News - Windows 7 cracked and activated with leaked OEM license key

[Grey M@a]

I will give the RTM a shot over the weekend/next week and see what happens, just got a 1TB drive so will make a 100GB partition and dual boot vista with 7 and see what happens, Saves me wrecking Vista and having to spend 2 days rebuilding it again.

As I found the indexing is the issue with the HD going mental. Once you turn off the indexing service and make indexing in the control panel only look at the start menu and remove the tick from all HD properties for fast indexing you get no HD clatter. This isn't the best solution I know but as a gaming rig I don't really need it. I am not bashing Windows 7 as what I saw I liked, just not the massive jump I think some people are expecting. Loved the new taskbar with the multiple windows of the same app showing in the preview pane. Other than that I can wait till I get the next PC when I will see Windows 7 in all it's glory

I just need to hope that Intel decide there are enough x38/3 series chipset users to release drivers for an EOL chipset

[Singh400]

The only O/S I feel resentment towards regarding the price I paid was Win Home Server, it's still over priced!

WHS wasn't that badly priced, got mine for a £100. Which I thought was fair enough. Considering I've used it non-stop and it is a pretty fan-bloody-tastic product.

[dangel]

I know you're not bashing it - I wouldn't feel too great about an OS if my first experience was "BANG!" either Well, do report back on your findings - just a week to wait now (assuming MS are anywhere near prepared for the MSDN rush!).

[Grey M@a]

Thing is it worked for the first initial install then BSOD fingering the chipset, rebooted, installed the Vista drivers as the original 7000 build I did this and it worked. With the RC1 this didn't work and another BSOD and it started to randomly crash explorer and then it would fix itself with half the tray icon's missing. Fingers crossed the RTM works, otherwise I will just cancel the pre-orders I have and wait another year or so till I look at a newer i7 system or whatever Intel have at the time.

[pauldarkside]

That's unlucky. Just installed RC1 on the main (this) rig, have had it running on the netbook since release, and apart from nVidia's latest WHQL drives, I haven't needed anything else - working like a charm so far. Got to go through the usual rigmarole of installing everything else but at least it's all close to hand - steam games should be back in no time ... tf2 map testing tonight

[Terbinator]

So ive installed the RTM, how do i upload full screenshots ? I cant find the optin on this vBulletin

[Splash]

You host them on an image hosting site and link them. Are there any differences from RC1 aesthetically though?

[dangel]

So ive installed the RTM, how do i upload full screenshots ? I cant find the optin on this vBulletin

Congrats, your our pirate of the week!

[Terbinator]

You host them on an image hosting site and link them. Are there any differences from RC1 aesthetically though?

Other than the stock wall-paper not that ive noticed. The install seems to have a slightly darker blue to it as well but other than that nothing i dont think - themes are the same as RC as well if you chose UK.

[Singh400]

You host them on an image hosting site and link them. Are there any differences from RC1 aesthetically though?

Shouldn't think so. Just some new wallpapers and 'under-the-hood' changes I reckon.

[Singh400]

From a MSDN blog...

Windows 7 OEM Product Key Leak

Yesterday we were alerted to reports of a leak of a special product key issued to an OEM partner of ours. The key is for use with Windows 7 Ultimate RTM product that is meant to be pre-installed by the OEM on new PCs to be shipped later this year. As such, the use of this key requires having a PC from the manufacturer it was issued to. We've worked with that manufacturer so that customers who purchase genuine copies of Windows 7 from this manufacturer will experience no issues validating their copy of Windows 7. At the same time we will seek to alert customers who are using the leaked key that they are running a non-genuine copy of Windows. It's important to note that no PCs will be sold that will use this key.

Windows 7 already includes an improved ability to detect hacks, also known as activation exploits, and alert customers who are using a pirated copy. There is a hack that is said to enable, when paired with the leaked key, a system to install and use a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate. Both the hack and the key are indications that a copy of Windows may not be genuine. The Windows Activation Technologies included in Windows 7 are designed to handle situations such as this one, and customers using these tools and methods should expect Windows to detect them.

Our primary goal is to protect users from becoming unknowing victims, because customers who use pirated software are at greater risk of being exposed to malware as well as identity theft. Someone asked me recently - and I think it's worth noting here -- whether we treat all exploits equally in responding to new ones we see. Our objective isn't to stop every "mad scientist" that's out there from dabbling; our aim is to protect our customers from commercialized counterfeit software that impacts our customers' confidence in knowing they got what they paid for. That will continue to be our focus as we continue to evolve our anti-piracy platforms, and respond to new threats that we see emerge in the future.

[Terbinator]

From a MSDN blog...

Lulz, yet theyve still not blocked the OEM Dell vistax64 disc ive got which has been installed by me about 10 times and no doubt by countless others (see: thousands) across the tubez. Seriously they have to accept they can't stop it and try a new method which is more secure than the serial and product ID partnership. Besides so what if current users of the RTM havent got an acitvated copy its more than likely (seerobable) that a crack/activation technique will be available in <120 days.

Theres is the one thing though out of this, in an ideal world they shouldn't need to do this

[Agent]

One suspension handed out - Instant 7 day suspension for the next person to talk about illegally obtaining Windows 7.

Any links will most likely result in a ban.

Really guys, the rules are pretty simple on here. Talk about Windows 7 as much as you like, but talk about downloading it illegally, cracking it and other naughtiness is not allowed.

[Singh400]

Really guys, the rules are pretty simple on here. Talk about Windows 7 as much as you like, but talk about downloading it illegally, cracking it and other naughtiness is not allowed.

So this very thread...is or isn't allowed?

[peterb]

So this very thread...is or isn't allowed?

This very thread is now closed - pending discussions about its future.

[Agent]

So this very thread...is or isn't allowed?

It's linked from a HEXUS news article, posted by a staff member.

The thread is fine. It's the people posting in it that can't keep their illegal activities to themselves that are the issue.

There is certainly no harm talking about a crack that has been released, but when people start talking about how they have downloaded illegal versions of Windows 7, cracked them and try to post screenshots up...well, it's not going to happen.

Reopening the thread as it's from a news article, but the boundaries of discussion as always are clear.