Vista Business released on pirate boards

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James Bannan07 January 2007, 7:05 AM

With the full public release of Vista just weeks away, pirates have just released the Vista Business Upgrade DVD.


The latest Vista release to hit the pirate boards is the Vista Business Upgrade DVD -- the version which takes Windows XP Pro up to Vista Business Edition.

It can be installed without using a key (as can any version of Vista), and it’s not providing any sort of activation crack.

The idea is to perform the upgrade (it’s upgrade only, not a clean install DVD) and then use either the activation bypass or cracked KMS server which are doing the rounds in the underworld.

Interestingly, with the personal versions of Vista due for release at the end of the month, there appears to be little interest in the available pirated Business and Enterprise editions; presumably users are preferring to wait for Vista Home Premium and Ultimate.

What will be interesting is in what form any crack of the home editions will take. Like Vista Business and Enterprise, Home Basic/Premium and Ultimate still have to be activated, but unlike Business and Enterprise they can only be activated against a Microsoft server – KMS activation isn’t an option. So the cracked KMS server workaround won’t help. Bypass activation MAY still be working by then, but it’s a short-term loophole and not a true crack.

I’m still impressed that the Vista’s core anti-piracy technology has stayed firm since the RTM release at the end of November. Yes, there are temporary and incomplete workarounds, but no true crack has emerged. Presumably competition will hot up once the home versions are released, but it’s important to remember that these will be based on RTM code, so the level of anti-piracy protection will be exactly the same and the challenge just as great.


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bdude notloggedin:

All I want to know is how you guys keep finding out about all these pirated versions ;)

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

MR X:

lets just hope its not long now until Ultimate is cracked
:P

29 February 2008, 8:35 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

john:

Who cares? If Vi$ta is the new Leyland P76, who wants it?

29 February 2008, 8:35 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

James Bannan:

Aharrrr!

29 February 2008, 8:35 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Anonymous:

if ultimate was cracked I could be using it already!

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

AdrianH:

Why does a respectable magazine such as APC feel the need to report the availability of pirated software, and the details on what must be done to achieve a working pirated copy of the software.

Shouldn't you be watching microsoft and reporting on the innovations in the IT industry rather raising awareness of illegal versions of windows.

This report is analagous to an auto website telling us that a group has finally detailed how to pick locks on a VE omega, but most citizens are waiting for them to detail how to pick the locks of an SS before going out and stealing a car...

"Interestingly, with the personal versions of Vista due for release at the end of the month, there appears to be little interest in the available pirated Business and Enterprise editions; presumably users are preferring to wait for Vista Home Premium and Ultimate."

why didnt you assume that there is little interest in the pirate version because people might actually do the right thing and buy vista, if they even want it, which another report on this site suggests it is useless anyway.

You had better hope that your journalism picks up because I'm really not interested in heading down to the news agent to pick up this months copy of APC if this is the sort of stuff i'll be reading.

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Dan Warne:

Adrian, we're not endorsing software piracy, but you can see from our "top stories" list to the right that there's extremely high interest from readers in news about it.

There's a great difference in reporting on something and endorsing or encouraging it.

And, on a technical level, as James observes, Microsoft's copy protection is holding up for now, and that is interesting in itself.



29 February 2008, 8:35 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Anonymous:

Just buy the bloody software.........
Crack this crack that......
If you cant buy it dont use it. Get Ubuntu

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Aubrey.conversely:

If you cant buy it dont use it. Get Ubuntu

With Microsoft's proposed EULA, nobody can actually buy "it" anyway. You just sort of have some limited use at MS's discretion provided you give them lots of money and access to your machine (to make sure you aren't pirating their software) and it comes with no guarantees of anything at all, except security holes.

I honestly wouldn't let Vista near one of my computers, even if it was free (as in beer).

Get Ubuntu anyway. Its as good or better than XP SP2 and you certainly don't get ripped off.


29 February 2008, 8:35 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Anonymous:

Agreed....go Ubuntu



29 February 2008, 8:35 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Anonymous:

Are you going to come train me on how to use ubuntu? I've tried all the "easy to use" linux systems. If you have never used linux before, it takes alot to get used to it. Everyone is comfertable with their own thing, so I never understand why everyone says switch to linux. if someone has a hard time using it, they arent going to switch. when xp was released people didnt like it and now a few years later is on the majority of pc's. give vista a few years and everyone will be using it. unless you want to come teach me linux, leave the windows people alone.

29 February 2008, 8:35 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

halcon:

I see how some idiots want to buy that poisonous Windows Vista, even these people have gone insane to say they want to buy it.
this time around Microsoft has made the mistake to create a software that is not revolutionary but merely cosmetic and no improvements at all.
do you call this progress?
I call it a daylight robbery!
While I laugh out how the pirates try to defeat Microsoft, even if a pirated version would be available now, it must be seen how these fellas can take their challenge against the big monster.
I would prefer to buy it for a very affordable price with the condition that Microsoft removed the harmful code they have added to disadvantage the legitimate user.

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Anonymous:

Poisonous...hardly
Merely Cosmetic....What about the new shell
Daylight robberey...maybe. But at least the "idiots" out there are donating to the advance in Computer software...even if it is a bit pricey and even if it is just for Microsoft.

29 February 2008, 8:35 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

halcon:

Don't make me laugh, the lot of idiots out there are rushing to buy an extremely expensive piece of a disc that is not merely an advance in computer software rather than its true intention, yet Microsoft has disguised its latest OS in sheep clothing but inside is lurking the ugly wolf hell bent on world domination.
this company is hungry to eat the wallets of the unsuspected users, how very pathetic!


29 February 2008, 8:35 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Anonymous:

What OS do you run?

29 February 2008, 8:35 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Anonymous:

where do we get it?

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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