Change 2 Bytes and Windows XP Home becomes XP Professional
(Source :http://www.i4u.com/article3533.html)
German Computer magazine C'T (Heise) is describing in its current print issue how to change Windows XP Home to a Windows XP Professional version before install.
Microsoft is not going to like this. The C'T magazine apparently found out that by changing 2 bytes in the installation file of Windows XP Home, it will install a Windows Professional. Some functions are missing, but Remote Desktop and User management and enhanced security features are present.
I could not find write-up of the instructions online yet. C'Ts online site is not reporting about it - guess they want to maximize print magazine sales. The article is in the c't 12/05 on page 148. The hack requires several steps. The major change is in a registry file setupreg.hiv in the i386 folder. The article is 8 pages long, so I guess you have to get the magazine to get it right. Gizmodo has a summary of the instructions posted. i have posted them below :clap: :cool2:
We can’t vouch for this hack, because we are too lazy to try it (and we never, ever violate copyrights or EULAs), but kind reader Martin explains the process for turning an Windows XP Home install disc to a Windows XP Pro disc after the jump.
It sounds pretty simple to do (just some registry changes), but you can’t install Service Pack 2, so you might try to slipstream in the changes to your modified install disc (if that’s even possible).
Alternately, buy XP Pro, or get a Mac.
yes indeed, you can’t change an installed Windows but only your Installation CD (or even a recovery CD in case the manufacturer had not left out important parts)
Here’s the detailed breakdown for doing it.
1. Copy the root directory and the i386 directory of the WindowsXP CD
to your harddisk
2. Extract the Bootsector of your WindowsXP CD
3. Change 2 Bytes in i386\Setupreg.hiv :
a) Open Regedit
b) Highlight HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
c) Menu: File -> Load Structure -> i386\Setupreg.hiv
d) Assign an arbitrary name to the imported structure e.g. “Homekeyâ€
e) Goto HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Homekey\ControlSet001\Services\setupdd
f) edit the binary key “default†and change “01†to “00†and “02†to
“00â€
g) Highlight “Homekey†and select menu: File -> unload structure
4. Burn your new XP Pro CD
5. Install WindowsXP as usual. Your XP Home Key will work.
Note: You cannot apply SP2 to such a WindowsXP Pro, so step 1.b)
might be to integrate SP2 in your Installation CD
Please check the menu-entries as I don’t owe an English copy of
XP and have to guess them.
Story via silicon.de (German).
(Source :http://www.i4u.com/article3533.html)
German Computer magazine C'T (Heise) is describing in its current print issue how to change Windows XP Home to a Windows XP Professional version before install.
Microsoft is not going to like this. The C'T magazine apparently found out that by changing 2 bytes in the installation file of Windows XP Home, it will install a Windows Professional. Some functions are missing, but Remote Desktop and User management and enhanced security features are present.
I could not find write-up of the instructions online yet. C'Ts online site is not reporting about it - guess they want to maximize print magazine sales. The article is in the c't 12/05 on page 148. The hack requires several steps. The major change is in a registry file setupreg.hiv in the i386 folder. The article is 8 pages long, so I guess you have to get the magazine to get it right. Gizmodo has a summary of the instructions posted. i have posted them below :clap: :cool2:
We can’t vouch for this hack, because we are too lazy to try it (and we never, ever violate copyrights or EULAs), but kind reader Martin explains the process for turning an Windows XP Home install disc to a Windows XP Pro disc after the jump.
It sounds pretty simple to do (just some registry changes), but you can’t install Service Pack 2, so you might try to slipstream in the changes to your modified install disc (if that’s even possible).
Alternately, buy XP Pro, or get a Mac.
yes indeed, you can’t change an installed Windows but only your Installation CD (or even a recovery CD in case the manufacturer had not left out important parts)
Here’s the detailed breakdown for doing it.
1. Copy the root directory and the i386 directory of the WindowsXP CD
to your harddisk
2. Extract the Bootsector of your WindowsXP CD
3. Change 2 Bytes in i386\Setupreg.hiv :
a) Open Regedit
b) Highlight HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
c) Menu: File -> Load Structure -> i386\Setupreg.hiv
d) Assign an arbitrary name to the imported structure e.g. “Homekeyâ€
e) Goto HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Homekey\ControlSet001\Services\setupdd
f) edit the binary key “default†and change “01†to “00†and “02†to
“00â€
g) Highlight “Homekey†and select menu: File -> unload structure
4. Burn your new XP Pro CD
5. Install WindowsXP as usual. Your XP Home Key will work.
Note: You cannot apply SP2 to such a WindowsXP Pro, so step 1.b)
might be to integrate SP2 in your Installation CD
Please check the menu-entries as I don’t owe an English copy of
XP and have to guess them.
Story via silicon.de (German).
