Unlocking the Acer Aspre's 5672Wlmi's hidden secrets.

As I write this, please note that I have spend the last 2 days researching, digging, tearing apart, and writing this article for the public here at notebookreview.com . So if you enjoy this article please mod me up for the rep power, thanks.

Ok onto the great news! I doubt most of the notebook community realizes this (or not a lot anyway) but most Acer laptops come with 3 windows oem keys! That's right, and not just 3 identical keys but 3 different keys for different operating systems as well!

After reading this article you'll be able to locate all 3 of your windows keys, and also be able to use them on other pc's legally, after passing WGA and activation.

Before I being the guide here is a list of tools you'll need to acquire all three keys and install the operating system using the various keys found on the laptop.

1. Magic Jelly Bean Keyfinder - http://www.magicaljellybean.com/downloads/kf151.zip

2. Windows XP Home OEM media disk(s) AND Windows XP Pro OEM media disk(s) AND Windows Media Center Edition 2005 media disk(s)


That's it! Now that we have the needed tools to acquire the key(s) from the laptop lets dig a bit further into how I found these various keys.

As many of you know the Acer Aspire 5672Wlmi comes in various flavors and versions. Some come models come with 1GB of memory, some come with 2GB of memory as well as other options etc. The important thing to note here is that Acer also includes various operating systems on the different models of laptops they sell.

According to Acer's USA site there are multiple models of the 5670 laptop (this includes the 5670 x1400 as well as the 5672 x1600 models with various hard drive and memory configurations)



The one thing you will notice about all of these is that Acer uses the same restore methods on all of their laptops. They all have a "recovery" partition that auto installs XP back to factory settings without any user input. This got me thinking, if they all use the same recovery methods, do they all use the same "blanket" approach to which model they ship with the recovery software?

To solve this I decided to dive into the actual restore DVD I created.

Below we see the Acer DVD if I right click and hit "explore" to view the contents of the disk itself.



Once you "explore" the root contents of the drive you will see that there is very little in the base folder of the 5670's restore dvd image.



From here we want to navigate to D:\ACER\TOOLS folder



Here you see that we are now at the D:\ACER\TOOLS folder. Pay close attention to the various .inf files that run when you insert the restore DVD into your laptop. Notice how the names of the files are very similar but the differences point them out?

If you missed it here is how I translated them (I could be wrong but work with me here ok?). Simple open the first .inf file you see that starts with XP, my listing has a total of 6 .inf files

XPHARA
XPHHEB
XPHTHA
XPPARA
XPPHEB
XPPTHA

Notice how ARA / HEB / THA repeat 2x? That is because the .inf files determine what region you are in by scanning your computers hardware + bios. By scanning these 2 things it will then know which OS to install on your pc by default. You have the option of windows xp home or windows xp pro! Equally I tried the key given in the XPPARA directory with an oem copy of media center 2005 I have lying around and it ALSO accepts the key! Remember above when you look at the Acer specs for the 5670 how they mention a TV tuner for MCE 2005? Well here is the proof they originally tried to include it. (Either that or pro oem keys are interchangeable with media center 2005, but I doubt that)

Here is a copy of one of my .inf files with the key removed.


=======================================

[Version]
ProductKey=XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

[StartupOptions]
StartUrl=

[options]
Tonepulse=1
JoinDomain=1
AdminPw=1
TimeZoneValue=205
DefaultLanguage=
DefaultRegion=227
DefaultKeyboard=
INTL_Settings=1
TimeZone=1
MouseTutorial=0
IMETutorial=0
IntroOnly=0

[OEMRegistrationPage]
PostToOEM=0
PostToMSN=1

[Signup]
ISPSignup=MSN
OEMOfferCode=0
[Branding]
OEMName=Acer
[OEMHardwareTutorial]
OEMHWTutorial=0
[DUN]
UserName=

=======================================

The important thing to note here is the time zone as well as the region it scans your pc for. If it finds that it is a region 1 settings in your hardware it continues to scan and move on with the install process.

What this means is your internal parts determines what version of the operating system you get (you don't get to choose).


With the two keys provided in the Acer restore DVD you will be able to use origional windows XP OEM media to install XP on ANY pc that currently does not have an OS! Remember your pc came with the key for XPHARA or XPPARA which means 2 keys are left unused (the key on the bottom of your laptop as well as the other unused key in the restore disk.

I happen to have restore media for every copy/type of windows from 98SE - Server 2003. I've tried all 3 keys with the correct types of media and they all work. XP Home (both keys) work with the oem copy of xp home I have. The Pro key(s) i have both work with XP Pro as well as Media Center Edition 2005 OEM disks.

*note* by default if you use the MCE 2005 disks to install it will only install XP, you'll need to perform an upgrade which will transform your pc into MCE from 2005.

This is a nice little feature that I don't think the majority of the community knows about, as a result please back up your keys in a safe location and use them on other pc's in the future.

For those of you who have not reinstalled xp on your 5670 series laptop do me a quick favor. I'm willing to bet money that the key that shows up in magic jelly bean key finder is the SAME key in the restore DVD depending on which version of the oprating system you have, and not from the COA on the bottom of your laptop.


This is very helpful because if your PC came with Windows XP Home, you could "theoretically" install XP Pro and use it on your same pc seeing how the laptop came with a pro key when you purchased the laptop!

I originally knew that most laptops came with 2 keys (one restore and 1 on the COA) but not three or even four if you consider it installing media center edition 2005 and pro interchangeably.

I would also suggest that you create a digital backup of your restore media. Who knows what will happen to your dvd/cd-r's down the road if they get scratched / lost / broken / destroyed.

To fix this, I suggest that you download and install Alcohol 120% and dump the drive contents to a .mdf or to .iso and store it on your server or in a safe location on another pc etc.




If you have any questions or comments about this process feel free to pm me about questions *EXCEPT* for where to acquire the needed media for installing the operating systems with the different / various keys found on the restore disk. For that you are on your own, unless of course I was paid to ship the original disks for a fee or something.

Thanks, and happy key hunting!

--ssx--

 

I am glad i enter the forum before reinstalling Windows XP Home..

I will check now this info and hopefuly in a couple of hours i will have installed "legal" XP Pro in my machine!!!!

Great Info SS4life!!! Thx very much

 

I just checked that my ACER BackupCD has 4 XPP and 3 XPH Files..

There is one called XPPCAN.INI

 

wow I really appreciate the info SSX4Life. Will the XPP keys work with Devils Own, or does it have to be an OEM disc? I put home back on here because of WGA and would like to be able to reload pro.

thx!

 

thanks
but i need to get windows xp pro ome cd from acer to use them right

 

devils0wn? that's five years old. it will not work with these keys.

 

I checked on the folder in my recovery disc (already reformat to XP Pro). For mine, the XPPxxx all have the same CD-Key, and the XPHxxx also same CD-Key and it's the same as the (XP home)Key on the sticker below the laptop. Well it's a really nice find though even if it's only 1 Free XP pro key

I had reinstall with XP Pro though, since my uni let IT student have free genuine copy of it at home.

 

ok whear cane i get windows xp pro
i have a win xp pro corp

 

I checked my recovery cd's and they just contain .gfs files. I'm assuming it's norton ghost. How can i read them? Just curious. I have the acer aspire 3613

 

when you created the backup CD's did you image the "entire" laptop or did you create a backup / restore DVD? There are 2 options on acer's just to be clear.

If you did a standard backup / recovery partition you should see the files listed in the guide above.

.ghs files are norton ghost files and are just like .img files in the fact that they are snapshots of the OS. I'm almost certain you created a "operating system image" instead of a restore CD/DVD.

If you can still create a disk check under your Acer E_Management software for Acer E_Recovery and perform a complete recovery to a DVD via the restore partition and the Acer software.


Just for a side note, I've done some more digging on the 5672wlmi as well as other recent acer models (5043, and 8100). It looks like that acer not only included keys for home and pro, but these keys could possibly be OEM VLK KEYS whch work exactly like VLK keys for xp pro corp (in the fact that the installation ID is always identical and always be registered / passed by M$ and WGA.

More info to come soon.

--ssx--

 

My acer came with no cd's. When i first turned it on, it told me to insert 4 cd's for the recovery. The first cd has various acer utilities and drivers. The other 3 have the ghs files. My acer did not come with a dvd burner. (although it came preloaded with a cheap dvd burner program.)
I now have an external dvd burner. Can i take the 3 cd's and burn it to one dvd?

 

I assume you do not have the 5672wlmi, I'm not sure if this pertains directly to DVD restore disks, or just the latest versions of the Acer restore software or methods of restoratoin. If you don't have the 5672 I'm not sure this will work, however I have confimed it to work on 3 other styles or recenet acer releases.

I don't suspect you'll find any good solution to buring everything to a single dvd, seeing how the needed data and components are all located in the .ghs fies. Seems like you have a regular "restore" disk. The good news is that you have 2 keys (the restore key and the COA). But I don't think you have the "blanket approach" to restoring the operating system across various hardware generations and models of laptops (mainly Acer's)

Hope this helps explain it a bit better. Remember this method or guide is ONLY guaranteed to work on 4 styles of laptops so far that I have found. (5672, 5102, 5043, 8100). If you have a different model or did not backup the operating system in the simliar fashion as described above then this possibly will not pertain to you.

--ssx--

 

Ah, ok. Thanks for the help.

 

I have the Aspire 5601, and there were the same number of xp*.ini files on my restore DVDs too. Interesting. I do have an OEM version of XP Pro lying around. However, I don't really see a need to reformat as the factory set-up seems to be doing ok. I may try out these keys and do a fresh/clean install if this current set-up starts acting wonky.

Oh, so that gave me a total of 4 keys: 2 from the ini's, one from magical jellybean, and one from the laptop sticker.

Thanks for your hard work!

 

Yes....this is some pretty cool investigating SSX4life~!!!

I had actually already discovered (even before I saw this thread), that the Magic Jelly Bean Finder came up with a different Key than the one from the COA in the bottom of my 5102WLMi (MCE)

So there's two.

Now after digging through the Factory Restore DVD I made when I first bought it, I have TWO other unique Keys (as ripslyme mentioned above).

So, I have FOUR total unique keys as well.

Nice work!

 

You MUST create a recovery disk at the first time that you turn on the notebook?

I did no recovey disk, formated all, installed SUSE Linux 10.1 + Windows XP Pro...

Then, no cd key for me right? =(

 

I'm afraid that's right.

Once you formatted your Drive, I believe your option to go back to factory settings went bye bye.

I plan on reformatting at some point myself, but I went ahead and made the Factory DVD's when prompted.

I haven't tried it but I'm told they're bootable, so If i ever wanted to, I could still boot from the DVD and restore to the original factory. (With the exception that I would end up with one large partition rather than the original two I would have had).

You could probably call Acer and get a restore CD for your model though....not sure about that (And then only if you felt it was worth the trouble).

 

I would strongly suggest that you make an image of your current set up also and don't just rely on the restore CD they have you make when first boot as mine fails to restore right at the very end. Luckily I made an image just to be safe but it looks like I won't be able to get back to the original factory set up.
I'm trying to get my hands on an OEM XP Home CD so I can do a clean install and then image that for the future.

 

Well, i wont be calling Acer. To much problem.

Im happy with openSUSE and my Windows XP Pro Corporate... =)

Anyways, my advice is: MAKE A RECOVERY DISK...

Thx!

 

i tried instaling windows xp media center from a backup cd that i had. i used the XPPCAN serial and it allowed me to install it but i cant activate it with the same key. if i get a real copy of xp media center and use the key, will i be able to activate windows with it? thanks

 

yeah if you have an activation key that comes with WMC you'll be able to activate it.

 

i cant use the installation key that the acer has?

 

i cant use any of my installation keys that my acer disk has either. ive tried it with pro and its a no go. i dont have a media center edition or i woiuld try it with that.

 

anynody know if i can install and activate windows media center with a real copy of the disc using the serials that the acer has? Ive tried using a WMC backup disc, and it allowed me to install it, but not activate it.

 

could i call acer and ask them to send me a backup disc of windows home? my computer doesnt have an os right now............

 

how cane i install win xp i dont even have windows xp pro ome acer cd
i only have backup dvd

 

I bought the Aspire 5601 because it was such a great deal at CompUSA--Core Duo, 100GB and 512MB (upgradded to 1GB now) for $550. But now I wonder. I got an intermittant blue screen of death on most boot-ups, then multiple re-boots until Windows XP Media Center finally booted okay. I eventually did the recovery to factory defaults but that didn't completely eliminate the blue screen of death. I've never seen that screen on my desktop ever since I up-graded from Win 98 to XP Pro, but Acer had given me some time travel back in time!

I do have a copy of XP Pro and I'm wondering what I will lose if I format and install it instead of the crappy setup from Acer??? The battery utility seems pretty good. Can I install some of Acer's utilities from their website onto a re-format using Win XP?

Does anyone feel any of the utilities from Acer are useful?

Does anyone have a solution to the blue screen of death short of re-formatting and installing WIN XP Pro?

Thanks for any help. Hey, I'm 70 years old and just trying to keep my head above water in this deluge of technology!

 

gwieland this sort of question is probally best asked in a new thread in this fourm instead of tacking onto this thread I created about finding windows keys from the acer restore partition.

If you start a new thread in this Acer forum we'll be more than happy to address your problems. I just kindly ask you to edit your previous post so people do not get confused about your problem and finding windows keys.

Thanks

--ssx--

 

I come to second that this did not work for me. I did exactly as you said.

 

Thanks for the great info SSX4life

I did not create a "restore" DVD, as I just did a fresh XP Home install using the CD key on the bottom of my laptop.

How could I make this restore DVD?, or is it too late now?,

Cheers

 

Anymore info on that yet?

 

These are indeed oem vlk keys (identical keys for all laptops). The stipulation is that you need to also include the acer_oem.dll files into the disk. I have yet to dig any further into this but it's entirely possible to pull these .dll files from the I386 directory and intergrate them into a default vanilla oem windows xp disk. This will allow you to install xp pro or xp home on ANY windows pc with an acer bios and not have to register / activate it.

Dell / HP / Gateway all do the same thing when it comes to restoring the operating systems. If you look at a dell branded windows xp disk it is a vanilla disk that has been edited with a few .dll files to reconize thier bios and flag it not to be registered.

Being that it is 1/2 way though the semester here @ school I am a bit tied up here so this is on the back burner. But I definatly plan on working on a slipstreamed and modified version of xp for acer laptops.

For now I'll use xp pro corp that is provided by my school.

--ssx--

 

Just a bit of an update on this thread. I did some digging today and ran across siginet's site with more info than you can shake a stick at.

Basically if you use my tutorial on backing up those windows keys and combine it with these two forum posts it will auto-activate on install

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=71016
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=82638

This may be over 85% of the people who frequent these boards (it was over my head until I did some more digging on it) but this is COMPLETELY possible and legit.

Use this guide and MSFN's faq's to make the correct windows xp disk with the oembios files + acers specific files + the oem keys in my faq and you will have a windows disk that does not require activation on acer pc's.


--ssx--

 

I had three: an MCE, XPH, XPP plus the MCE sticker on the bottom. Thanks!

 

I have aspire 5683wlmi. And on the acer backup dvd I can find two keys, one for xph and other for xpp. The one on the back of the notebook is diffrent from one found with keyfinder. So I have 2 xp home keys and 1 xp pro. Nice. Thanks for information.

 

Just wanna say THANK YOU! I modified a Dell OEM XP PRO cd, and I've switched to XP PRO now, sweet! Next step is to find a Media Center cd

 

For those who want to know,

A valid Microsoft installation consists of:
1) Official Microsoft or approved Microsoft Partner media. (CD, DVD or vendor installation partition)
2) Official Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker affixed to the computer chassis or battery (on small items)
3) Corresponding Microsoft COA key code found on COA sticker or from an official vendor open license installation.
4) End User license agreement (EULA)
5) Documentation or Quick Start Guide

More info here:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/uk/coa.mspx

The version of the operating system that is vendor preinstalled is the product you paid for and to which you are entitled. The key code that is "yours" is the one found on the COA sticker. Microsoft allows certain vendors to sell computers with an open licensing key code and it's valid for a user to continue to use his computer with this key code.

 

Works with Aspire 5050~
Thank you =)

However, I noticed something that might be of interest to you guys.
I have two as5050.
BOTH machine has the SAME product keys under ACER\TOOLS (XPHARA.INI,XPPCAN.INI, ETC.)
I'm not sure if this is already known, or not, since I think OEM machines comes with the same cd keys?! i'm.. not sure on this one.
maybe someone can clarify =b

 

i'm confused after reading all the posts. personally i have very limited knowledge of how this winxp activation stuff works. I've been using win2k forever on my desktop. i bought an acer laptop but the activation installation and everything is automated and i sort of didn't bother.

But it was said in the first post that these 4 keys can be used on ANY PC using the corresponding Windows XP installation discs. So this means I can use a XP Pro installation and input the key that I retrieved from the laptop, and activate it, thus i own a free copy of legit XP Pro.

Then it was mentioned that the keys found in the restore disc is universally the same? Or idea along this line? So that means I can use the key to install on a desktop pc... but I cannot activate it since it's not unique?

Ok then it was said that it works only on Acer bios... this is the part where I got totally lost. So means I cannot use the cdkey on any other PC? Or I can be i need to do something?

And what's with the Windows Vanilla CD...?

Omg i'm so lost. help.

 

Ok, basically, there are 5 versions of Windows XP CD-Key's Around

Retail
You'll get this key if you buy a full copy of Windows XP from a shop. You can pretty much do what you want to the software provided its only installed on one PC at any time, enforced by activation.

Upgrade
You'll get this if you guy an 'upgrade' key to allow you to upgrade say from Windows 2000 to XP at reduced prices (about 100 bucks less). (you cannot transfer computers however, and you have to activate)

Corporate (also known as VLK, Volume Licence Key)
Business and firms buy this and install legally on multiple PCs (agreed with microsoft by paying loads extra for licences), no Activation. Usualy the pirate keys out there are all VLK versions.

OEM (aka, Windows Tax / pre-installed)
You get this version bundled when buying a new computer from a manufacturer. (They seem to advertise you're getting it free, which no one actually believes, and you pay shed loads to own bloatware basically) You CAN'T transfer licences (which is why I think OEM sucks), usually have 'reduced functionality' (another reason why OEM should get mowed down). Usually pre-activated, and will only accept OEM keys.

OEM VLK
This one is a bit wierd as some companies such as Acer, Dell, HP decided that its easier to provide the same key on 'Recovery CDs', however, they program it so that you're computer must pass the 'BIOS Scan' to be able to use the CD. Usually they also give you a separate OEM key sticker on your laptop, which is different key.

 

Ok, you can't use these keys with 'Retail' Discs. you need to obtain OEM discs (which you probably can erm *cough* download, or get a free copy off some brick and mortar store). They are OEM keys yes, and you legally own them provided you own the computer.

Vanilla means 'plain' unpatched / unhacked version. In comparison to say, Windows with SP2 slipstreamed.

 

ok... So i have a CDkey for Windows Media Center Home on my CoA that is not used. I suppose this is retail cdkey? or OEM? And can i use this cdkey for installing winxp on my PC? And i read it can be used with XPPro?

2nd thing, there are 3 more OEM VLK cdkeys in my acer notebook. so i suppose i can't use them for desktop PCs that are not using an acer bios?

 

Depends how you got hold of the CD-Key. If you bought it in a shop with a boxed WinXP MCE then its a retail version. But if you got it 'free' with a new computer then its a OEM version.

Why install it with XP Pro? MCE is basically a graphics heavy version of XP Pro with the Media Centre application and no Domain function. (I trust you're not joining a business network?) Then they are practically the same for most tasks.

No, I meant you can't use the Acer recovery CD on your other computers because they dont' have Acer BIOS. I'm not sure about OEM VLK keys working on non-Acer BIOS computers though.

SSX could you help me on this?

 

So i suppose i can use the key to install on a PC that doesn't has acer bios, since my acer laptop isn't using it?

 

I'm now confused... Could you summarise what computers and keys you have now?

My impression was

spare computer - some version of windows
Retail copy of WinXP MCE
laptop - 3 OEM keys

 

no, my pc runs on win2k.
laptop has 3 OEM VLK keys, and another OEM key on the CoA.

So can i use the cdkey on the CoA to install winxp on my pc?

 

No, it will fail activatoin

 

I have an OEM copy of xp pro and it fails the activation after I install windows. Why?

 

matt27272, it fails the bios scan because the needed files are not available. Look a few posts back in the thread for your answer.

For more questions regarding this try a search first, only then pm me or ask around.

--ssx--

 

Looks like someone is a little bit Emo around here...