activation

Wed

Nov

Windows 10 Upgrade Now Works with Windows 7, 8 Keys

by John Lister on November, 18 2015 at 07:11AM EST

Microsoft has followed through on a promise to make Windows 10 upgrades easier. Users of Windows 7 and 8.1 will no longer need to install the new system twice in order to perform a 'clean install'. The fact that Windows 7 and 8.1 users could upgrade ... to Windows 10 free of charge for the first year of the Windows 10's release was perhaps the most noteworthy part of the changes to come. It's also a clear sign that Microsoft believes that the nature of software buying will not be the same as it was once was. Activated Upgrade a Multi-Step Process The big problem was that Microsoft made the ... (view more)

Tue

Oct

Windows 10 to be Activated Using Windows 7, 8 Keys

by John Lister on October, 13 2015 at 08:10AM EDT

Microsoft has released the next set of updates for Windows 10, including improvements for Skype and Cortana. It's also fixed a problem that was stopping some users from activating their copy as being legitimate. The new set of changes are known as ... Build 10565 and are now available to people in on the Fast Ring setting of the Insider Program - in other words, those who have signed up to be the first to test any new features or fixes in Windows 10. Assuming the feedback is positive, the changes will likely be rolled out to the general public some time next month. Product Keys Can Now Be ... (view more)

Thu

Nov

Windows 7 Activation Bypassed by Hackers

by Bill Lindner on November, 19 2009 at 08:11AM EST

Hackers have managed to bypass one of the key antipiracy protections built into Windows 7, the latest operating system (OS) from Microsoft. Normally, users of Windows 7 have 30 days to activate their OS, but a recently outlined method allows a user ... to turn off the normal notifications and use the OS indefinitely. Using the method to bypass the authorization doesn't actually confirm the OS as legitimate, but it does allow users to keep using it without activation. (Source: cnet.com ) New Crack Bypasses Activation Requirements Microsoft has confirmed that it is aware of the technique and is ... (view more)

Fri

Oct

More Windows Vista Activation Woes

by Bill Lindner on October, 26 2007 at 08:10AM EDT

In my opinion, people don't need any more reason to avoid Windows Vista like the plague, but now APC Magazine is reporting that swapping out a video card or updating a device driver can end up triggering a complete Vista deactivation. What does it ... mean? The results could lead to Reduced Functionality Mode (RFM), until one can obtain a new activation code from Microsoft. A few days after swapping out a video card on a computer running Windows Vista Ultimate the APC author started receiving a Windows Activation prompt telling him he had three days to activate Windows or he'd end up going into ... (view more)

Tue

Jul

Windows Genuine Advantage Causes More Problems for Vista

by Bill Lindner on July, 31 2007 at 08:07AM EDT

At a time when Microsoft didn't need any more bad Windows Vista news, reports are beginning to surface about problems with the product activation system. For some users of the not-ready-for-prime-time operating system, updating some hardware drivers ... can cause the Software Protection Platform code in Windows Vista to require reactivation. No changes are made to the hardware itself, just the drivers. Software Protection Platform code in Windows Vista is part of the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA). It's a program required by Microsoft as part of their fight against software piracy. It gets ... (view more)

Wed

Jan

Activate Windows XP on more than one PC?

by Dennis Faas on January, 14 2004 at 08:01AM EST

Infopackets Reader Marie 'ChameleonsGirl' asks: " I have a new computer that came with Windows XP. I would like to know if it is possible to register the same copy of Windows XP on my other computer, or do I have to go buy another XP disc? " My ... response: Microsoft has designed Windows XP so that it works only on 1 computer. This is a form of copy protection and is aimed at stopping software piracy. As far as I understand, the Windows XP activation works something like this: You buy Windows XP on CD (or it comes with your computer) and includes a registration number. The Windows XP ... (view more)

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