The activation algorithm for Windows XP has been completely cracked, allowing for offline activation without the need for pirated versions or codes from Microsoft.
A post on tinyapps reveals that there is now a method for users to generate valid activation codes for Windows XP without an Internet connection.
Many specialized hardware still requires Windows XP, even though the operating system has been discontinued and users cannot purchase activation codes. (Image: Microsoft).
This news is a boon for those who are forced to use or wish to revisit XP, as the operating system has been deprecated by Microsoft and cannot connect to the company’s servers for traditional activation anymore.
Pirated versions or “cracks” of Windows XP have been around since the early 2000s when the operating system was released, but these are different from cracking the activation algorithms, which allow for the creation of infinite activation ID codes similar to purchasing the operating system directly from Microsoft without altering the system.
In fact, the product activation algorithm was cracked some time ago. In 2019, a code generator was able to produce an infinite number of Windows XP activation codes. However, this program still required a validation code from activation services to complete the OS installation. This step has become nearly impossible since the support services for XP have been discontinued.
Last year, an anonymous user shared an executable file for Windows that could generate validation codes to complete the activation process entirely offline. This key generator, combined with the .exe file, produces a validation code that allows users to activate Windows XP without needing Microsoft and without requiring a crack.
Now, the aforementioned open-source key generator has been branched and modified to work on Linux. Users still need the .exe file to generate IDs. The Register reveals that this mysterious file is also under analysis to understand how it operates.
Experts advise that users should not use Windows XP unless absolutely necessary, as this operating system is no longer secure, especially when connected to the Internet. However, there are still some hardware that only operates with Windows XP, including many expensive, specialized devices that continue to work perfectly but cannot connect with newer operating systems.
The tools to generate new activation codes will be beneficial for users with such hardware, as Microsoft shut down activation servers after “discontinuing” the operating system in April 2014.
