How to Backup and Restore to Preserve OEM Offline Pre-Activation When Reinstall Windows XP
Most users of new computers with Windows XP pre-installed will notice that no activation is required after they unwrap and start up the new laptop or notebook PC, even though they need to go through the initial set up process, and a product key is found on the Certificate of Authenticity attached to the PC (COA Key). Large PC manufacturers known as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) have the ability to pre-activate Windows XP operating system installed on new PCs via SLP (System Locked Preinstallation).
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3.9.2009 Windows 7 Activation Tool Kit BETA 1.8
Orbit30 releases a Windows 7 activation tool and a Windows Vista / 7 tweaker. - Windows 7 Activation Tool Kit BETA 1.8 | 25.4 Mb
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23.7.2009 Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit 0.5 Beta
Thanks to Steve Jobs for this download. This is Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit 0.5 Beta by Steve Jobs @ Keznews forum
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22.3.2007 Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit v1.5
Steve Jobs update his Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit For Vista 32bit and 64bit to version 1.5. Vista will be 100% genuine, all downloads will work.
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3.4.2007 Windows Reactivator 2.0 - Backup & Restore Activation Status of Windows XP with Windows Reactivator
Every time you reinstall your windows XP you need to reactivate it online using your product key & worst if you lost your Windows XP product key.
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3.6.2009 More info on Windows Mobile 6
Loke is blogging from Barcelona. He beat me to posting the announcement, however since I am going to bed and he is likely just waking up, you will find all updates for the next few hours on his blog.
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12.2.2007 Windows Live Folders beta - more info
The folks over at LiveSide have put up and detailed walkthrough of Microsoft's latest Live product, Windows Live Folders.
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15.5.2007 Windows Server activation flaw negates activation requirement
A flaw in how Microsoft Windows Server 2008 calculates the time remaining until it must be activated could enable users to potentially run the server for years before activation. The defect is a consequence of Microsoft failing to assess its virtualization strategy, says an analyst.
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23.2.2009 Windows 7 build 7025 screenshots leak with versions info
Microsoft released Windows 7 Beta few weeks ago and the only version that was released during this beta was Windows 7 Ultimate. However, a select testers were invited for a separate Windows 7 Home Premium Beta program.
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25.1.2009 Windows Mobile 7 info 1000 engineers working on project
Microsoft has confirmed that the current team of 1,000 developers, working on Windows Mobile 7, are planning to feature social networks as a key element of Windows Mobile 7.
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17.9.2009 Office XP SP3 Info
Office XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) provides the latest updates to Microsoft Office XP. SP3 contains significant security enhancements, in addition to stability and performance improvements. This service pack applies to any level of Office XP.
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Windows Vista CompletePC Backup to VHD
Windows Vista includes a new feature called CompletePC Backup. The interesting thing is the backup file format which is VHD, the same format used by Virtual PC and Virtual Server. It will be interesting to find out whats behind this!
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6.7.2006 Vista CompletePC Backup
After message from our user Roberts
we prepare this article. Windows Vista comes with a new backup utility named CompletePC Backup, which will allow you to create an image file of your partitions in case they need to be restored.
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26.2.2007 Windows Live OneCare Beta v2.0 Online Backup Today!
I was looking in my inbox tonight and I came across what I thought was just another Windows Live OneCare message.
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22.9.2007 Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - How To Create Full Windows Backup
An award winning disk imaging solution for free. With Macrium Reflect FREE Edition you can create a disk image without rebooting.
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17.6.2008 Microsoft Releases Backup Software To Testers
Microsoft is rolling out the first release candidate for System Center Data Protection Manager 2007, the vendor's flagship backup and recovery offering.
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4.10.2007 Microsoft Personal Folders Backup (PST)
The Personal Folders Backup download creates backup copies of your .PST files at regular intervals, in Outlook 2002 and later versions, making it easy to keep all of your Outlook folders safely backed up.
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8.5.2008 Microsoft Cuts Backup From Home Server Update
Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT) has quietly removed a key backup feature from an upcoming update for Windows Home Server, much to the frustration of channel partners who've been touting this particular feature of the product to customers.
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16.5.2008 Network Diagnostics Tool for Windows
The Network Diagnostics for Windows XP tool analyzes information about your network connectivity to help you troubleshoot network-related problems with your computer. Typically you will do this along with a support professional, either on the phone or over the internet. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
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25.7.2006 Windows 7 Speech Recognition Profile Tool
Microsoft made available for download an updated version of its Windows Speech Recognition Profile Tool tailored to the next iteration of the Windows client.
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29.5.2009 Windows VISTA Activation!
This small program allow us to activate the 30 day 's trial of windows Vista, Vista is well known for its "High Security" ( as microsoft said).
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1.1.2006 Windows 7 Seven Activation CRACK
Here are 3 versions Windows 7 Seven Activation CRACKs for you - Time stop crack..
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28.12.2008 Windows 7 Activation Keys
It really looks as if the only topic left to discuss on this blog is Windows 7 LOL! Again, Im here with another Windows 7-related post, which I think will be loved by all who have been trying to get their hands on a Windows 7 activation key.
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1.11.2009 BITS Repair Tool for Windows Vista Available updated
The BITS Repair Tool will help you fix a problem caused by the corruption of BITS state files. The problem stops the host process for Windows Services, which prevents you from using BITS to transfer files. Thanks to pacpis for this download.
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2.9.2007 Microsoft hopes new photo tool will boost Windows
Microsoft likes digital photography enthusiasts as customers, and on Thursday plans to release a free new utility designed to keep them wedded to Windows.
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1.5.2008 Norton Removal Tool for Windows 2009.0.5.26
Freeware - Norton Removal Tool will remove a failed installation or a damaged Norton product.
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16.2.2009 How To Remove and Disable Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
Windows 7 and Windows Vista comes with a memory diagnostic utility named as Windows Memory Diagnostic. Windows Memory Diagnostic is an utility that capable of scan, check and diagnose computers memory subsystem including physical RAM modules or sticks.
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5.10.2009 Windows 7 RTM USB/DVD Download Tool Available
Microsoft is offering a free tool designed to streamline the creation of bootable Windows 7 RTM DVDs or USBs.
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23.10.2009 Microsoft Windows 7 download tool may have violated GPL
According to a report by Rafael Rivera, Microsoft's recently released Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool has used GPL code illegally.
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10.11.2009 Windows VISTA 5342 Activation!
This small program allow us to activate the 30 day 's trial of windows Vista build 5342, Vista is well known for its "High Security" ( as microsoft said :-)
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29.3.2006Windows 7: Windows Backup Overview
Windows Backup Windows Backup allows you to make copies of data files and also create a system image which includes your system settings, programs
and files. In Windows 7, you can choose your custom location for the data backup and whether or not to include the system image during backup.
Read full story.....
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18.01.2009Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7
The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is a set of tools and documentation that support the configuration and deployment of Windows®
operating systems. By using Windows AIK, you can automate Windows installations, capture Windows images with ImageX, configure and modify images using
Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM), create Windows PE images, and migrate user profiles and data with the User State Migration Tool
(USMT). Windows AIK also includes the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT), which enables IT professionals to automate and centrally manage the
volume activation process using a Multiple Activation Key (MAK).
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07.08.2009Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7 RC
The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is a set of tools and documentation that support the configuration and deployment of Windows®
operating systems. By using Windows AIK, you can automate Windows installations, capture Windows images with ImageX, configure and modify images using
Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM), create Windows PE images, and migrate user profiles and data with the User State Migration Tool
(USMT). Windows AIK also includes the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT), which enables IT professionals to automate and centrally manage the
volume activation process using a Multiple Activation Key (MAK).
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05.05.2009Windows Server activation flaw negates activation requirement
A flaw in how Microsoft Windows Server 2008 calculates the time remaining until it must be activated could enable users to potentially run the server
for years before activation. The defect is a consequence of Microsoft failing to assess its virtualization strategy, says an analyst...
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18.02.2009Windows 7 to allow PC backups to network share
Windows Complete
PC Backup is an image based backup tool where you could take a backup of your entire system and restore it later. Currently in Vista, the backed
up image cannot be saved in a network share as in
Windows Home Server. This requires to write the backup to DVD(s) or to an external hard drive.
With Windows 7,
Long has discovered one can
directly backup to a network share! I guess now’s a good a time as any to buy a NAS device. :)
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10.11.2008The Windows Vista Activation Forum
Do you have questions or issues regarding Windows Vista Activation? Then the
Windows Vista Activation forum is the thing
for you. The forum offers a new dedicated resource to assist in answering both technical and licensing questions regarding MAK, VAMT, KMS, planning,
deployment, operations and other aspects of Volume Licensing Activation v 2.0 in Windows Vista.
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23.09.2008Hackers Find New Vista Activation Crack
With all the talk about
Microsoft's stepped up
efforts to curb piracy through
Vista's new activation
methods, it may all be for
naught after some crafty
hackers figured out a way to
crack the Vista Activation
Server...
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09.12.2006Product Activation for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
All editions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 are required to complete activation within the first 30 days of use. This bulletin helps
customers and partners better understand the technologies used by product activation for editions distributed through retail, original equipment
manufacturer, and volume licensing channels. Also discussed is how the hardware hash component of the installation ID is created and the scenarios in
which a copy of Windows may have to be re-activated due to a substantial hardware modification.
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07.11.2007Windows Vista Makes Backup and
Recovery Simple
Columnist Mitch Tulloch
explains the new and improved
backup and restore
capabilities in Windows Vista...
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15.08.2006Vista Update Fingers Activation Cracks
Microsoft has announced an update available to consumers next week which will detect two cracks commonly used to activate pirated copies of the
operating system. One of the cracks refered to as Grace Timer, extended Vista's activation grace period, upto 2099. The other called as OEM BIOS,
modified system files and the PC's BIOS to mimic the product activation done by computer-makers at the factory. If the sniffer detects an
activation hack, it will pop up a warning that includes a link to the removal tool. Although SP1 will block these two cracks, " it's important
to note that this update does not disable the exploits it finds, " says
Alex Kochis. " It
simply alerts customers that exploits exist. " However, MS will release a separate crack-removal tool at the same time that it rolls out the
detection update.
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23.02.2008More info on Windows Home Server
Gizmodo has
an
interesting post that mentions a couple points often overlooked about Windows Home Server.
Windows Home Server only backs up
one instance of a file that appears across your system. So think of it this way, if you are using WHS to backup your 5 Dell XPS laptops (lucky you),
each freshly formatted with Vista and holding all of your MP3s, the amount of storage required to back them up isn't going to be much bigger than the
amount of space required to backup one of them. Read more about the disk system
here (pdf).
Another cool feature with Home Server is sharing the printers across your home network. Seems
like I could run a small Kinko's out of my house and I was always at the wrong computer to print what I needed; text at the photo printer, pictures
at the laser printer. Now all my printers are shared across the network - even available to visitors.
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06.11.2007Official Way to Use Vista without Activation 120 Days
Official Way to Install and
Use Windows Vista without
Activation for Free for 120
Days
By default,
Windows Vista can be
installed, used and run
without any license, product
key or the need of activation
for 30 days grace period, for
purpose of trial or
evaluation. Although Microsoft
initially stressed that users
should purchase a license with
valid product key before the
trial period expires, or else
Windows Vista will lock into
Reduced Functionality Mode.
However, a "rearm" method
has long since been discovered
to be able to extend, or reset
the remaining time for
activation to another fresh 30
days, for up to 3 times.
Now Microsoft has
confirmed that Windows Vista
can be used and run for 120
days or 4 months ( 3
rearms ), and extending the
activation grace period is not
a violation of the Vista End
User License Agreement (EULA).
All versions of Vista include
Windows Vista Ultimate allow a
30-day free period without
activation, except the
corporate-oriented Vista
Enterprise, which supports
only a three-day trial.
Read full story.....
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22.02.2007Whats new with backup and Restore on Vista SP1
Christine Fok: Vista SP1 Backup & Restore contains many updates that improve reliability. Great effort has been put into improving the overall quality
of File Backup, Complete PC Backup and System Restore.
Many of those important changes may not be visible to users, but if you
run Backup and Restore tools, you can see some functionality improvements that many users had asked for:
Backing-up EFS
files
File Backup now backs up EFS (Encrypting File System) encrypted files. For those concerned with security, the encryption on
those files are kept throughout the process. So dont worry, you wont compromise your documents security by using our Vista SP1 backup tool.
Restoring Complete PC to a new motherboard
With SP1, you can use Complete PC Restore to a new motherboard that uses
previously absent disk controller. That means, if the new hardware requires an inbox driver that was previously disabled when the Complete PC backup
was taken, the required critical driver will be enabled in the last stage of the restore to ensure the machine will be bootable.
OTS credentials for scheduling Backup
In Vista (pre-SP1), only someone logged in as administrator could configure backup.
Now, its possible for standard users to configure a backup. When scheduling a backup, standard users will be asked to supply administrator
credentials. That is what we call over-the-shoulder (OTS) credentials. That is because well, if the user doesnt know the credentials, the
administrator usually type it over the users shoulder :-)
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10.03.2008Microsoft changes 'Windows Genuine Advantage' name
Microsoft will be changing to name of it's activation and validation system from "Windows Genuine Advantage" to "Windows Activation
Technologies" according to a report by Mary-Jo Foley. However, the "Genuine" brand isn't completely disappearing. A press release states that
Microsoft will continue to deliver genuine updates and notifications for XP users. The program has been criticized for its punishment tactics and
false-positive results, even though Microsoft has fixed some of these problems in Vista SP1. According to Microsoft, Windows 7's activation will
be built on the same software protection platform that was part of Vista, with some minor tweaks made for Windows 7.
Read full story.....
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08.05.2009Microsoft to ease XP activation with SP3
Microsoft Corp. will change how users activate Windows XP when Service Pack 3 launches in the first half of 2008, a company white paper said.
New installations of Windows XP SP3 will give users the same 30-day grace period currently offered to Windows Vista customers before they're
required to enter a product activation key, the 25-character code that proves the copy is legitimate.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
28.12.2007Fastback backup service to move beyond Windows, says IBM
IBM will also offer its FastBack enterprise-class backup service not for just Windows for other operating environments over time, according to a
company product manager in an interview with BetaNews...
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05.08.2008Sam's Tip of the Week #2 - The "Get Info" Inspector
This week's tip is for OS X users:
If you're like me, you use the "Get Info" pane a lot. It's great, but after looking at a few
files I end up with 10 Get Info panes on my screen, causing lots of unneeded clutter.
If you use the Option-Command-I keystroke rather than
plain old Command-I, you will see the Get Info Inspector. This is one "Get Info" window which will stay present and change to whatever file or
folder is selected in the Finder. Just click on an item while it is open, and the inspector will change. (Bonus tip: the arrows on the keyboard work
well for items in the same location.)
jcxp.net - 21.08.2009
Volume Activation 2.0: Another Potential Vista Gotcha?
Windows Genuine Advantage
(WGA) isn't the only
Microsoft anti-piracy scheme
that might raise the hackles
of future Vista customers.
Volume Activation 2.0 is
worrying some Vista testers
who've had a chance to dabble
with early versions of that
technology.
Potential false positives -
Microsoft labeling legitimate
copies of Windows as
"pirated" - akin to those
which have been documented in
WGA by Windows expert Ed Bott
and others, are just one
problem business users are
anticipating with Volume
Activation 2.0. Increased
costs resulting from the
management of Volume
Activation systems is another,
they say.
For those
who've yet to hear about it,
Volume Activation is a new
digital-license activation
technology aimed at
businesses. It's part of the
larger "Software Protection
Platform" that Microsoft is
constructing to combat piracy.
In short, Microsoft is not
going to allow enterprises to
operate on an honor system,
when it comes to proving how
many copies of Windows
they've paid to license. Just
like it does with individual
Windows users, Microsoft is
going to start requiring
companies to authenticate
their new versions of Windows
within 30 days of
installing.
neowin.net - 03.10.2006
Backup More Than 1GB per Second Using SQL2008 Backup Compression
Backup Compression in SQL2008 performs very well and it is easy to use. You could either use With Compression along with the Backup command or
simply enable default backup compression through sp_configure by setting backup compression default value to 1. It is very convenient for backups of
large databases in our customer lab environment.
A few things you could do to make the backup compression perform better. The
hardware we used is 32way HP Superdome and
StorageWorks XP12000 disk
array.
winbeta.org - 03.03.2008
Windows Home Server Technical Brief for Home Computer Backup and Restore
Windows® Home Server will automatically backup your home computers to the home server and allow you to easily restore the entire computer or an
individual file or folder to a previous point in time. The Windows Home Server Backup solution backs up only the data that has not already been backed
up. Even if you have several copies of the same data on different computers, the data is backed up only once on your home server and your home server
keeps track of what data was stored on each home computer on each day. This makes it efficient in the time it takes for backups to complete and the
amount of space that is used on your home server.
winbeta.org - 21.11.2007
