New Vista OEM Activation Hack - Vista Boot by gkend

Thanks to Steve Jobs for this article on his blog and to our forum members to clecha, Nighthief and fitterphil120 for most of the findings. One again the “Chinese” come up with a new method to trick out the Vista Activation. We have seen Softmode and VistaLoader, however “ Vista Boot by gkend” does promise even more.

We do not know much about it; however we know it will emulate a brand SLIC which will make an OEM Activation possible.

What is new and where this method does vary from the others is that it does integrate the SLIC table directly into BootMgr. Unlike other Paradox, this method can have no conflicts wit different chipsets, motherboards, or drivers. Unlike VistaLoader, this method has no conflicts with multiboot systems, does not require alteration of the Master Boot Record, and does not result in any text being displayed prior to Windows being booted. This method will also work equally well with Vista 32-bit or 64-bit and is independent of the version of Windows (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate) used. The bad news are, this method is vulnerable to the same types of detection which can be used on the other cracks - so can be disabled.

Some notes on using this hack:

1. Any SLIC table can be used with this program, simply by selecting it. No special encoding is present (like in the Paradox crack). All of the SLIC tables we have collected are viable candidates for integration.

2. This crack only applies the SLIC table. It does not apply (or even have) the matching OEM certificates - nor does it install a serial number for Vista. Both of these steps must still be done manually using the command prompt and SLMGR.VBS.

3. It is completely possible to take advantage of this cracks facility of specifying the partition of the BootMgr file to create a collection of pre modified BootMgr files.

Download: http://share.gulli.com/files/999820566/vistaboot522.rar.html


News source: stevejobs.blogs.keznews.com

Vista Hacked Again, This Time Even More Effectively

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.

The cat and mouse game continues, where Microsoft will counter this, and then the hackers will respond, and so on, and so on. Of course, activation schemes, digital rights management and security measures only affect the honest people, inconveniencing them and sometimes even stopping them in their tracks, while the h4ck3rz rise to the challenge every time with their formidable sk1llz. Sigh. – – Charlie White

NoPE release new Vista crack and is best to date [Newlaunches]

Hack to Run DreamScene in Vista Home Premium, Basic, Starter, Business and Enterprise

Own a non-Ultimate edition of Windows Vista, but very like the DreamScene application featured in Ultimate Extras package? With most OEM brand computers factory installed Windows Vista Home Premium or Home Basic, and corporates go for Windows Vista Enterprise edition, Microsoft will be earning a lot if everybody upgrade to Ultimate version with Windows Anytime Upgrade just for DreamScene. There’re alternative programs in VideoLAN’s VLC Player and BS.Player that can be used to set video as desktop background wallpaper, however, this is a hack to allow users in any editions of Vista to run native and original Windows DreamScene from Microsoft.

Hack to install Windows DreamScene in non-Ultimate Vista

1. Download the patched DreamScene dll files package NonUltimateDreamScene.zip (alternative link).
2. Unpack the archive content to a folder.
3. Right click on InstallDreamScene.bat and select “Run as Administrator” to install Windows DreamScene on your non-Ultimate version of Vista. Answer “Y” to continue.You can also open elevated command prompt with administrator rights and type InstallDreamScene.bat to execute the batch script.
4. Restart your computer.

Voila, your system now will run DreamScene without paying hefty Ultimate price. If you prefer to manually to install the patched DreamScene DLL files, here’s the step-by-step guide:

1. Download the patched DreamScene files as above and unpack to a folder.
2. Copy DreamScene.dll to %WinDir%\System32\ folder.
3. Copy DreamScene.dll.mui to %WinDir%\System32\en-US\ folder.
4. In Windows Explorer, navigate to %WinDir%\System32\ folder.
5. Right click on themecpl.dll file, and click on Properties on right click menu.
6. Select the Security tab, then click Advanced.
7. Subsequenly select the Owner tab, click Edit button. Press Continue (or log in if you’re not Administrator) on any User Access Control prompt.
8. Select your Vista logon user name, then click OK button. Then click OK in any dialog window that pops up, and press OK again at Advanced Security Settings window.
9. On Security tab, click the Edit button. Press Continue (or log in if you’re not already an Administrator) on User Access Control prompt.
10. Click Add button, and click on Advanced button. Next press Find Now button, and then select your logged on user name. Press OK when done.
11. Click OK again on Select Users or Groups dialog.
12. On Permissions for themecpl.dll window, highlight your user name, and check the box next to “Full Control” under “Allow” column. Hit OK when done, and confirm any message. Click OK twice to exit from ownership taking process.
13. Rename the file themecpl.dll in %WinDir%\System32 to themecpl.dll.original.
14. Copy the patched version of themecpl.dll to %WinDir%\System32\ folder.
15. Repeat step 4 - 12 on themecpl.dll.mui file located in %WinDir%\System32\en-US\ folder.
16. After taking ownership, rename the file %WinDir%\System32\en-US\themecpl.dll.mui to themecpl.dll.mui.original.
17. Copy the patched version of themecpl.dll.mui to %WinDir%\System32\en-US\ folder.
18. Create a new folder in %windir%\Web named “Windows DreamScene” (without quotes).This is the location to place all your videos want to set as DreamScene wallpaper, and can be easily configured via Control Panel Personalization applet.
19. Lastly, import and merge DreamScene.reg to registry.
20. Reboot computer.

Using DreamScene

After patching, right click on any blank space on Desktop, select “Personalize”, then click on “Desktop Background”. Under location, select “Windows DreamScene Content”, and then select a animated video you want.


News source: UnfocusedOne

Microsoft Confirms Windows Vista OEM BIOS Cracked

Microsoft confirmed the fact that hackers have developed a valid Windows Vista crack designed to exploit the operating system's OEM BIOS activation.

Alex Kochis, a senior licensing manager with the WGA team revealed that the OEM Activation was a measure introduced concomitantly with Windows XP and designed to streamline the deployment and activation process of the operating system.

“Microsoft worked with OEMs to develop an implementation that would work best for them and their customers while keeping the goals of product activation clearly in focus. As we looked to develop a solution, it was important to ensure that product activation technology could still deliver an acceptable degree of protection, while at the same time, reduce the need for an extra step by the end user,” Kochis revealed.

The Redmond Company introduced a marker in the BIOS of the OEM's motherboard that identifies OEM systems. Via this action, Microsoft managed to intimately connect Windows with a value in the BIOS of the motherboard, and with an OEM machine and an OEM licensed operating system.

“Over the years we've seen examples of BIOS editors that, with some work, allowed people to make an edited BIOS appear to be an OEM BIOS. Because Windows Vista can't be pirated as easily as Windows XP, it's possible that the increased pressure will result in more interest in efforts to hack the OEM Activation 2.0 implementation,” Kochis opined.

As of now, Microsoft revealed that it is aware of two cracks that exploit the Windows Vista OEM 2.0 activation. One method is essentially the same as the OEM cracks implemented in Windows XP and it involves editing the BIOS of a motherboard in order to masquerade the motherboard as an OEM product. Kochis classified the process as labor-intensive and risky due to the fact that users can render the motherboard completely useless. “So while this method works today, it's potentially hazardous and really doesn't scale well to large numbers of systems, which makes it less of a threat,” Kochis added.

As far as the second OEM workaround is concerned, Kochis promised that Microsoft will have little trouble in tackling it as it simply involves a software crack designed to make Windows Vista believe that it is running on OEM hardware.

“We focus on hacks that pose threats to our customers, partners and products. It's worth noting we also prioritize our responses, because not every attempt deserves the same level of response. 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. This means focusing on responding to hacks that are scalable and can easily be commercialized, thereby making victims out of well-intentioned customers,” Kochis concluded.


News source: softpedia
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