Legitimising dodgy copy of W7 Ultimate

[Philip Herlihy]

I'd always suspected that my customer's PC with inexpensive hardware but
installed with W7 Ultimate would turn out to have a dodgy copy of
Windows. This was confirmed when I had to replace the hard disk, and it
wouldn't activate.

I know he can buy a license direct from Microsoft at some expense, or he
may be able to put pressure on the original vendor, but I'd like to know
what other approaches might be relied upon to work. He could use W7 HP
(Pro preferred by me so I can use Remote Desktop!) but I have my doubts
that simply buying a retail (updgrade) or OEM license will work with the
existing Ultimate installation. We'd like to legitimise the machine
without having to reinstall Windows and all the applications on the box.

Any advice? I've no intention of using any further "cracks" or other
illegal options.

 

[G. Morgan]

I'd always suspected that my customer's PC with inexpensive hardware but
installed with W7 Ultimate would turn out to have a dodgy copy of
Windows. This was confirmed when I had to replace the hard disk, and it
wouldn't activate.

I know he can buy a license direct from Microsoft at some expense, or he
may be able to put pressure on the original vendor, but I'd like to know
what other approaches might be relied upon to work. He could use W7 HP
(Pro preferred by me so I can use Remote Desktop!) but I have my doubts
that simply buying a retail (updgrade) or OEM license will work with the
existing Ultimate installation. We'd like to legitimise the machine
without having to reinstall Windows and all the applications on the box.

Any advice? I've no intention of using any further "cracks" or other
illegal options.

Buy a retail licence key of Ultimate and change the key.

C:\Windows\System32\change.exe

 

[telsar]

I'd always suspected that my customer's PC with inexpensive hardware but
installed with W7 Ultimate would turn out to have a dodgy copy of
Windows. This was confirmed when I had to replace the hard disk, and it
wouldn't activate.

I know he can buy a license direct from Microsoft at some expense, or he
may be able to put pressure on the original vendor, but I'd like to know
what other approaches might be relied upon to work. He could use W7 HP
(Pro preferred by me so I can use Remote Desktop!) but I have my doubts
that simply buying a retail (updgrade) or OEM license will work with the
existing Ultimate installation. We'd like to legitimise the machine
without having to reinstall Windows and all the applications on the box.

Any advice? I've no intention of using any further "cracks" or other
illegal options.

These days dodgy copies of windows come straight from the OEMs. I saw
an article on it earlier this week. Some have already been compromised
with malware. I guess hackers have replaced the images that get loaded
on new machines or OEM partners save money by installing pirated copies
that will activate. You can activate that copy by downloading a
activation utility off of:

https://thepiratebay.se

or even other sites. Why buy a cow when milk is so cheap. Why be the
one to straighten out the world when you have a single PC to fix.

 

[telsar]

These days dodgy copies of windows come straight from the OEMs. I saw
an article on it earlier this week. Some have already been compromised
with malware. I guess hackers have replaced the images that get loaded
on new machines or OEM partners save money by installing pirated copies
that will activate. You can activate that copy by downloading a
activation utility off of:

https://thepiratebay.se

or even other sites. Why buy a cow when milk is so cheap. Why be the
one to straighten out the world when you have a single PC to fix.

PS: Don't install KB971033

 

[Derek]

I'd always suspected that my customer's PC with inexpensive hardware but
installed with W7 Ultimate would turn out to have a dodgy copy of
Windows. This was confirmed when I had to replace the hard disk, and it
wouldn't activate.

I know he can buy a license direct from Microsoft at some expense, or he
may be able to put pressure on the original vendor, but I'd like to know
what other approaches might be relied upon to work. He could use W7 HP
(Pro preferred by me so I can use Remote Desktop!) but I have my doubts
that simply buying a retail (updgrade) or OEM license will work with the
existing Ultimate installation. We'd like to legitimise the machine
without having to reinstall Windows and all the applications on the box.

Any advice? I've no intention of using any further "cracks" or other
illegal options.

Ok, fine, spend some more hard-earned cash and buy another key. But,
take note, make sure that you never install KB971033, because if you've
bought a new key in good faith you've done nothing illegal. KB971033 is
a sinister update that phones home to check if someone's robbed you. If
you've been robbed Microsoft will rob you again by making you pay for
another key. Also, make a mirror image of your system drive to revert to
in case you inadvertently install that nasty little update.

 

[Philip Herlihy]

Buy a retail licence key of Ultimate and change the key.

C:\Windows\System32\change.exe

Isn't there likely to be a problem if the key doesn't match the
installation source? I'd guess that a lot of dodgy copies of windows
are 'leaked' enterprise keys, and I don't want to buy something that
doesn't work!

 

[Philip Herlihy]

PS: Don't install KB971033

I took the view a long time ago that if I expect my customers to trust
me with information that may include personal, financial and other
details I don't want to be messing with piracy. Either you're honest or
you're not, really. I pay my taxes, too. Sleep like a baby.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Philip.

Have a look at this page, if you haven't already:

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/antipiracy/Pages/get_genuine_kit.aspx#fbid=M2yTaU6c3hO

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2012 (Build 16.4.3505.0912) in Win8 Pro


"Philip Herlihy" wrote in message

PS: Don't install KB971033

I took the view a long time ago that if I expect my customers to trust
me with information that may include personal, financial and other
details I don't want to be messing with piracy. Either you're honest or
you're not, really. I pay my taxes, too. Sleep like a baby.

 

[Philip Herlihy]

Hi, Philip.

Have a look at this page, if you haven't already:

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/antipiracy/Pages/get_genuine_kit.aspx#fbid=M2yTaU6c3hO

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2012 (Build 16.4.3505.0912) in Win8 Pro

Most helpful - thank you!

 

[G. Morgan]

Isn't there likely to be a problem if the key doesn't match the
installation source? I'd guess that a lot of dodgy copies of windows
are 'leaked' enterprise keys, and I don't want to buy something that
doesn't work!

It's a possibility, but if you have the legit key you can download the
legit "bits" and make it repair itself.

 

[Char Jackson]

I took the view a long time ago that if I expect my customers to trust
me with information that may include personal, financial and other
details I don't want to be messing with piracy. Either you're honest or
you're not, really. I pay my taxes, too. Sleep like a baby.

I hope you don't mean that you awaken every two hours, kicking, crying, and
screaming, with an empty bottle and a full diaper.

 

[Paul]

It's a possibility, but if you have the legit key you can download the
legit "bits" and make it repair itself.

It helps to point out, that legitimate copies of Windows 7 DVDs were
offered by digitalriver. And URLs for Windows 7 downloads have been
floating around for some time. When digitalriver and associates
stop selling Windows 7 and move on to Windows 8, then you're not likely
to have access to those files.

That's how I got copies of Windows 7 SP1 DVDs, for repairing my laptop.
By downloading them from digitalriver.

If you find such a download link, and think it's dodgy, run md5sum
and sha1sum, pop the checksums into Google, and see if you can find
any articles confirming they're the correct checksums. So if you
have to do this operation five years from now (when all so-called
legit sources are shut down), that would be a potential method for
determining whether the download was adulterated.

As a kickoff point, the file names on my downloads were

X17-24208.iso 32-bit Windows 7 Home Premium x86 SP1 (bootable)
X17-24209.iso 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 (bootable)

A search on those file names, should dig up web pages of
similarly named ISOs. ISOs are available for a limited number
of other countries and languages. Certain countries, the
images should be unavailable (as digitalriver or other sellers,
may be banned from selling there). Availability of an ISO
in your own language, is by no means assured. It's accidental
rather than planned and advertised.

*******

The situation is a bit different on Windows 8. And not in
a good way. (I don't have all the files to verify this for
myself, so treat this as a research topic...)

On Windows 7, whether you had boxed DVDs or you downloaded the
digitalriver version, the DVD would have an install.wim file.
That was the file with the install files in it (could be around
2GB in size, and is a file on the ISO9660).

On Windows 8, a boxed DVD would use an install.wim.

The Windows 8 $39.95 electronic download version, the main file
is install.esd. The install.esd is the encrypted version of install.wim.

Each electronic download, with an install.esd in it, the install.esd
is different for each download operation.

Now, say I give my DVD to a friend. The install.esd potentially carries
some information with it, as to where it was initially downloaded.

There is a ridiculously complicated means to convert from install.esd
to install.wim here.

http://win7vista.com/index.php?topic=32733.0

"it's relatively easy. Install Win8 in vbox (vhd). sysprep win8.
mount vhd in windows and capture installation with imagex to
install.wim. replace install.esd with install.wim and
you are done - the encryption is gone"

And the "not in a good way" part of this ? You cannot checksum
an electronically downloaded DVD and verify it is authentic.
Whereas, with the Windows 7 ones, everything floating around
(boxed or electronic, with the same SKU) would be the same.
And simpler checks, would verify you had the real McCoy.

I think, when I used the same order number, and downloaded
the electronic version a second time (thinking the first download
was corrupted), even the install.esd on that was different.
So each download operation, for some reason, is uniquely tagged.
Why that has value, is unclear to me, as it's the license key
that matters, not the DVD itself. The DVD is immaterial. And
how it got to my desk, is also immaterial. I don't get, why that
file is encrypted. If that's what it is.

On Windows 7, this would be one less thing to worry about.
No issue there.

Paul

 

[G. Morgan]

The Windows 8 $39.95 electronic download version, the main file
is install.esd. The install.esd is the encrypted version of install.wim.

Each electronic download, with an install.esd in it, the install.esd
is different for each download operation.

Now, say I give my DVD to a friend. The install.esd potentially carries
some information with it, as to where it was initially downloaded.

I wouldn't know, I have a MSDN subscription and get pure ISO's.

 

[Philip Herlihy]

It helps to point out, that legitimate copies of Windows 7 DVDs were
offered by digitalriver. And URLs for Windows 7 downloads have been
floating around for some time. When digitalriver and associates
stop selling Windows 7 and move on to Windows 8, then you're not likely
to have access to those files.

That's how I got copies of Windows 7 SP1 DVDs, for repairing my laptop.
By downloading them from digitalriver.

If you find such a download link, and think it's dodgy, run md5sum
and sha1sum, pop the checksums into Google, and see if you can find
any articles confirming they're the correct checksums. So if you
have to do this operation five years from now (when all so-called
legit sources are shut down), that would be a potential method for
determining whether the download was adulterated.

As a kickoff point, the file names on my downloads were

X17-24208.iso 32-bit Windows 7 Home Premium x86 SP1 (bootable)
X17-24209.iso 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 (bootable)

A search on those file names, should dig up web pages of
similarly named ISOs. ISOs are available for a limited number
of other countries and languages. Certain countries, the
images should be unavailable (as digitalriver or other sellers,
may be banned from selling there). Availability of an ISO
in your own language, is by no means assured. It's accidental
rather than planned and advertised.

*******

The situation is a bit different on Windows 8. And not in
a good way. (I don't have all the files to verify this for
myself, so treat this as a research topic...)

On Windows 7, whether you had boxed DVDs or you downloaded the
digitalriver version, the DVD would have an install.wim file.
That was the file with the install files in it (could be around
2GB in size, and is a file on the ISO9660).

On Windows 8, a boxed DVD would use an install.wim.

The Windows 8 $39.95 electronic download version, the main file
is install.esd. The install.esd is the encrypted version of install.wim.

Each electronic download, with an install.esd in it, the install.esd
is different for each download operation.

Now, say I give my DVD to a friend. The install.esd potentially carries
some information with it, as to where it was initially downloaded.

There is a ridiculously complicated means to convert from install.esd
to install.wim here.

http://win7vista.com/index.php?topic=32733.0

"it's relatively easy. Install Win8 in vbox (vhd). sysprep win8.
mount vhd in windows and capture installation with imagex to
install.wim. replace install.esd with install.wim and
you are done - the encryption is gone"

And the "not in a good way" part of this ? You cannot checksum
an electronically downloaded DVD and verify it is authentic.
Whereas, with the Windows 7 ones, everything floating around
(boxed or electronic, with the same SKU) would be the same.
And simpler checks, would verify you had the real McCoy.

I think, when I used the same order number, and downloaded
the electronic version a second time (thinking the first download
was corrupted), even the install.esd on that was different.
So each download operation, for some reason, is uniquely tagged.
Why that has value, is unclear to me, as it's the license key
that matters, not the DVD itself. The DVD is immaterial. And
how it got to my desk, is also immaterial. I don't get, why that
file is encrypted. If that's what it is.

On Windows 7, this would be one less thing to worry about.
No issue there.

Paul

Thanks - most useful!

 

[Philip Herlihy]

I hope you don't mean that you awaken every two hours, kicking, crying, and
screaming, with an empty bottle and a full diaper.

 

[...winston]

"Philip Herlihy" wrote in message in reply to:

Isn't there likely to be a problem if the key doesn't match
the installation source? I'd guess that a lot of dodgy copies
of windows are 'leaked' enterprise keys, and I don't want
to buy something that doesn't work!

For Windows 7...the product key determines which version will be installed.
- for retail Win7 DVD's all o/s versions are included on the DVD

 

[Philip Herlihy]

"Philip Herlihy" wrote in message in reply to:



For Windows 7...the product key determines which version will be installed.
- for retail Win7 DVD's all o/s versions are included on the DVD

My worry is that the version of Windows installed on the machine at the
moment (which I'd prefer not to have to disturb) almost certainly won't
have come from that retail DVD!

 

[...winston]

"Philip Herlihy" wrote in message

winston wrote...

My worry is that the version of Windows installed on the machine
at the moment (which I'd prefer not to have to disturb) almost
certainly won't have come from that retail DVD!

The DVD doesn't matter. The product key does.
- i.e if the existing isn't legit, you still need media and/or a product key for whichever version you need to legitimize.

Since you have already stated that the pc in question is Win7 Ultimate:
If you wish to legitimize the existing version you need a valid product key for that version which can be obtained by purchasing a
Win7 Ultimate DVD
- you only need the product key included in the DVD package. Once you have the product key, rt click the My Computer icon on the
desktop, select properties, scroll to the bottom and select 'Change Product Key'. When prompted enter the valid product key.

If you wish to reinstall Win7 Ultimate you need to use both the media and the included, valid product key.

Your options are limited.

 

[Philip Herlihy]

"Philip Herlihy" wrote in message


The DVD doesn't matter. The product key does.
- i.e if the existing isn't legit, you still need media and/or a product key for whichever version you need to legitimize.

Since you have already stated that the pc in question is Win7 Ultimate:
If you wish to legitimize the existing version you need a valid product key for that version which can be obtained by purchasing a
Win7 Ultimate DVD
- you only need the product key included in the DVD package. Once you have the product key, rt click the My Computer icon on the
desktop, select properties, scroll to the bottom and select 'Change Product Key'. When prompted enter the valid product key.

If you wish to reinstall Win7 Ultimate you need to use both the media and the included, valid product key.

Your options are limited.

Thanks, the clarification is appreciated. What I'm hoping to do is
purchase a "Get Genuine Kit", which comes with DVD and key. Can I avoid
reinstalling everything, or with using the Product Key change facility
simply downgrade the machine to W7 Pro? I don't believe the user will
have touched anything not included in Pro.

 

[telsar]

Thanks, the clarification is appreciated. What I'm hoping to do is
purchase a "Get Genuine Kit", which comes with DVD and key. Can I avoid
reinstalling everything, or with using the Product Key change facility
simply downgrade the machine to W7 Pro? I don't believe the user will
have touched anything not included in Pro.

Some other interesting information relating to win7:

http://www.howtogeek.com/75496/how-to-reinstall-windows-without-having-to-reactivate/

http://www.mydigitallife.info/how-t...ivation-status-activate-offline-on-reinstall/

http://www.davescomputertips.com/20...ws-7-without-activation-on-your-oem-computer/

After looking through some of this, it may very well be your win7 was
legit, but it got borked up with the recovery method or is unhappy with
a new disk id...

Good luck...