How To (Partially) Get Around Windows Activation

The Tomorrow Times has a tip on <a href="http://tomorrowtimes.blogspot.com/2006/12/how-to-login-to-expired-windows.html">how to continue using your computer even after the Windows activation period has expired.</a>. You won't be able to do everything, but you can get access to your files, browse the Web, and use some programs. It's actually easy: When starting up the system, start up the Narrator functionality for the visually disabled, and use that to start the browser, which will, in turn,

Mitch Wagner, California Bureau Chief, Light Reading

December 14, 2006

1 Min Read
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The Tomorrow Times has a tip on how to continue using your computer even after the Windows activation period has expired.. You won't be able to do everything, but you can get access to your files, browse the Web, and use some programs. It's actually easy: When starting up the system, start up the Narrator functionality for the visually disabled, and use that to start the browser, which will, in turn, let you start the DOS command line. The Tomorrow Times has detailed instructions with screenshots.

The Tomorrow Times says:

Disclaimer: I do not applaud piracy, but I do feel people should have access to their personal files, regardless of whether Windows has expired or not. This tutorial should not be used to bypass Windows Activation, nor does it restore full Windows functionality, but I provide it to those who are in desperate need of accessing files that are suddenly lost to them through the Microsoft Genuine Advantage activation system.

What do you think? Is Tomorrow Times wrong to publish this information? Are they giving people a license to steal? Or just helping people get fair access to their own information?

Via Lifehacker

About the Author

Mitch Wagner

California Bureau Chief, Light Reading

Mitch Wagner is California bureau chief for Light Reading.

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