From: "Antti Kurenniemi" 

I wouldn't even bother, it takes about 20 seconds to find a key generator
that creates random keys which you can test, and chances are you'll hit an
"available" one in a few tries. Here's one for example:
http://www.hackinthebox.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=6
789&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 .
First time I ever get any sort of hassle with the keys or activation or
anything, I'm going to hack the crap out of *my* copy of windows and be
done with it.


Antti Kurenniemi

"Geo"  wrote in message
news:44a81537$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> keyfinder works fine, the number it displays is the key that was used to
> install windows. If it's different than the one on the bottom of your
> laptop
> then write it down so now you have 2 keys .
>
> Geo.
>
> "Gary Britt"  wrote in message
> news:44a7f659$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>> Argggg.... matey. 
>>
>> I'm assuming the keyfinder.exe program that hasn't been updated since
>> 2003
>> just doesn't properly unencrypt the key number or is something else at
> play
>> here?
>>
>> This is a laptop purchased last October from Gateway through HSN and has
>> never been in for re-install or repair and has never been restored or
>> reinstalled by me.  The keyfinder.exe CD Key is completely different from
>> the COA Key on the bottom of the laptop??
>>
>> Gary
>>
>> "Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message
>> news:44a7efca$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>> > Pirate!!!!
>> >
>> > 
>> >
>> >
>> > "Gary Britt"  wrote in message
>> > news:44a7ef3f$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>> >>I tried the keyfinder.exe program that supposedly shows your windows
>> >>product key and it showed a key that is completely
different from the
> key
>> >>on the sticker on the bottom of my laptop?
>> >>
>> >> Gary
>> >>
>> >> "/m"  wrote in message
>> >> news:1ldfa29d9rlnc0hnha6tapske44m61vju7{at}4ax.com...
>> >>> On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 09:45:30 -0500, "Geo"
 wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>>"Adam Flinton"
 wrote in message
>> >>>>news:4221a503$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>> Esp if the virus makes it so no new number
will work. Imagine the
>> >>>>> "phone
>> >>>>> queues" of a global nature where people
are calling to re-init
> winxp.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>all it needs to do is change the serial number to
a random number. I
>> >>>>don't
>> >>>>think anyone realizes just easy it would be to
completely hose the
> whole
>> >>>>product activation thing. Microsoft has designed
windows to watch to
> see
>> >>>>if
>> >>>>it was tampered with (that setting that changes
workstation to
>> >>>>server)
>> >>>>and
>> >>>>they have now designed their strategy for updates
to depend on stuff
>> >>>>that
>> >>>>can be changed by software that executes on the
users machine.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>I've always thought this was a really nasty
security issue, first
>> >>>>they
>> >>>>wanted the stupid serial number stickers on the
outside of the
> computer
>> >>>>where anyone can see them, write them down, and
post them to the
>> >>>>internet
>> >>>>thus getting your key blacklisted. Second even if
you remove the
> sticker
>> >>>>there are programs like
http://www.nthelp.com/40/productid.htm which
> can
>> >>>>simply read the number and display it so you can
copy it down.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Imagine what would happen if the next big virus
changed this setting
> to
>> >>>>one
>> >>>>of the blacklisted serial numbers. It would
basically mean users have
> to
>> >>>>reinstall to fix the problem and if you happen to
have an OEM version
>> >>>>which
>> >>>>now isn't going to let you reinstall without calling well...
>> >>>>
>> >>>>So when is MS going to realize that software piracy is a law
> enforcement
>> >>>>issue and why it's a bad idea to take the law into
your own hands?
> It's
>> >>>>so
>> >>>>easy to frame users so that MS thinks they are
running pirated
> windows..
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> I don't think they are ever going to realize that.
>> >>>
>> >>> /m
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>

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