Pirate or just plain OEM version? Vista News Discuss Pirate or just plain OEM version? in the Windows Vista forums; Pirates PWN Vista...again This is not the first time we've mentioned a Windows Vista crack, and it won't be the last, but now a hacker group known ...

[Snuffy]

Pirates PWN Vista...again

This is not the first time we've mentioned a Windows Vista crack, and it won't be the last, but now a hacker group known as NoPE somehow managed to create a cracked Windows Vista DVD that works immediately, out of the box, with no serial number or activation keys required. Just like some of those corporate versions of Windows XP that worked for years, the hacked Vista product appears to be already activated and it even automatically updates itself with the latest patches.

Some people never learn to READ... this ?? crack ?? is actually a OEM release from a major Manufacture ... as many people are learning a 3GB waste of download time and space ... some one copied and released as Another Full Version of Vista.. No serial ask, No activation needed...
Well actually OEM so does OEM need activated or not... some say yes some say no..

[Midway]

WinXP Home SP1 that came with my Dell did not require activation. When I clicked on Activate Windows it always say "This product is already activated".

I found out later that there was a file added to the CD that automatically activated Windows. When I slipstreamed the disk for SP2 I had to make sure that file was also on the new disk or I would have to go through activation.

[Snuffy]

Thanks for the explanation on NO SN or KEY needed, and why No Activation is needed ... and the last I knew your BIOS also needs to say DELL or HP or GATEWAY, before it can repair, install, or . Any way my Uncle found that is Copy of Gateway-Vista Ultimate would not install on his Grandsons Dell XP... and he promised his Grandson a Vista ready computer for his Birthday ... Guess who bought a Retail copy of Vista ... you guessed correct if you guessed my Uncle Gene did...
I also was rather mean " I said ,I TOLD YOU SO. any way all my Aunts said that I was not very nice to say that...

[Midway]

I really liked that setup, no matter how many times I reinstalled I never had to activate Windows.

Actually it was a folder that contained some files in it. It was labeled $OEM$ or similar. It had to be tied to the machine otherwise any Tom, Dick, or Harry could use it on different computers.

[ewan_mclean]

When I had a full -retail edition of Windows XP Pro SP1, I never needed to activate it either, I think they only added the requirement to activate Windows in SP2.

[Snuffy]

The Vista hacks are a variants of those seen in XP that make the motherboard appear to be from an OEM, or fool the operating system to think it's running on different hardware.

Microsoft says dealing with this is near the bottom of its list of priorities. The company focuses "on hacks that pose threats to our customers, partners and products," said Microsoft product manager Alex Kochis at one of Microsoft's official blogs .

He continues, "Our goal isn't to stop every 'mad scientist' that's on a mission to hack Windows. Our first goal is to disrupt the business model of organized counterfeiters and protect users from becoming unknowing victims."

Unofficial sources say they can/will BLACKLIST the current KEYS any time, and OEM's will reissue KEY's on a One to One basis.. Like they did in China there goes 35% of all Vista Computers.