System Locked Preinstallation
Encyclopedia
System Locked Pre-installation, often abbreviated as SLP, is a procedure used by major OEM
computer manufacturers in order to pre-activate
Microsoft Windows
before mass distribution. There are three different versions of SLP: SLP (which is now commonly referred to as SLP 1.0) SLP 2.0 and SLP 2.1. These versions roughly coincide with Windows NT
versions (see table below). Operating systems that use SLP 1.0 check for a particular text string in a computer's BIOS
upon booting
. If the text string does not match the information stored in the particular installation's OEM BIOS files, the user is prompted to activate his or her copy as normal. SLP 2.0 and SLP 2.1 works in a similar manner. This effectively "locks" the operating system to the qualified motherboard. In addition, if an end user feels the need to perform a "clean install" of Windows, and if the manufacturer supplies the user with an installation disc (not a "System Recovery" disc that is a hard drive image), the user will not be prompted to activate the copy, given that the installation is performed on the same motherboard. Furthermore, because the check only involves the BIOS and not hardware, a user is allowed to change virtually all hardware components within the machine except motherboard, a procedure that would normally trigger re-activation in retail Windows copies.
SLP installations still require a product key, which are unique to the specific version of Windows (Home (XP), Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, Server, etc...). The product key printed on the Certificate of Authenticity affixed to an OEM assembled is sometimes said to suffice, but this is not necessarily the case. On February 28, 2005
Microsoft attempted to reduce software piracy
by invalidating those keys for normal activation, but this does not apply to SLP. If the COA product key is lost, then product key finders, readily available on the Internet, can decrypt the key from a local installation. Keys from either source (see below) will allow the user to avoid activation upon re-installation.
However since SLP 2.0 was introduced hackers have been able to create modified bootloaders based on the Linux bootloader grldr, these are capable of emulating a SLP text string (such as one for Dell, Acer and so on) so it appears to be present in the bios. This combined with a OEM certificate and OEM product key can instantly activate a Windows Vista/7 installation illegally but also be very hard to notice. This method can also be integrated into a Windows installation disk to activate on initial boot.
Another method consists of modding the BIOS to insert the SLP 2.1 table, which can be used to replace blacklisted keys, or to add the SLP table to motherboards that do not have it (such as Gigabyte). Some brand-name computers such as Dell, already have the SLP table in their BIOS, which means that using software readily available on the Internet, a pirated retail installation can be converted to OEM, and the appropriate certificate installed into the OS, which results in Windows becoming genuine. Pirates refer to copies of Windows activated in this way as Pirated Genuine Microsoft Software.
Microsoft released the following generic product keys that can be used to avoid product activation on any SLP-enabled computer using the corresponding version of Windows XP:
(Please note that the following keys are not volume license key
s (VLK). The installation source must also be SLP-enabled by the manufacturer. Microsoft has not publicly released an SLP key for Windows XP Home Edition, but the actual key from any SLP-activated installation of XP Home can be used on any other, regardless of brand. SLP-enabled installation CDs usually supply the needed key automatically, without the user having to enter one.)
OEM
OEM means the original manufacturer of a component for a product, which may be resold by another company.OEM may also refer to:-Computing:* OEM font, or OEM-US, the original character set of the IBM PC, circa 1981...
computer manufacturers in order to pre-activate
Product activation
Product activation is a license validation procedure required by some proprietary computer software programs. In one form, product activation refers to a method invented by Ric Richardson and patented by Uniloc where a software application hashes hardware serial numbers and an ID number specific...
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
before mass distribution. There are three different versions of SLP: SLP (which is now commonly referred to as SLP 1.0) SLP 2.0 and SLP 2.1. These versions roughly coincide with Windows NT
Windows NT
Windows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...
versions (see table below). Operating systems that use SLP 1.0 check for a particular text string in a computer's BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
upon booting
Booting
In computing, booting is a process that begins when a user turns on a computer system and prepares the computer to perform its normal operations. On modern computers, this typically involves loading and starting an operating system. The boot sequence is the initial set of operations that the...
. If the text string does not match the information stored in the particular installation's OEM BIOS files, the user is prompted to activate his or her copy as normal. SLP 2.0 and SLP 2.1 works in a similar manner. This effectively "locks" the operating system to the qualified motherboard. In addition, if an end user feels the need to perform a "clean install" of Windows, and if the manufacturer supplies the user with an installation disc (not a "System Recovery" disc that is a hard drive image), the user will not be prompted to activate the copy, given that the installation is performed on the same motherboard. Furthermore, because the check only involves the BIOS and not hardware, a user is allowed to change virtually all hardware components within the machine except motherboard, a procedure that would normally trigger re-activation in retail Windows copies.
| Version | Windows Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal... |
|---|---|
| SLP | Windows XP Windows XP Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base... , Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft, introduced on 24 April 2003. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on 6 December 2005... |
| SLP 2.0 | Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs... , Windows Server 2008 |
| SLP 2.1 | Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft. It was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009 and launched on October 22, 2009. According to the Windows Server Team blog, the retail availability was September 14, 2009. It is built on Windows NT 6.1, the same core... |
SLP installations still require a product key, which are unique to the specific version of Windows (Home (XP), Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, Server, etc...). The product key printed on the Certificate of Authenticity affixed to an OEM assembled is sometimes said to suffice, but this is not necessarily the case. On February 28, 2005
Microsoft attempted to reduce software piracy
Copyright infringement of software
Copyright infringement of software=The copyright infringement of software refers to several practices which involve the unauthorized copying of computer software. Copyright infringement of this kind varies globally...
by invalidating those keys for normal activation, but this does not apply to SLP. If the COA product key is lost, then product key finders, readily available on the Internet, can decrypt the key from a local installation. Keys from either source (see below) will allow the user to avoid activation upon re-installation.
However since SLP 2.0 was introduced hackers have been able to create modified bootloaders based on the Linux bootloader grldr, these are capable of emulating a SLP text string (such as one for Dell, Acer and so on) so it appears to be present in the bios. This combined with a OEM certificate and OEM product key can instantly activate a Windows Vista/7 installation illegally but also be very hard to notice. This method can also be integrated into a Windows installation disk to activate on initial boot.
Another method consists of modding the BIOS to insert the SLP 2.1 table, which can be used to replace blacklisted keys, or to add the SLP table to motherboards that do not have it (such as Gigabyte). Some brand-name computers such as Dell, already have the SLP table in their BIOS, which means that using software readily available on the Internet, a pirated retail installation can be converted to OEM, and the appropriate certificate installed into the OS, which results in Windows becoming genuine. Pirates refer to copies of Windows activated in this way as Pirated Genuine Microsoft Software.
Microsoft released the following generic product keys that can be used to avoid product activation on any SLP-enabled computer using the corresponding version of Windows XP:
(Please note that the following keys are not volume license key
Volume license key
Volume License Key is a term used by many computer software companies to denote the product key used when installing software licensed under volume licensing, which allows a single product key to be used for multiple installations....
s (VLK). The installation source must also be SLP-enabled by the manufacturer. Microsoft has not publicly released an SLP key for Windows XP Home Edition, but the actual key from any SLP-activated installation of XP Home can be used on any other, regardless of brand. SLP-enabled installation CDs usually supply the needed key automatically, without the user having to enter one.)
| Product Name | Product Key |
|---|---|
| Windows XP Professional (32-bit) | MVF4D-W774K-MC4VM-QY6XY-R38TB |
| Windows XP Professional (64-bit) | FM634-HJ3QK-6QVTY-RJY4R-XCR9J |
| Windows XP Tablet PC Edition | XT67V-GY7FW-GR6FR-WDK2C-8T97J |
| Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition x86 | PWBJC-22697-D4CVH-FCJWW-DTF9J |
| Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition x64 | XCP6P-7WVXP-F8FQ4-JV6CD-6XV28 |
| Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition x86 | XHPV3-PTCWJ-7Y94F-Q6BVH-J849J |
| Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition x64 | WQ3GW-Y8GQW-8VJYB-JYM43-D24C8 |
| Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition x86 | FXYF6-VTXGX-3JPX9-HJ9K4-6TKTW |
| Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition x64 | KDX8X-FYW4T-C6D9J-BKM6M-M89TW |
| Windows Server 2003 R2 Web Edition x86 | GM8KD-GB7JY-QGQYP-XRV74-RT728 |