's released or wait until you get a new computer.
From a *trusted* on-line vendor. XP home will go for ~80-90 USD, Pro ~140. http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductList.jsp?Thir dCategoryCode=071002 for example. You see it offered for much less, odds are it is a "student" version or "replacement media". OEM it typically what system builders use, so if you use that version in theory it is tied to that system. The $300 retail version can be moved from system to system, but costs a boatload more.
+++ UGUCAUCGUAUUUCU
Personally i would backup all data from the old windows system
Then i would install ubuntu on the system, use first account for a superuser eg 'you'
Then create accounts for users mum/dad bro/sis then copy there data to there home directorys.
Give out the passwords to the new users
Tell them there new operating system has been installed and microsoft/windows have gone out of business.
As bill has gone into the charity market.
Install linux and buy crossover office if they really need some apps.
\u262D = \u5350
Over-under on the number of "install Linux over it" posts: 36.
the no
A repair install will not clear the registry, but it will ask you for a new license key. That should be enough to make it legit.
Just buy another copy of windows. Don't install it or anything. Windows has their money and you have a working copy of windows, you don't have to install a legitamate copy for Micro$oft to get their cut.
If you have legs and you are flammable, then you are never blocking a fire exit.
IF your folks are worried about a reinstall, they're NOT ready to survive a catastropic harddrive crash.
Much less full reload to clear an infection.
Technology -- No Place For Wimps! Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Chatroom -- http://www.wemissjerry.org
Just keep using it. WGA can't tell. If you buy a copy, WGA will only say it's pirated, so why spend the £90?
If you are not a lover of entering license number, viruses, spyware, and worse, my advise is: Backup your stuff and switch to Linux. Any good distro e.g. Ubuntu will do and you'll enjoy your computer again.
Well, there is one thing you could do. Go pickup the computer, and your parents - then drive to the nearest steep cliff. Once you're there, throw both parents off the side, and then throw the computer over after you hear them land. Once that's taken care of, stab yourself in the chest with your car keys until you draw blood, then jump off the same cliff.
That solution might not exactly match what you were expecting, but I think you'll find it to be quite satisfying given the context of voluntarily running a Microsoft operating system.
I mean really. The problem is solved in one of the posts above.
I think we can now safely turn over the thread to jokes along the lines of 'now that they saved their data, they're gonna lose it again to hackers using zero-day or javascript exploits'.
Just buy the windowsXP and don't install it. It leaves you out of your guilty feeling.
:)
For real, At first I would download a cdkey changer which allows changing the cdkey without reinstalling it. Yes it's piracy software used to broke windows security.
But I'd really recommend waiting for Windows Vista, since it will be about as expensive as Windows XP. And does contain a lot of important security and useability fixes.
Althought, I'd really just love to see how well Linux can survive in your home. Novell has come up with really good distro with SUSE 10, and ubuntu doesn't do that bad job either. Or just try Fedora Core.
Try one of these...
-Seeing the problem is ½ of solution-
Simon's Rock College
I'm stuck with the WGA screen when i turn my computer on. Anyone have a work around?
The simple solution? By an external hard drive that is at least twice as large as your system hard drive. Then simply drag and drop the root windows directory, or maybe you can even drag and drop the c: drive over to the external drive. All data is now safe. Buy a legit copy of Windows, reformat the local HD and install your new copy. Then you can bring all your data back by dropping into corresponding folders. Applications on the other hand, would likely need reinstalled. At least your apps are legit, right?
Furthermore, regularily back up important files from the local HD to the external.
Also, whatever filetypes need saved are likely all going to be workable on a Mac or Linux.
Good Luck, William aka Mac fanboy fighting hard to keep my post from turning into an offtopic advert for Apple
Brought to you by Carl's Junior.
For all the people saying just buy Windows and change the key - there is a good chance this *wont* work. In principle changing the key does work - the trick is getting a legal key for the version installed.
Your parents probably installed a Corporate copy of XP. This doesn't take the same keys as Home so they can't just walk down to Best Buy and get a key that is going to work.
In fact, there are a number of different key types including:
* XP Home
* XP Home OEM
* XP Pro
* XP Pro OEM
* XP Corporate
(and more)
Assuming your parents installed Corporate, they still need to buy a legal copy of Windows, yes, but they won't be able to pop the key in and go on their merry way. They will need to do what is knows an a "In place install". This isn't the cleanest way to do things but will make sure all their files are left intact (all settings including the entire registry are lost). Boot off the new disk:
The first menu is going to ask you to install, go to the recovery console, or quit. Choose install by hitting enter.
The second menu is a license agreement, hit F8.
The third menu is going to show the existing Windows installation, choose to install on top of it. You will be warned about an existing Windows install there and be given the option of deleting the existing %systemroot% folder and continuing.
Choosing this option will not delete anything on the drive other that what is in the windows folder. All of their files will still be available by navigating to the "Documents and Settings" folder.
I know it is a dirty mess but it is the only way to go from one version of Windows to another while still retaining the contents of the hard drive.
Install GNU/Linux. All the worms and trojans would go too.
This is about the first sensible comment here. The bigger problem than using the pirated Windows is that apparently they don't have reliable (any?) backups. What are they going to do when the HD suddenly craps out? Once you've prepared for that (i.e., good backups!) your stated problem (fear of reinstalling) becomes moot.
Turn that pirated version in to Microsoft and give them some info on how you obtained it, and they'll get you a legit copy of Windows in return, plus a small nominal charge, of course.
Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
Upgrading XP? Why not just wait for Vista?
See you in a few years.
Rename the old windows folder (to something like windows.old) Install new windows (in folder c:\windows or whatever) Reinstall old applications Copy old document folders to the new document folder or link old folder to "my documents" Copy favorites. Done. Delete old windows folder.
Keep in mind that the key changing method doesn't always work, I already tried it for the exact same reason.
There appears to be more than one version of Windows XP Pro. There is "Retail" and "OEM". There are situations where keys from one product version doesn't work on others.
For the legitimate key to work you need to make sure that your cracked version of windows will be able to use the new key, orelse you may end up with a useless new version of windows.
I contacted Microsoft's support for an official answer on the issue. They informed me there are in fact three versions of Windows XP Pro and one cannot use keys from one on another.
I actually returned my new legitimate version of windows and keep using the pirated one since I am too bored to format my PC right now...
Afterall, they shouldn't have what is on there now. Why do they expect a mulligan?
www.ubuntulinux.org and be happy :)
Now that Windows Update and certain Windows downloads require you to validate your copy of Windows before accessing the services (the Windows Genuine program), people have of course started having troubles with invalid product keys, etc.
To help people sort out their Windows license problems, Microsoft have put online the Windows Genuine Advantage Talkback bulletin board, where Microsoft offers advice for people with license troubles.
An interesting utility that I found mentioned there on the bulletin board is Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool, that shows lots of information about the license / product key of the current Windows installation.
I tried to update one of my friends' laptop, but it failed the activation check. Apparantly he did not install from the original cd that came with his computer (there is a genuine sticker below the laptop so it does have a legal license), but instead used a "corporate version" he got from another friend.
Windows update offered selling a legimate key for retail price. I guess they do this for non-volume versions too.
So all you have to do is engage windows update, get the check failed and follow the corresponding links to get a legal key for its price.
(PS: I did not buy the key, and he could not find his original cd. So he has a legal license that sits as a sticker below his laptop and an illegal copy of windows which he cannot update properly).
Obviously you've not heard of WGA. You must be new here.
Google "Magical Jellybean Software" and get that key extractor/changer. Silly name, good results.
"Just because you're eloquent doesn't mean you aren't a fucking crackpot." -Wavebreak
The cheapest and easiest solution: fire up a copy of your favorite P2P client, and download one of the bajillion WGA cracks.
Be sure to scan it for viruses, and check the version # of the crack vs. the version # of LegitCheckControl.dll in system32.
There's one small problem I've run into at my job when we sell customers an XP Home license to get them off of Corp: you can't do a repair installation from Windows XP Pro to Home. That's a problem because most of the customers we deal with want to save money and don't want the Pro license, although the Pro license gives us the option to Repair, and therefore keep their files, settings, etc.
Anyone know of a possible way to get around this, other than having to reinstall Windows XP Home from scratch?
1) The MS way: Buy the new copy of 'winders But beware of the new statement by the "Software Police" [BSA-Business Software Alliance] that "You need an 'original' receipt with 'your name' on it otherwise = PIRATED. That means if you buy it from the local BigBox 'Puter Store for cash = PIRATED, with your bank/credit card = PIRATED. They need to go and make the purchase and ensure that their name is on it. 2) The QUICK way: Download SimplyMEPIS [http://www.simplymepis.org] which is based on Ubuntu with the best eXPee look/feel. Purchase a new 80 gig harddrive [less than $50us on www.newegg.com]. Install MEPIS on new drive [note it is hdb not hda ['winders'] and set GRUB to dual boot. Disable 'winders from the intranetz, just for doing those special programs and games where there is not an alternative for Linux 3) the BEST way: Save all data to CD's or USB Flash. Do a full install of MEPIS and copy data into the home folders 4) the ULTIMATE way: get MEPIS, CentOS 4.3 [http://www.centos.org], get VMware Server [www.vmware.com], create all cd's back up 'winders data to cd's or flash usb install CentOS - be sure to do "development programs" and use Gnome Desktop nothing else is needed. install VMware create VM for MEPIS [use Ubuntu base and set HD for IDE -- NOT SCSI] install MEPIS into the VM create VM for 'Winders - I will not discuss the "license issue" install winders and the "speical needed" games and apps
Digg had an article recently about how to perform a windows re-install without loss of information. This may be of use to you.
Aside from being pirate heaven, a legit copy of thai windows xp costs about $3.50.
"Waste not one watt!" - CZ
...then you will never be trapped by something like this again. Linux or BSD are just as easy to use for most ordinary tasks, and once installed are solid and reliable for ordinary users to access web sites, and to do simple word processing tasks. The majority of users do not need any more, and it is certainly an act of crass stupidity to pay for Windows licenses to do just these things.
Must be a slow news day.
This just in: Local man dies of natural causes
God Be Gone
... all you have to aunt, let's set so double the killer delete select all.
from what I understand you are saying -
your parents have a copy of windows they know is pirated, but now want to go legit. they want to do so without having to clear their PC and lose all the settings/etc. they've accumulated over the years with all the installed programs and so forth.
leaving aside whether clearing everything may be a good idea anyway (accumulated cruft, malware etc.) - what do you mean, about not having to reinstall software? are we talking *legit* software? it seems a bit strange to have pirated windows, but legit applications (particularly if the application would have cost a lot more than the windows licence). if the intended path is to get the windows legit, but you've still got heaps of pirated applications, then you've got more problems than you realise you do. unless, of course, it's a calculated gamble that you are more likely to be hit by enforcemeny from MS, than by the various other application vendors.
i think what you need to do is to write down the cost of "properly going legit" - all the applications you want to use, etc., total it up, and decide if you have that kind of money. and then decide if you are prepared to go into a completely free environment - any one of the linux distros.
although it IS "free as in freedom", as a practical matter, free as in beer makes a big difference too, potentially even more. you'd have to go through hassle and pain learning a new setup, and the features may well be worse off etc. for particular applications (GIMP != Photoshop, but seriously, if you can afford the price of photoshop you're not in the common group). but some times that's what it means to go legit. I mean, I look at the price tags of a lot of things that I want, and then I realise, "shit, i'm poor". but, you know, this is how the capitalist system works. and then maybe you can think a bit more about, what does it really mean to have a system where the cost of producing something is X, but the price of it may be X + "arbitrary number determined for profit maximisation", vs what could be determined as a "fair price".
I'd boot to that CD and install it as an upgrade. It will replace all the important files, yet not one thing personal will be changed. You might wonder if it realy did anything. This solution also fixes pain=in=the=ass driver issues too.
Buy the copy of Windows you want. Not upgrade, full version.
Put in disk.
Boot to disk.
At the first prompt, Enter.
Next screen F8
Next screen R
Repair install. Fixes lots of problems. Change key during setup.
You cannot do Home over Pro. You can do Pro over Home.
Update.
Done.
up up down right left right right up enter
Done!
You must watch Bill and Melinda Gates on [Pope]rah. http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200604/tows_p ast_20060411.jhtml
I know most folks hate computers and just want to get whatever they're used to so they can get their work done with the minimum amount of thought. For those people shelling out the money to get legal with Microsoft is probably the best way to go.
But there are a lot of Windows users out there, let's call them "cheapskates," who can't see the sense in paying twice as much for software as they paid for their entire computer. I bet Microsoft's cracking down on piracy will drive a lot of users to Linux. Especially as they learn that Linux is so polished now that it's as easy to install and use as Windows. And it doesn't have to cost a dime. No piracy checks. No phoning home behind your back, no locking you into proprietary file formats. No spyware. No viruses. No other unacceptable bullshit.
There are many excellent Linux distributions, but I happen to use Ubuntu. It's free, it's fast, it's stable, it's secure. It's just better. XP is a bloated, creaking pig. How can it be worth anything when the superior alternative is free?
"...how to completely rebuild, repair, or refresh an existing XP installation without losing data, and without having to reinstall user software, reformat, or otherwise destructively alter the setup."
j sessionid=STKGFAI0KVUKAQSNDLPSKH0CJUNN2JVN?article ID=189400897&queryText=nondestructive+
http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml;
Use sysprep(found on the xp cd in tools/reskit/deploy.cab or just search the cd for deploy.cab)
extract sysprep.exe and run sysprep.exe -reseal.
when the machine reboots you can enter the COA from your legit copy of XP. no fuss, no muss. and your installed apps will still be there.
Punkoflinux you have 2 real options if you want to go all 'legal' with your copy of XP- 1 CHANGE THE KEY. depending on the version of xp, you can only replace a key with that type. Meaning a volume license key can only be used if that was the original, same for xp retail. if retail is the case just purchase a new copy and use a cd key changer to change the key. 2 REINSTALL using the MIGRATION WIZARD. if its not retail, well, you really cant legitimately purchase avlk key so you can reinstall. "The migration wizard is actually pretty cool in the sense that it will take all your 'personal' files and put them into one archive. throw that on a disk and THEN reinstall. note the problem with any system reinstall is that programs are usually orpahned, and you will have to reinstall them as well. question: is this computer a dell?
The only reliable way to reinstall anything is to buy a second HDD, replace the HDD, make a new install, copy your valuable data to the new HDD and put your old HDD into the fireproof armoured container placed in a cool deep place far enough from the Middle East. I had a lot of trouble assuming that "c:\Program Files" contains the program files and no application data, while there was an application holding it's data in Program Files. I was lucky enough to have written beforehand a duly registered report "I need a spare HDD for reinstalls" and to have received the written instruction "You don't need a spare HDD for reinstalls, you only save the files the operator explicitly asks for". It costed operator an additional week to reenter data.
You can always get a wga crack
*disclaimer: I run legit windows*
That is sort of a reflexive answer here on /. but it's definitely something to consider.
Their cheapest course is to buy a new hard drive and install Ubuntu on it (mounting the old Windows drive of course), then buy CrossoverOffice to run their old apps. CrossoverOffice costs $35 -- it's a beefed-up WINE that runs a lot more than naked WINE and has a nice GUI installation procedure. I put "dual" in quotes because they probably won't want to boot into the Windows environment again.
I just had to install a new copy of XP on a recycled box, and frankly the installation procedure is tedious, hard to understand, and slow compared to modern Linuxes. It also doesn't come with practically anything useful -- I had to go get basics like a PDF viewer and a non-Internet Exploder browser.
It really depends upon whether or not it is actually pirated. MS sells site licenses, and at some schools
teachers who work teaching online classes do from time to time get copies for conducting school business.
Apart from that sort of thing, it probably makes sense to go legit. MS does charge waaaay too much for their
software, but they do have a right to be paid. Or you could always try to switch to anything else.
This lets you leave your old windows files right where they are and simply replace the OS. The safest answer by far. Nothing to lose.
Hint, first boot normally from the Knoppix CD and save your settings like printer, network, wallpaper etc using the included "save configuration" script and then boot with
knoppix tohd=/dev/hda1 myconfig-scan
If that satifies them, then you can eliminate the need to type at boot by either setting up grub for them or creating a vfat boot partition and use loadlin to boot or doing a simplified remaster that only changes the isolinux.cfg file that allows you to pass custom boot commands from the CD itself.
So you want to change the Pirate Edition of Windows XP into a legit edition. School facility giving out pirated copies of Windows XP is a new one on me. Anyway you might have to back up all data files, and then do a reinstall because the pirate version of Windows has modifications in it if it was gotten off of a P2P file sharing network, and possible your copy you bought might not match the one the school faculity gave your parents. I think the repair option to reinstall the OS should do the trick, just save your data files first in case it eats the hard drive and forces you to reformat.
:)
Shiver me timbers, arrrrrrrhhhhh, what have ye got against pirates anyway?
Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.
I love all these Pseudo Tech offering advice, it always boggles my mind... 0- Buy a Copy of Windows (whatever version you have installed)or buy a key from M$ 1- Reboot in safe mode 2- Do a search for WPA.* (WPA.DBL, WPA.BAK)They're in C:\windows\system32 3- Delete these file 4- Reboot into normal mode, you will warned that you have blabla time to activate 5- Click to activate, select by phone, select change key (bottom of form) 6- Enter new legit key 7- You are returned to activation screen, click Activate online 8- Do a search and backup the wpa files for future needs 9- Done
End of Line.
why ax slashdot
This may be of value http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableArt icle.jhtml?articleID=189400897
"Would you, could you, with a goat?" Dr Seuss
If milk does a body good, then reinstalls do a Windows or OS X system good. In my many experiences reinstalling a year+ old OS from scratch gets at least 10% performance back from the hardware. And it probably frees up a considerable amount of disk space. And this is an extremely easy friendly-neighborhood-geek thing to do, and scores you just as many (if not more) friend points than doing the difficult things like tracking down bizzar drivers for obscure hardware.
No sig for you. YOU GET NO SIG!
I just used this method to save time setting up a bunch of XP Pro Retail machines with a single image on a few MacBooks running Parallels Desktop. Dunno if it will work for you if the copy of Windows your parents have is already activated, I didn't activate the copy I used until after changing the product key for each machine.
:-)
First, have a legit copy (actually just a legit product key) for Windows.
Once you have that, launch the "Activate Windows" application. I don't know where it lives on the drive once you activate Windows and it vanishes from the Start menu.
When the activation app opens, click "I want to activate by phone" or the closest similar option.
In the dialog that opens, there should be a button to change the product key. Click it and enter your legit product key.
Save the changes, and back out to the point where you chose activating by phone, and instead choose activate online.
The computer will phone home and activate, and after that WGA should be satisfied with your legitimatudity.
If, when you find and launch the Activate Windows application, it just tells you 'this copy of Windows is already activated' and quits, you're SOL for using this method-- if that happens I'd suggest you look for the unnamed, MS-unsanctioned utility Thurrott used to change his product key so he could appease the Man.
They could do what I did: buy a second hard drive, make it the master and the old drive a slave, install the legal copy of windows on it. Now all their old files are on the second slave drive and they have a fresh install of windows on a clean hard drive.
A slight added expense but hard drives are pretty cheap these days.
1> Backup data. Thats the first thing I'd do. Documents, pictures, etc.. Burn them to a CD or copy them to external media like an external USB hard drive.
2> Wipe the system completely with a full reformat.
3> Install the legit copy of windows.
4> Restore the backup data after installing new legit anti-virus software and make sure it's fully updated and scanned the backups.
5> Profit!
~~ Behold the flying cow with a rail gun! ~~
What you're proposing would be like dumping a stolen DVD player and buying a new one. Whether you do it or not you are still guilty of having stolen something, and a judge on a bad day could even say that you were trying to cover your tracks by dumping the evidence. In the case of copyright infringement the penalty is $250,000, whether you hide your crime or not. Pay the fee, and only then do you become legit.
Jeez you want your parents to continue to suffer with Microsoft's shitware? Why don't you just upgrade them to a better OS (Linux) instead?
Make sure firefox and openoffice are installed and they probably won't even spot the difference anyway.
Get linux. DUR!
It seems that this post should be in a forumn or billboard? Is this what slashdot has come too?
Ok this will only work if it is an pirated to legal copy of XP, any older OS won't work like this (but there is a way). Boot up off the install disc. Go through the installation untill it tells you there is already a copy of windows installed, it'll ask you if you want to install over it or repair it (hit "R" I think), select repair. It will look like a normal fresh install and ask you for your CD key, input the new legit one. When the install is done, you will have a fresh legit copy of Windows, ALL your personal files will be intact, and any cracks for the XP registration will have been removed. When you start up Windows it will as you to activate.
I've done this many times, if you do it exactly like this it will work.
P.S. Any upgrages will have to be redownloaded and installed unless they were included on your new copy of XP. (SP1, SP2, security updates, etc...)
1) Call Microsoft, as was already mentioned. I know this works for activating Office on multiple machines. 2) Disable the Security Center service and it will never come back. Yay! Also kills the antivirus warnings.
It's somewhat painful and time consuming. But you shouldn't be afraid. Every 6 months is a good rule of thumb.
(I'm totally slacking on a 1.5 year install and it sucks).
I should really just take a Ghost/dd image of my new laptop once I get it properly tweaked.
No, really, call Microsoft. They will give you all of the legit, legal options. I've seen them sell media-less CD-keys for Windows for as low as $50.
to set up their PC and reinstall all their programs. Simple. After all you ARE a slashdotter, right?
Seriously. I know it seems like Vista will never come, but in 7 to 12 short months it will be here. We've all had to tough it out in XP for over 5 years now. Certainly it's worth it to wait a few more months, and once it's out (and it's any good) it will make XP seem obsolete.
I haven't actually had the opportunity to use Vista yet, but I have been using OS X for about two years now and if Vista is anything like OS X then it will definitely make XP seem outdated in comparison.
Wait for Vista.
ENDUT! HOCH HECH!
RS
Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
...helped my gf do a dual-boot setup on her new Acer laptop this weekend, I can safely say that some things (playing MP3s) are trivial, since they're an apt-get away on Debian. 90% of her hardware was automatically recognized; the stuff I did have problems with were the special keys/buttons on her laptop (lots of fun with showkey and xmodmap) and the DVD playback issue as you pointed out, and finding the proper wireless drivers (more my fault for trying to use the wrong drivers than a Linux problem). Funny enough, it wasn't too hard to get the DVDs playing fine, including menus, but her 915GM graphics card driver has some sort of contrast issue which is currently being addressed in the Ubuntu/Debian bug resolution process.
Otherwise, she seems quite happy being able to do things in Gnome that she can't do in Windows (far more customizable, can do gradient backgrounds instead of single-color, lets her set up FTP to her website in Nautilus without needing extra appz, xscreensaver is generally nicer than the boring crap from Windows, etc), and she was pleasantly surprised to find out that version 2 of OpenOffice does almost anything that Word can do now. (She'd previously tried OpenOffice but had some problems with it.) Since I already helped her migrate to Firefox and GAIM when she was still using Windows, she was right at home with the internet, and she's using Thunderbird now instead of Outlook Express (which she hated).
Overall, it's not as bad as you make it sound, unless you have some obscure (or really new) hardware to deal with. I think in the future as hardware vendors get more accustomed to supporting Linux, this problem will tend to fix itself. In the meantime, she seems pretty happy with the dual boot setup.
p.s. re: the DRM'd files, just don't use them! She has gigabytes of music that plays just fine on XMMS. For every DRM'd file out there you can probably find three other non-DRM'd rips.
The MS OEM restrictions TheNetAvenger describes are no longer part of the license.
I just bought the OEM version of Win XP a few weeks ago and was surprised to find the restrictions a thing of the past. The real difference between the retail and OEM version licenses is that the OEM license is non-transferable and tied to a single system, while the retail version can be uninstalled from one computer and installed on another.
Regarding activation and hardware modifications, MS allows some flexability, but the intent of the OEM license is to tie the software to the system on which it is orignally installed.
It's call Sysprep. It allows you to delete the the licence key and install a legit one for the system. I make image copies of my drives, and use linux to dd them, with Sysprep you can remain legal.
Apparently Microsoft doesn't want anyone to download the diagnostic tool they posted on their web site. (See the next in the lower left corner.)
We get computers all the time that come in the shop with this problem. Our solution is a repair install with a purchased key.
WGA accused my office's only Windows box of being pirated. We got a new key, one we had to pay for again, and we tried this tool. It left our machine in an even worse state: unable to boot because of a missing extraneous set-up file, a file that was perfectly readable from both the CD and HDD copies of that file.
We had to do an XP repair install anyway to get the new key accepted.
It must be Windows. It needs half a gig of RAM and a hardware-accelerated graphics card just to run Solitaire.
Microsoft should have released a Migration tool for anyone who wanted to "Go Legit" and should have used a big ad campaign to let everyone know about it....
This tool should be available for $50 or less... should be a bootable disk with a new Genuine Serial Number on it and should simply be able to reset the computer to using that new serial.... without a backup, without a reformat, etc. etc.
They would have seen a huge demand for this and would have made a ton of money....
Idiots.
A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
If you follow the online links from the WGA fail page, you'll be asked to select your region. If you select United States, you'll be told rather bluntly that there's no way to buy a new key online.
It must be Windows. It needs half a gig of RAM and a hardware-accelerated graphics card just to run Solitaire.
X-Setup can do this, note that the latest versions are shareware, but the latest freeware version, 6.6, has the functionality. It's a plugin buried in there somewhere, shows you your product key and allows you to change it.
yes please answer me.
This tool (Windows Product Key Update Tool) does exactly what you want
I would look into a repair installation as described above.
For detailed instructions with screenshots, check out the article, Langa Letter: XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option.
The article claims that "this option lets you completely and nondestructively rebuild, repair, or refresh an existing XP installation while leaving already-installed software alone (no reinstallation needed!)."
Screen Twelve of this walkthrough shows that you enter a product key, which should resolve the O/S-laundering scheme you seek.
As always, there is no guarantee, so you should back up your important data.
If you have the original install CD that was used, put in the your CD drive and look at the label that shows in My Computer. Write it down.
Then head over to http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=342 and find out which exact version of XP it is. If it is not SP2 click the other links for SP1 and SP0, etc, until you find it.
Once you have a volume label you'll know what was installed and it will help you find the right solution, legal or not (your choice).
If you don't have the CD, things are a bit trickier:
1. Right click my computer > properties > general and you should see something like the following:
System:
Microsoft Windows XP
Professional or Home or Media Center, etc
Version 2002 or something
Service Pack 2 or something
Registered to:
Name
Company
XXXXX-YYY-ZZZZZZZ-AAAAA (This is your Product ID, not to be confused with product key)
2. Find out which version you are running using the channel ID (YYY above):
# 000 : Other (includes some retail, upgrade and evaluation versions)
# 007 : FIXME : Retail
# 009 : Not for resale - bundle
# 011 : Upgrade (XP Home?)
# OEM : OEM (This does not specify royalty or normal OEM)
# 270 : Volume License
# 296 : MSDN
# 308/347 : Microsoft Action Pack subscription
# 335 : Retail
# 640 through 648, 652 : Volume License (usually generated via 270 CID in setupp.ini)
# 699 : Volume Windows XP Tablet Edition
# 071 : FIXME : Unknown.
Source: http://wiki.djlizard.net/Product_IDs
Good luck!
I agree with most of the people here that purchasing a key online is the best direction to go.
t icle.jhtml?articleID=189400897
However, if you can't or don't want to for some reason, you can still buy the same version of Windows XP that you have installed and reinstall without losing any files or programs. Basically, using the installer you can "repair" a broken install of Windows XP and the installer will replace system files on your computer, but nothing else will be messed with. See here:
http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableAr
Just buy a copt related to the pirated copy you have. (If you have a pirated copy of Windows XP Pro, Home, Media Center Edition, etc) and just use that product key. It's pretty simple to change the product key, and Microsoft can help you with that over the phone. But I've found it's also easy to do an XP Repair with your pirated key and then when you get into activation, call Microsoft and give them that the legit product key with the activation number and they will provide you with a key to fully activate and validate your system. Good luck!
"Instant gratification takes too long." - Carrie Fisher
have some v1agr4 for me?
If you are going to spend full price on a Microsoft Operating system just to make it legit, you might as well buy the new one. I'd wait for Vista, or even get the Vista beta if you wanted to do something right now.
Call the microsoft support number 1-888-895-4395, tell them you're trying to install a new copy of XP but it won't take the CD KEY. When they ask "Have you installed this on a machine before?", tell them no. Then they will give you a CD Key, and you will have paid zero dollars. GG tech support outsourcing.
Well, You can either download a "warez" version of windows online (torrents tend to work well). These versions are usually very likely to work, and sometimes even come with a bunch of updates installed, sometimes even with the Office suit.
You can also start crawling "crack" sites for a good activiation crack or anti WGA software. Make sure you don't get too much ad/spy-ware from these sites. They tend to be full of it.
Or, you can go legit and install linux (which is FREE!!). If you are afraid of loosing data, get another harddrive from ebay, and install linux on it. "Rescue" all the data from the other drive, format it, and have a few extra gigs of space for future use.
I would go for the linux solution, but i guess it is a personal choice, based on ethics and corporate values, and, most of all, the desire for the best (linux).
The legal method to handle this is to purchase an OEM version of Windows Xp. You then perform what is known as a "repair" install. The cdkey change tools will not work. You must do the repair install. That method will not change any of the settings or loose programs. http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall. htm
Slashdot, home of supporters of free software, free music, and free speech.Except for Moderators that disagree with you.
Just reinstall, and then restore from backup. If that isn't an option (because they only backup data and not programs) then I assume they have at least backed up their /var/lib/portage/world file, so just use that to re-install their programs. ;-) Ok, obviously there isn't a "Gentoo Windows" yet, but I assume they have some sort of semi-automated process for reinstalling packages from a restored list-of-what-I-have-installed. Because if that weren't the case, then nobody would have ever said "Linux isn't ready for the desktop" as though implying that MS Windows is nearly as ready.
If this advice seems impractical because restoring things from backup isn't trivial, then perhaps you have uncovered their real problem.
As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
Is there any perticular reason to "fix" it? If they buy a copy then that should be sufficient. I know that I've used the same cd key in network environments simply because it's too much of a pain to track everything and make sure you get the right key with the right machine during builds/formats/etc...
At the end of the year, just make sure everything matches up. That's how they do enterprise licensing, anyways. They don't even have keys, a lot of times, for that reason.
JJ
Boot the legitimate Windows install disk. At some point early on you'll be given the option to do a repair install, or to install a new copy of Windows. Choose repair install.
As already pointed out, this method only works with the VLKs. To change the key in any version of XP, use the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder.
What would you do in this situation?
Whenever I have to reinstall windows (or more often, linux since my main computer runs a different distro about every week), I do an audit of all my data.
First, write down what you need to keep: emails? accounting data from Quicken? config info from other applications? bookmarks? Get it all down and back up everything to an external drive or a CDR.
Second, reinstall the OS and all applications. If you went through the whole harddrive, directory by directory, you should have saved all the config files and data files that you needed. If you didn't, then you should have gone more slowly and carefully.
It is best to do a reinstall anyway, because if they've been running Windows for a long time, they probably have a lot of cruft... left-over services and other junk from programs they don't run anymore that are slowing down their machine... and there's always the possibility of malware lurking in the shadows.
A reinstall takes care of all those things. Tell them not to be afraid, just patient and careful.
I don't understand what so special your parents could keep in WinXP format. Install any Linux brand for them which has the same look and feel, and they will be happy! Some Word documents? OpenOffice is COMPATIBLE! Excel spreadsheets? ditto. Photos, pictures? Could not Linux reads jpg files? Or do they develop in Visual Studio 2005 :-)? Why on the Earth do they need WinXP?
Steps:
boot from Linux LiveCD and show them that they can read their files and that OpenOffice could replace Microsoft Office. Backup data, install linux, restore data back and be all happy.
This is the solution.
It's not exactly obvious, but I can vouch for this method. It works.
I recently had to upgrade friend's PC from Win2k to WinXP, and if you insert the WinXP install disk on a running Win2k system, it will detect and give you the option to upgrade instead of a fresh re-install. It kept most programs, registry entries, bookmarks and all user accounts intact. It was painless. MS actually got that 'right' in my opinion.
Not sure how a WinXP -> WinXP install would go, but if there's a 'repair' facility it probably will be nearly as painless.
ERROR 144 - REBOOT ?
sysprep gets a windows box ready to be imaged .. after you run sys prep it turns off. when you turn it back on you now have to enter the product key
Sorry to go on an off-topic rant here, but...
I'm a consultant who helps small business and home users. I can't tell you how many times I have talked to customers who (in the past) have had another tech come along and do a re-install without understanding all of the implications.
There is value in a machine's configuration! The customizations, tweaks, and even icon arrangements people create to make their systems work and lives easier are time-consuming to recreate, and there can be a major loss of productivity if they have to re-do it all from scratch. I'm a professional, and it's not uncommon for it to take me 3-5 hours to do a good job of getting all of the software, utilities, and configuration changes done for a typical business machine. Just because you can rebuild your own gaming rig from scratch in two hours (because you do it once a month) doesn't meant that this is a course of action that makes sense for everyone.
This is why I always recommend *full* backups of the entire system... not just "important" documents. And it's why I do a full re-install as an absolute last resort. I can count the number of re-installs I've been forced into in the last *year* on one hand.
The good news is that if you know what you're doing (unfortunately many techs don't) VERY few problems require a rebuild. It's very possible to clean off even the "worst" infections fairly quickly, with high confidence that everything is gone. I charge a two-hour flat rate for *any* infection cleanup (including kernel rootkits), and that usually works out to my advantage. Hard drives often have only failed in a few sectors... I commonly am able to image the failed drive to a new one, and repair the windows install using a combination of sfc, system restore, misc subsystem fixes, and (in the worst cases) a repair re-install.
The benefit to the user is that they get their machine back *exactly the way it was*, the same day, without a large repair bill. The benefit to me is that the customer is happy and calls me back the next time they have a problem... instead of cursing me the whole time they are trying to rebuild their system the way they had it.
If you are a tech and haven't learned this stuff, you are doing your customers and yourself a disservice.
-R
If the information is so important that you don't want to reinstall from scratch maybe you should be doing backups incase you break the system attempting to fix it or you have some hardware failure or some virus.
Then when you have a backup you can just go the easy route and reinstall everything from scratch and restore the backups.
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
What is this a crack for? :-)
Tell your parents it's pretty ridiculous to throw your money away just so you can "feel good" about giving Microsoft a little bit more money that they don't need. Piracy. It's what's for lunch.
Well since the slave loves his/her collar.
1) Check out all the software that are installed "on top of windows".
2) Backup all data
3) check the licences of all your "non Windows" sofware
4) Make sure you have a licence for a virus scanner and a spyware scanner
4a) if now buy
4b) buy all non windows software you need and do not have a legal licence for.
5) contact your hardware makers and try to get or buy a legal version of Windows made for your hardware
if you have an invoice and the original key (sticker on your pc) you should be able to get this
6) pay the upgrade for what ever version you want
7) install the original windows and all the drivers
8) go to each of your periferal HW vendor site and check if there is an upgrade for your driver
9) install your recent windows version
10) install the virus scanner and run it
11) connect to the internet
12) upgrade the virus scanne and run it again
13) install the spyware scanner
14) upgrade the spyware scanner
15) run it
16) upgrade windows online
17) re run the viruse scanner and the spyware scanner
18) re install all your junk windows compatible software
19) reload your data (you did check that the bakcup worked right ?)
20) install a bakcup manager and train your parents
21) remember they are your parents you cannot charge them 500$ for the day you lost
22) remember they are your parents you cannot take a cut on the 400$+ of software licence they had to buy
23) try to invoice the stupid moron that gave them the pack of crufty junk in the first place
24) you can mutter sotto voce against the people that have the intellectual laziness to prefer this aggravation to running a free platform (that of course also has its own hasles but at least you are free so the hasles is to stay that way not to lineup bill and steve's pockets and flush democracy down the drain.
25) good luck
11) install the
Backup ~
Job done.
I'll probably be modded down for this...
A few years ago, a dealer in germany did exactly that - sold OEM copies of Windows separately from hardware. Microsoft sued him and the lawsuit went all the way to the Bundesgerichtshof (Germany's highest court for non-constitutional issues). In that court, Microsoft lost.
The court found that the EULA was not binding, and Microsoft did not have a separate contract with that dealer that explicitly barred him from selling the OEM versions without hardware (that way, they could have made their OEM rules binding even in Germany).
Since that time, Microsoft has given up selling "OEM" software in Germany. What you can buy instead are "System Builder" versions. Those come without documentation and support, but Microsoft does not try to legally bind them to a certain hardware.
C - the footgun of programming languages
Wrong. The "Magic Jelly Bean" uses the exact same scripts found in the KB for VLKs. And the key changer actually says so, if you weren't inclined to click the little underlined blue text.
... The finger, and install Linux (or get your phone call, one or the other ;-) ) I think Ubuntu would be best here.
You will first have to buy an equivalent version. If they're already using XP Home, then just buy XP Home. If they're using XP Pro, then you have to figure out if they're using a volume license version, oem version, or retail version. Then you have to buy the right version license. (If it's volume license, you're out of luck: complete reinstall required.)
/a" without the quotes. Click to register by phone, and on the next page click the button to change your Key (or license, my memory gets hazy at this point). Enter in your new LEGAL license key, and click Next. It should generate a new system id. Cancel out of the screen, reboot, and you should be able to do legal things like get updates from Windows Update without running into WGA blocks.
Once you have this, log in with the administrators account. In the registry, navigate to HK_LOCAL_MACHINE -> Software -> Microsoft -> WindowsNT -> Current Version -> WPAEvents. Right click on OOBETimer and select "Modify". Change any of the values in there, and close the registry.
Next, go to Start->Run and type "c:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe
To my knowledge, the U.K. is the only country in which this practice is illegal. In the U.S. the courts have repeatedly held up (1) the doctrine of first sale -- you can sell a physical artifact you bought and (2) the doctrine that incidental and temporary copies made in the course of using software do not activate copyright law.
Provided you don't agree to the "EULA" or such rot, you aren't bound by it.
IANAL.
If your only use for Windows is testing web pages in IE or MS Office configurations then I'd argue you're justified in pirating Windows. Since M$ used illegal tactics to create their Windows/IE/Office monopoly we who would like to do away with Windows but are forced to use it to work around IE's flaws should not, in principle, have to pay the evil empire a cent. M$ should be forced by law to provide some kind of online equivalent of IE browser testing (Java or .NET app) so that web developers don't have to pay the M$ tax and have their noses rubbed in it because M$ chooses to flaunt standards.
First of all, we DON'T know if the original Windows CD has been hacked with a low-profile portknocked encrypted backdoor trojan running GOD-knows what stuff the spammers, lurkers and hackers want. This kind is virtually impossible for anti-virus program to detect.
Secondly, a keylogger could be silently copying all your keystrokes (password and all). It doesn't have to send them over the net, but it might do an innocuous ping to the hackers' headquarter.
Thirdly, it could randommly mess with your data (just a tiny bit) to make you lose productivity, but not enough to think that one needs to reinstall Windows.
Do yourself a HUGE favor and buy a legitimate copy of Windows. The pain of reinstalling is worth it in the long run.
If you are curious as to how many trojans are out there (complete with a snapshot of their console GUI), check out http://www.megasecurity.org/
What you posted is not entirely true,
Mod parent down please...
If you have a machine that has the corporate version, you don't have to install over top of it. You can do a repair install. Just boot off the OEM version, and on the third prompt, select R for "repair" instead of installing over the current windows. This leaves the registry intact, all your programs the way they were, and lets you enter a new key as part of the installation process.
The only time you would have to a fresh install is if you went from pro to home.
I had an unfortunante incident with one of our suppliers that left us with a bunch of their corporate versions of windows on our customers machines. Customers started getting WGA errors all over the place, and we've found this to be the quickest legal method to deal with it. Magic Jellybean doesn't work because the windows versions are different.
This was noted a few posts up by the way....
--gethoht
All things are subject to interpretation, whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and n
Gee, I don't know.. install it on a new harddrive, make a backup first. How is this any different than upgrading or reinstalling for any other purpose? Stupid Ask Slashdot, really.
first get a legit key for ur OS that u are runningu rrent Version\WPAEvents /a
then
here is how to change the key
1.
Click Start, and then click Run.
2.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3.
In the left pane, locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\C
4.
In the right pane, right-click OOBETimer, and then click Modify.
5.
Change at least one digit of this value to deactivate Windows.
6.
Click Start, and then click Run.
7.
In the Open box, type the following command, and then click OK.
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe
8.
Click Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows, and then click Next.
9.
Click Change Product key.
10.
Type the new product key in the New key boxes, and then click Update.
If you are returned to the previous window, click Remind me later, and then restart the computer.
(yes i know i suck at spelling fell free to correct my grammar and/or spellin i dont care, im still not going to change
You were a jock in high school, weren't you? Or do you even remember high school? Let's see...you're 32, and aside from the fact that you don't have the guts to post with a username, that would put you in high school in what? Class of 1992? Hmm...so that means the geeks in your high school were probably tinkering with any A/V equipment your school had, probably working with the 5" floppies and the few computers your school probably had at that time, and don't forget the typewriters, they probably fixed those, too. And they did all this despite the fact that you and your buddies tried to shove them in a locker on a daily basis, belittle them, tell them they were worthless and noone cared about them (despite the fact that they practically ran the school, and pretty much run the country, but don't generally gloat about it because they're not that high-profile), and generally made their life a living hell. Treat people like professionals and they'll act like professionals (ask any Kindergarten teacher). And perhaps it's not them that need to grow up, but you're the one that needs to grow up (or perhaps you don't like teens because you're afraid of getting old?) and realize that they're the future and you'll be relying on them sooner than you think.
That aside, to the teen geeks who posted: The real geeks don't gloat about what they know or can do, aren't generally arrogant, and usually make their knowledge known through things like fixing the family computer and their parents tell friends and neighbors. I've had run-ins with people who bring their computers in after "the neighbor kid who knows a lot about computers" was done with it, and that's generally what happens. That's not to say, however, that all teens are like that. As one of them, I know what it's like to be told "you don't know anything, you're just a kid." Make your accomplishments based on what you know, learn everything you can, those certs and a college degree are a definite plus and can help fill in gaps that "real world experience" may not teach you. Also, work on people and communication skills, both written and verbal. A geek with good communication skills is virtually irreplacable. And also prove wrong people's ideas of "teenagers are obnoxious brats who think they know it all but lack any real world experience."
The companies I've worked for tell the customer to either back their files up themselves, or let the company do it, otherwise the company is not responsible for lost files. The OS is then replaced, and if anything is FUBAR, the company has to fix the problem at no cost to the customer and the company eats what would have been the profits.
Seriously just re-download Windows XP From www.mininova.org, MUCH SMARTER IDEA
*Then* they can think about doing a Windows key update or if necessary reinstalling.
Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
"Corporate" is just Pro with a Volume License Key (VLK). Going from Pro->Home is no different than Corp->Home. You can't repair between versions without running into trouble.
I feel sorry for germans and their lack of freedoms, then. In the US, we have far greater freedom to contract. It's a beautiful thing.
I was really annoyed to have to buy a full-price copy of XP when my mother-in-law's computer needed to be cleaned up a few years back, but there didn't seem to be any point in trying to reinstall WinME, especially when she'd lost her install disk and I'd have to bring mine over from home on my next trip - I didn't want to mess with any licensing-police issues, and it was especially insulting because WinME hadn't fixed any of the problems Win98SE or Win98 had on my machines so I felt Bill Gates had ripped me off. At least XP let us run her machine in non-administrator mode so she'd have more trouble getting new spyware.
Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
Try to visit a site that requires WGA, fail it, and there should be an option to pay Microsoft to make the copy legit. I believe it was $150 or so.
Honestly, I'd just backup and reformat.
This guy obviously works for Microsoft. Don't people recognise astroturf anymore?
How we know is more important than what we know.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
If you have a copy of Windows XP which is pirate you could simply just crack the wga and if it ever becomes a problem (legally) you have a Windows XP license and working CD key ? would that still mean you pirated windows or is it legit. Like if I had 4 pirated Windows XP machines and bought 4 licenses at a later time would it make all my XP installs legit ? (I don't care about the wga or the key crap ... some nifty cracks and such fix those up really well)
Solosoft.org - Your Online Resource to Nothing
... visit http://www.ubuntu.com/ and download a copy. Burn to a CD, install, and enjoy a life free of stupid crap like licence codes and "Windows Genuine Advantage" shutting down MS Word just when you need it.
The world isn't always either/or. Both propositions could be true. Personally, I find HTML much more flexible than its perverted evil twin, CSS. Now there's something that's really stupid.
I think if you own a valid product key the exact same edition that you pirated, you can download a product key changer from MS that'll let you substitute your valid product key in place of the pirated one. They offer it in the WGA support forums to people who's systems came with XP, but later reinstalled the same exact edition with a pirated key. http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid =0x409
I think it was. Unless they reform the band.
I work at a company who does a LOT of computer repairs. I can assure you that this program works for every version of XP. We use it quite often.
Schools if they're subscribed under the right program actually give teachers the ability to use the school's enterprise copy of software (office, XP etc) at home.
I know, i used to work at a school and this was explicitly covered by Microsoft and trumpetted by the education department.
All she needs to do is find out if she's under that program and then change/fix up her install as plenty of other people have detailed.
Just blackmail the teacher into buying a legitimate copy of Windows for them! After all, after you've committed the dread act of piracy, what's a little extortion and blackmail? Just ask yourself: What Would Jack Sparrow Do?
After downloading firebird, migrating all of their email and backing up all data. Go ahead with your installation and restore their data. Problem solved.
As far as what they actually are doing, well, it's theft, plain and simple.
No, because infringement of intellectual property is a civil offence, while theft is a criminal offence. If you don't understand the distinction, you're obviously not qualified to be making any commentary on this subject.
Push Button, Receive Bacon
Buy A Legal Copy of The Same Release XP Pro or XP Home then follow the instructions in this tech bulletin http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb; en-us;Q328874
You basicly go in and deactive windows through regedit then change the product key to a legit one using the activate windows routine. No need to reinstall.
Only works on SP1 or higher
Sounds great.
Especially great for you because you're going to be back in another month to six months to do it again.
one of the linux based systems. Seriously.
/olddata partition so the old drive can be saved as backup.
Buy them a new HD for the Linux, swap the HDs so you have the original safe-and-sound, and install, what, RH? SuSE? Ubuntu or Knoppix?
Show them where all the software they will use instead of the Microsilt is and show them how to do what they want to do. (Firefox, one of a couple of options on e-mail, openoffice?)
Hang the original HD off as a slave and set it up so they can mount it read-only and get at their old data. Or maybe copy the old data to a special
Make a date once or twice a week to come show them how to do what they can't figure out. You need the excuse to visit anyway, and you'll find after the second week that you actually do visit more than do geekly things.
unless you're going for some sort of "payback" angle. then, by all means, pay money for admitance to MS hell.
This is a joke, right?
In this country, we have 'contracts' nobody ever really agrees to-- EULAs -- and courts who make decisions by reading the Bible. The German courts held what any rational court in an actually civilized country would hold.
One simple executable. Called the KeyUpdateTool.exe provided by microsoft. It will update a 'pirate' version of Windows XP with the new CD key you provide. It is non destructive and has worked flawlessly on the 10 machines I have had to use it on. Your mileage may vary but I would recommend this option to all who purchase a valid license.
DSLIP Web Design and Content Management Australia.
On the serious side: download http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml's keyfinder. No need to reboot the system, no need to even install the file! Just change the number to the new valid one, save it and you're totally legit.
On the funnier side... the only way to fix Windows XP is to completely remove it for something better... like an OpenSource operating system.
The trouble with Karma is: it always gets worse.
Step 1.. Tell them you installed the new copy, but you didn't. Step 2.. Sell new legit copy to someone else. Step 3.. Profit
My fav units are dead Mavs
Reinstall the system with known-good media. If the OS is pirated, it probably has activation cracks, and who knows whether it has a rootkit or other malware installed. The safest thing to do is to get a new, OEM copy of Windows XP (must be purchased with hardware, but "hardware" can include a power splitter). Newegg sells legit copies for $90, which is a lot less than the retail price. You get the holographic CD and the COA, along with a valid product key, so you know that it's genuine.
You cannot upgrade from an OEM CD, nor would you want to. The system should be considered insecure because it is not in a known state. You wouldn't install from Fedora media with the wrong sha1sum; why would you install from an unknown copy of Windows?
This is the answer. I have also seen that if you install the new 'check if my copy is legal' tool that MS wants to auto-download through Windows Update, if it detects a pirated version, it will offer to let you buy a legal key for a decent price. ($150 for my [legal] full copy of XP Pro that it incorrectly thought was pirated.)
Also, if you need to go through re-activation, and it doesn't like your key, it will offer to sell you one.
And, if they bought the computer from a store and the store sold them a pirated copy, MS will even (under certain circumstances) let them convert to a legal key for free. (You must be willing to rat out the place you bought it from, though, providing detailed information.)
Another non-functioning site was "uncertainty.microsoft.com."
The purpose of that site was not known.
Right now, you can purchase an OEM copy of XP2 from Newegg for $137.99. You don't even have to purchase additional hardware as was required in the past. Does MS assume people are going to follow the EULA?
Wow, reading through all these posts makes me really question Slashdot members.
Really, really, really.
(1) You can't just change the product key. Corp uses volume licensing keys, and will not accept a XP home, home oem, pro, pro oem, or mce key.
(2) You do not need to do a reinstallation, or an "in place install", as neither will keep your existing configuration. You could do an in place install and copy over the registry hives, but there are easier ways.
(3) To buy MS OEM software you no longer need to purchase hardware alongside. This has been the case for at least a year. Check NewEgg for proof.
Now, as some people have mentioned before, a REPAIR installation is the easiest answer.
You must buy a copy of XP Professional for this to work. XP Home won't repair corporate editions, as corporate editions are XP pro.
OEM or retail. It doesn't matter.
Slide in CD, boot to CD, install SATA driver via F6 if applicable.
Blah, google for screen shots and detailed directions. Its really quite simple, you act like you're going to do a fresh install and the install program finds the existing OS. But, I digress, I don't want anyone attempting this on those lame directions alone.
After the repair install you will need to
(1) Active Windows
(2) Install drivers
(3) Download all updates
(4) Sit back, caus everything else is the same.
WHALLA, legit Windows.
The act of installing software makes a copy. That is copyright infringement unless you have authorization with the copyright holder. That authorization comes through a contract, typically the End-User License Agreement. If you're not complying with that contract, including the payment for the liscence, you do not have authorization to copy the software to your hard drive, and are commiting copyright infringement by doing so.
If it ain't broke, it needs more features!
It's better to use a Free system and leave the non-free stuff alone.
If you must use non-free software then it's better to not pay for it, because if you pay them then they will just keep making non-free software.
-- To dream a dream is grand, but to live it is divine. -- Leto ][
Just have them pick up a legitimate copy and not install it. Technically they've purchased a license to run whatever version of Microsoft Windows they have, and as far as I know this license is granted as such so that the machine might run it. If you already have Windows on the machine, don't bother installing anything more--just tuck your new copy away on the shelf and don't put it on any other computers. It's not like the "pirated" copy is any different than any other Windows system of its version except by product key and maybe a couple other unique identifiers, but if anyone calls you on it, say "I have a license to run this software!"
You simply have the wrong idea about what is the right thing to do:
The Right Thing to do is to use only Free software.
The Wrong Thing to do is to award purveyers of non-free software.
Using non-free software without paying for it, is slightly less wrong than paying for it, so it's the preferable choice, if you absolutely have to use that software.
Using Windows awards Microsoft with a larger marketshare, that's the reason you shouldn't use windows, pirated or not.
-- To dream a dream is grand, but to live it is divine. -- Leto ][
Watch out though - the WGA Diagnostic Tool looks useful but also tries to install the WGALogon test to run at boot time... why am I not surprised?
Thanks to SpyBot TeaTimer for catching that one...
re Redsector and Psygnosis, those cool 17yo hackers from 1989 now work for sony making their
cool expensive Amiga30000, called the PS3
Liberty freedom are no1, not dicks in suits.
Well, since you ask, personally I would grab a copy of [Favourite free O/S] and install it in place of [Monopolistic evil O/S]... *SLAP* sorry, wrong thread :)
Although they are improving dramatically with each release, I still believe that Windows installs go "mouldy" - They get slower, eat more memory and become generally less stable with time. The latest set of Windows versions does this quite slowly, unlike Windows 95/98/ME, where you could almost see it happen.
The reason for mentioning this is that if you buy a Windows XP upgrade CD, you will be able to "refresh" the mouldyness, and provide a new CD key in one go by upgrading your existing XP to the CD XP - This will probably then need a whole slew of updates downloading, but the end result is often noticably smoother running.
Just my 2p
Enjoy Y2K? Roll-on Year 2037!
First Backup all documents and for sure I will install Ubuntu Linux v6.06 LTS on their pc.
Music is the sedative for mind...
Many smaller computer shops will only sell you a copy with a qualifying hardware purchase--in most cases, a case mounting screw (for around $0.06 USD) will suffice.
I'm sure it is not what Micro$oft intended, but I've not seen their legal team beating down the doors of any Minneapolis/St. Paul computer shops where this happens...
I use irony whenever I can, but my shirts are still wrinkled...
If you are going to run windows, buy it, if not, go get an OS that is free, as in freedom and beer. Then you do not have to worry about this kinda shit. There are hundreds of Linux distros out there for free, format, install (it only takes about 25-30 mins now a days) and try them out. Repeat as necessary to find the one you want to use.
----- I have bad karma for a reason! -----
Never thought I would see so many slashdotters defending Microsoft. It's like the Twilight Zone...
Honestly, is a new computer with a legit version of Windows too much to ask? Especially if the alternative is being ratted out as a supplier of bootlegs of Windows and facing stiff fines and serious jail time.
I guess the only drawback would be that your parents have also committed a felony and would be facing the same punishment. Incidentally, you just asked the question non-anonymously. I suppose that's a confession of sorts. Lets hope law enforcement or Microsoft don't read this site...
Actually, I really do know what I'm talking about. The theory is simple: all malware has to get launched. There are a limited number of places in windows something can stick itself to get launched at boot time. This is what tools like HijackThis and autoruns allow you to look at. If you use them frequently enough, it's pretty easy to pick out what doesn't below.
Kernel rootkits made this a bit more challenging, since you can't trust what Windows is telling you about what you see through these tools. The answer to that is to boot to trusted media (like a BartPE disk) and check out the potential autostart locations from that. Since the malware isn't loaded, it can't make the system lie to you.
Thanks to the newer kernel rootkits that hide files in NTFS alternate data streams, you have to scan for those as well from trusted media. But that's doable- there are tools which work from BartPE which will enumate files with ADS streams, and you can also check for ADS paths in the list of drivers which load a boot-time. Then when you think you've got it clean, throw a sniffer on the machine's LAN connection and see if anything unexpected happens.
Thus, it's really quite possible to manually discover and "kill" most infections with a reasonably high degree of confidence, if you have enough practice and experience. The level of assurance isn't high enough for a corporate server, but it's usually sufficient for home users and in small businesses, considering the cost of a from-scratch rebuild.
I do admit I'm a bit more qualified than most techs who do this... I've got a computer science degree, and have been doing IT stuff professionally for 14 years. You've got to have a pretty solid grasp of windows internals to do this well.
-R
They wouldn't have bought it from Best Buy, by any chance? My friend bought a PC from them that came with a copy of Office 2003 - but in BETA version. Apparently the store was swept by an epidemic of "Huh? I dunno." disease when he called to demand a real version as advertised.
The Best way to fix windows is to run Linux.
Then there is no wories about licensing.
What a load off.
And get this MS got payed, 99% of the time,
when you bought your PC any way. Go figure.
The MS OEM restrictions TheNetAvenger describes are no longer part of the license.
You could be correct; however, I was under the impression that for the OEM to uphold their license with MS that they had to tie the OEM copy to a piece of hardware that would be used in the computer.
So even if the OEM License itself does not still say the Hardware requirement, the OEM may have to agree to uphold the hardware requirement License in order to purchase the OEM copies from a Vendor.
However, everyone check on this. If the hardware restriction is lifted it would be a good deal for people that don't have a previous Windows version. However if you already have a copy of Windows (as most people that purchased a computer do), then the Upgrade version would be the best, as the installation allows the OS to be Upgraded and you don't have to do a clean install as you do with the OEM version.
Sure, but I think you're looking with a very narrow view here. Most laws have little to do with property or scarcity of resources at all, but they all operate on the same basic principle: society is improved if everyone follows a particular law. (I'm glossing over the precondition that laws are made well, which obviously isn't universally true.)
Agreed again, but the fact that a law is easy to violate and this is widely abused does not mean that the law is not in the interest of society, nor that we should not try to enforce it and to punish those who do not obey it.
Take an extreme case: someone who is truly determined to kill another human at any cost will often be able to commit the murder, and we know that people do get murdered. We cannot make people invulnerable, nor provide sufficient resources to protect every individual all the time. Should we therefore accept that the law against murder is flawed, because it cannot be perfectly enforced? I hope we'd agree that such an argument would be inappropriate.
Something that is perhaps closer is speeding: speed limits in many countries are widely broken by drivers, and speeding is often portrayed as a "victimless crime". Moreover, in many cases, this is justified: the fact that a particular speed is above the specified limit does not automatically imply that it is an inappropriate speed for the driving conditions at a given time, and a skilled and experienced driver may well be in a better position to judge this than a road planner working to a rule book several years previously.
Now, here's where the parallel really cuts in: in an ideal world, we might do away with arbitrary speed limits, in favour of enforcing dangerous/inconsiderate driving laws rigorously. Where speeding is dangerous, it would still be an offence, but where it is reasonable but for the law, it would cease to be illegal. However, it would be much more difficult for our legal systems to act against those who are driving in a dangerous or inconsiderate fashion under this scheme. Thus speed limits are, if you like, a concession to pragmatism.
A parallel view exists for things like copyright: clearly not all infringements of copyright violate the principles the laws are supposed to protect, though they may violate the letter of the laws intended to represent those principles in more concrete terms. For example, we have no way of telling that Joe Public really does only rip MP3s of new tracks to see whether they're any good, and honestly buys the music for anything he downloads that he wants to keep. I'm sure some people do do this, and I'm equally sure that many more do not. However, the economic impact of the abuses may be significantly damaging to society.
Again, in a better world, we would perhaps have some mechanism by which a consumer could sample copyright works for long enough to identify their value to that consumer, and then opt to pay the asking price or not. Having paid, they would then receive a secured version that allows them to use the material fairly without limitation, but completely prevents sharing it in unfair ways to the detriment of the people whose hard work went into producing it. Of course, such a system could never work with Big Brother-scale surveillance of any use of copyright materials, which
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
Actually, Microsoft had the freedom to make a separate contract that would have barred the dealer from un-bundling the OEM software. The court explicitly stressed that point.
But under German law, this requires a contract that is signed before the sale, or at least "standard business conditions" that are clearly visible to the customer before buying. An EULA that is only visible when installing the software does not cut it, as it fails the standard of "visible before buying".
Most EULAS for off-the-shelf software are of that type and thus unenforcable. I have never seen one that was printed out on the box, which might make it enforcable.
Another complication is if the software goes through several hands. Even if the EULA is binding for the original buyer, it is doubtful if it can be enforced against the new owner, since he was not party to the original contract. In our example, the original buyer might be the wholesaler and the new owner might be some small software shop that likes to unbundle OEM software.
At that point, it becomes quite difficult for the software manufacturer to ensure all dealers are under a contract not to ignore the EULA. I guess Microsoft did not want to deal with that and simply gave up.
C - the footgun of programming languages
Sorry it took so long to respond, I saw your reply early this morning but had to head off to work. (I make it a rule to avoid Slashdotting at work!)
Actually, the OP said "they are afraid of deleting everything and having to reinstall all their programs". Fear can cause reluctance, but doesn't mean a solution should be overlooked as "offtopic". Some people, for example, are afraid of doctors. This doesn't mean we should overlook encouraging a trip to the hospital in the unfortunate circumstance of a heart attack.
To take our example further, diet is a factor that contributes to some heart problems. A patient may be reluctant to change their diet, even to one that will help preserve their life. However, this doesn't mean we should overlook encouraging them to eat more healthily.
The decision to keep using Windows may not be life-threatening. However, fear of a fresh install (which, unless a corporate license is made available, may be required anyway) should not stop us from encouraging a properly planned switch to a more stable, secure operating system legally available for $200 less than retail Windows XP and free from the constraints of a Windows license. Certainly, we shouldn't regard such a recommendation as being "offtopic".
I don't think you are purposely lying to us. However, I think you are lying to yourself and then repeating that misinformation to us. I've seen several hundred home computers that were so messed up it would take a team of Windows engineers to rebuild it in a week, and even then you still have to wonder.
I hear where you are coming from, I came from there too. If something is broken I like to know what and why. As frustrating as it is to me, I have accepted that with a Windows install you have to learn to let go. There are thousands of files just to name a few, trying to repair an install on 99% of home computers is like trying to fix a network adapter with spare parts. Sure, there might be a 2 cent part that will do the trick, but you'll spend hundreds of dollars in man hours trying to save the 20 bucks a new card would cost.
Even if we were to assume that it was possible and reasonable to rid the install of malware, this does nothing to address the issue of the digital dust that all but the most maticulously tended Windows installs suffer from. From the very first boot, Windows starts collecting dust. Although most of it is harmless and merely soaks up hard drive space, over time it does erode system performance.
It still amazes me to this day the performance boost gained by a fresh install of windows, and I'm one of those paranoid freaks that routinely instpects my system to make sure nothing is running unless I want it to be running.
In the end, a clean install gives us something that is unattainable in any other facet of our lives, it makes our computers brand new again. In our cars we have out station presets, our seats and mirrors adjusted just so, and all the other various customizations we've added to make the drive more comfortable. I think most people would gladly start from scratch if they could just snap their fingers and make the car new again once a year. You're trying to say wiping down the dash and spraying some new car scent under the seats does the same thing.
As far as time and effort, you clean and repair an install head to head with me installing from scratch and I will beat you every time. In regard to speed AND quality.
Do not get me wrong. I long for the day that a reinstall is rendered completely unnecessary. I can assure you however, that day, is not, today.
Get Ubuntu or Kubuntu - backup files - use LINUX.
Hey for what your parents do... OpenOffice, FireFox, Scribus, Gimp, Gwenview (Kipi Plugins) and Linux will do for them better than Windows.
If they want to watch DVDs... hey, get a live CD that does that or use a DVD player that is dedicated for this as it is easy to operate.
Buy a new copy of Windows with a legit key. You just need the key. Go to the following REGISTRY key and change one of the bits to de-activate windows. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents "OOBETimer" This will allow you to re-run the activation tool which has a button to change the serial. %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
Choose to activate over phone and you'll get the button to change the serial.
Enter the new serial then just exit the tool and reboot. No need to complete activation.
After reboot all is well.
Right, but you can upgrade Home to a Pirated Corporate, then Repair install the licensed OEM Pro over it ;)
"I can't give you a brain, so I'll give you a diploma" - The Great Oz (blatently stolen sig)
True. I was operating under the assumption that the new legal copy of Windows would be Home, not Pro.
Trust windows to only want to spy on you, your family, your computer....or computers, etc. Trust windows to always want to put more back doors into your system than it already has, and it you are using 'XP' that is quite a lot. Did you know that XP will allow microsoft to silently download or upload anything from your computer without your permission? All it needs to do is be on and be able to find an active internet connection. Much preferably high speed!
Now the way to save your data is to get a version of linux with kernel 2.4, not 2.6. Kernel 2.6 removed the security feature 'shred' from its implemetation of its KDE file browser 'Konqueror', so it may have other insecurities as well. A good version is SuSE 9.0. This was still made by SuSE when it was an honest German company and not yet bought by the corporate monopoly and predatory litigator Novell. SuSE 9.0 will make room for itself on your hard drive and install itself with its 'YAST' program. Just be carefull not to allow it to totally wipe your drive which is possible as a choosable menu option in the install routine for those who want to operate an exclusively linux system. YAST will tell you in the partitioning part of the install routine that it will load and mount the windows partitions of your existing windows system so that these can be read under linux. Once linux is installed, you can then use linux to back up all your personal data that you had saved under windows. Only now these actions will not be covertly reported to microsoft. Just because you have a microsoft system given to you does not make it any less microsoft's, as their soul-less intents are in every line of the millions of lines of code that make up the thousands of files of this most gigantic collection of malware that the computer industry has ever produced and foisted on an unwitting and largely unwilling public. Microsoft wedged its foothold in the public's door by selling it initially for fifty dollars and being able to run many games..and knowing what a sound card and a joystick was. IBM never figured this out, and the fools from IBM collaborated with microsoft to make this monster yet never caught on. IBM's OS/2 had much of the collaborated code, but these abilities left with the microsoft engineers when they parted company with IBM. To this day microsoft is good for only playing games. Their spying has rendered it useless and untrustworthy for anything else. In our house we treat microsoft products as hazardous materials. All of our microsoft products are software we purchased in local stores for cash. They have never been registered. We will not have an XP machine except for one laptop that retains it only because microsoft conspired with the laptops' video hardware manufacturer, S3, to not release the specifations of its hardware so that linux drivers can be written for it. Microsoft even locked out its other products such as Win2000 from the video system on that laptop. Microsoft than secretly downloaded software on it that disabled file and disk checking programs from functioning, probably as these programs may have been a threat to their covert activities. This after the 'services' section was edited to specifically turn 'off' these 'features' like background downloading and 'updating'. This laptop had to be totally reformated and the disk shredded nine times and each file 39 times so that its malware was completly dead. Upon reinstall, this XP was also absolutely denied the internet by the hardware router and by misconfiguring the addressing. And I and my machines were and are nobodies. No job! Not millionaires! Not Arabs! Not anybody!!! What would they plant on somebody that they figured was 'usefull' to them. So all our 'windows' are locked out of the internet forever. My grandson would like to play some on line games using windows, but I know that this is another way that windows spies on ordinary users. One wonders what on earth they would do with all that useless data. But then there is Kroger with its 'Kroger Plus' cards th
Sorry for the delayed reaction, but we used to have a saying, that the best sysad was usually the first true black hat in.
There are at least two games in play here, and it sounds like you're pretty good at shutting down the rape-and-pillage crowd.
These days, many of the moderately skilled crackers are more interested in not letting people know they are there, so they tend to just hide their own private back doors instead of risking exposure by tightening boxes down, especially MSWindows boxes that come cheap anyway. A skilled cracker is also likely to examine the potential host and only drop a private back door on a box that looks especially valuable for some reason.
You're taking a gamble, when you just clean the box, that the box in question is not "interesting" in the quieter game.
I think, if I were you, I'd at least make rich kids and people who have repeats pay for a re-install, installation of a router with a firewall if they don't have one, and setting up and training them to use a non-admin user account.
I'd be pushing them to get off MSWindows, too.
It's a game of odds, but I'd be trying to get my customers to play the better odds.