Microsoft allows bypass of Vista activation

Psyk · 22 Mar 2007 at 18:59

bikes said:
Theft is theft at the end of the day.

Theft is theft, but is copyright infringement? Ethically, maybe it is. Legally, no it is not.

hp7909 · 1 Apr 2007 at 10:10

zen62619 said:
They will only bring out a hotfix that stops that{snip}

Think they already have

Can't get mine to extend :mad:

gsf600y · 1 Apr 2007 at 17:42

hp7909 said:
Think they already have Can't get mine to extend

That windows secrets website said:
• On a copy of Vista Ultimate that Microsoft released in New York City on Jan. 29, I found that changing SkipRearm from 0 to 1 allowed the command slmgr -rearm to postpone Vista's activation deadline eight separate times. After that, changing the 0 to 1 had no effect, preventing slmgr -rearm from moving the deadline. The use of slmgr -rearm 3 times, plus using SkipRearm 8 times would eliminate Vista's activation nag screens for about one year (12 periods of 30 days).

• On a copy of the upgrade version of Vista Home Premium that I bought in a retail store on Jan. 30, slmgr -rearm also worked 3 times and SkipRearm worked 8 times before losing their effect. This combination would, as with Vista Ultimate, permit a one-year use of Vista without nag screens appearing.

• On a copy of the full version of Vista Home Premium that I bought in a retail store on Mar. 14, SkipRearm had no effect on extending the use of slmgr -rearm at all. This suggests that Microsoft has slipstreamed a new version into stores, eliminating the SkipRearm feature in Vista Home. That could mean that changing the key from 0 to 1 will now work only in the business editions of Vista — Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate — so corporations can use the loophole.

barnettgs · 1 Apr 2007 at 17:49

gareth170 said:
i have vista home premium oem. i don't mind activateing and reactivateing when i upgrade a hdd or cpu or graphic card, it only takes 5mins.

5 mins...are you really sure?!

I might not mind it but changing ram? Like testing out ram for your friend? Thats where I would not be happy...

Caged · 1 Apr 2007 at 18:25

leaskovski said:
Result! I have just used this to extend my evaluation copy until i can find out if i can get a x64 bit version thanks to winning the launch dev comp.!

There's an evaluation?

Macro · 1 Apr 2007 at 18:30

Pants · 1 Apr 2007 at 18:32

I just read another article on how you can unstall the vista upgrade version without a key in custom mode. Then "upgrade" it and activate it normally.

I.e. full retail and legal version at upgrade prices. Although it must be hassle installing it twice.

Slam62 · 1 Apr 2007 at 18:34

Well I've extended my activation period by as long as I want... I uninstalled the pile of .....

Burnsy2023 · 1 Apr 2007 at 19:21

Caged said:
There's an evaluation?

Nope.

Burnsy

Slam62 · 1 Apr 2007 at 19:26

burnsy2023 said:
Nope.

Burnsy

somebody already said that but I guess they dont have the same authority you do :rolleyes:

teaboy5 · 1 Apr 2007 at 20:46

Think of it this way.

You make software for a living, you spend years on a product and release it.

You sell 1 copy and make about £10 profit on it.

But wait you sold 1 copy but 5 million people copied it. Wouldn't that pee you off a little ?

Mint_Sauce · 1 Apr 2007 at 21:07

the-void said:
Once you have bought your shopping or petrol you don't get home and have someone waiting to check what's in your bag and tank matches the till receipts, do you? You wouldn't put up with them calling again the next day, just to make sure you really did buy those goods. How about they went through your bin, to make sure that your really, really bought those goods. How about they went through your house and checked your cupboards without you knowing and without asking - you know, just to make damn sure you really did buy those products after all. And not only that, but they made themselves a key to let themselves in at any time and if they ever suspect you put something in your basket that isn't on the till receipt, they will lock you out of your own house until you have answered a few of their questions. Don't kid me you would put up with that.

I am not prepared for anyone to threaten to lock me out of my own computer, even for the briefest of time, that holds personal, private and priceless (to me - pictures, videos of my children growing up, etc) because they think I have pirated their software despite the fact I have a credit card statement, the retail box, the retail dvd, and the damn receipt itself.

I agree, in fact I am currently sitting here just having been locked out of Windows by WGA. The only access I have is to a browser, nothing else. I have work to do but can't do it.

I tried to get my totally legit Vista re-activated but was told I can't as it's not working hours for the tech staff. I am (insert most offensive word you can think of here) off. :mad:

thepharcyde · 1 Apr 2007 at 22:32

Mint_Sauce said:
I agree, in fact I am currently sitting here just having been locked out of Windows by WGA. The only access I have is to a browser, nothing else. I have work to do but can't do it.

I tried to get my totally legit Vista re-activated but was told I can't as it's not working hours for the tech staff. I am (insert most offensive word you can think of here) off.

Y whats not working? If you are trying to activate it then you should not have a problem. I have phoned MS many times to activate my OS no problems ever. I did get an instant where because I had activated Windows MCE 2005 OEM to many times I have to call them, at first they would not activate it as they suspected the key being used for piracy issues. I then hung up spoke to somebody else and the activated it. I then created a Norton Ghost image of a fresh installation of my OS activated so I would not have to call them again.

I also recently aquired a new laptop with Vista installed with the discs. I installed this over MCE 2005 on my HTPC machine and had to activate over the phone. I told a porky about how many pc's it was installed on as I morally did not feel guilty as it is for my personal use only and don't see why I should be restricted on any PC's I solely use and own.

If MS were so blatently against piracy they would be able to adopt a dongle method etc. We use Bloomberg terminals at work, and this is impossible to duplicate/use without a legit license.

Mint_Sauce · 2 Apr 2007 at 10:13

Nothing is working, apart from a browser window to allow my to go to microsofts website to do a validation.

I also got to fill out a form about how I felt about my pirated version...

Considering I bought it from OcUK and used my legit key from the box, I can't see how it's a pirated version, it's been activated by MS twice before this as well.

My box with key is currently in storage as I'm renovating a flat to move in to at the moment. Still waiting for MS to get back to me, have lots of work to be getting on with. Apparently they'll get back to me whithin 24 hours at their leisure. aargh. :mad:

Anyone considering Vista, it's a good OS when it works but WGA etc makes it a right pain to use. Personally, I'm considering re-installing XP now and waiting until they sort it out.

jas72 · 2 Apr 2007 at 13:45

the-void said:
Your missing my point entirely stoofa. If your happy with WGA, that is fine. If you accept being stopped because you have nothing to hide, that is fine. Thank god not everyone thinks the same way as you and that others such as myself will continue to fight against a police state and intrusions of privacy from large corporations.

I am not condoning piracy like you imply with your casual dismissal of the fundamental principle of innocent until proven guilty. However I am rather annoyed that it is the genuine consumers who have paid money have to prove they have paid, whilst the pirates who have paid nothing never get hassled. If you cannot understand that frustration then I am sorry. But then I am sorry that you do not have the conviction to question authority and you seem to easily accept what our grandfathers fought so valiantly to oppose in the WW2.

Trial with out jury. Being stopped without justification. Considering taking DNA samples for littering. Having to actually prove (yes, prove Gareth) the software you paid £300 is yours, and having to prove this on demand. And then being told by spineless people I should just accept this if I have nothing to hide and its no hassle to show a few documents.

I disagree with ever increasing fascist state that the UK is becoming. And if you think I am being stupid in arguing about WGA and other the other stupid laws being suggested by this pathetic labour party then I suggest you go and tidy your rooms and clean up your hard drives ready for your masters next inspection. You never know when they might click their fingers. Off you run.

But OTT there I think.

I won't be getting VISTA any time soon.

In fact I won't get it until

A) games don't run without it

B) MS stop with updates.

C) most applications RUN on it hassle free.

Just watched a mate take 45 mins to get VENTRILO working with it. (He managed it but it's now knocked out his game sound.)

I'll stick with XP.

I still think the retail cost is far too high.

the-void · 2 Apr 2007 at 14:03

jas72 said:
But OTT there I think.

I know, went on a rant there a bit.

WGA is just like ID cards. A big bag of BS that does not stop what it was designed to do. ID cards are not going to stop terrorists. WGA isn't going to stop pirates. They are just another infringement on our right to privacy. I am not a terrorist, and my software is legit, so it really ****'s me off to be told I should put up with it because its "no hassle". Or someone mentioning how because they are happy being stopped by the police for no reason - that its all no "big deal"

stoofa · 2 Apr 2007 at 14:05

Psyk said:
I think in the case of Adobe, they really aren't concerned about individuals pirating things like Photoshop. They really do benefit from it I reckon. It's so expensive that there's no way most people would consider buying it for personal purposes, so they would just use something else. Then if they ever turn it into a career, Adobe gets nothing because they are used to a different program. If they get Photoshop illegitimitely, they get used to that and if they ever go into business they will probably buy a license for it (after all, it's expensive to a person, but to a business it's not really).

And more on topic, I didn't pay a penny for Vista and I didn't have to resort to piracy. Got to love the MSDN Academic Alliance

No - the problem is that everyone wants the best and wont pay for it.
If I want to buy a new car then I've got various options.
I can buy the car that will get me from A to B and do so very well.
It will do so in a reliable fashion and for example this car will cost me £10k.
Now I can also buy this same base car and add a few extra features on.
I might go for ABS, I may go for EBS - both of these are safety features.
They aren't actually neccessary, however I might decide these extra features can be justified.
These extra features will cost me a little more however, maybe my car is now £11k, £12k.
Remember I can still buy the £10k car - it will still do basically the same job, it is adequate for what I need.
Along with those safety features I could also add a 10 speaker MP3 player.
Maybe I'd like some DVD players for the people in the back of my car.
These are my toys.
Once again they aren't needed, ther £10k car still gets me from A to B.
The £11k or £12k car gets me where I want to go but has some extra technical features.
My £15k car has got safety features and is also full of toys.
At each stage the price has gone up - but I've got more for my money.

Think of the above as Windows Home Premium, Business & Ultimate.
All options do what you need them to do - you just have to pay the extra for the features you want.

With adobe they realised that your average home user wouldn't be buying Photoshop.
So, they saw what 95% of the home users needed and released Photoshop Elements at a 10th of the cost yet with a lot more than a 10th of the features.

But people don't want to have to pay for the extra toys.
They want everything and feel they either shouldn't have to pay or shouldn't have to pay any more than the basic price and still have all the toys.
It doesn't work that way I'm afraid - yet for some reason a lot of people think it does.

I would reply to the reply to my earlier post, but it goes so off-topic and gets extremely paranoid I don't think I'll follow that one up.

the-void · 2 Apr 2007 at 14:18

stoofa said:
I would reply to the reply to my earlier post, but it goes so off-topic and gets extremely paranoid I don't think I'll follow that one up.

There is nothing wrong with being worried about the state and big business being able to check up on you when they want and for no good reason. It isn't be paranoid. There is nothing wrong with valuing your personal liberty and freedom Stoofa.

stoofa said:
No - the problem is that everyone wants the best and wont pay for it.

Since when did you speak on behalf of "everyone" and who says they won't pay for it. Rather presumptuous aren't you. Small wonder you are all for checking up on people, you just can't believe they have the best AND have paid for it as well.

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6516189.stm?dynamic_vote=ON#vote_music_downloads

The above is a far more acceptable approach for a business model. It doesn't treat the buying public with the suspicion they are criminals or are going to commit a criminal act.

It also appears 90%+ don't appreciate DRM either.

TC1 · 2 Apr 2007 at 14:50

bikes said:
Theft is theft at the end of the day.

So is the high prices charged my Microsoft!

Priapus · 2 Apr 2007 at 16:24

the-void said:
there is no point in companies putting more and more locks on their front door and asking people to juggle a pocket full of keys when the side window is open.

100% Agree with you and everything you have had to say in this so far.