One of my major hangups with vista is the 'Search Bar'. When I first started using Vista I felt that Microsoft had done a great thing - They made it so I could launch my favorite program with one click instead of two.
I was quickly disappointed to find that when you type a word into the search bar it is nothing like the old Start->Run command bar window. It starts searching for the words you type in, and many times you need to wait...and wait...and wait some more.
Additionally if you are like me...and have an old habit of clicking start, then run, then type c:\ to open up your hard drive...you are in for lots of fun with the search bar. Depending on what it finds it will almost never open your hard drive in explorer.
I found a few quick ways to ease the pain. First of all you can simply hold the windows key + R to bring up the command line window. That is the easiest.
You can also get the run command back on the start menu. This can be done by right clicking on the start button, go to properties.
Move over to the "Start Menu" Tab and click customize.
Now scroll down. Find the option that says "Run Command" Make sure it is checked, and click OK.
Now the run command will be added as an extra button to the bottom of the start menu:
Now I can get to back to my familiar old 'run' command line.
Microsoft sent an official email to beta testers of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 which titled “Windows Vista SP1 Beta Program Is Complete!”, marking the ending of beta and release candidate testing phase. The email further confirming that Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh 2 with build version 6001.18000 is the valid RTM version with the same build numbers.
The email thanks the testers for the work on helping to test Vista SP1, and informs that the Vista SP1 has been released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, with new PCs based on Windows Vista SP1 coming out soon. Inside the email, there is a paragraph says:
Special thanks to those of you who tested SP1 RC Refresh 2 (6001.18000). That was our very last release candidate and it was, in fact, the very same bits as the final release. (It was a Release Candidate in the truest sense of the word.) Those of you who installed the SP1 RC Refresh 2 will not need to update to the final version-you already have it.
Thus, the Release ‘Candidate’ of Refresh 2 version is the true ‘release’ which goes to RTM. May users may question or consent about the issue facing Vista SP1 which is regarding some drivers incompatibility issues on small set of devices. Apparently Microsoft decides that it’s not a problem of SP1, and thus won’t changing the code bits of SP1. Instead, it will be solved later with other solutions, probably by on device drivers by manufacturers.
When the world is using Novell NetWare network operating system (NOS), the NetWare File System keeps track and make copies of each and every deleted, altered, edited or modified files and documents as long as there is space on the hard drive, and allows users to salvage any files and folders that they accidentally deleted or modified. Windows Server NT and Active Directory networking doesn’t provide such a convenient feature though.
Instead, Microsoft introduces Shadow Copies for Shared Folders in Windows Server 2003, which works only on file server, and Previous Versions in Windows Vista, which enables on standalone computer as well. Volume Shadow Copy or Volume Snapshot Service (VSS) automatically created incremental (only differences are recorded) periodic snapshots or backup copies of files and folders at a specific point in time at regular interval.
However, Shadow Copy or Previous Versions only backs up at specific interval, and not capturing any changed files immediately. Thus if a document is changed several times between two snapshots, only the final change version will be saved, and users can’t revert, retrieve, get back or recover the versions of file in between. However, at least Shadow Copy works, and it’s better than no protection at all. But, most Windows operating system doesn’t actually has Shadow Copies or Previous Versions feature, especially when running as standalone system. All Windows operating system prior to Vista - XP, 2000, NT, Me, 9x, and Vista Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter editions does not support any user data files recovery option other than Recycle Bin.
To allow all users of Windows to have the protection against accidental deletion or modification of files and documents, Mogware develops FileHamster as an alternative to Previous Versions. FileHamster, a realtime file revision solution tracking tool, provides real-time backup and archiving of files while users such as typists and artists are working on them. FileHamster watches and monitors specific files or folders that have been selected and automatically create incremental backups whenever those files are modified. FileHamster also supports storing notes about changes that have been made, so users can easily find a specific revision, annotate the version, and has detailed account of changes been made.
FileHamster
Download FileHamster.
FileHamster is free for basic version. FileHamster supports Windows 2000, XP and Vista, and requires Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0. There is a paid version FileHamster Plus which costs $19.95 and adds features such as filters, offline libraries, full UNC support and etc. FileHamster Plus can be purchased here.
When the world is using Novell NetWare network operating system (NOS), the NetWare File System keeps track and make copies of each and every deleted, altered, edited or modified files and documents as long as there is space on the hard drive, and allows users to salvage any files and folders that they accidentally deleted or modified. Windows Server NT and Active Directory networking doesn’t provide such a convenient feature though.
Instead, Microsoft introduces Shadow Copies for Shared Folders in Windows Server 2003, which works only on file server, and Previous Versions in Windows Vista, which enables on standalone computer as well. Volume Shadow Copy or Volume Snapshot Service (VSS) automatically created incremental (only differences are recorded) periodic snapshots or backup copies of files and folders at a specific point in time at regular interval.
However, Shadow Copy or Previous Versions only backs up at specific interval, and not capturing any changed files immediately. Thus if a document is changed several times between two snapshots, only the final change version will be saved, and users can’t revert, retrieve, get back or recover the versions of file in between. However, at least Shadow Copy works, and it’s better than no protection at all. But, most Windows operating system doesn’t actually has Shadow Copies or Previous Versions feature, especially when running as standalone system. All Windows operating system prior to Vista - XP, 2000, NT, Me, 9x, and Vista Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter editions does not support any user data files recovery option other than Recycle Bin.
To allow all users of Windows to have the protection against accidental deletion or modification of files and documents, Mogware develops FileHamster as an alternative to Previous Versions. FileHamster, a realtime file revision solution tracking tool, provides real-time backup and archiving of files while users such as typists and artists are working on them. FileHamster watches and monitors specific files or folders that have been selected and automatically create incremental backups whenever those files are modified. FileHamster also supports storing notes about changes that have been made, so users can easily find a specific revision, annotate the version, and has detailed account of changes been made.
FileHamster
Download FileHamster.
FileHamster is free for basic version. FileHamster supports Windows 2000, XP and Vista, and requires Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0. There is a paid version FileHamster Plus which costs $19.95 and adds features such as filters, offline libraries, full UNC support and etc. FileHamster Plus can be purchased here.
Microsoft has disclosed further information and clarification on the availability of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) through Windows Update (WU) in an email to TechNet subscribers. It further confirms that SP1 RC Refresh2 (RCR2) is indeed RTM version of SP1, and hints that probably English version of Vista can now get SP1 via Windows Update without any registry hack code, once the system is installed with all prerequisite updates.
1. Before March 2008, only system installed with original Windows Vista media or image can get and download SP1 via Windows Update (WU).
2. Beginning March, Vista SP1 for English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese editions will be added to WU.
3. The Vista SP1 editions for remaining languages will be made available via WU gradually beginning April.
4. Currently the 543M size files downloaded from WU by using registry hack script which has the build version of 6.0.6001.18000.080118-1840 is the SP1 RTM with all languages, but the current download will still be called SP1 RC Refresh 2.
5. Currently, except by installing Vista using official slipstreamed SP1 integrated Vista, any other methods of installing SP1 will not change or alter the version of End User License Agreement (EULA).
Thus, whether a Vista PC can now been offered the service pack is not depending on whether the system is a Home Basic, Home Premium, Business or Ultimate edition, instead, the service pack availability will only based on language of Vista.
According to the statement above, Windows Vista users who use English version installed with retail channel DVD, MSDN or Technet download can probably now download Service Pack 1 for Vista from Windows Update without any hack, provided all two or three prerequisite hotfix packages KB937287, KB938371 and KB935509 (which WU offers first sequentially before SP1 is shown when using registry hack) are installed. Good news is Microsoft has distributing these SP1 prerequisites thru WU.
If you don’t manage to get WU to offer you Vista SP1, add the SP1 RCR2 registry keys now to hack WU to detect and offer your system SP1.
Volume Shadown Copy (VSS or Shadow Copy for Shared Folders prior to Vista) or more commonly known as Previous Versions which used as the name for right click context menu command and for one of the tab for files and folders properties, is a useful feature that automatically or manually backup copies or snapshots of files or folders on a specific volume or drive at a specific point in time incrementally so that users can quickly and easily restore or recover (or go back to) the older versions of files or folders in future when needed. When will you need to use Previous Versions? On time such as accidental file deletion or modification of documents and files.
Unfortunately, Microsoft decides to support Previous Versions feature only in the Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise editions of Windows Vista. Windows Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions are left out in the cold, probably to encourage sales and upgrade to Ultimate edition. However, the baffling point is that the Shadow Copy Service (VSS, also known as Volume Snapshot Service) is actually included in Vista Home Premium and Basic, up and running by default. The Shadow Copy Service is used by both Previous Versions feature and Vista’s backup utility, System Restore, which enabled in all editions of Vista.
The worst part is, although Previous Versions feature in not enabled in Vista Home Premium and Basic, but the snapshot backup of Shadow Copy actually includes all files including user data files, which is not necessary for System Restore function. This behavior eats up plenty of hard disk space and system resources, yet users cannot access the backups of these user data files in the event they need it most.
It looks like Microsoft simply remove the graphical user interface (GUI) of Previous Versions that allows users to recover restore lost or changed or altered files in Vista Home Basic and Premium editions, with all other background process running intact. This arrangement of saving and keeping backups of user files but hide the user backups probably is to ‘please’ users who decide to upgrade to Vista Ultimate edition using Windows Anytime Upgrade, where changes to older versions of user data files prior to upgrade can still be found. It can be also that programmers of Vista too lazy to ‘fine tune’ VSS to exclude users data files from backup.
Thus, to access the Previous Versions or Shadow Copy backup of user data files, users have the option to upgrade to Vista Ultimate, which is expensive. In this case, ShadowExplorer can come in handy.
Side note: From security point of view, it’s best to turn off Shadow Copy (include both System Restore or Previous Versions) if you’re not actually using it, especially in Vista Home Premium and Basic, since you’re not aware that copies of files have been saved as backup, nor can see, view, use, access, remove or delete them without advanced technical skill.
ShadowExplorer takes advantage of the Vista Volume Shadow Copy service and the backup snapshot copies that created by it to allow users to browse the shadow copies. ShadowExplorer can access the shadow storage, which often off-limit to novice users due to complex permissions and rights issues, and make the point-in-time copies accessible to the users. Thus, ShadowExplorer is especially useful for Vista Home Basic and Premium users who do not have Previous Versions feature, but need to recover or get back earlier version of accidentally edited documents, or retrieve lost deleted files. Shadow Explorer can retrieve all versions of files and folders saved by VSS.
Download ShadowExplorer-0.1-setup.exe. Future upgrade can be found here.
Unfortunately, users will need to run ShadowExplorer as administrator to access Shadow Copies and recover old files. It’s a little inconvenient than the contextual based Previous Versions built in Vista Ultimate, Business and Enterprise. But it’s better than no access and no hope at all.
Volume Shadow Copies (VSS or also known as Volume Snapshot Services) is the technology used to perform snapshot and backup of system files and user data files at a specific time at regular interval. The incremental backup or snapshot by Shadow Copy is then used by System Restore or Previous Versions feature in Windows to restore Windows to previous state or recover deleted or altered files and folders.
When enabled and running properly, Shadow Copy service will backup almost everything on the drives. And Shadow Copy, which commonly known as System Restore accessible by System Protection in Vista System Properties is turned on by default on system drive. Thus, various System Restore Points created will save copies system and user data files incrementally in Shadow Copy repositories.
The existence of backup copies of files and folders in another location in VSS repositories may bring several issues. Firstly, for users who don’t use Previous Versions or System Restore features, or those (users of Home Premium and Home Basic editions of Vista) who can’t access shadow copies of user data files, keeping these files is wasting disk space. Secondly, Shadow Copies may potentially leak trace and record of sensitive and private files or documents.
The first issue can be solved by disabling the Shadow Copy (or commonly known as System Restore). And for users who just want to keep some private confidential data out of the reach of been monitored and backed up can exclude files from Shadow Copies. MSDN Library describes how to using registry key to exclude files from Shadow Copies by deleting the selected files from shadow copy during creation.
Using the FilesNotToSnapshot Registry Key to Exclude Files from Shadow Copy
Files can be deleted from a shadow copy during shadow copy creation by using the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToSnapshot
This registry key has REG_MULTI_SZ (multi string) values for each application whose files can be excluded. The files are specified by fully qualified paths, which can contain the * wildcard. If a fully qualified cannot be specified, then a path can also be implied by using the $UserProfile$ or $AllVolumes$ variable. For example:
* UserProfile$\Directory\Subdirectory\FileName.*
* $AllVolumes$\TemporaryFiles\*.*
To make the path recursive, append ” /s” to the end. For example:
* $UserProfile$\Directory\Subdirectory\FileName.* /s
* $AllVolumes$\TemporaryFiles\*.* /s
In all cases, the entry is ignored if there are no files that match the path string. Note that the exclusion (or rather the deletion of the files from the Shadow Copy repository during creation by the shadow copy optimization writer) of the files been added to the appropriate registry key value, is on a best-effort basis.
After installing Windows Vista, each Windows Vista install will have 30-days grace period to activate Windows Vista with various methods that provided by Microsoft, and depending on how you purchase the Windows Vista. And you should know that the term “grace period” refers to a length of 30 days, the time that users are required to activate Windows Vista, or time that Vista still allows any necessary actions to return the computer to the Licensed state. Although hackers have found way to mess with the activation grace period for virtually unlimited grace period, it’s still interesting to know about the 5 license states that available in Windows Vista.
License states are been used by Windows Vista to track activation. The five license states that are used by Windows Vista are Licensed, Initial Grace (OOB), Non-Genuine Grace, Out-of-Tolerance Grace, and Unlicensed.
Licensed Windows Vista State
A “Licensed” computer is a Windows Vista PC that has been properly activated. Activation can happen in several ways including Internet and phone activation. Additionally, KMS clients can activate themselves after contacting an activated KMS.
Initial Grace Windows Vista State
Initial Grace (or OOB Grace) starts the first time you start your computer after you install the operating system, and has a duration of 30 days. You can activate Windows Vista computer anytime during the 30 days. The Initial Grace period can be restarted by running sysprep /generalize, or by using slmgr.vbs –rearm. Once restart, these processes reset the Initial Grace timer to 30 days, but the reset will only work three times.
Non-Genuine Grace Windows Vista State
Non-Genuine Grace occurs only on a computer that has the Windows Genuine ActiveX control installed, and then fails Genuine Validation. The computer is marked non-Genuine, and the License State may be changed to non-Genuine Grace. If this happens, non-Genuine Grace provides 30 days for the computer to be re-activated and validated Genuine by re-visiting the WGA website at http://www.microsoft.com/genuine.
Out-of-Tolerance Grace Windows Vista State
Out of Tolerance Grace begins when cumulative hardware changes on an activated computer push it beyond a tolerance level, or when a KMS client goes for 180 days without contacting a KMS. OOT Grace provides 30 days for a computer to be re-activated. A computer may be activated and then fall into OOT grace any number of times, and each time the OOT Grace timer will be reset to 30 days.
“Unlicensed” Windows Vista State
If you don’t activate Windows Vista within grace period, or when any grace period is allowed to expire, the computer becomes Unlicensed. An Unlicensed computer runs in Reduced Functionality Mode (RFM), where users has very limited access to the system in one-hour increments, and presents a window containing links to properly license and activate the computer. If the computer falls into RFM from non-Genuine Grace, the user is presented with a window containing links and solutions specific to recovery from non-Genuine RFM.
Source
Solution to Windows Vista Activation Countdown Timer Stopper (TimerStop) Not Working with ReArm Patch
If you crack Windows Vista activation with StopTimer patched service that stop the countdown timer of the activation grace period, and thus making the time left to activate Windows Vista is always 30 days, the steps in the tutorial guide should be able to permanently (well, sort of as time left is always 30 days or 43200 minutes) activate your Windows Vista, or freeze Windows Vista in an initial state that fooling or tricking Microsoft into thinking that your installation of Windows Vista is just happen, and still in the initial grace period. The trick should work out-of-the-box the first time, but if it fails, or starts counting timer again after Automatic Updates, try the following solution.
1. You will need the exactly same tools that used to apply StopTimer or TimerStopper, i.e. Re-Arm_Unlimited_Installer_2.0.exe, TimerStop.sys and Vista test crack.exe (download StopTimer.zip or Vista_test_crack.zip).
2. Uninstall TimerStop process beforehand by right clicking on “Vista test crack.exe” and select “Run as Administrator”, and then click on “Uninstall”.
3. You should see a “Service uninstalled” confirmation dialog message. Restart computer afterwards.
4. Install “Re-Arm_Unlimited_Installer_2.0.exe”. Do not restart computer.
5. Right click on Command Prompt icon, and select “Run as Administrator”, or run “Cmd” command as administrator. If you have problem, you can turn off UAC.
6. Type “slmgrhack -rearm” in command prompt window. Wait until process completed.
7. Reboot computer.
8. After start, go to Command Prompt as administrator again, and type “slmgr.vbs -dlv”. You should notice that the timer starts counting down again.
9. Right click on “Vista test crack.exe”, and select “Run as Administrator”.
10. In Vista test crack window, click on “Install” button.
11. You should see “Service installed” to confirm successful installation.
12. Exit from all program and reboot computer.
13. Start command prompt or Cmd as administrator, and type “slmgrhack -rearm”. Wait until the process completed.
14. Restart computer.
15. Press Win + R keys, and type “slmgr.vbs -dlv” and press Enter to check the activation countdown timer. If your “Time left to activate” Windows Vista field shows “43200 minutes (30 days)”, your bypass Windows Vista activation has been successful.
“How to Get Windows Vista for Free”. The article is plain lie and doesn’t inspired at all. And worst, in my humble opinion, the article is just a trick to draw Internet traffic in his blog. The 5 methods that he listed in “How to Get Windows Vista for Free” as below, is either not workable, obsoleted, expired, unachievable, or factually wrong. Here’s why.
The first method mentioned is asking you to buy a new Vista Capable PC from branded hardware vendor such as Dell and HP now, and upgrade to Windows Vista for free with Express Upgrade coupon. This is factually incorrect. Firstly, you need money to pay when buy a computer. Even is this is discounted, almost all hardware vendors, including Dell, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Acer, Asus, LG, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony and etc, will require you to pay at least shipping and handling charge when order for the Vista upgrade DVD.
Second method is to become an exhibitor in Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2007, largest technology industry’s conference in the US which will run from January 8 to 11 in Las Vegas. Microsoft will provide free Windows Vista copies to all exhibitors. This is also factually incorrect too. In truth, Microsoft will provide free copies of Vista to run on computers exhibitors are using in their booths at the show. Furthermore, you will need to pay for exhibit spaces in CES.
Third method asks you to nominate yourself or ask a friend to nominate you for the Microsoft MVP program. I am not an MVP, so not sure whether you can download full licensed Windows Vista with product key from MVP downloads. But according to MVP Program Benefits, you’re only entitle to MVP Source Licensing Program which allows access to source code, instead of binaries. Beside, if you keep searching for free Windows Vista DVD downloads, it usually mean you will be too busy to contribute to Microsoft, and hence disqualify yourself to win the MVP award during the annual review and nomination for MVP awardees, which evaluate your contribution and performance for the past one year. If you know how to become a MVP, then you likely no need a free Vista too.
The forth method is to submit a bug report during beta phase of Windows Vista in order to get a free copy of Vista as an appreciation. Wake up! Windows Vista has been released to RTM, which mean it’s now final, and no longer in beta. Or does Amit has time machine?
Fifth method is to register for webinars at PowerTogether promotion where Microsoft will ship full license with legit product key Windows Vista DVD to you. I wonder if Amit is actually living in the past. The Power Together site has crashed once released to the public for registration, and all 30,000 free copies of Windows Vista and Office 2007 giveaway have been snapped up within first few days of the launch.
Final method is to transform and convert Windows XP into Windows Vista with Vista Transformation Pack. Well, your wife or your girlfriend is your wife or your girlfriend. Paris Hilton is Paris Hilton. Can you ask your wife or your girlfriend to go for transformation or operation to become a Paris Hilton? Even if it’s possible, will she be the real Paris Hilton?
Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 has built-in previews functionality which enables you to preview or view the contents of certain files without actually opening it. The build-in previews feature comes with preview handlers that support Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets, font files, video files, audio files, and a few other file types that are common and used regularly as email attachments. However, if there’s no supported preview handler for a particular file type, such as .aspx source code file, .zip, .rar or other files, you won’t be able to just click on it and view the contents automatically in the preview pane.
Luckily, Windows Vista and Office Outlook 2007 allow developers to develop and implement custom preview handlers for any file type, which after registering the handlers, users can instantly gain preview capabilities for those file types in Outlook 2007 and Windows Vista. Vista and Office 2007 Preview Handler Pack is one such custom previewers or preview handlers that provides support for .cs, .aspx and .sql source codes. With the handler pack installed, you can just click on the file ending with extension of .cs, .aspx and .sql with preview pane on, and instantly view the file content in the preview pane.
Vista and Office 2007 Preview Handler Pack can be downloaded here. To install it you will need run the installer as Administrator. Beside, if you have any other file types in mind that you would like to has the preview ability too, simply tell the author and he may include the support for that file ext.
Zip Preview
Preview zip file contents in Outlook 2007.
If you would like previewers and preview handlers for PDF, XML, ZIP, MSI, BIN, CSV, XPS, and XAML files so that you can also preview the files without opening the files in Vista, download sample previewers from Microsoft. It comes with source code of handler framework which can be ignored. To install the preview handlers, make sure you right click on it, and choose Run as Administrator.
If you’re using Microsoft Office 2007, you will notice that it has a nice and handy feature called previews. The previewers which supported by the preview handlers allow users to view or display the contents of documents, emails, messages, attachments, workbooks, videos, audios, presentations and other supported files on screen, without having to open it. For example, in Outlook 2007, users can view the contents of a email message without the need to open it, they can need to select the message in mail folder’s list view and outlook will render the email and display the message in preview pane. The new previews feature also allows users to even view message attachments in the same preview pane, without having to double-click an attachment to open it in the appropriate viewer.
Windows Vista also offers and supports similar preview pane that is accessible from any folder in the shell window. The preview handlers for Windows Vista, Outlook 2007 and Office 2007 are about the same, and the handlers can support Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets, font files, video and audio files, and a variety of other file types that are commonly sent as attachments such as images and photos.
Windows Vista Preview Pane
To enable the preview pane in Windows Vista, simply launch any Explorer window in folder view. At the folder menu, the select Organize, and then click on Layout, and finally select Preview Pane.
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.
1. Install Windows Vista Ultimate edition (or other edition) without product key, if possible in year 2099.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Click on Start Orb button.
5. Select “All Programs”, then “Accessories”.
6. Right click on “Command Prompt, then select “Run as Administrator (A)”.
7. If User Account Control (UAC) prompt a warning message, click on “Continue”.
8. 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:
9. Enter 12/31/2099 (December 31, 2099).
10. 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.
11. 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:
12. Type in current date, i.e. 12/19/2006.
13. 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.
14. Exit from command prompt, but do not restart the computer.
15. Download StopTimer.zip or vista_test_crack.zip (both is same).
16. Extract the downloaded archive file into a folder. It should contains “Vista test crack.exe” and “timerstop.sys”.
17. Execute or run the “Vista test crack.exe” by right click on “Vista test crack.exe”, and select “Run as Administrator (A)”.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. Exit from the crack, and restart the computer.
21. 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.
22. Press on Windows + R keys.
23. 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:
* 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.
* The crack will make the time left to activate Vista to become always 43200 minutes (30 days), and will not countdown or reduce.
* It’s possible to access Windows Update if you install Windows Vista with default product key (no product key entered when installation).
* 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.
* It’s possible to pass Windows Vista Genuine Advantage (WVGA) validation, so users able to download Microsoft value-added software for genuine customers.
* 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?).
* 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.