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Microsoft CD Keys, CD Key Generator, Genuine Advantage Validation

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I am no fan of Microsoft for a lot of different reasons which I won't go through here. However, one of the things that I think is so insane is the silly CD Keys that they put on the cases of the CD. Anyone who is thorough enough to copy a CD would certainly copy the CD Key. However, the average guy who just files the CD away after a successful installation may very well separate the actual CD from the CD case (which are often not clearly marked). Fortunately just about any Microsoft CD Key will do. So this web site is to help out people who have legitimately bought/received a Microsoft CD (non-OEM variety), but have lost their CD case with the key. If you have a CD from Microsoft that you got from an OEMer (for example, it came with your computer), follow the link to MS OEM Numbers.

Windows XP

I just recently heard that XP installation CDs have a valid CD key right on the CD. Explore the CD and navigate to the i386 folder. Open the file UNATTEND.txt and scroll down to the last line. You will find your Windows XP Product key there. It was there on an old XP CD SP2 I had around. If you find a CD key on your installation CD, please let me know how it works out. My guess is that these keys on the CD are best to use as there would be the same CD key for thousands of computers (all the CDs which were printed with that key) so Microsoft would have a hard time invalidating a CD key which is used legitimately by thousands of computers. The CD I had has a key of 'CD87T-HFP4C-V7X7H-8VY68-W7D7M'. I wonder if that key will work for anyone else (my XP computers all have legitimate Microsoft keys already)? This web page is now located at its 139th home, so it seems to bother the people at Microsoft. My reading of the law is that there is nothing illegal contained in it (as CD keys are neither copyrighted nor trademarked), but that doesn't keep them from complaining to our current host and getting the pages deleted. I was able to get a copy of a previous host's original complaint (they got another one later and booted me). They also got the DNS (domain name) for our friends at www.wampa.net pulled until they stopped providing a permanent link to this page. Sigh! It would be best to bookmark the link is http://brian.carr.name/. That page has a button along the top that will take you to the current server. What a bother, but it keeps the information accessible.

If you have a partially or fully functioning system, you can visit:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html, http://www.skaro.net/cd-keyreader/, or http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml
to get the current keys you are using (so that you will have them if you need them later). Right now that seems the easiest way to go with the pitfalls that MS is making for us.

High School and University Students

It looks like Microsoft has opened up free versions of Visual Studio 2008, Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, and Virtual PC via download for students. They do have a verification program (which is understandable) so I can't say how well it works. Check out the full list at https://www.dreamspark.com/. Good luck.

Genuine Advantage

In 2005 Microsoft started introducing a new program to trip users up, Genuine Advantage. It appears that Genuine Advantage is somewhat of a misnomer as the only useful thing it does is generate more revenue for Microsoft. For now the best way to avoid this 'license checker' is to never agree to the EULA that goes with it (for now watch for the title Genuine Advantage, but be cautious of any program that requires a new EULA). Given its very negative value to the customer, Microsoft insists that you agree to their terms in an agreement before installing it. If you don't agree it even gives you the option of never being asked again about it. Sadly this is only after the fact advice. I have heard that you can roll back your system to the previous state before the last set of updates and remove it.

With the latest version of Windowns Update, you can't get normal updates without verifying your license. However, you still get the security updates (which is good as Windows is like swiss cheese (full of holes) for viruses), but you can't get the latest enhancements (which is also good as you hardly need new bugs and holes for viruses to exploit). For example, you won't be able to get Internet Explorer (IE) 7, but you probably shouldn't be running IE or Outlook anyway. Those are the two best ways to get viruses. Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird are each quite nice and not nearly as virus prone as their Microsoft equivalents (and they are free).

Microsoft published a procedure that removes the pre-release verions of Genuine Advantage at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921914. For your convenience I have included the excerpt that worked for me (I have two systems which have Windows XP installed and two certificates of authenticity, but only one was installed with the 'correct' key for the CD I was using at the time). If you need to change your CD key as Genuine Advantage doesn't like your current one, visit http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_change_the_windows_xp_p.htm for a description of how to change a bad key to a good one.

I have two systems that have Windows XP installed (along with other OSes of course) and one had been installed with a generated key (though I have two licenses for XP). When they switched to the real Genuine Advantage I was able to give in my real CD key (from the certificates) and stop the annoying messages. However, now I can't test methods to get around their license checks (they don't tell you how to go back to the old 'bad' key). Drats. On KexNew.com there is a package by Matt (no last name, I wonder why) which gets you around WGA (or Windows Genuine Advantage) checking. You can get it at programs/WPPerm_v1.0.zip. If that link doesn't work for you, you can try http://rapidshare.com/files/364292565/WPPerm_v10.zip.

It is really five files. Opening it will show you the five files and you should open the file WP_Readme.txt. It explains what to do with the four other files. It mentions that it works with pirated copies of Windows XP and Office, but it will also work with a legally purchased copy of Windows XP and Office in case you have lost the legal key (this page does not encourage pirating software). Please try it out and let me know how it works for you. I have checked it for viruses and trojans, but we all need to be careful..

There is a new procedure for getting around Genuine Advantage with Windows XP SP3 which is a little cleaner than past approached. You can try it at: programs/Antiwpa3.zip. I am happy with SP2 and haven't tried it, so please let me know how it works for you. Thanks.

I have a link to a manual procedure for getting around activation. It also included a link to http://rapidshare.com/files/84965644/patch.zip.html which does the update for you.

Vista and Genuine Advantage checks.

There seems to be a procedure for getting around the activation and check in procedures for Vista. You can find it (for now) at: http://www.haklabs.com/2007/bypass-vista-activation-with-paradox. I haven't been able to try it as I am avoiding Vista (I seem to be such a Luddite). Please let me know how it works for you and I can update these pages.

Windows Activation

With the advent of MS Office 2000 SR1 and all the XP and 2002 releases, MS seems to have gone the route of mandatory registration which makes reinstallations and such really difficult when you lose the old key. There is a program that seems to be able to test if a key meets the MS requirements and can also generate keys at random until it finds one that should work. It supports for Windows XP, Office XP and Visio XP called XPKey.exe.

There are new generations of key generators for Windows XP and O

Windows 7 Ultimate Genuine Maker Software