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Permanently Activate Windows Vista

keznews.com — "Until now, Microsoft has an upper hand, with no permanent or foolproof ways to crack or bypass Windows Vista activation request emerged."..."Now, there is new crack method that able to permanently stop the countdown timer of time left to activate Windows Vista, effectively running Vista OS in full functionality evaluation mode forever. "

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  • virtualball, on 10/12/2007, -6/+110Yeah I tried this about four days ago, but it only reset the count for me. Don't dogg me down because I'm saying that, I'm just saying it isn't dumbass proof :D
  • adml_shake, on 10/12/2007, -2/+30I'm saying that there will be a patch for this within a few weeks of the Vista launch.
    • OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -28/+2Why would someone willingly patch this? Unless MS sneaks it in with another patch.
    • OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -2/+78Ok, so we'll patch the patch.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+48It will be an eternal ritual of patching and counter-patching.
    • suppah, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11hum, pretty like chess...
    • EtherGnat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7"hum, pretty like chess..."

      Except it's a game that Microsoft (RIAA, or whoever) can never truly win--there are only degrees of losing.
    • TheReport, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"It will be an eternal ritual of patching and counter-patching."

      Thats how its always been. Since the beginning of Software history the goal of every developer is to evolve, not doing so makes the program obsolete.
    • JQP123, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@EtherGnat
      "Except it's a game that Microsoft (RIAA, or whoever) can never truly win--there are only degrees of losing."

      MS is probably thinking just the opposite, this is a game that the crackers can never truly win.

      Which is harder and more time consuming, patching or cracking? If cracking is harder, doesn't MS have the upper hand? If MS can make it increasingly more difficult, complex, time consuming and bothersome to maintain a cracked system, they probably consider that a win.
    • aurrea, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3After we patch the patch, I think they will come right back and patch the patch of the patch.
  • detachment2702, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14Ah, just in time! I just installed Vista just for kicks.
    • OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -8/+35Yes, it sort of has that Burning Man appeal. Install it on an old PC, then throw it off a roof. Art!
    • detachment2702, on 10/12/2007, -10/+2Eh... isnt 43200 minutes exactly 30 days? 30 days is the time you have to activate anyway... I guess it just resets the clock.
    • 0o0Moylan0o0, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3detatchment, if you read it, you would have noticed that it is a patch that locks the activation grace period to 30 days
  • eagles2k3, on 10/12/2007, -37/+4Lame...illegal ***** ain't worth digging.
  • JamesMorris, on 10/12/2007, -31/+15Microsoft are getting OWNED, there's tons of various cracks for Vista now :D

    Here's the method for the lazy people, or incase the site gets the digg 'effect':

    1. Install Windows Vista Ultimate edition (or other edition) without product key.
    2. Windows Vista needs to be applied with 2099-ReArm trick, so that the counter of minutes to no activation required period will not return to normal after reboot. Click on Start Orb button.
    3. Select “All Programs”, then “Accessories”.
    4. Right click on “Command Prompt, then select “Run as Administrator (A)”.
    5. If User Account Control (UAC) prompt a warning message, click on “Continue”.
    6. In the command prompt, type date and press Enter. You will see the following:

    Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
    Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

    C:Windowssystem32>date
    Current date: 12/19/2006 Thursday
    Enter new date:
    7. Enter 12/31/2099 (December 31, 2099).
    8. Next, type cscript slmgr.vbs -rearm. You will see something like the following:

    C:Windowssystem32>cscript slmgr.vbs -rearm
    Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.7
    Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

    The command completed successfully.
    To make the change effectively, please restart the system.
    9. Then reset the date of the system to current date again by typing date again. You will see the following:

    Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
    Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

    C:Windowssystem32>date
    Current date: 12/31/2099 Thursday
    Enter new date:
    10. Type in current date, i.e. 12/19/2006.
    11. Exit from command prompt, but do not restart the computer.
    12. Download StopTimer.zip, StopTimer.zip or StopTimer.zip.
    13. Extract the downloaded archive file into a folder. It should contains “Vista test crack.exe” and “timerstop.sys”.
    14. Execute or run the “Vista test crack.exe” by right click on “Vista test crack.exe”, and select “Run as Administrator (A)”.
    15. Optional: Press in Test button, and it will pop up a message says 4 timers are stopped. At this time, the counter should be freezed, Check with slmgr.vbs -dlv command, with the minutes left should be the same after a few minutes interval. If it’s the case, continue with the following steps to run the crack every startup.
    16. In the Vista test crack window, click on “Install” button. You will be prompted with “Service installed” message if everything is done properly and correctly. The crack will copy the patched stoptimer.sys to system folder and install a new service named “timerstop” to stop kernel-mode timers in spsys.sys system file.
    17. Exit from the crack, and restart the computer.
    18. The hacking is basically done. Next few steps to to verify that the activation grace period built-in countdown timer is actually stopped and disable the timers from working properly, and make sure that the crack is installed properly. After restart, log on to Windows Vista. Run for a few minutes.
    19. Press on Windows + R keys.
    20. Type slmgr.vbs -dlv to check the time left to activate Windows Vista. If the time left is 43200 minutes that’s mean the crack is successful.



    With the crack, you will have the following in the registry:


    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ServicesTimerStop]
    “Type”=dword:00000001
    “Start”=dword:00000002
    “ErrorControl”=dword:00000000
    “ImagePath”=hex(2):5c,00,3f,00,3f,00,5c,00,45,00,3a,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,
    64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,
    00,5c,00,54,00,69,00,6d,00,65,00,72,00,53,00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,2e,00,73,00,
    79,00,73,00,00,00
    “DisplayName”=”TimerStop”


    Further information:

    * The TimerStop vista test crack works on all 32-bit x86 Windows Vista edition such as Vista Ultimate and Vista Home Premium. Success rate in 64-bit (x64) environment is likely to be low.
    * The crack will make the time left to activate Vista to become always 43200 minutes (30 days), and will not countdown or reduce.
    * It’s possible to access Windows Update if you install Windows Vista with default product key (no product key entered when installation).
    * During the first 3 days of activation grace period after installing Windows Vista, Microsoft has designed it in such a way that Vista will allow greatest flexibility for users to install required drivers and application during this period, so Vista won’t prompt any reminder message for activation. After crack, Vista OS will always run with 30 days left for activation, thus there will not be any watermark or reminder to activate.
    * It’s possible to pass Windows Vista Genuine Advantage (WVGA) validation, so users able to download Microsoft value-added software for genuine customers.
    * As mentioned above, as Vista will also remain in first 3 days of activation grace period, in theory, Microsoft will not be able to differentiate who is the newly installed system, or who is the ‘patched’ system, unless of course, they check for the specific file or system (privacy anyone?).
    * Users can only view that there is 30 more days for system to be activated in the system properties, but it won’t affect system usage or installation method.
    • azymux, on 10/12/2007, -13/+2I believe the correct spelling is "pwned" :)
    • turrican, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18I wouldn't say that they're getting owned... I mean, you are still using a copy of *their* software, and so that means there's one more copy of *their* OS out in the wild - so how does that truly hurt *them*?
    • gcnaddict, on 10/12/2007, -22/+13JamesMorris, I'm digging you down because you're perpetuating the vicious cycle.

      The time and effort put into developing the anticrack code in Vista easily constitutes 12% of the cost of the operating system when equated to how much time developers spent on it. In other words, if you people didn't go around trying to script-kiddy everything, normal legitimate people could have been paying $350 for Ultimate Edition instead of $400. Volume licences could have also been much cheaper for corporations. You guys would also have seen Windows Vista much earlier this year and some of the time devoted to the anticrack code could have been devoted to other things, like kickassifying Direct X 10 even more or keeping Virtual Folders in place instead of pulling it out of Vista Beta 1. Vista could have been such a better operating system if it wasnt for the 0.3% of the computer-literate trying to pirate it.
    • turrican, on 10/12/2007, -2/+28@Krenor - but if you weren't going to buy and pay for a copy in the first place, then how are they being hurt...? You're still supporting *their* platform by perpetuating its use.

      Everyone talks about M$ needing to go away - well, it's not going to happen by increasing the use of their product ;-)
    • billydisaster, on 10/12/2007, -9/+18gcnaddict I'm digging you down. If it wasn't for the hackers cracking security then Windows would be much more expensive for the people who really do have a hard time paying the retail price for it. Microsoft will charge the maximum the market will bear for their product. If they had to spend less time developing it the price would still be the same.

      On the other hand, it might be better if more of us used open source options so we didn't have to put up with lame ass wankers like Microsoft in the first place.
    • OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14[quote]if you people didn't go around trying to script-kiddy everything, normal legitimate people could have been paying $350 for Ultimate Edition instead of $400.[/quote]

      That's still way too much considering the volume at which it will sell and that there is no real competition to speak of yet. If it was reduced down to $100, then maybe you'd have a point.

      I bet if there was some serious competition (not criticizing OS X, Linux, they just don't have the marketshare), then you'd see a much bigger price drop for Windows than if people stopped pirating it.

      I think MS has zero incentive to lower prices. Why would they if they already control 90% of the market and have RAISED prices anyway?
    • gcnaddict, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11"I think MS has zero incentive to lower prices. Why would they if they already control 90% of the market and have RAISED prices anyway?"

      Considering inflation, Business edition costs less than XP Pro did when it was released.

      I love how I got modded down by everyone after originally having +8. Does anyone have any idea what 50 dollars an hour for five years on a full time scheduele equals? It's over five hundred thousand dollars PER DEVELOPER. There are lots of devs working on Vista. In addition, there are other people doing other jobs who are working similar schedueles. You then need to consider such things as bulk printing costs (not too much), shipping costs (fuel, etc.) marketing costs, electricity costs (those server farms which are used for 6 hours a day to compile 1, no 2, no 3, no 5, no 10 builds per day... that's 60 hours over several server farms. That's a LOT),.. assuming that most of the people buying the software get it from OEMs, it's no wonder that costs are where they are as it is. I'm not surprised that people don't realize that; it's not something that goes into consideration.
    • GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4It could be claimed that hacking actually forces prices down by giving a cheaper alternative. MS know that if they keep prices high enough people will just pirate instead.

      I always take free copies of my OS anyway though.
    • hotstyle765, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4@billydisaster "If it wasn't for the hackers cracking security then Windows would be much more expensive for the people who really do have a hard time paying the retail price for it."

      Then it would be a lot less secure than it is now...

      I'm happy the hackers are doing their jobs and making windows more secure for me! Do you really think that was the cause of the price increase?

    • klawz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3@gcnaddict - Have you taken a look at the publicly available financial data?
      MS isn't hurting for money any time soon, and that's after paying everyone already.
    • billydisaster, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@hotstyle Think you misunderstood me, I was talking about the hackers cracking activation etc.

      MS increased the price because they could.
    • gcnaddict, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6"@gcnaddict - Have you taken a look at the publicly available financial data?
      MS isn't hurting for money any time soon, and that's after paying everyone already."

      Companies aren't allowed to make profit now? Last I checked, The United States is a Capitalist nation, not a Communist one.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -7/+14Thanks Jamesmorris...but someone modded you waaaaay down
      so...here it is again.
      Let's all play mod-down racer!
      And...for that zip file needed in step 12, (with disabled mirror sites) there are already at least three torrents posted.
      This one is being seeded now. (Mod THAT down, idiots!)
      http://www.mininova.org/tor/526429
      And now, with no further ado, here's Jamesmorris's illustrious comment again.

      Microsoft are getting OWNED, there's tons of various cracks for Vista now :D

      Here's the method for the lazy people, or incase the site gets the digg 'effect':

      1. Install Windows Vista Ultimate edition (or other edition) without product key.
      2. Windows Vista needs to be applied with 2099-ReArm trick, so that the counter of minutes to no activation required period will not return to normal after reboot. Click on Start Orb button.
      3. Select “All Programs”, then “Accessories”.
      4. Right click on “Command Prompt, then select “Run as Administrator (A)”.
      5. If User Account Control (UAC) prompt a warning message, click on “Continue”.
      6. In the command prompt, type date and press Enter. You will see the following:

      Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
      Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

      C:Windowssystem32>date
      Current date: 12/19/2006 Thursday
      Enter new date:
      7. Enter 12/31/2099 (December 31, 2099).
      8. Next, type cscript slmgr.vbs -rearm. You will see something like the following:

      C:Windowssystem32>cscript slmgr.vbs -rearm
      Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.7
      Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

      The command completed successfully.
      To make the change effectively, please restart the system.
      9. Then reset the date of the system to current date again by typing date again. You will see the following:

      Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
      Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

      C:Windowssystem32>date
      Current date: 12/31/2099 Thursday
      Enter new date:
      10. Type in current date, i.e. 12/19/2006.
      11. Exit from command prompt, but do not restart the computer.
      12. Download StopTimer.zip, StopTimer.zip or StopTimer.zip.
      13. Extract the downloaded archive file into a folder. It should contains “Vista test crack.exe” and “timerstop.sys”.
      14. Execute or run the “Vista test crack.exe” by right click on “Vista test crack.exe”, and select “Run as Administrator (A)”.
      15. Optional: Press in Test button, and it will pop up a message says 4 timers are stopped. At this time, the counter should be freezed, Check with slmgr.vbs -dlv command, with the minutes left should be the same after a few minutes interval. If it’s the case, continue with the following steps to run the crack every startup.
      16. In the Vista test crack window, click on “Install” button. You will be prompted with “Service installed” message if everything is done properly and correctly. The crack will copy the patched stoptimer.sys to system folder and install a new service named “timerstop” to stop kernel-mode timers in spsys.sys system file.
      17. Exit from the crack, and restart the computer.
      18. The hacking is basically done. Next few steps to to verify that the activation grace period built-in countdown timer is actually stopped and disable the timers from working properly, and make sure that the crack is installed properly. After restart, log on to Windows Vista. Run for a few minutes.
      19. Press on Windows + R keys.
      20. Type slmgr.vbs -dlv to check the time left to activate Windows Vista. If the time left is 43200 minutes that’s mean the crack is successful.



      With the crack, you will have the following in the registry:


      Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
      [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ServicesTimerStop]
      “Type”=dword:00000001
      “Start”=dword:00000002
      “ErrorControl”=dword:00000000
      “ImagePath”=hex(2):5c,00,3f,00,3f,00,5c,00,45,00,3a,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,
      64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,
      00,5c,00,54,00,69,00,6d,00,65,00,72,00,53,00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,2e,00,73,00,
      79,00,73,00,00,00
      “DisplayName”=”TimerStop”


      Further information:

      * The TimerStop vista test crack works on all 32-bit x86 Windows Vista edition such as Vista Ultimate and Vista Home Premium. Success rate in 64-bit (x64) environment is likely to be low.
      * The crack will make the time left to activate Vista to become always 43200 minutes (30 days), and will not countdown or reduce.
      * It’s possible to access Windows Update if you install Windows Vista with default product key (no product key entered when installation).
      * During the first 3 days of activation grace period after installing Windows Vista, Microsoft has designed it in such a way that Vista will allow greatest flexibility for users to install required drivers and application during this period, so Vista won’t prompt any reminder message for activation. After crack, Vista OS will always run with 30 days left for activation, thus there will not be any watermark or reminder to activate.
      * It’s possible to pass Windows Vista Genuine Advantage (WVGA) validation, so users able to download Microsoft value-added software for genuine customers.
      * As mentioned above, as Vista will also remain in first 3 days of activation grace period, in theory, Microsoft will not be able to differentiate who is the newly installed system, or who is the ‘patched’ system, unless of course, they check for the specific file or system (privacy anyone?).
      * Users can only view that there is 30 more days for system to be activated in the system properties, but it won’t affect system usage or installation method.
    • WileEPeyote, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0For those people saying the software crackers are making Windows more secure: Think about it a minute...

      Someone cracking software has no concern for the security (as in keeping someone from harming your computer), they are only bypassing piracy checks so they don't have to pay for software. How does this make software more secure for me?

      I don't know why gcnaddict got dugg down. He is right.

      People who steal or pirate software/music don't cost the corporation money, they cost the rest of us honest people money. The cost of the lost revenue is passed on to the people who follow the rules. It also costs us in time. Think about all the time you spend getting past all the systems put up to try and catch dishonest people; receipt checks, insane dvd/cd wrapping, waiting for the guy to unlock the Game case, registering software, calling tech support because your registration isn't working or was stolen...and it just goes on and on...
  • monergism, on 10/12/2007, -28/+7Illegal stuff is welcome at Digg?
  • mugenkeiji, on 10/12/2007, -9/+41I have a legit Vista Home Premium, but I'll use this anyway because activation is ***** lame.
    • interpaul, on 10/12/2007, -35/+4You get dugg down for having a legit copy of an MS product.
    • Moocha, on 10/12/2007, -3/+36Interesting you should have a legit Vista Home Premium, considering it's not released for home users yet.
    • klawz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Hey may have a tech net or MSDN subscription - or have they not passed out THOSE keys yet?
    • mugenkeiji, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5OEMs have been handing out Vista upgrades since mid-October. True I haven't got the disc, but then that's why we have BT.
  • turrican, on 10/12/2007, -40/+30Hey, I know of a way to permanently activate it! BUY IT.

    Seriously. If you want to use it, pay for it. If not, use something else. Gods know there are enough Ubuntu posts on digg for you to be able to make the switch...
    • saska, on 10/12/2007, -17/+19You're going to get buried, but I gave you +1.

      As I always say -- if you believe software should be free, use free software. Stolen != free.
    • OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -8/+33[quote]Hey, I know of a way to permanently activate it! BUY IT.[/quote]

      How does that permanently activate it? You still have to activate it repeatedly if there's any minor change to your hardware, or if you reinstall, even if you buy it. It's not permanent.

      Do you understand now why people complain about Vista?
    • turrican, on 10/12/2007, -10/+13@saska - yeah, you and me both are gonna get buried... but I completely agree. Want free? Use free - there are plenty of free OSes out there.
    • gcnaddict, on 10/12/2007, -8/+16"You still have to activate it repeatedly if there's any minor change to your hardware"

      *****. That's only if you change both your motherboard AND your primary hard drive.
    • egze, on 10/12/2007, -15/+2Dugg for mentioning Ubuntu
    • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -10/+4@saska...or whomever wrote the second line...
      " You're going to get buried, but I gave you +1.
      As I always say -- if you believe software should be free, use free software. Stolen != free. "

      WELL...since you are so morally superior, and you are going to rid the world of stealing ....can you please get Microsoft to return the enormous monetary value of all my time that was spent patching leaks in their crappy operating systems, and the cost of all the anti-virus, anti-spy-ware, anti ad-ware, and other security tools I had to PAY FOR, as a direct result of my using their product.

      The point to be taken from Linux, and Mac-- is that they demonstrate that it IS POSSIBLE to make an operating system without all the expensive vulnerabilities that are found in EVERY Microsoft OS.

      So, Saska, get off your ass, and do your JOB!
      Get Microsoft to refund the enormous value of all that they stole from me and everyone else, all that they cost me and everyone else, as a result of their profiteering policies...never really taking full responsibility for their errors, but silently covering them up with patches....having already taken everyone's money for their inferior, albeit ubiquitous, operating systems!

      And I don't mean, like, the lousy $50 they paid out in the last class action suit for those who used Wiin98.

      I guess you can't actually do anything about THAT incredible amount of theft.
      I guess all YOU can do is run your mouth off, and judge others -- individuals, who are trying to survive in this 'den of thieves' you call corporate America!
    • saska, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7WaterDragon, if you want money for dealing with Microsoft software, maybe you should get a job.

      You paid for anti-virus and anti-spyware software? You're a fool.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2Sorry, Saska...I couldn't ever sell Microsoftproducts, or otherwise profit from them.
      See, there's this pesky thing called Ethics and Honesty.

      ...but you probably don't understand that!

      I ONLY deal in honest, decent things, not in exploitation and lies and BS!
      But If I am ever in the market for some BS, I'll know where to find you...so...thanks!

      and I only pay for my Antivirus prog...but I lost a lot of time patching MS crap!
    • WileEPeyote, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2@WaterDragon

      This is a typical complaint. That it's Microsoft's fault that there are so many people out there exploiting software. I agree their software isn't completely secure or free of bugs and it never will be. I have yet to use a piece of software or operating system that was free of bugs and I have used a good number of operating systems and software.

      I have found that Apple software usually has fewer bugs, but it is not bug free despite being designed for a specific set of hardware.

      Linux has tons of bugs...
  • jpop, on 10/12/2007, -5/+22The real question is there any reason to use Vista yet...
    • pejeno, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Gamers eventually will have to use it. Directx 10 will only be available for vista. Microsoft has subtle ways of forcing users to upgrade.
    • IntruderII, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6You mean besides DirectX 10, and the completely redesigned networking, audio, print, and display sub-systems?

      How did you feel when you upgraded from Windows 95 to 98? That had a hell of a lot less new features than XP to Vista.
  • geofffox, on 10/12/2007, -6/+12I'm still not sure I understand why everyone is rushing into this OS. This paper is a sobering reminder that new is not necessarily improved: http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt
  • daxsymbiont, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12microsoft prefers people to pirate windows than not use them at all.

    proven by ironically allowing auto-updates but not web-updates.
    • ispshadow, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3I disagree with daxsymbiont's statement---
      ****************************************************************************
      microsoft prefers people to pirate windows than not use them at all.

      proven by ironically allowing auto-updates but not web-updates

      ****************************************************************************

      Is it possible that Microsoft would rather attempt to prevent worms/viruses from propagating as easily by making sure ALL workstation running Windows are patched? It seems to make sense on so many levels. All you need is one idiot that installs a pirated copy on a corporate network and you have a GAPING hole. It's a simple process to own a network after you have one workable machine on the internal side of the firewall.

      What does the diggocracy think? Has Microsoft ever given a reason for allowing critical updates no matter what?


  • drowningfish, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17Ironically, the very people who use these cracks for their squeaky new Vista OS are most likely the same people who complain about the innate bugs and security flaws within the OS that are going to be found over the course of it's lifetime and try to push open-source alternatives that they don't use or may have brought up once and instantly think themselves as *.nix gurus and evangelists.

    /boggle

    The best way to screw Microsoft is to simply not to use their products and assist the Open-Source Community in bettering their alternatives to counter-act the effectiveness of Microsoft's strong desktop dominance.
    • virtualball, on 10/12/2007, -4/+37But if I use Linux I'll never get laid! 0.o :D
      Happy Holidays Linux fanboys! My gift to you is a comment that is worth digging down.
  • wafflez, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3umm, i'm actually running ultimate version right now with dr. chang's crack...it's easy to use, u just replace 3 system32 files with the ones provided, and set updates to 'notify me but don't automatically install' and it works fine. + there's no 'evaluation' dialouge at the bottom right..i suggest using it, it was dugg like 2 weeks ago.
  • consonance, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5Five bucks says that Microsoft will find a way to disable this hack.
  • CurtHowland, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16Piracy is Microsoft's Golden Goose.

    The pirated copies are the "loss leader", since their products get much more wide spread use than they would otherwise have. A pirated copy of Windows has "gee wiz" power to suck in the self-styled hacker-wannabes, and MS still gets to put the screws on businesses who try to save a few thousand dollars by copying.

    The installed base of Windows stays higher than Microsoft's official business model would otherwise allow, so the demand for paid-for copies is higher than it otherwise would be too.

    If Microsoft ever produced actual hack-proof copy protection, they would lose big time in the long run and they _know_ it. New learners would run something else with "gee-wiz" factor and the right price tag, like Linux or BSD, and when they went to work or school they would bring those skills with them.

    Illegal copying is the best word of mouth advertising Microsoft could hope for. They decry it all the way to the bank, shedding crocodile tears.


  • TGMD, on 10/12/2007, -17/+12I'm going to get dugg down for this but:

    What's wrong for paying for the damned thing?

    Oh and don't say price, they made the software they can charge whatever the hell they'd like, don't like it guess what? There's something called linux and it's free (and great) run that and STOP STEALING!
    • ScuttleEnough, on 10/12/2007, -16/+6i'll agree with the part that says linux is free
      it's not great tho. it's stable but it's ugly and hard to use
    • ArthurSucks, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11This ain't about stealing. This guide should be used by people who DO BUY it. Activation is a way of controlling the consumer. This gives the consumer the upper hand again. It's easy to over simplify this as theft, but in reality it's much more complicated.
    • dragonworks2050, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3The problem with Linux is the lack of across the board driver and software support. I know that's changing, but until it does I can't run certain programs I need for college or use my non-name brand drawing tablet in Linux.
    • Stonekeeper, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@dragonworks2050

      That's the manufacturer's fault. Nothing to do with linux. But you probably already know that.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4"This ain't about stealing. This guide should be used by people who DO BUY it. Activation is a way of controlling the consumer. This gives the consumer the upper hand again. It's easy to over simplify this as theft, but in reality it's much more complicated."

      I will never use vista...but I support any cracks of Microsuck products, and will help spread them.
    • TheReport, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7"it's not great tho. it's stable but it's ugly and hard to use"

      Dude what decade are you living in?
    • vajra918, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"it's not great tho. it's stable but it's ugly and hard to use"
      Before I upgraded to Vista, I was using running Ubuntu+KDE+Compiz. it looks like this: http://www.go-compiz.org/index.php?title=Video

      Personally, I prefer Windows, but there is no sense in calling linux ugly...
  • deags, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2i hate when people post ***** like this which has been around for a while now to digg. Now Microsoft will probably fix it :/
  • swoop2120, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1I still cant find a good copy to crack...anyone??
    • TheDude5555, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I believe you can get one when they go on sale at a retailer such as Best Buy.
  • WizzleFish, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Yeah. I heard about this, but I won't bother trying it now that MS is going to find a way to fix it.

    ScuttleEnough: You can make Linux pretty, and after a while it's very easy to use. I hated myself for a while after switching back to Windows because of proprietary software inconveniences...
  • doubleblack, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1While I do have a legit copy of Business, I may try this with a computer that is non-essential to install Ultimate just in case they patch it...and the 30 day period expires...but I do agree, they will soon patch, but I won't bother with it too much - since I already get Business for free...
  • nubnub, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1thanks for informing microsoft. *roll da eyes*
  • Stonekeeper, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I hope Microsoft patch this soon. The more of a PITA vista is to use, people might actually start talking with their money and feet.
  • dareiff, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Download now or forever hold your...
  • saran81kid91, on 10/12/2007, -14/+12C'mon.
    1.If you hate Microsoft then go and use Ubuntu (or something else OpenSource) or Apple.
    2.If you dont have the cash to upgrade to Vista keep XP or use one of those nice OS's that are open sourced
    3.Go Legit, shelling out $200 on a OS that will last you 2 years minimum. Its better you do that, than keep trying way to get updates without going through WGA..

    Could we just stop the stealing! This kinda stuff should be banned from being FrontPaged on Digg.

    *I have a gut feeling, Im going to be dugg down. =P
    • TheDude5555, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12No kidding. I really think it is ironic that a group of people who profess to hate everything Microsoft would go so far out of their way to use this product. Would it not make more sense to simply use something else?
    • mulling, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1"Could we just stop the stealing!"

      Dugg you down for being unable to distinguish copying from theft.

      Stealing = walking into Best Buy and sticking a boxed retail copy in your jacket.

      Stop using language invented by the people who are raping our public domain.

      Meanwhile, put me in the group of people who have better things to do than fool with this chromed-up Win2k.
    • akinder, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Oh god, the copytheft police are here.

      Hey, moron, stealing = stealing = stealing. Did you pay for it? Then you shouldn't be running it. It doesn't matter how you explain it away to yourself, you didn't pay for it, therefore you shouldn't own it. I don't give a ***** if it's a tangible item or a software license.
    • vajra918, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'll give you my +1... Not that it'll stand up all that well to the masses.
  • drjekelmrhyde, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4LAME you'll have to activate sooner or later if you want service packs and updates
  • grendel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5stopped reading after "evaluation mode forever"

    just hope Dell releases another OEM like xpsp2.

    installed on well over 100 dell machines, no serial no activation.
  • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1When I clicked that link in step 12, two of the mirrors had already been disabled.

    ...Trying to upload torrent for StopTimer.zip, but the upload sites are just hanging.
    I KNEW this would be a bad night for the internet...with all those kiddies using their shiny new computers and gaming systems.
    Damn holiday traffic jams!
    (if anyone needs that file, I guess you'll just have to wait...unless other are more successful)

  • ogre2112, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Just buy it. It's not worth the PITA to run around in circles trying to crack, and recrack after every MS patch that circumvents the crack.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -10/+7Yes...i agree...we should all let ourselves be manipulated by, and continue giving our hard earned money to, the rich and unethical corporate pigs.

      The rights of individuals (whom 'they' call 'consumers') really don't matter.

      Let's all get pwned by the mega corporations.
      Haven't you always wanted to be Bill Gates's bitch?

      (/sarcasm)

      If I built you a house, and you paid me a lot for it, and then it constantly had breaks, leaks, all kinds of problems...even though I always came and eventually patched your house for free....wouldn't you think I was quite unethical?

      (I would never even offer to return all the money that you paid me-- plus something extra for your troubles while you lived in my shoddy house!)
      Would you then buy another house from me?

      If you would, then...can I maybe interest you in a nice bridge?
      It was only used to get to Brooklyn for a few years, until they built the subway!


      THAT'S why we call them MicroSUCK!
      (More like Macro-suck)
    • IntruderII, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Honestly, how hard is it to get a free or cheap LEGAL copy of Vista? Not that hard. Many schools will offer it for free over MSDNAA/ELMS.

      If worse comes to worse you can buy it with a student discount, or snag a cd-key from one of those conveniently placed stickers on many computers. I have a feeling only few Digg users pay full retail price for their legal copy of windows.
    • mercurysquad, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1When XP was released, I went to buy it a month later, and the sales guy said they didnt have it yet, cuz it was going to take "a while" for it to penetrate the markets (wtf?). So I go to another store, and he said he doesnt have a legit copy either but he has a cracked CD which works just fine. I bought it for circa 2 bucks.

      Of course now I have a legit license of XP Pro, not that I use it at all (forced upon me by Dell).
  • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2StopTimer.zip, for step 12:

    http://www.mininova.org/tor/526429
    One of three torrents, but this one is now being seeded.
  • truck87bp, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1Question is, do you want Vista at all? Read http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt

    it came from here http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36570
  • serra, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I'm waiting till an easy crack comes out, some of this ***** is just way too complex for me to want to mess with! Luckily, I just bought a laptop, and when Vista comes out, I am entitled to a free copy of it for my laptop. Too bad I can't put it on my main computer, I already asked, and it won't let me. :( Oh well, at least I have a good copy of it that I won't have to worry about for my laptop!
  • B0jangles, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Rather than bitching about MS being a bunch of greedy wankers. Has anyone had any success? Please give details.
  • aRandomDude, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Could anyone mirror the file that they had there, all of the sites that hosted it removed it
  • kafitz22, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Wait...what in the world happened to that activation server that was supposedly fool proof as long as you reactivated every 180 days. Has M$ already patched that?
  • macewan, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Is this not illegal?
  • cw1925, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6If Microsoft sucks so bad, why is everyone trying to get a free copy? Just explain that?
    • MidnightSon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Gotta keep that GAME Platform going..........
  • jonw, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Nothing is activated with this crap. This is just a time delaying tactic.
  • Escamillo, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6It's amusing that most diggers claim that Vista is horrible, yet spend so much time and effort (and bandwidth; it seems like we get a thread like this every week) tryinng to pirate it.

    Linux is already FREE. *LEGALLY* FREE. NO PIRACY REQUIRED. So why illegally use an OS that you say sucks over legally using a free copy of the OS that you say rules?
    • johnny23, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11@escamillo

      ...because I can count the games worth playing and hardware worth using on linux on one hand. Why do people keep asking this question?

      Yes, yes, we all know Linux is free and will someday cure cancer and bring peace and harmony to the universe. However, until I can hook up a camera or other peripheral and have it work in Linux in under 5 minutes (hell, 5 hours!), play any games worth playing (and don't give me any crap about cedega or wine please), or support any new hardware the moment it hits the streets, then I will continue using windows.

      As a desktop consumer OS, LINUX SUCKS! Get over it. If I need to set up a cheap web server or compute engine, Linux will be fine, but otherwise...
    • mercurysquad, on 10/12/2007, -8/+5johnny last used linux in 1997
    • johnny23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6johnny is part of a team that cares for several hundred linux systems running on Sun, AMD, and Intel hardware, as well as virtual machines. Johnny knows his linux, thanks.
    • golgotha, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Unfortunately, he was sacked in 1997.
    • mercurysquad, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1And yet I in my humbleness, in contrast to the Great Johnny, was able to get my webcam (the only thing which didn't work out-of-the-box) working by compiling the latest drivers myself in about 20 min of messing with it........... and I only run linux on one laptop... and have 5 months of experience running it.
    • LilRabbitFooFoo, on 08/11/2008, -1/+5um, everyone else in the world can get their webcam working in 1 minute or so by just plugging it in...ahem.

      20 minutes of recompiling after 5 months of OS experience?! You aren't helping the Linux cause here, mate. ;)
  • garugaga, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3583526/Windows_Vista_Crack

    This torrent is seeded by me and I will seed it for a while.
  • Lane, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"The TimerStop vista test crack works on all 32-bit x86 Windows Vista edition such as Vista Ultimate and Vista Home Premium. Success rate in 64-bit (x64) environment is likely to be low." DAM
  • delusion, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4"Vista sucks -- that's why I go through so much trouble to crack it."

    Etc.

    - If you want Vista, just buy it! What's the big deal? If you're a software developer, odds are you have an MSDN account and get the Ultimate for free anyway!
    - Just because a company makes a product, and you don't like the amount of money they sell it for, doesn't give you the right to steal it. Do you go into a grocery store, see that Poptarts are priced more than you'd like to pay, and decide to walk out with the box without paying?
    - I'd guess most people who are cracking Vista/whining about the price are like 13 years old. Get a job. Grow up.
  • digitallysick, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I have been running Vista Ultimate x64, and for a few months it has been fine ( i have updates off of course) but lately the 32 bit apps just wont run/see internet connection, each time i run them i get "error blah.exe" or whatever, but its only on 32 bit apps. I cant seem to fix it, and its the 2nd time its happened, any ideas? i tried to restore to a previous state, it doesnt help
  • boson3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@delusion, I agree with what you're saying however... the grocery store doesn't tell you how to eat your poptarts, when you can eat the poptarts, how many poptarts can eat at one time, and if they decide so-- you can no longer open the poptarts box to even get one out. Notwithstanding the problem of the poptarts box itself deciding you have moved it to an unauthorized shelf in your kitchen, and the box decides to seal itself shut until you buy another box of poptarts.

    What you're missing is that people are tired of and don't want to be bound under Microsoft's draconian software tactics. Vista is becoming more user-hostile, and with Microsoft trying to be the world's ubiquitous OS, that stinks for all users. Nobody wants to put up with the phone-home bullshirt, the 'upgrade some hardware and -boing- you now have to buy another farking license', and the pro-DRM-centric nature of the new OS.
    • delusion, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@Boson3:

      You know up front everything about the product. You can't claim ignorance to Vista's features, good or bad, nor can you use that as an excuse to steal it.

      And the things you list off? I haven't been affected by them. I heard the whining when XP was coming out with it's protection, and funnily enough I've never had problems, save one time where I had to reinstall XP. My key failed, I called the 1-800 number, read off my key, and in less than 5 minutes, had the response key to reactivate. Big whoop.

      And if you've got a problem with DRM, then do whatever you want to protest it. Don't buy Vista. But also don't pirate it. You'd be a bit hypocritical, don't you think?
  • ibedoh32, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3People are using this crack? Wow... I didn't know Vista was that desirable... strange world we live in these days I guess...
  • interrelate, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4Digg is a w@r3z site????
    • akinder, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Apparently, this ***** should be taken off the frontpage.
  • dAbReAkA, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1one of the best articles i've ever read here.. ;)
  • BurstIntoFlames, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I see the comparison. Poptarts, like Windows operating systems go bad if left in the open air for to long. They become crunchy and non-delicious. Both exploited by cracks, in need of patches if a patch per-say could render a stale Pop tart tasty once again.
  • webstop, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0This is crazy, how come original article at My Digital Life is treated as spam?
    http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/12/20/permanently-activate-windows-vista-by-skip-activation-with-patched-timerstopsys-crack/
  • thealliedhacker, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Buried as innacurate. No activation crack works FOREVER if you want UPDATES.

    If you use Windows Update, Microsoft will always be able to check your system before allowing you to update (or AS it installs updates, if they want).

    In fact, it wouldn't supprise me if they intentionally created a need for a few updates...
  • Victorioso, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0It looks like Vista will need alot of "patches" according to the news.

    www.nytimes.com/2006/12/25/technology/25vista.html?hp&ex=1167022800&en=67d067ceedf719aa&ei=5094&partner=homepage
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