RemoveWAT removes Windows Activation Technologies ( WGA ) and a loader patches slic information into the acpi without modifying the bios at all.
But the removeWAT doesn't modify the bios either right? And is there a better solution or both are pretty much equal?
RemoveWAT modifies Windows system files to change Windows itself and the way it works. A loader doesn't touch Windows at all, it emulates an OEM digital signature (called SLIC) outside Windows, it puts this signature in memory and then allows Windows to start normally, making Windows believe that is starts on a OEM machine.
RemoveWAT does not even touch the acpi. What it does ( pretty good actually ) is patching windows services and .dlls. So u can use windows even if the initial grace period ( 30 days ) ran out. Better? The best option is a bios mod but in this case i would suggest a loader.
When you press the power button of your computer, the first program to run is the BIOS, the BIOS will look for bootable devices and might boot from your hard drive, according to the boot list order in the BIOS settings. Depending on what you installed, your hard drive will have a software called a "loader", this is the software that will launch everything else. For example, if you installed Linux you might have a GRUB loader, while if you installed only Windows you will have the standard Windows boot loader, which allows you to do a couple of things like launching Windows in safe-mode or running a memory test. Adding a loader means that we add another loader before the standard Windows loader. The BIOS will then call our additional loader instead of the standard Windows boot loader, and our additional loader will start the regular Windows boot loader. All this only takes few milliseconds to complete.
It depends on how comfortable you are with "hacking" Windows system files. Windows is a complex set of "programs" calling other programs which was put together by hundreds of programmers. WAT is designed to stop the proper functioning of the licencing part of Windows and it has been shown to work judging by the comments in the thread. There have been side effects along the way that have been fixed but whether there are yet to be seen consequences to this remains to be seen. It will not be difficult for M$ to detect WAT. It may be difficult for them to disable it but they will target it eventually. A loader on the other hand simply fools Windows into thinking it is running on an OEM machine such as a Dell for example. I remain convinced M$ will target "activation" schemes that change the Operating System files first. M$ have always claimed pirated systems are unsafe because of hacks and this is the reason behind their antipiracy schemes. To attack the loader system is to risk the OEM machines (well kinda) and M$ need Windows 7 to be a big success after the poor sales of Vista and it is my opinion M$ will not risk this major source of revenue for a few pirated systems - after all, almost all Vista sales came from OEM machines. Once 7 is established it may be a different ball game - remember Vista's original antipiracy locked down the whole OS but they softened this with SP1.
'RemoveWAT', the idea per se, might be a good thing in theory, but since it actually messes about with system files and permissions to achieve its goal i dont think it is an advisable way to go for anyone as there is no way to tell if and what side effects there might be popping up under certain circumstances. I personally (and thats really just my personal opinion) would rather not use the OS at all than using it 'that' way; after all Windows already has enough problems with stability and reliability as it is so the last thing i need is an increased risk that something goes wrong. That said, the best method short of buying a license is no doubt a modded BIOS. All you need to do after that is install a certificate and a SLP key and your machine self-activates just like every real OEM PC. The second best method, (if you dont count the NIC mod, which is similar to the BIOS mod), would be the loader. The loader is the software equivalent of the BIOS mod and though not as permanent it is equally effective. I would say just choose whichever method you feel more comfortable with, and if you need any help, you know where to get it.
The best options (savest first) The best options (savest first) 1. Upgrade Windows 7 Home OEM SLIC 2.1 to Windows 7 Ultimate x64* (do a lot of upgrades for friends) without loader and SLP key (ofcourse no bios flash needed) 2. Flash SLIC 2.0 BIOS to SLIC 2.1 for Vista OEM upgrade/fresh install to Windows 7 Ultimate x64* without loader and SLP Key 3. Flash non SLIC BIOS to SLIC 2.1 for Windows 7 Ultimate x64* without loader and SLP key 4. Use Windows Loader with Windows 7 Ultimate x64* if BIOS is hard to mod or I do not want to take the risk to kill the motherbios 5. RemoveWat (never used it, just don't like to modification M$ software). Just make a lot of friends happy with a xp/vista to windows 7 Ultimate x64* upgrade/fresh install It just my opinion and not the only one. * if x64 CPU
But modifying the BIOS, isn't this a bit extreme? I mean if one wants to install another OS, would it cause any problems?
First of all hello every mdl user! Thats my first post and i'm trying to learn more about thee things. Yesterday finally i got rid of my xp and installed w7 ultimate by using removewat. As i read these post people like me doesn't want to mess with MS files but in my first w7 install i had no other choice. Now here is my question. Most of you guys advising to flash the bios so thats what i want to do. But how can i regain the files removewat deleted(without formatting again ofc) and start flashing the bois? And i hope it doesnt mess the computer flashing bois after installing w7 with removewat. I would appreciate if anyone can help me.