An interesting turnabout took place over last weekend when Microsoft Corp. posted on its Product Support Services Web site a detailed knowledge base article that provides step-by-step instructions on how to change volume-licensed product keys for Windows XP. But the move, which started as a customer service to help users legitimately change keys, could actually serve as a blueprint of sorts for hackers to access XP keys, some said.
Microsoft Posts Steps to Change XP Keys
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Eugenia Loli
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I know people **cough** on IRC who ditributed a text file with almost the exact same procedure of changing the key. I am aware of many people using it to change the key on a pirated copy of XP Corporate (the devil’s own release). Of course, the replacement key was made using the relatively easy to find XP keygen. After that, SP1 was installed with no problems.
change_xp_key.txt reads as follows:
Change Product Key without Reinstall:
1. Run regedit and go to: HKey_Local_MachineSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsNTCurrent VersionWPAEvents, on the right double click on “oobetimer” and change at least one digit of this value to deactivate windows.
2. Choose run from start menu and type in this command:
%systemroot%system32oobemsoobe.exe /a to get the activation screen and go to the second option which is activate by phone.
3. In the new screen choose the option to change product key, and type in the new product key (Corporate one only).
4. Close that window, reboot your system and enter the command in step 2 for the second time to verify your activation , you should see “windows is already activated”.
Followed by 20-30 XP Corporate keys.
I would be willing to surmise this method was obtained from a Microsoft WPA representative, although it could be argued that Microsoft learned from the pirates.
I’ve got a keygen that will generate XP keys on the fly, and it works also with SP1 slipstreamed in.
They deserve to have keys regenerated and there product pirated
People like you deserve to be in jail….because basically you are stealing.
better to have their ‘free’ OS installed than someone elses