XDA Developers on MSN

We finally know how Windows XP’s infamous FCKGW product key ended up everywhere

The mid-2000s were a wild time for software piracy.
Hosted on MSN

Windows XP’s most famous pirated key wasn’t a hack. It was a leak

About a year ago, in a social media post, long-time Microsoft veteran Dave Plummer (who worked on Windows Task Manager) recounted the story of what’s now known as the most iconic Windows product key.
Club386

Windows XP’s famous ‘FCKGW’ pirate key story revealed, as former Microsoft programmer spills the beans

Microsoft's former Windows Product Activation author says the famous pirate key may have been leaked by someone at Dell or ...
Ars Technica

Retrieving a Windows XP product key from a non-bootable PC

I have this Windows XP Home computer that won't boot(displays a blue screen instead of a login) after installing SP2. I'm going to reinstall Windows, but I need to ...
BetaNews

Microsoft Closes Activation Loophole

Microsoft is closing a loophole that enabled unscrupulous resellers to use Windows XP product keys that were stolen from large OEMs. The result: customers who purchase Windows on a new PC may not be ...
TechSpot

FCKGW: How an internal Microsoft leak fueled Windows XP piracy

In context: Piracy has been a part of Windows history from the very beginning. Microsoft began taking the issue seriously with Windows XP, and Dave Plummer has now revealed that the first unauthorized ...
Ars Technica

Windows XP installerwon't accept its product key

I did a search and didn't find any results concerning this problem. I've just built a new system and my Windows 7 disc won't boot, so I'm installing Windows XP so I can then install Windows 7 on top ...