Windows 7 RTM - already cracked.

[SunnyD]

Complete with offline activation and WGA validation. Only a good 3 months before general availability too.

Windows 7 Ultimate has been cracked. The pirate milestone, reached almost three months before Windows 7 is set to hit General Availability on October 22, 2009, was achieved via OEM instant offline activation that passes Windows Genuine Advantage validation and keeps the operating system permanently activated. Previous cracks weren't as solid: while they may be working now, they can easily be disabled by Microsoft. This one won't be so easy.

Both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate can now easily be activated, according to My Digital Life. For Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Home Basic, and Windows 7 Starter, the OEM-System-Locked Preinstallation (SLP) keys haven't been leaked, so they cannot be OEM-activated yet. It won't be long before easy-to-use Windows 7 activation toolkits start appearing in the wild.

The story begins with a Windows 7 Ultimate OEM DVD ISO from Lenovo leaking to a Chinese forum PC Beta. The boot.wim file was then used to retrieve the OEM-SLP product key and OEM certificate for Windows 7 Ultimate. The SLP is a procedure used by Microsoft to preactivate the Windows operating system for mass distribution by major OEMs. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 use SLP version 2.1, which is backwards-compatible with version 2.0, the version Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 use. As such, after the OEM certificate and OEM product key were extracted, it was discovered that Windows 7 uses the same digitally signed OEM certificate, which has an .xrm-ms extension, that Vista uses.

The extracted Windows 7 Ultimate OEM-SLP product key can be used to activate an installed Windows 7 Ultimate system, and since the product key appears to be a master OEM-SLP product key for Windows 7 Ultimate, it can activate Windows 7 Ultimate from any OEM. Furthermore, even if the user already has a retail version of Windows 7 Ultimate installed, it can be converted to an OEM version with two simple commands, and then activated.

This is a major breakthrough for the Windows piracy world and a huge blow to Microsoft. Even if it was imminent, the fact that it has occurred so soon means pirates will have activated copies of Windows 7 a good week before even MSDN and TechNet subscribers get their hands on the RTM build on August 6, not to mention all the other groups Microsoft plans to give the build to. The Windows 7 RTM and Windows Server 2008 RTM build was compiled on July 13, 2009 and the official announcement was made on July 22, 2009.

 

[CptCrunch]

wow, that was quick. Regardless. I'm going to buy a copy of Windows 7 (my first such purchase), because I like it that much.

 

[abaez]

Before I would react along the lines of MS deserving it. But I think they have made a good OS this time around and will definitely buy a legit version.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Vista was "cracked" the same way, so it was just a matter of time before the OEM certificates and keys were released. Though the Vista crack required the BIOS to be modded to have those OEM hooks, I would assume this required the same.

 

[Heatlesssun]

And this is a blow to Microsoft just how? This HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED! Not to mention that just about every other piece of software in the world gets cracked.

Plus I wonder how many of the folks that try to install this will be the the first complaing of issues down the road.

 

[tommo123]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
Vista was "cracked" the same way, so it was just a matter of time before the OEM certificates and keys were released. Though the Vista crack required the BIOS to be modded to have those OEM hooks, I would assume this required the same.

i've seen it used on vista, but it doesnt need a modded bios. some driver or such emulates it afaik. i tried it on a virtual machine. (and yes i have a legit license for vista ulitimate - although that was totally a waste!)

 

[dennilfloss]

Still gonna buy it. Wouldn't trust a pirated OS.

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: dennilfloss
Still gonna buy it. Wouldn't trust a pirated OS.

yeah and with the emulated bios you do have problems. 1 such problem is vmware fusion will not be able to use your install in mac. Other problems may arise. (I own vista, multiple keys, but downloaded a 'bad' iso)

 

[Modelworks]

The modded bios is the one method that MS has no way of detecting or stopping. MS decided to use the SLIC table in the bios to store OEM info for validation. Then people just went to a OEM pc, dell, hp and copied the keys. They then downloaded the bios for their motherboard , inserted the text in the bios and flashed the motherboards. Vista and 7 sees it as a Dell or HP with valid OEM license, updates and anything else work just like usual.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
Vista was "cracked" the same way, so it was just a matter of time before the OEM certificates and keys were released. Though the Vista crack required the BIOS to be modded to have those OEM hooks, I would assume this required the same.

Two different methods.

The bios mod has no way of being detected since as far as vista/7 are concerned it is the same hardware as the oem key was designed for. It works because Dell, HP, etc buy boards from companies like Asus/gigabyte and only change the bios stings to say what brand it is. So if someone has a Asus board, model doesn't have to much, they can insert the dell string in the bios and flash the board. Windows can't tell the difference. The boards appear the same , no changes in name at boot up or in the settings, except if you run a program like everest ulitmate and go to the bios sections then read the SLIC table, it will read HP, dell or whatever. I even saw a pc that when checked read ASUS Notebook, even though it was a desktop.



The software crack works by loading an artificial bios table with the correct oem string in the slic table. That can be detected since if you know where to look you can poll the original bios for info.

 

[tcsenter]

Win7 uses the same OEM/SLP activation used in Vista/W2008 since SP2 (v2.1, backwards compatible with v2.0). You can't "crack" the same thing twice.

Still requires a uniquely modded BIOS (for every unique mainboard model), which has to be modded again every time a new BIOS is released (assuming you want BIOS updates when released).

The objective of MS activation schemes is to prevent "casual" piracy. e.g. DOS and Windows 9x (which required zero technical skill or knowledge to pirate). Mission accomplished.

 

[RebateMonger]

If MS continues to offer $50 licenses for Windows 7 (the pre-release and the (probable) "Family Pack"), it's going to make it hard to justify the effort needed to pirate it.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
If MS continues to offer $50 licenses for Windows 7 (the pre-release and the (probable) "Family Pack"), it's going to make it hard to justify the effort needed to pirate it.

Reminds me of FCKGW...

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
If MS continues to offer $50 licenses for Windows 7 (the pre-release and the (probable) "Family Pack"), it's going to make it hard to justify the effort needed to pirate it.

Reminds me of FCKGW...

$50 ended a while ago.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: KeypoX
$50 ended a while ago.

Yes, but the "Family Pack" appears to be a "sure thing" at 3-for-$150 for W7 Home Premium Upgrade Licenses. Well, in the U.S., anyway. :frown:

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
If MS continues to offer $50 licenses for Windows 7 (the pre-release and the (probable) "Family Pack"), it's going to make it hard to justify the effort needed to pirate it.

Reminds me of FCKGW...

That key is a legend. I believe it is the single most used Windows key in history.

 

[ahenkel]

yep also v2c47

 

[shortylickens]

Reading this thread makes me realize I am not longer a super nerd. I have only a vague notion of what you guys are talking about.
Sad.
I guess I'll have to start going to the gym and tinkering with my car and drinking beer and eating pretzels now. No more nerd stuff for me.
Oh dear god! I'LL HAVE TO WATCH SPORTS!!

 

[CptCrunch]

Originally posted by: lopri

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
If MS continues to offer $50 licenses for Windows 7 (the pre-release and the (probable) "Family Pack"), it's going to make it hard to justify the effort needed to pirate it.

Reminds me of FCKGW...

That key is a legend. I believe it is the single most used Windows key in history.

Ahh, the good ol' days of Windows XP VLK

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
Oh dear god! I'LL HAVE TO WATCH SPORTS!!

And wear a ball cap.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

cracked, but has it been leaked at torrent sites yet?

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
cracked, but has it been leaked at torrent sites yet?

Magic 8 ball says "YES"

 

[slugg]

I'm just gonna keep reinstalling the RTM (you get 120 days on 1 install anyways) until my university offers it to us. I can currently buy Vista Ultimate 32/64 OEM at with Win XP Pro 32/64 included for $15, so assume we'll be getting a similar deal. Somehow, having a pirated OS versus spending $15 just doesn't make sense to me. Even at $50 for the upgrade, it still doesn't make sense.

 

[ahenkel]

I wonder how long it will be till windows requires a hardware dongle to use windows

 

[tommo123]

if it does, that'll be cracked as well. 3d studio max had one ages ago i believe. didnt stop anyone in my class getting a copy