WEBVTT Kind: captions 00:00:00.559 --> 00:00:05.098 position:63% line:0% Hey guys! In a previous video we activated Windows XP using a phone. 00:00:05.099 --> 00:00:09.904 position:63% line:0% [Block F is: Three. Five...] 00:00:09.905 --> 00:00:12.123 position:63% line:0% Go check it out if you haven't already! 00:00:12.123 --> 00:00:18.717 position:63% line:0% In this video I am going to show you all the bugs in that activation procedure, as well as how to take advantage of them. 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:40.211 position:63% line:0% The first bug (more of a terrible design flaw of the activation mechanism) is that it uses local time to determine whether the system is activated or not. 00:00:40.212 --> 00:00:46.599 position:63% line:0% It doesn't even check if a trial period is valid! Eh, simpler times... 00:00:48.112 --> 00:00:58.445 position:63% line:0% So, say, we have a trial period starting June 29th. We must activate Windows XP in 30 days - meaning that it will run out on July 29th. 00:00:58.446 --> 00:01:06.324 position:63% line:0% But what if we want to cheat in some clicky waity game? We would turn off the internet and change the date further ahead. 00:01:06.325 --> 00:01:10.198 position:63% line:0% Let's see what activation mechanism thinks about that. 00:01:25.925 --> 00:01:35.640 position:63% line:0% Ah yes, my trial period is almost gone and not even an hour passed. Glad I skipped only 27 days, not the full 30. 00:01:42.115 --> 00:01:45.741 position:63% line:0% Since Windows let us in, let's try rewinding the date back. 00:01:45.741 --> 00:01:51.923 position:63% line:0% If it's so sensitive to local time, it must let us regain the trial period too.. right? 00:01:51.928 --> 00:01:54.530 position:63% line:0% Sounds stupid, but let's try anyway. 00:02:03.779 --> 00:02:11.878 position:63% line:0% Nope, doesn't work. In fact, it just completely cancels the trial, requiring you to activate now. 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:16.390 position:63% line:0% But no worries, there's also an oversight that lets you reclaim the trial period. 00:02:16.942 --> 00:02:21.302 position:63% line:0% If you click "No" on that message box, it will log you off with a warm welcome. 00:02:26.713 --> 00:02:28.713 position:63% line:0% Definitely not a way to go. 00:02:33.329 --> 00:02:39.261 position:63% line:0% If you click yes, though, it will throw you into the activation window. That's where the fun begins. 00:02:40.001 --> 00:02:49.387 position:63% line:0% Obviously, we could activate Windows XP via a phone, it's free for most regions. But I'd like to show you an oversight in that activation process. 00:02:49.388 --> 00:02:58.445 position:63% line:0% The idea is to basically get this window to launch anything asides from its child windows. I played around with it and found a way to run a web page. 00:02:58.446 --> 00:03:02.953 position:63% line:0% The link is kind of hidden away, you have to be really curious to find it. 00:03:07.356 --> 00:03:13.491 position:63% line:0% You need to get to the phone activation screen, then change the product key and pass an incorrect one. 00:03:20.615 --> 00:03:24.652 position:63% line:0% And voila, there's the link to Microsoft Activation Assistance Web Site. 00:03:40.934 --> 00:03:48.000 position:63% line:0% From there, we can easily go to the Windows directory, fire up the command prompt and run the trial reset command. 00:04:11.021 --> 00:04:13.847 position:63% line:0% In my opinion, that's a shameful bug from Microsoft. 00:04:18.373 --> 00:04:23.619 position:63% line:0% Finally, once the trial had been reset, we can log in a few more times to witness the final bug. 00:04:34.382 --> 00:04:41.080 position:63% line:0% If you click "Yes", it will show you the "Activation Successful" screen, even though all we did was just reset the trial. 00:04:44.593 --> 00:04:51.568 position:63% line:0% No activation was performed, that's why it bugs out and doesn't let us in. Reboot fixes that issue. 00:05:11.845 --> 00:05:20.938 position:63% line:0% These are all the bugs I wanted to show you. Windows activation mechanism is really simple and flawed. Hope you liked the video, thanks for watching! 00:05:21.778 --> 00:05:41.040 position:63% line:0% Music: Tom & Jerry in War of the Whiskers OST. "PAWS"