Microsoft has built into Vista a function that allows anyone to extend the operating system’s activation deadline not just three times, but many times. The same one-line command that postpones Vista’s activation deadline to 120 days can be used an indefinite number of times by first changing a Registry key from 0 to 1.

This isn’t a hacker exploit. It doesn’t require any tools or utilities whatsoever. Microsoft even documented the Registry key, although obtusely, on its Technet site.

But dishonest PC sellers could use the procedure to install thousands of copies of Vista and sell them to unsuspecting consumers or businesses as legitimately activated copies. This would certainly violate the Vista EULA, but consumers might not realize this until the PCs they bought started demanding activation — and failing — months or years later.

The following describes the Registry key that’s involved.

1. While running a copy of Windows Vista that hasn’t yet been activated, click the Start button, type regedit into the Search box, then press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.
2. Explore down to the following Registry key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ SL

3. Right-click the Registry key named SkipRearm and click Edit. The default is a DWORD (a double word or 4 bytes) with a hex value of 00000000. Change this value to any positive integer, such as 00000001, save the change, and close the Registry Editor.
4. Start a command prompt with administrative rights. The fastest way to do this is to click the Start button, enter cmd in the Search box, then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter. If you’re asked for a network username and password, provide the ones that log you into your domain. You may be asked to approve a User Account Control prompt and to provide an administrator password.
5. Type one of the following two commands and press Enter:

   slmgr -rearm or rundll32 slc.dll,SLReArmWindows

   Either command uses Vista’s built-in Software Licensing Manager (SLMGR) to push the activation deadline out to 30 days after the command is run. Changing SkipRearm from 0 to 1 allows SLMGR to do this an indefinite number of times. Running either command initializes the value of SkipRearm back to 0.

6. Reboot the PC to make the postponement take effect.
7. To extend the activation deadline of Vista indefinitely, repeat steps 1 through 6 as necessary

Read full story and other tricks at source.

Hasta la ‘vista’ Bin!

Windows Vista (32-bit) has been cracked. It’s the day that genuine users hoped would never come but indeed it has. Known only as Paradox 2007, they have worked tirelessly to crack the latest operating system from Microsoft (why, I don’t know, but they have).

I can confirm, that running Vista in a virtual environment, this patch does work. Let’s just wait and see if Windows Aero works and the Ultimate Extra’s are available.

Check it: The Land of Richard

“Microsoft Corp. yesterday said it would limit support for three versions of the Windows Vista operating system, including its most expensive, to five years rather than the usual 10 years.”

As far as I can tell, this has caused an “uproar” amongst the people on the blogosphere but thinking about this, there can only be two solutions. The first one is void of course:

1. Windows Vista will be replaced by a new operating system within the 5 years and ultimately Vista will become obselete. Maybe so, maybe it’ll be replaced within 5 years which is more than likely but will not necessarily make Windows Vista obselete. Windows XP is still more used than Vista, and as people get used to the old ways, it makes it harder to keep things new.
2. It’s a legal thing.

I was on the phone to a friend of mine who works at a legal firm in Nottingham, UK, and it seems that the limited time for support is actually a legal requirement. Just as cars and the manufacturers can only sell spare parts for the models for a certain length of time.

However there is a legal silver lining, that according to my friend: “If it is deemed appropriate, the time can be lengthened as long as the necessary bodies approve. It’s a case of having to wait for the time to expire until they apply for more time.” We both agreed, whilst she is in the legal profession, that it is “bloody stupid but somehow necessary”.

This could be all the evidence we need, or it could just be some silly intern who decides to jump the gun and presume that nobody will make a big fuss about this because we’re all idiots. Well I’m gonna try and make a fuss about this, as in fact, I am actually an idiot.

In the Windows System Resource Manager service in Windows Server “Longhorn”, the description of the service clearly mentions “Windows Vista Server”. Check the screenshot for yourself, it’s right below. We were all expecting Windows Server 2007, or as VistaBase has decided to prematurely jump the gun and call it Windows Server 2008, I don’t think anyone is none the wiser after this posting anyway.

“This set contains contains my work from the Microsoft Photoshoot I did late 2005 - early 2006. My mission was to create genuine images to be a part of the Windows Vista Wallpaper collection. Two shots from the Photoshoot (first two in the set) made it to Vista’s Wallpaper Collection, while many others remain here, and waiting to be uncovered.” - HD

Click here to go to the wallaper collection!

Here is a video screencast of Windows Ultimate DreamScene (preview) in action. It clearly shows the new features of video playing as the background wallpaper on Windows Vista Ultimate. It has some really good demonstrations with a full Glass window on top of the video to show smoothness - a must see. I nicked it and put it on YouTube as I hate using Windows Media Player.

Source: VistaBase Demonstrations

“The Windows Vista BootScreen is pointless, but Microsoft decided to hide a more visually appealing boot screen that can easily be enabled with very little trouble. I’m not sure why they didn’t make the boot screen better.”

The default boot screen:

The hidden one, called “Aurora”:

Type msconfig into the start menu search box, and hit enter…

After the System Configuration tool loads, click on the Boot tab and check the “No GUI Boot”.

Hit Ok and Reboot, you will see the new Aurora boot screen

“Note: You may get a Windows Defender error on the next startup. You can enable the system config utility using the tray icon and this error will go away.”

Source: How to Geek

Upgraded to Windows Vista? Missing a few drivers?

RadarSync has a good collection of Vista drivers - all FREE!

Bill Gates appeared on The Daily Show prior to the Vista Launch in Europe. At the end of the show he left in a bit of a hurry. Jon Stewart the show host explains the real reason why Bill Gates left in such a hurry…