Windows 8 PRO/ and ENT x64 and X86 VOLUME leaks!


Recommended Posts

its illegal in my country to use ubuntu or any linux distro that can't process CSS, which is almost all of them.

what country do you live in? i wouldn't think its possible to ban linux distros 0_o

I don't see how this so called leak is going to benefit anybody because they won't be able to do anything with it since they cannot activate it. It's basically a waste of time.

Thank you! What is the point of these being uploaded and downloaded if they're crippleware until they are officially released, first to MSDN and Technet subscribers on the 15 August.

what country do you live in? i wouldn't think its possible to ban linux distros 0_o

Canada.

linux uses DeCSS library to bypass CSS restrictions on DVDs to allow them to play, as CSS licensing was never given to 'open source' systems. Since using this library is bypassing a digital lock, its in violation of the copyright reform act/Bill C-32 passed early July 2012 in Canada - which strictly prohibits bypassing of any digital lock.

Linux itself is not illegal, but you could be charged under the copyright act should you be caught playing DVD's in linux.

I know its far-fetched and likely will never be enforced, but is a GREAT example as to how lawmakers don't care about citizens, rather what multi-national corporations and businessmen tell them.

As you likely already guessed, I am also not allowed to copy any DVD (with CSS protection - so all of them) to any other medium either due to this law. Cant copy the matrix to my ipad or swordfish to my cell phone. I much re-purchase the media in the correct format or a version without any DRM.

On top of this, they killed recording media levies on blank CD's - but their prices are STILL the same at the stores that they were in June.. So, where did this levy fee come into play?

I don't see how this so called leak is going to benefit anybody because they won't be able to do anything with it since they cannot activate it. It's basically a waste of time.

Umm, you can rearm for like three additional months.

I don't see how this so called leak is going to benefit anybody because they won't be able to do anything with it since they cannot activate it. It's basically a waste of time.

Developers for win8 can test their product as well as into coding win8 tweaks. Hackers can see what they can do with the GUI, activation, incompatible programs, writing viruses..

The only people it don't benefit are end users who just want to use the OS. For people who want to make the best malware, this leak is a complete gift!

This is not Windows 7. Please, read the page or the thread before posting something you're guessing. :)

I don't have to "guess." People on MDL have said it works. Besides, with the MSDN keys coming out in less than two weeks, the only thing I have to deal with is the nagging activation prompts and the fact it doesn't sync my MS account. Oh the agony! ;)

Oh, take that back. They're up on our company's VLS page. Woo hoo!

On top of downloading an ISO isn't illegal, it may be against their terms for not downloading it through their official channels, but you aren't violating any law until you crack/hack your way past activation...

I know it's illegal for it to be distributed through unauthorised channels but I thought it was illegal to download it as well? Do you have a reference for this information?

It's technically illegal to download the RTM ISOs outside of authorized channels and being an authorized user. But we're talking pure semantics here. Microsoft is not going to contact the FBI and have you thrown into prison because you got the Win8 RTM. So I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Wonder if signing in with the same email address on CP and RTM, then changing the Metro theme in the activated CP would sync themes and subsequently change the locked theme in the RTM

Tried it, it didn't work. Because you choose the theme upon installing RTM and from that point on it gets locked.

It's technically illegal to download the RTM ISOs outside of authorized channels and being an authorized user. But we're talking pure semantics here. Microsoft is not going to contact the FBI and have you thrown into prison because you got the Win8 RTM. So I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Tried it, it didn't work. Because you choose the theme upon installing RTM and from that point on it gets locked.

Ah well, I'm sure someone will find a way, I did read about a registry key that could be changed to at least change the colour scheme

Thank you! What is the point of these being uploaded and downloaded if they're crippleware until they are officially released, first to MSDN and Technet subscribers on the 15 August.

please, by all means give a list of things you can NOT do on a non activated windows 8 besides change your color scheme.

Wonder if signing in with the same email address on CP and RTM, then changing the Metro theme in the activated CP would sync themes and subsequently change the locked theme in the RTM

True, usually Microsoft go after the people that distribute the file not those that download it.

It will have the same issue as Enterprise N, though. And outside of Media Center, doesn't Pro actually have fewer features than Enterprise?

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/04/16/announcing-the-windows-8-editions.aspx

If you click on the link above and scroll down theres a tables howing whats the difference between the windows 8 editions.

  • Like 1

It's technically illegal to download the RTM ISOs outside of authorized channels and being an authorized user. But we're talking pure semantics here. Microsoft is not going to contact the FBI and have you thrown into prison because you got the Win8 RTM. So I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Tried it, it didn't work. Because you choose the theme upon installing RTM and from that point on it gets locked.

MS couldn't have you thrown into prison anyway. I thought IP/copyright was civil not criminal. They could hit you with a C&D order and a fine... Otherwise half the US would be behind bars thanks to MPAA/RIAA

http://windowsteambl...8-editions.aspx

If you click on the link above and scroll down theres a tables howing whats the difference between the windows 8 editions.

I see Win 8, Win 8 pro and Win RT.. Where's enterprise exactly? Did you mean this?

Windows 8 Enterprise includes all the features of Windows 8 Pro plus features for IT organization that enable PC management and deployment, advanced security, virtualization, new mobility scenarios, and much more.

Seems vague

@ American Mafia

Correct

If Microsoft sued the a$$ out of WZT group or anyone else actively leaking RTM builds, the whole internet world would revolt and bad publicity would spread quickly. Apple would invite Google for dinner and the two would furiously make out as a part of celebration.

But you do realize Microsoft along with other large software companies work with the Business Software Alliance and it is quite easy for them to track your IP and send a warning letter to your internet service provider. Although the chances of anything happening to you legally speaking are very slim a lot of ISPs including mine have a limit on the number of warnings you can receive before they take away your service.

please, by all means give a list of things you can NOT do on a non activated windows 8 besides change your color scheme.

You can't make any customization changes. And you can't login and download apps from the Store, i think.

You can't make any customization changes. And you can't login and download apps from the Store, i think.

like I said, give me a list of things you cant do other than changing your color scheme. You CAN go into the app store and install whatever you want, even the paid ones are there, as far as buying any of them im not sure because it has like 100 apps, with 90% being useless, and none are worth paying for. Side note, the fact that the Wikipedia app doesn't have a static search box is mind blowing, in order to search you have to do the stupid corner gesture and then click on search, which brings up a list of all apps with Wikipedia being selected for you then you search. Not to mention the entire time your in the Wikipedia "app" it has a massive static title bar with the name of the article and that's it, you'd think it would be a good idea to put a search box in all that wasted space.

It's technically illegal to download the RTM ISOs outside of authorized channels and being an authorized user. But we're talking pure semantics here. Microsoft is not going to contact the FBI and have you thrown into prison because you got the Win8 RTM. So I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Tried it, it didn't work. Because you choose the theme upon installing RTM and from that point on it gets locked.

Not illegal.. but in violation of Microsoft's terms...

<<Thread Cleaned>>

Remember guys, the rule below, don't be surprised if your post disappears if it is violating or closely touching this rule.

No Illegal Software/Copyrighted Discussion.

Discussions involving warez, cracks, security circumvention, using torrents for downloading copyrighted or illegal material is strictly prohibited. This includes music files or other unauthorized software. Asking for help in doing so will cause warns or suspensions of accounts.

You can't make any customization changes. And you can't login and download apps from the Store, i think.

Actually, yes you CAN download from the Windows Store - even if you create a local account; just login using your Microsoft Account as usual.

This has been utterly consistent since the Developer Preview, and yet this urban myth continues to get spread.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • Go for a Echo Dot or Pop instead. These Echo shows just advertise to you.
    • NetSpeedTray 1.3.3 by Razvan Serea NetSpeedTray is a lightweight, open-source Windows network monitor that shows live upload and download speeds directly on the Taskbar. Designed for efficiency, it quietly sits in the system tray, conserving CPU and battery with dynamic updates. It blends seamlessly with Windows 10/11, adapts to light/dark themes, and auto-positions to avoid overlaps. Features include accurate interface detection, customizable display, optional mini-graph, color coding, granular font and unit control, detailed per-interface history graphs, safe data management, and easy CSV export—bringing the network monitoring Windows forgot. NetSpeedTray key features: Lightweight & Efficient Runs quietly in your system tray without consuming resources. Features a "Dynamic Update Rate" that lowers refresh frequency when the network is idle to save CPU and battery life. Native Look & Feel Blends seamlessly with Windows 10/11 UI. Smart detection for light and dark taskbar themes ensures text is always visible. Intelligent & Adaptive Positioning Automatically finds empty space next to your system tray and shifts to make room for new icons, preventing overlaps. Seamless OS Integration Behaves like a native Windows component. Hides instantly with auto-hiding taskbar Hides when a fullscreen app is active Smart Network Monitoring Accurate by Default: Auto mode identifies your main internet connection and ignores noise from VPNs or virtual adapters. Easy Interface Selection: Switch effortlessly between Auto, All, or Selected network interfaces via intuitive radio buttons. Total Visual Customization Free Move Mode: Unlock and place the widget anywhere on your screen. Optional Mini-Graph: Real-time graph of recent network activity with adjustable opacity. Color Coding: Customize colors and speed thresholds to quickly see network status. Granular Display Control Text & Font: Adjust font family, size, weight, and alignment. Units: Automatic (B/s, KB/s, MB/s) or fixed Mbps display. Precision: Set decimal places and always show them for uniform appearance. Detailed & Intelligent History Graph Smart Scale: Logarithmic scale shows low-level traffic and large spikes clearly. Per-Interface Filtering: View speed history for specific adapters (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN). Safe & Efficient Data Management: Adjustable retention, automatic cleanup, optimized database. Easy Data Export: Export raw data to .csv or save high-quality graphs for reports. NetSpeedTray v1.3.3: The Updater Fix A stabilization release that repairs a critical regression in v1.3.2: the app shipped without OpenSSL, which silently broke every HTTPS request — including the built-in update checker (the "Could not check for updates" error many of you hit). This release restores it, hardens the build so it can't happen again, and fixes a startup crash plus four other reported bugs. Changes: Fixed update checking — Resolved a critical issue that prevented the app from checking for updates ("Could not check for updates"). Fixed startup crash with Auto-Cycling — The app no longer crashes on launch after enabling Cycle display mode. Fixed incorrect network speeds on 10GbE adapters — Multi-gigabit network cards now display speeds correctly instead of being stuck at 0. Improved color coding — Default color is shown when idle, and color/threshold changes now apply immediately without restarting. Fullscreen visibility fix — The widget now correctly stays visible over fullscreen apps when Keep Visible is enabled. Improved AMD Ryzen temperature detection — More reliable CPU temperature monitoring for Ryzen processors. Cleaner upgrades — Installer now removes outdated application files during upgrades, preventing DLL/version conflicts while preserving user settings. Improved stability — Fixed potential DLL loading issues by excluding critical OpenSSL and NumPy components from UPX compression. Better settings window — Scrollbars removed and layout improved for a cleaner experience. Localization improvements — Updated translations and completed missing UI text across all supported languages. More reliable releases — Added regression tests covering recent critical fixes, bringing the test suite to 196 passing tests. [full release notes] Download: NetSpeedTray 1.3.3 | 87.9 MB (Open Source) Download: NetSpeedTray Portable | 101.0 MB View: NetSpeedTray Home Page | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • Why Delta Chat is the best decentralized messenger you have probably never tried by Paul Hill There is no shortage of messaging apps out there; we have WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram, just to name a few. While Meta has taken steps to incorporate encryption into Messenger and WhatsApp, they still leave a lot to be desired. If you are in the market for a messaging app that promotes security, privacy, and optional anonymity, you'll want to read what I have to say about Delta Chat. For those not familiar with Delta Chat, rather than relying on centralized servers as you do with Facebook Messenger, it relies on email. Essentially, it is a chat interface that feels like a messaging app, but secretly in the background, it is firing off emails. In the past, you used to have to sign in with your email account. When you sent messages to people, it would just be sending encrypted messages to their inbox, which their Delta Chat client would decrypt. When I first learned about Delta Chat, it required users to sign in with an email account, but I was pleasantly surprised upon trying it in 2026 that this is no longer a requirement, or the preferred method was to use the app. Recently, I’ve tried UAD-ng on my old Nokia 3.4 to disable most of the Google apps because the bootloader is locked, and this is the next best option. While finding replacement apps in F-Droid, I came across Delta Chat again, and it has undergone quite a big change since I last used it, with its new chatmail relays, which no longer require you to sign in to your own email account, providing anonymity, and they offer greater security. Android and Desktop Delta Chat apps. Not only does it run on my de-googled phone, but it also works on desktop computers and iOS, making it truly ubiquitous. For me, Delta Chat is a wonderful alternative messenger because it gives you more control. It supports switching between different profiles, which you can set up super quickly; you don’t register a username, you don’t register a password. The only thing you do have is a random string email address on a chatmail relay (which you don’t have to memorize). To maintain access to your profile, you just need to add a second device to your account via QR code or make a backup of your account, which you can restore later. Fail to do these, your account is gone - as it should be if you don’t want to leave accounts that could get hacked later on. My decision to block Google stuff on my Nokia was done for practical reasons; the device sucked when it launched, and it sucks even more now. The nice thing about F-Droid and the apps within is that they’re usually lightweight, free of bloat, and work well on that device. What was inconvenient for me was that it was hard to send messages from that device, say if I wanted to copy a code over to my main phone or send family members a link from that device. That’s when I decided to look at the available chat apps and saw Delta Chat. Another nice thing about Delta Chat is its notifications. Some messaging apps rely on Google’s ecosystem for notification transport on Android; however, with Delta Chat, it can use Google’s solutions if you have Play Services or MicroG installed. Otherwise, it is able to keep a background connection to the chatmail relay server so that you can get notified when you receive a message. As free software, the code of Delta Chat is open for all who want to take it and build upon it. In the future, if the developers of Delta Chat make a catastrophically bad decision and take the app in an undesirable direction, users can take the code and fork the project. This contrasts with closed-source apps from corporations that can take their products in any direction they like. By relying on free software instead of closed-source programs, you actually control your computing. I’ve spoken at length about how running this type of software is like owning your own home rather than renting it. The same applies here; if you use Delta Chat, you don’t need to worry about it going away in the future. Whether it is Telegram, WhatsApp, or Messenger, you are required to register a username and password to use these services. A major flaw in this design is that anyone can try various passwords and potentially break into your account with your complete chat history intact. Sure, there is encryption in Messenger, where you need a second PIN and two-factor authentication in Telegram, but breaches happen all the time. Unlike before, when you used to sign in to your email account to send and receive messages, the primary way to do it now is to create an account on a chatmail relay. The resulting email address is a random string followed by the name of the relay you pick. This means you can start and begin adding contacts Without a username and password, you either need to ensure you have a backup or at least one device running your Delta Chat profile. The primary way to log in on another device is to go to the settings and add a second device. Then, you’ll just scan a QR code with your new device, and it’ll log in to your account and sync all your chat history and contacts. To end users, Delta Chat just looks like any instant messenger; however, it is really sending your messages as encrypted emails to your contact. This is pretty cool from a censorship perspective, as it makes the service more difficult to block. Previously, the main way to use the app was by logging in with email, but nowadays, it’s recommended that you use chatmail relays. Chatmail relays temporarily hold messages in case your device is offline. They are cheap, simple servers that don’t store data as group states. Other information, like your name and avatar, only exists on your device and the devices of those you share your contact information with. The relays are also decentralized and operated by various groups and individuals. It is even possible to set up your own chatmail relay, but most people will want to use one hosted elsewhere. To keep your messages secure, Delta Chat uses a secure subset of the OpenPGP standard that gives you automatic end-to-end encryption. It also uses Secure-Join to exchange encryption setup information through QR-code scanning or invite links. Autocrypt is also used to automatically establish end-to-end encryption between contacts and all members of group chat, but sometime this year Autocrypt v2 will be rolled out, bringing post-quantum resistant encryption and forward secrecy. The Delta Chat FAQ is an interesting read that explains many more details about the app. Credit: Pexels Delta Chat is unique among messaging apps because it is built on email, a technology that’s decades old and isn’t going anywhere soon. What’s more is that email is not centralized either, so it’s far more difficult for any authoritarian regime to disrupt the Delta Chat app. I haven’t spoken too much about features yet, so I will do that now. Delta Chat allows you to do one-on-one chats, group chats, and create channels. It also supports file sharing and making audio and video calls when chatting one-to-one, but it’s not available for group chats right now. At the time of writing, the calling functionality is disabled and can be enabled in Settings > Advanced > Debug Calls. I have used the video calling feature, and the quality is excellent. It works over WebRTC, another open standard. The app also lets you send voice notes, enables disappearing messages, and has its own app ecosystem. I did try playing chess one time there, but it was a bit spotty; though, we did manage to complete the game with a victory for me. To add people to Delta Chat, you can either give them your Delta Chat link or your QR code to scan. These are the only ways to add users, so you won't have any spam bots bothering you. If the people you want to chat with don't have the app yet, just send them your link, and it will take them to a webpage where they can install the app and then add you. It's really quick for them to install it and get started, which is nice. Credit: Microsoft. The Majorana 2 quantum chip unveiled in 2026. I do not think quantum computers are too far out now, and I do hope that Delta Chat is able to push out Autocrypt v2 sooner, rather than later, so bad actors do not attempt to collect encrypted communications and then decrypt them in the future using quantum computers. By getting people’s messages post-quantum-safe now, users won’t have to worry when quantum computers start cracking legacy encryption. Overall, I would recommend this app to people who are already past WhatsApp and Messenger and have perhaps begun using apps like Telegram or Session. It shares a lot of characteristics with these apps and goes a lot further than Telegram in terms of security. By being based on email, it is also resistant to censorship, and the lack of a username and password makes you anonymous (if you want to be) and safe from brute force password cracking attempts. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried Delta Chat recently. Do you think it's a good bulwark against governments that are tightening their grip on the internet?
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Year In
      bernmeister earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Week One Done
      Scoobystu earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      tuben earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • First Post
      OffsetAbs earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      OffsetAbs earned a badge
      Reacting Well
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      471
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      217
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      156
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      73
    5. 5
      FloatingFatMan
      71
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!