For those with enough time, desperation, or flexible morals, getting around Windows XP’s activation scheme has never been too difficult.
Despite being widely despised from the start, the encrypted algorithm underlying XP activation has never been truly cracked, at least without an internet connection.
Windows XP’s activation scheme
However, in this day and age, when XP is no longer relevant, a solution has emerged and has been circulating for several months in the dark corners of web forums.
A blog titled “Windows XP Activation: GAME OVER” on tinyapps.org (first discovered by The Register) recounts the recent history of people attempting to activate XP more than 20 years after its initial release, nine years after its end of life, and, most importantly, several years after Microsoft discontinued its online activation servers (or perhaps they simply switched certificates).
How it Works
xp_activate32.exe is a small program that only takes up 18,432 bytes (its hash can be found on tinyapps’ blog post) and performs an intriguing function.
It converts the code generated by Windows XP’s phone activation feature into a valid activation key known as the Confirmation ID.
What’s remarkable about this process is that it takes place entirely offline. Furthermore, the activation is retained even if the system is wiped or reinstalled. Surprisingly, it appears to generate the same key as Microsoft would for your computer.
Why Were Previous Tools Not the Same?
There were several tools available prior to the release of this offline program for generating keys that Windows XP would recognize. These tools, however, were typically software hacks or decryption tools that used brute force methods.
Although they were accepted locally, they did not pass validation with Microsoft (though this is of limited importance in this context). Another notable tool, WindowsXPKg, was hosted on Microsoft’s own GitHub servers and could generate keys.
However, at the time of writing, it appears that the external server required for its operation is no longer operational. Fortunately, the vast majority of people will not need this tool, which is unquestionably a good thing.
There are several readily available fully functional XP images that can be safely used within a virtual machine, including Microsoft’s Windows XP Mode designed for Windows 7.
It goes without saying that installing an extremely unsupported version of XP on a device connected to the modern Internet is a malicious act.
Let us celebrate this accomplishment as a symbolic and intellectual triumph, while also remembering those who must rely on XP due to hardware limitations.
To read our blog on “Windows finally got built-in support for RAR & ZIP file,” click here
