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Posted by: orig
07/20/2002
Microsoft is planning what could end up being quite a shock
for the Windows XP warez world, and what currently looks to
be one of the most amazing moves made by Microsoft since
Windows Product Activation was introduced.
Currently, Microsoft is in the works of completely
rewriting the algorithm for the way Windows XP Corporate
keys are generated, and is rewriting the code for Windows XP
to recognize this new algorithm. This new code will be an
added ‘feature’ of Service Pack 1 due out later this year.
At the present moment, an upgrade to Windows XP SP1 from
Windows XP with no SP installation will not give any
problems or errors about an invalid CD-Key on a corporate
version of Windows XP. This is because the new algorithm
feature has been switched off in SP1 upgrades. To get to see
this new feature, you would have to slipstream SP1 into the
Windows XP installation media and setup Windows.
Once
you’ve reached the CD-key, no current Corporate Windows XP
key (none of the 75 that we’ve tried) will work, as they are
all invalid. Even if a corporate key is managed to be found,
the chances of it working when SP1 final comes out are slim
to none, as Microsoft is rumored to ‘still be working on the
algorithm for SP1 for Corporate customers’.
So why is Microsoft keeping this a secret? To put it
mildly, they are a bit perturbed that warezers have been
able to exploit the corporate edition of Windows XP to
completely bypass WPA. They are planning to keep it a
complete surprise until SP1 final has been released and shut
down as many warez users from using Windows XP as possible.
They know if it’s made widely known what they are planning,
nobody will upgrade to SP1 until an appropriate patch has
been made.
And as far as patches go, as far as we can guess right now
the only patch that is going to work will be the ever
popular "Reset" patch. If you slipstream a corporate version
of Windows XP as you’re supposed to do, it will upgrade the
algorithm. Note that the slipstream patches the DLL files
which generate the CD keys, it doesn’t replace them. This is
why you cannot slipstream a non corporate version of Windows
XP and drop the corporate files in and expect the
installation to work properly. Windows also checks for the
DLL files version numbers and if they don’t match, errors
will be created during install. It could be possible to find
these DLL’s, replace the version numbers with those of SP1,
and put them back into the installation media, but you’d
also have to find a way to replicate the Microsoft signature
on the DLL’s as well as the CAB files for setup to actually
copy the files to the hard drive.
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about this
is that the current Corporate users of Windows XP are going
to have to get a new CD-key reissued for their versions of
Windows with SP1. Microsoft has decided that the cost of
current corporate customers having to get a new CD-key is
less that what they are losing in the market of Windows XP
being distributed as a corporate installation amongst warez
users. Microsoft is also planning to warn those with
corporate editions of Windows XP to not let the CD-keys slip
into the mainstream. The EULA is going to be rewritten to
fit a new type of ‘Corporate release’ and it’s been rumored
that if a customers key is to get into the market, Microsoft
may take legal action against those consumers.
Another rumor that is running rounds at Redmond is that
Microsoft may actually include a type of “Phone home”
feature in the corporate versions of Windows XP only. This
feature would connect to a Microsoft server upon connection
and deliver the IP address of the connected computer and
what the Installation ID is. Before privacy advocates begin
screaming, realize that if Microsoft was to want to do this,
they could very easily make provisions in the EULA that they
(Microsoft) have included a feature that makes sure the
Corporate edition of Windows XP is not installed on more
computers than it’s contract is made out for, and the
computers IP address and the Installation ID may be
transmitted to a local Microsoft server thought 128-bit
encryption. No more information would be transmitted to the
servers, and for more information, see the Microsoft Privacy
Statement. It’s a possibility, as corporate versions of
Windows aren’t exactly tailored for use by home and everyday
users, so the EULA could very well be expanded to include
such a feature.
As far as activation goes on a legal copy of Windows XP, we
slipstreamed our copy and it installed and activated without
any problems. The algorithm for normal customers will stay
the same apparently. So far, only the corporate version of
XP gets the new revamped algorithm feature. It’s one less
feature I can do without personally.
It is important to note that Astalavista does not support
the use of illegal software, the patching or cracking of
such software, or the unlawful distribution of
single-licensed products. Please, if you want software, just
buy it.
Credits
Posted by: orig
07/20/2002
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