OPK (OEM Pre-Installation Kit) and BIOS mod

You don't have to use the Microsoft OPK to install an OEM version of Windows 7 or a copy downloaded from the Internet of ANY Retail version. Microsoft will tell you that you do as you will be in  violation of the license agreement. However, you are probably are already doing that as you probably should not be using an OEM copy of Windows in the first place.

The copy of Windows 7 is installed from a DVD prepared from the downloaded iso file (generated from the original DVD purchased by the torrent uploader) without entering the Product Key that normally would come with the retail packaging.

The copy of Windows 7 is then Activated using a program that fools the copy of Windows into believing that it is a fully licensed OEM copy of Windows 7 (even if it is not) but applying a serial and certificate in your System BIOS ACPI_SLIC table.

This is just part of the Microsoft "Smoke and Mirrors" to deter those that can see a cheaper way and to avoid paying for a full retail license.

The Minimal torrc file

This post will describe what you need to place in the Vidalia Tor configuration file, torrc, so that you can force Tor to make its final exit and access to the Internet at a desired location.

Doing this you can make your web access to appear to be at that location as opposed to a random location as selected by the default installation of Tor. In this way you can access some of the material that is restricted by GeoIP limitations.

An example of the contents of a minimal torrc file can be found on my post for getting Tor to use an ExitNode in a specific country.

Links:

• All pages relating to Tor on The Technology Muse
• How to determine and configure Exit Nodes
• Getting Tor to exit in a specific country

Why it is not in Microsoft's interest to "fix" Windows 7 piracy

The computer users that know how to defeat the Activation Technologies are the very same as those that are likely to sing praises for Microsoft in how they have improved their operating system.

They are are the same users that if faced with the choice of installing a free copy of Windows 7 or sticking with what they have (or even installing a "cracked" copy of XP), would not bother.

The users that don't know, think that it is too hard or have fell for the FUD, are the ones that will actually buy Windows 7 and they are the ones that are likely to get "screwed" by WAT malfunctioning. (If it does)

For my part Vista, XP and Linux all work well for me - the "average Joe" doesn't have the opportunity, inclination or desire to do anything else apart to accept what is offered currently in the stores.
I do not see why I should "upgrade" to a system that is working well and enables me to do ALL that I want to on the hardware I own (even new hardware).

Going forward with Windows 8

Microsoft seemed to have worked out a way to stop piracy with Windows 8.

Clean Install of Windows 7

I am not suggesting that you install a "bootleg" copy of Windows 7 as a "clean install" on your new computer (although it seems to work really well!) - I AM suggesting that you abandon the image that was supplied to you on your new computer and install a copy of Windows 7 without all the OEM/Manufacturer nonsense.

This may well require you to purchase a legitimate licensed copy of Windows 7 from Microsoft. This may sound like an unnecessary up-front cost, but in the long-run it is a wise investment.

I have found the restore and recovery using a "clean install" takes less than half the time than that a restore using the manufacturers recovery media. Even when you use the recovery media from the manufacturer you will only restore the computer to the state it was when you purchased it - you will them still have to apply all the updates and customization that you applied to it before you made the restore.

I have found that ALL drivers and configuration for Windows 7 has been located by the MS install for a range of computers including Acer, Asus, Lenovo and other custom built computers using are wide range if hardware (BIOS, Motherboard, graphics etc).

This represents a change from the way things were and there is no need for all the countless driver "download" websites.

VirtualBox - General-purpose full virtualizer for x86 hardware

VirtualBox is an opensource (i.e. FREE) virtualizer from Sun Microsystems (at the time of the original post). You still need to have hardware that supports Virtualization to run VirtualBox with a 64 bit guest.

A 32 bit guest o/s (such as Windows XP - Not the rare 64 bit version) can be run  from pretty much any computer using VirtualBox.

I have configured many computers using VirtualBox and have used the resultant Virtual Environments to run 32 bit applications such as DVD43. You can also use a Virtualizer to offer some measure of security but nature of the fact that you are running processes in an immutable environment. (for more information on Immutable VMs please search this blog).

Links:

• How to configure VirtualBox