Hackers are going all out to crack Windows Vista activation procedure which is enhanced by Software Protection Platform (SPP). Until now, Microsoft has an upper hand, with no permanent or foolproof ways to crack or bypass Windows Vista activation request emerged. Instead, various workarounds and tricks to bypass, skip, delay, disable or spoof Vista activation has been suggestion, to various degree of success, such as extend evaluation period, rearm method, install Vista in future year, ‘frankenbuild’ Vista by replacing RTM build WPA files with RC build files, activate against spoofed KMS server, or run and activate Vista with own local KMS server and etc. Now, there is new crack method that able to permanently stop the countdown timer of time left to activate Windows Vista, effectively running Vista OS in full functionality evaluation mode forever.
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Install Windows Vista Ultimate edition (or other edition) without product key, if possible in year 2099.
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You may need to disconnect from Internet while applying the patch. If you disconnect Internet, connect to Internet until right before you verify the Vista crack with “slmgr -dlv” command.
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Windows Vista needs to be applied with 2099-ReArm trick, so that the counter of minutes to no activation required period will not return to normal after reboot. Try the following normal procedures to rearm Vista at 2099. If it’s not working, you may need to apply Vista ReArm Unlimited Patch to ensure Windows Vista back to initial activation grace period.
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Click on Start Orb button.
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Select “All Programs”, then “Accessories”.
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Right click on “Command Prompt, then select “Run as Administrator (A)”.
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If User Account Control (UAC) prompt a warning message, click on “Continue”.
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In the command prompt, type date and press Enter. You will see the following:Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32>date
Current date: 12/19/2006 Thursday
Enter new date:
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Enter 12/31/2099 (December 31, 2099).
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Next, type cscript slmgr.vbs -rearm. You will see something like the following:C:\Windows\system32>cscript slmgr.vbs -rearm
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.7
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
The command completed successfully.
To make the change effectively, please restart the system.
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Then reset the date of the system to current date again by typing date again. You will see the following:Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32>date
Current date: 12/31/2099 Thursday
Enter new date:
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Type in current date, i.e. 12/19/2006.
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Above time changing process to ‘fix’ Vista is done from within Windows itself for easy access. However, if you have any problem, reboot to BIOS and change the date and year from there.
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Exit from command prompt, but do not restart the computer.
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Extract the downloaded archive file into a folder. It should contains “Vista test crack.exe” and “timerstop.sys”.
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Execute or run the “Vista test crack.exe” by right click on “Vista test crack.exe”, and select “Run as Administrator (A)”.
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Optional: Press in Test button, and it will pop up a message says 4 timers are stopped. At this time, the counter should be freezed, Check with slmgr.vbs -dlv command, with the minutes left should be the same after a few minutes interval. If it’s the case, continue with the following steps to run the crack every startup.
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In the Vista test crack window, click on “Install” button. You will be prompted with “Service installed” message if everything is done properly and correctly. The crack will copy the patched stoptimer.sys to system folder and install a new service named “timerstop” to stop kernel-mode timers in spsys.sys system file.
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Exit from the crack, and restart the computer.
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The hacking is basically done. Next few steps to to verify that the activation grace period built-in countdown timer is actually stopped and disable the timers from working properly, and make sure that the crack is installed properly. After restart, log on to Windows Vista. Run for a few minutes.
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Press on Windows + R keys.
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Type slmgr.vbs -dlv to check the time left to activate Windows Vista. If the time left is 43200 minutes that’s mean the crack is successful.
With the crack, you will have the following in the registry:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\TimerStop]
“Type”=dword:00000001
“Start”=dword:00000002
“ErrorControl”=dword:00000000
“ImagePath”=hex(2):5c,00,3f,00,3f,00,5c,00,45,00,3a,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,\
64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,\
00,5c,00,54,00,69,00,6d,00,65,00,72,00,53,00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,2e,00,73,00,\
79,00,73,00,00,00
“DisplayName”=”TimerStop”
Update: There are now automated Vista activation crack tools that apply the above patching steps automatically, namely TimerLock (more realiable), TimeStop which apply TimerStop.sys and TimerStop64.sys v2a.
Further information:
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The TimerStop vista test crack works on all 32-bit x86 Windows Vista edition such as Vista Ultimate and Vista Home Premium. Success rate in 64-bit (x64) environment is likely to be low.
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The crack will make the time left to activate Vista to become always 43200 minutes (30 days), and will not countdown or reduce.
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It’s possible to access Windows Update if you install Windows Vista with default product key (no product key entered when installation).
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During the first 3 days of activation grace period after installing Windows Vista, Microsoft has designed it in such a way that Vista will allow greatest flexibility for users to install required drivers and application during this period, so Vista won’t prompt any reminder message for activation. After crack, Vista OS will always run with 30 days left for activation, thus there will not be any watermark or reminder to activate.
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It’s possible to pass Windows Vista Genuine Advantage (WVGA) validation, so users able to download Microsoft value-added software for genuine customers.
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As mentioned above, as Vista will also remain in first 3 days of activation grace period, in theory, Microsoft will not be able to differentiate who is the newly installed system, or who is the ‘patched’ system, unless of course, they check for the specific file or system (privacy anyone?).
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Users can only view that there is 30 more days for system to be activated in the system properties, but it won’t affect system usage or installation method.
Note: This timer stop + Vista ReArm method is exactly the same with Vista RTM Timer Stopper Crack cloned and copied by other sites.
If you facing problem that the activation countdown timer continue to countdown, or keep reducing after an Automatic Updates, check out the solution to unstoppable timer. On the other hand, if you having problem with KB929391 Windows Vista Validation Updates, visit ways to remove or uninstall the Vista validation tool.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purpose only.
