Windows Home Server – The Pirate Copy
Well it didn’t take long. Windows Home Server has only been out for a month and a pirate copy of the final RTM OEM version has been leaked out onto torrent indexing sites The Pirate Bay and Demonoid.com.
The 1.54 GB torrent package even includes scans of the installation DVD, connector, restore and OPK CDs and a front package cover scan alongside the full ISO’s of the Installation DVD, connector, restore and OPK CDs.
Although the download does not include a serial key, down loaders have left comments at both sites providing serial keys to actually install the product with a genuine key, although trying to activate will not be successful because the key has already been blocked by Microsoft. But since Home Server is based on the Windows Server 2003 code base crackers are using a utility called AntiWPA3 v3.4.6 to bypass activation.
So now, those that have the know how, can download the full version of Windows Home Server, install it with a genuine serial number and not worry about it deactivating after 30 days since it doesn’t need activating in the first place. Now I’m sure that those that have downloaded this already have never had no intention of ever buying a proper licensed copy, but my research shows that this bypass activation utility has been around for over 2 years and nothing was done or changed on Home Server to prevent utility’s like this giving others a free ride when we have paid good money for our Home Server.
But then again I’m sure the pirate underground scene is never far behind or indeed in front of the software producers. That’s why company’s like Microsoft hire the hackers.
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“You need to get a man in”
Time to switch to VLK. AntiPWA can be defeated, as you have experienced. Switch to the real solution, VLK. Come to the dark side.
Kerr
Just stumbled on this most interesting site, probably the most interesting site I halve ever visited and I could not quit reading till I had finished all the comments.
I have never attempted anything so seemingly complicated but I am in need of whs and work is slow therefore, I am considering an attempt at this. However, pp3 is the only available download from Microsoft and I was wondering: Does this marvelous undertaking function in pp3?
I’ll try it this afternoon – taking the Evaluation copy 120 days from Microsoft included PP3 and the VLK Files from WS2003 SP2 Disk. I Hope this will work…
so update:
i finished integrating all the stuff, used:
-german whs evaluating version including pp3
-windows server 2003 vlk files
the installation will start but i haven’t a right key
my ws2003 vlk key doesn’t work.. any ideas? it’s a english version and my selfbuild whs system is german, so do i need a german ws2003 vlk key?
@ joedirt
whs pp3 with vlk files works on mine.
Hey – Thanks KerrAvon
Worked as suggested. Now on PP3 – hoepfully it will last.
Cheers
Joe.
hey,
worked for me now too. made a fault with winiso…
but after slipstreaming the vlk files (english ws2003 version) into the home server image, my system was half german half english. these small files will change the system language?
regards
will the KerrAvon method work with the iso of Standard i can get off dreamspark it is r2 ?
Yes it will! I have done the same! Works perfect…
Working on a new version of the VLK install – this one is to apply WHS to an Enterprise edition of Windows 2003 to gain access to memory above 4GB. Will update group once I have it completely working.
KerrAvon
Just wanted to say thanks for all the great work by KerrAvon. I hope this VLK build method works when WHS2 comes out =)
Mike do i need both disks or just one and thanks
You Need the first cd only. Folow the guide provided above and you are set to go..
worked great but windows update is in german not a major problem but kind of annoying
i got it all working thank you guys so much
Hello Kerr,
I have a question in your procedure… (It’s because my english is not good.)
What mean “Copy out the install.cmd file from the \FILES\Install folder.”?
I understand that I have to copy the file install.cmd into the \FILES\Install folder, right?
Let me know your Dark side….
Thanks a lot friend.
PS. The antiWPA does not work for me. The loop to activate the WHS is in my screen.
Hi Saul Nova,
I mean to take a copy of that file from the ISO, which is read-only, to your hard drive so you can edit it, insert the indicated lines, and then put it back into the ISO using WinISO or a similar product. It’s final location does not change.
Kerr
Ok Guy, I understand now.
I have the W2k3 STD. ED. from MSDN and I have a VLK serial, I think that is enough
Thanks a lot for your great support Kerr. I’ll try it tomorrow in new year.
SAUL.
I have finally decided to test out WHS, so I downloaded the newest eval of WHS w/ PP3 from Microsoft. I have W2K3 Std R2 Volume(which I’ve been running for some time). I followed the instructions above and triple checked everything, however, when I attempt to install a VM in VMware, I get this error message:
“Line xxxx of hivesys.inf is corrupted. Setup cannot continue.
To quit Setup, press F3.”
The line number corresponds to the first line of the added entries from above. I’ve checked the syntax and everything looks correct, anyone ever encounter this?
Ladiaz – My post on this blog were corrupted. See my Windows live Blog (address above) for the properly formatted text you need.
Thanks KerrAvon, I saw the post but when I compared it, nothing looked blatantly different. However, I have used that instead and it seems to be working so far. Thanks again for all your efforts.
Kerravon- DUDE YOU ROCK!!! I just did the procedure from your blog with a w2k3 standard r2 disc vlk cd and code and got the PP3 trial whs from MS and everything worked! Many kudos to you!!
Hey Lenny,
I have W2K3 Standard w/SP1 VLK, I will put the SP2 into the ISO, and after that I will create the WHS VLK.
Did you use VMware to test before Create the CD/DVD final?
Thanks
Lenny,
Is your w2K3 r2 with SP2?
Thanks
Saul Nova- Yes, I used magiciso to make the changes and saved as an iso and tested it in VMware workstation and it worked when I inputed a VLK key for W2k3 standard. Before I did all this, I tested just installing the trial WHS and it would not take the code at all so I know the procedure worked.
And no, it is just w2k3 standard r2, no service packs.
Thanks for your quick answer friend.
I have another question… In MSDN webpage I can see just Windows Server 2003 R2, Standard Edition – Disc 1 – VL and Windows Server 2003 R2, Standard Edition – Disc 2 – VL, but not just a Disc, I see two discs.
Did you use both discs or just the first one?
Thanks a lot again…
Soul Nova:
You only need the first disc.
TYVM Chandler!
Hello Guys!!!
My new ISO is working fine (Windows Home Server VLK)
Thanks to Kerr, Lenny and Chandler for your support. In Special to Kerr for his great “how-to”.
1.- Windows 2003 Std. w/SP1 – VL
2.- SP2 for Windows 2003
3.- Windows Home Server Eval.
My Steps:
1.- Create W2K3 STD w/SP2 – VL Boot Disk
2.- Follow Kerr’s intructions in his blog.
3.- Test in VMware the new ISO
4.- And… ready, it’s working.
I will try with W2K3 R2, No service packs as Lenny says.
Thanks again.
It’s working in spanish too.
Saul- I only used the 1st disc, the 2nd disc is for other tools which aren’t needed for this project. Glad it worked out for you. Have fun using WHS!!
Lenny,
Thanks for your support. At this point is working with W2K3 Std. w/SP2 in Spanish; but I will try with W2K3 R2 Std No Service packs.
Thanks again.
Hy guys,
I still have pp1 on my whs, but now i have a Win7 desktop in my network and need to upgrade to PP2 or pp3. I have version 6.0.1800.0 with OOBE setup canceled, and not able to update true windows update. Is there any way to update? PS i am not a computer specalist like the most of you here, so try to keep it simple
Thanks in advance.
I did notice that on a VM with just the WHS trial and running Windows update on it vs a VM with the WHS VLK I created, it has much less updates. Will it break functionality if I install all updates in the VLK WHS?
Lenny,
It was the same case for me only in english version., but after a lot of updates and restarts, i think that is everything is ok, because it was installed all security updates and PP3 (Windows 7 compatible).
In the spanish version it was not the same case. But a few time after, the updates were installed. And is working fine too.
@lenny
I’ve been running the VLK version I created for a few months, and everything is fabulous. It originally installed the myriad of Server 2003 updates, AS WELL AS the WHS updates. I don’t think it matters. In fact, it may very well be a GOOD thing that we get those server 2003 updates. Who knows?
Chandler- Oh ok thats comforting that you have been running it for some time with the VLK version. I doubled checked and the majority of the 80+ updates it was installing were security updates. The trial WHS only had 10 TOTAL updates, which is disappointing if you ask me. I hope WHS in its current state is pretty secure since I’ll be using the remote access feature often…
Also backups are a huge thing for me on this so I hope the backup algorithm or whatever they use in here doesn’t get screwed up by the additional updates the VLK version picks up.
Can I install the trial with a purchased serial number? I own a copy but refuse to connect it to the internet to download the latest power packs. Why is there no standalone ISO for power packs like there is for XP? Does anyone know how to download a single .exe for the power packs so I can update to 2 and 3? Am I the only one who finds this annoying?
Hi i followed all the instructions built the disk which works, so i already had pp3 loaded and working but 5 days left to activate so use this disk booted and did a reinstall of os only entered valid key rebooted after loading everything an when starting after win2003 logo i get an error Code: 0×80070002″ error message cites license-checking issue , i dont want to do a fresh install as i will loose my data on the volumes any help
thanks
I’ve been trying this as an experiment on VMWare. I can get the installation rolling after entering in the VLK key, but I’m getting it hanging with a bluescreen stating “Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server CD-ROM” needs to be inserted. Have I forgotten a line or placed them wrong in the install.cmd or other files?
I’ve read some posts on this on a forum about VMWare to get around the issue, but nothing seems to work for me. Does anyone have any ideas why this might be a problem?
http://communities.vmware.com/thread/124477;jsessionid=0CB5F5FC6AF8379EFE3BE58F95EC8B53
Tested again on a Physical server and the same ISO works fine… I guess it’s definitely something with the VMWare. I tried all the settings in the post to no avail. I also tried changing to boot from CD-ROM first with Power to BIOS and changed the settings.
If anyone has any ideas why it would be different in the test environment then I’d be interested to know.
May be an issue with the ISO emulation in VMWare. Could try using that burned CD with VMWare rather than the ISO.
Thanks for the thoughts KerrAvon. I wanted to be sure, so I tried pointing VMWare to the physical DVD Drive and used the working DVD. I got the same stoppage at the blue screen requesting the ‘Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server CD-ROM’. There seems to be a difference between reality and VMWare’s virtual reality for sure…
)
Hey Brian,
It could be (maybe) the version of VmWare “i think so”. I used the 7.0.0 build-203739 version with ISO and DVD burned and is working fine.
Best regards.
Thx.. seems to bring it back to VMWare settings then as I’m also using Workstation 7.0.0 build-203739 and have been unsuccessful with both the iso and the DVD. Puzzling problem.
Thanks for the great efforts, KerrAvon!
A question.. what if i don’t have access to to those VLK files as i don’t have access to a MSDN account in the first place? Will this procedure work with a normal Server 2k3 std/ent. files and key?
Thanks.
Still – Standard edition (SP2) and a matching key should work fine.
Not sure about the activation though- you will need to try it.
Ok, i’ll give it a try, thanks.
On a side note, i tried to alter one of those OEM versions floating the web, i assumed it already has those vlk files, used an attached key, altered the hivesys.inf file and everything worked pretty well, did a full update including PP3 and even the genuine check!
The problem now is when i advanced the clock a year ahead, after a restart the system wanted to check the activation status and when i press ok, it opens up the activation window with “already activated” msg, press ok and i get the 1st msg yet again, in a loop it goes..
Any idea whats going on?
The OEM versions will probably not work with the process – they are activated in a different way.