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Green hills forever: Windows XP activation algorithm cracked after 21 years

arstechnica.com

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Re: Green hills forever: Windows XP activation algorithm cracked after 21 years

#21

Post by blep_ »

moritzwarhier wrote: post #20
buffington wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd love an explanation of what this entire comment means.

I'm not a native speaker, but other than the definition of "white cane", there was nothing in the comment for me which would be considered hard to understand. Journalists explain something accurately, which was previously noted by others, but still was under-reported relative to the potential public interest. I'm still learning :high_five: (maybe everyone is)

I am a native speaker, and I've never heard "white cane" before.

Re: Green hills forever: Windows XP activation algorithm cracked after 21 years

#22

Post by sdwr »

buffington wrote: post #18
ForOldHack wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a case where the "journalists" hand out white canes. When you were there, it's all just a big laugh, and when you were not there, it all speculation.

I'd love an explanation of what this entire comment means.

I think what the comment is saying is that the job is not taken seriously by reporters.

White canes are a reference to props used in old-timey vaudeville acts (?). https://youtu.be/zgwG5wA5s3Y

The whole thing makes no sense to me in connection with the article.

Re: Green hills forever: Windows XP activation algorithm cracked after 21 years

#23

Post by moritzwarhier »

blep_ wrote: post #21
moritzwarhier wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not a native speaker, but other than the definition of "white cane", there was nothing in the comment for me which would be considered hard to understand. Journalists explain something accurately, which was previously noted by others, but still was under-reported relative to the potential public interest. I'm still learning :high_five: (maybe everyone is)

I am a native speaker, and I've never heard "white cane" before.

Thanks for the clarification, after briefly looking up the term I could have ended up believing this was the common translation for what I know as "Blindenstock" in German.

What is the correct term for this? White stick?

Re: Green hills forever: Windows XP activation algorithm cracked after 21 years

#24

Post by feoren »

GeekyBear wrote: post #19

I still keep a Windows 2000 virtual machine around for vintage games that are no longer compatible with Windows, despite spending entirely too much time fiddling with the compatibility settings. Sometimes games like Heroes of Might and Magic III are a good way to play just one more turn until you notice the sun has come up.

HoMM 3 is on Gog and it works fine on Windows 10. Gog is great at retrofitting old games to work on modern machines. Quest for Glory IV is less buggy in its current form on Gog than it was on original CD!

Re: Green hills forever: Windows XP activation algorithm cracked after 21 years

#25

Post by steanne »

moritzwarhier wrote: post #23
blep_ wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am a native speaker, and I've never heard "white cane" before.

Thanks for the clarification, after briefly looking up the term I could have ended up believing this was the common translation for what I know as "Blindenstock" in German. What is the correct term for this? White stick?

white cane.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_cane

Re: Green hills forever: Windows XP activation algorithm cracked after 21 years

#26

Post by GeekyBear »

feoren wrote: post #24
GeekyBear wrote: post #19

I still keep a Windows 2000 virtual machine around for vintage games that are no longer compatible with Windows, despite spending entirely too much time fiddling with the compatibility settings. Sometimes games like Heroes of Might and Magic III are a good way to play just one more turn until you notice the sun has come up.

HoMM 3 is on Gog and it works fine on Windows 10. Gog is great at retrofitting old games to work on modern machines. Quest for Glory IV is less buggy in its current form on Gog than it was on original CD!

I still own my copy (and copies of the expansion packs) from the 90's.

Windows 10 can't run it, but Windows 2000 still works just fine.

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