Windows Product Key

Mayayana wrote:
"Paul" wrote

| Using the Kaspersky registry program (or any other
| offline reg editor you happen to know how to operate),
| you can use that to find the Windows NT DigitalProductID field.
| Starting at byte 52 decimal. Since there are 0x00's on either
| side of the 15 bytes, it stands out pretty good.
|
| You put that value into the getkey2.vbs and run it
| and it converts the 15 bytes back into a key you can use.
|
You do realize none of that is necessary?
The script alone finds the value in the Registry and
extracts the key. No one needs a Registry program.
It's just confusing the issue.

Weird stuff, though. I don't see why Microsoft feel
they need to hide the key. It's printed on the sticker
that's on all OEM computers. People need it to reinstall.
Yet Microsoft have gone from storing it in plain text
directly in the Registry to encoding it and storing it
with the Product ID, which is really just a SKU code.

The first .vbs extracts the key from your running OS.

I added a few lines to the second .vbs, so you could
open an offline registry (with Kaspersky), and then
transfer over that key information in the hex string
into the script. I didn't put I/O in the script, and
just provided a place where you could
modify the script and get the answer.

It was the quickest way to modify the script, so it
could be used to convert an offline 15 byte encoded key.

I don't know if there are any key retrieval programs
that scan all disks and partitions on a computer. Usually
the assumption is C: is running, and direct registry
access is all that is needed for the user. Nobody worries
about extraction of materials from "dead" computers.

Paul

On 7/14/2019 6:40 PM, Mayayana wrote:
"Cameo" wrote

|
| Oh, c'mon Paul! You think everybody on this news group is a programming
| geek?

It might not have been clear what was code there, but it's actually
very simple. Just paste the following into Notepad, save as a file
with extension .vbs, and run it:

'-- begin code --------------------------
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
registryLocation = "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId"

MsgBox ConvertHumanReadable(WshShell.RegRead(registryLoca tion))

Function ConvertHumanReadable(Key)
Const KeyOffset = 52
i = 28
Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"
Do
Current = 0
x = 14
Do
Current = Current * 256
Current = Key(x + KeyOffset) + Current
Key(x + KeyOffset) = (Current \ 24) And 255
Current = Current Mod 24
x = x -1
Loop While x = 0
i = i -1
KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Current + 1, 1) & KeyOutput
If (((29 - i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i -1) Then
i = i -1
KeyOutput = "-" & KeyOutput
End If
Loop While i = 0
ConvertHumanReadable = KeyOutput
End Function

Now you're talking, guys. Even a cave man could understand it after
this. However, in the meantime I found a program that extracted the
product key and after I tried to register it in the virtual Win7, it was
rejected with the following error msg:
---------------------
The product key you have entered will not work with this edition of
Windows 7.

You must either run Windows 7 Setup or enter a Windows 7 Home Premium
product key.
---------------------

My problem is that I only have the Home Premium Upgrade CDs, not the
original Home Premium. I also don't quite understand what is meant by
Windows 7 Setup. Would that be on a Windows 7 Bootable Repair Disc that
I made at one time? It's a 64-bit version though and the virtual Win7 is
32-bit.

On 7/15/2019 2:36 AM, John wrote:
On 13/07/2019 18:30, Cameo wrote:
My good old HP laptop that I had Windows 7 running on, has finally
kicked the dust. I also have a newer Lenovo IdeaPad laptop that runs
Windows 10. I needed the Win 7 installation to run my home automation
software (ActiveHome Pro) on because the vendor have not upgraded it
to run on Win10. I also have an old Umax Astra 2200 flat bad scanner,
that can only run on Windows XP, which I virtual machined in the Win7
Pro.

So I decided to install these Win XP and Win7 operating systems in
Win10 within the Oracle VM Virtual Box. Unfortunately that only works
for 30 days without valid Windows Product Keys from Microsoft. Also
unfortunately, over the years I tossed out the original XP CDs and I
only could find an updater CD set for my Win7 whose Product Key is not
acceptable by my virtual installation. So here I am now without valid
Product Keys even though they must be embedded somewhere in the hard
drive of my old Win7 which I removed from and can access as a USB
drive with an adapter.

Can anybody suggest an easy, and hopefully free way to extract those
product keys from the Win7 HD or Microsoft Support?



Hi, Cameo

Try this.......
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html


Thanks, but I got to it before I saw your post. That's a good one.

Cameo wrote:

Now you're talking, guys. Even a cave man could understand it after
this. However, in the meantime I found a program that extracted the
product key and after I tried to register it in the virtual Win7, it was
rejected with the following error msg:
---------------------
The product key you have entered will not work with this edition of
Windows 7.

You must either run Windows 7 Setup or enter a Windows 7 Home Premium
product key.
---------------------

My problem is that I only have the Home Premium Upgrade CDs, not the
original Home Premium. I also don't quite understand what is meant by
Windows 7 Setup. Would that be on a Windows 7 Bootable Repair Disc that
I made at one time? It's a 64-bit version though and the virtual Win7 is
32-bit.

Generate download URLS with Heidoc URL generator, then
download using a regular browser. Heidoc works best
with a Win7 or more modern OS, with a high version
of .NET. It needs this for some trickery it performs
at TechBench with Internet Explorer.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techno...-download-tool

Once you have a file downloaded, if the DVD doesn't have the
version you want, you can cause the DVD to "expose" all the
versions inside. The file to be removed is "ei.cfg".

*******

Find the "install.wim" or "install.esd" inside the "sources"
folder of the Win7 ISO.

Use 7ZIP to open the WIM file, and there should be an XML file.
The listing inside the XML (text) file tells you which SKUs
of Windows 7 are actually on the disc.

I will take my (nominal) Pro DVD as an example.

It has four folders showing in the WIM. The XML
file tells me these are HomeBasic, HomePremium, Professional, Ultimate.
The DVD contains only x64 OSes.

This picture shows how to use 7ZIP with the Windows.iso
you download, to figure out how many versions of Windows
are on the DVD, then expose them.

https://i.postimg.cc/XNDmXJxS/remove-ei-cfg.gif

(The MSDN version of Windows 7 disc already has ei.cfg
removed and all versions on the DVD are available for install.)

You will need something to remaster an ISO. As you need
to write out a fresh ISO file, once ei.cfg is deleted.

But this is *only* necessary, if for some reason the
Heidoc DVD happens not to open to the correct version.
If you download the right one using Heidoc URL generator,
then you'll likely just be able to use it as is. Using
7ZIP and friends, is if you're a fanatic.

Paul

On 7/15/2019 5:27 PM, Cameo wrote:
On 7/15/2019 2:36 AM, John wrote:
On 13/07/2019 18:30, Cameo wrote:
My good old HP laptop that I had Windows 7 running on, has finally
kicked the dust. I also have a newer Lenovo IdeaPad laptop that runs
Windows 10. I needed the Win 7 installation to run my home automation
software (ActiveHome Pro) on because the vendor have not upgraded it
to run on Win10. I also have an old Umax Astra 2200 flat bad scanner,
that can only run on Windows XP, which I virtual machined in the Win7
Pro.

So I decided to install these Win XP and Win7 operating systems in
Win10 within the Oracle VM Virtual Box. Unfortunately that only works
for 30 days without valid Windows Product Keys from Microsoft. Also
unfortunately, over the years I tossed out the original XP CDs and I
only could find an updater CD set for my Win7 whose Product Key is
not acceptable by my virtual installation. So here I am now without
valid Product Keys even though they must be embedded somewhere in the
hard drive of my old Win7 which I removed from and can access as a
USB drive with an adapter.

Can anybody suggest an easy, and hopefully free way to extract those
product keys from the Win7 HD or Microsoft Support?



Hi, Cameo

Try this.......
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html


Thanks, but I got to it before I saw your post. That's a good one.

If you can find a scrapped 7pro business machine, use the key from that
along with the proper download from the heidoc site Paul told you about.
Businesses usually use volume licensing and the code on the sticker has
never been used never been used.

On 7/15/2019 4:00 PM, Paul wrote:
Cameo wrote:

Now you're talking, guys. Even a cave man could understand it after
this. However, in the meantime I found a program that extracted the
product key and after I tried to register it in the virtual Win7, it
was rejected with the following error msg:
---------------------
The product key you have entered will not work with this edition of
Windows 7.

You must either run Windows 7 Setup or enter a Windows 7 Home Premium
product key.
---------------------

My problem is that I only have the Home Premium Upgrade CDs, not the
original Home Premium. I also don't quite understand what is meant by
Windows 7 Setup. Would that be on a Windows 7 Bootable Repair Disc
that I made at one time? It's a 64-bit version though and the virtual
Win7 is 32-bit.

Generate download URLS with Heidoc URL generator, then
download using a regular browser. Heidoc works best
with a Win7 or more modern OS, with a high version
of .NET. It needs this for some trickery it performs
at TechBench with Internet Explorer.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techno...-download-tool


Once you have a file downloaded, if the DVD doesn't have the
version you want, you can cause the DVD to "expose" all the
versions inside. The file to be removed is "ei.cfg".

*******

Find the "install.wim" or "install.esd" inside the "sources"
folder of the Win7 ISO.

Use 7ZIP to open the WIM file, and there should be an XML file.
The listing inside the XML (text) file tells you which SKUs
of Windows 7 are actually on the disc.

I will take my (nominal) Pro DVD as an example.

It has four folders showing in the WIM. The XML
file tells me these are HomeBasic, HomePremium, Professional, Ultimate.
The DVD contains only x64 OSes.

This picture shows how to use 7ZIP with the Windows.iso
you download, to figure out how many versions of Windows
are on the DVD, then expose them.

https://i.postimg.cc/XNDmXJxS/remove-ei-cfg.gif

(The MSDN version of Windows 7 disc already has ei.cfg
removed and all versions on the DVD are available for install.)

You will need something to remaster an ISO. As you need
to write out a fresh ISO file, once ei.cfg is deleted.

But this is *only* necessary, if for some reason the
Heidoc DVD happens not to open to the correct version.
If you download the right one using Heidoc URL generator,
then you'll likely just be able to use it as is. Using
7ZIP and friends, is if you're a fanatic.

** Paul

There you go with that geeky stuff again, Paul. Since I never heard of
Heidoc before, this whole thing sounds Greek to me as well. But thanks
for trying.

On 7/16/2019 11:40 AM, NotMe wrote:
On 7/15/2019 5:27 PM, Cameo wrote:
On 7/15/2019 2:36 AM, John wrote:
On 13/07/2019 18:30, Cameo wrote:
My good old HP laptop that I had Windows 7 running on, has finally
kicked the dust. I also have a newer Lenovo IdeaPad laptop that runs
Windows 10. I needed the Win 7 installation to run my home
automation software (ActiveHome Pro) on because the vendor have not
upgraded it to run on Win10. I also have an old Umax Astra 2200 flat
bad scanner, that can only run on Windows XP, which I virtual
machined in the Win7 Pro.

So I decided to install these Win XP and Win7 operating systems in
Win10 within the Oracle VM Virtual Box. Unfortunately that only
works for 30 days without valid Windows Product Keys from Microsoft.
Also unfortunately, over the years I tossed out the original XP CDs
and I only could find an updater CD set for my Win7 whose Product
Key is not acceptable by my virtual installation. So here I am now
without valid Product Keys even though they must be embedded
somewhere in the hard drive of my old Win7 which I removed from and
can access as a USB drive with an adapter.

Can anybody suggest an easy, and hopefully free way to extract those
product keys from the Win7 HD or Microsoft Support?



Hi, Cameo

Try this.......
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html


Thanks, but I got to it before I saw your post. That's a good one.

If you can find a scrapped 7pro business machine, use the key from that
along with the proper download from the heidoc site Paul told you about.
Businesses usually use volume licensing and the code on the sticker has
never been used never been used.

This whole thing is becoming so convoluted that I wonder if a simple
phone call MS Support to restore my Win 7 (and WinXP) product keys would
have a better chance to solve this. I've already spent way too much time
on it. Now just need to find that magic MS Support number.

On 7/15/2019 6:00 PM, Paul wrote:
Cameo wrote:

Now you're talking, guys. Even a cave man could understand it after
this. However, in the meantime I found a program that extracted the
product key and after I tried to register it in the virtual Win7, it
was rejected with the following error msg:
---------------------
The product key you have entered will not work with this edition of
Windows 7.

You must either run Windows 7 Setup or enter a Windows 7 Home Premium
product key.
---------------------

My problem is that I only have the Home Premium Upgrade CDs, not the
original Home Premium. I also don't quite understand what is meant by
Windows 7 Setup. Would that be on a Windows 7 Bootable Repair Disc
that I made at one time? It's a 64-bit version though and the virtual
Win7 is 32-bit.

Generate download URLS with Heidoc URL generator, then
download using a regular browser. Heidoc works best
with a Win7 or more modern OS, with a high version
of .NET. It needs this for some trickery it performs
at TechBench with Internet Explorer.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techno...-download-tool


Once you have a file downloaded, if the DVD doesn't have the
version you want, you can cause the DVD to "expose" all the
versions inside. The file to be removed is "ei.cfg".

*******

Find the "install.wim" or "install.esd" inside the "sources"
folder of the Win7 ISO.

Use 7ZIP to open the WIM file, and there should be an XML file.
The listing inside the XML (text) file tells you which SKUs
of Windows 7 are actually on the disc.

I will take my (nominal) Pro DVD as an example.

It has four folders showing in the WIM. The XML
file tells me these are HomeBasic, HomePremium, Professional, Ultimate.
The DVD contains only x64 OSes.

This picture shows how to use 7ZIP with the Windows.iso
you download, to figure out how many versions of Windows
are on the DVD, then expose them.

https://i.postimg.cc/XNDmXJxS/remove-ei-cfg.gif

(The MSDN version of Windows 7 disc already has ei.cfg
removed and all versions on the DVD are available for install.)

You will need something to remaster an ISO. As you need
to write out a fresh ISO file, once ei.cfg is deleted.

But this is *only* necessary, if for some reason the
Heidoc DVD happens not to open to the correct version.
If you download the right one using Heidoc URL generator,
then you'll likely just be able to use it as is. Using
7ZIP and friends, is if you're a fanatic.

** Paul

i used the utlility below (I only copied the readme.text)to expose all
versions without without needing to create a new iso. I always thought
it was only Ultimate that had all the versions?

Cameo wrote:
On 7/15/2019 4:00 PM, Paul wrote:
Cameo wrote:

Now you're talking, guys. Even a cave man could understand it after
this. However, in the meantime I found a program that extracted the
product key and after I tried to register it in the virtual Win7, it
was rejected with the following error msg:
---------------------
The product key you have entered will not work with this edition of
Windows 7.

You must either run Windows 7 Setup or enter a Windows 7 Home Premium
product key.
---------------------

My problem is that I only have the Home Premium Upgrade CDs, not the
original Home Premium. I also don't quite understand what is meant by
Windows 7 Setup. Would that be on a Windows 7 Bootable Repair Disc
that I made at one time? It's a 64-bit version though and the virtual
Win7 is 32-bit.

Generate download URLS with Heidoc URL generator, then
download using a regular browser. Heidoc works best
with a Win7 or more modern OS, with a high version
of .NET. It needs this for some trickery it performs
at TechBench with Internet Explorer.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techno...-download-tool


Once you have a file downloaded, if the DVD doesn't have the
version you want, you can cause the DVD to "expose" all the
versions inside. The file to be removed is "ei.cfg".

*******

Find the "install.wim" or "install.esd" inside the "sources"
folder of the Win7 ISO.

Use 7ZIP to open the WIM file, and there should be an XML file.
The listing inside the XML (text) file tells you which SKUs
of Windows 7 are actually on the disc.

I will take my (nominal) Pro DVD as an example.

It has four folders showing in the WIM. The XML
file tells me these are HomeBasic, HomePremium, Professional, Ultimate.
The DVD contains only x64 OSes.

This picture shows how to use 7ZIP with the Windows.iso
you download, to figure out how many versions of Windows
are on the DVD, then expose them.

https://i.postimg.cc/XNDmXJxS/remove-ei-cfg.gif

(The MSDN version of Windows 7 disc already has ei.cfg
removed and all versions on the DVD are available for install.)

You will need something to remaster an ISO. As you need
to write out a fresh ISO file, once ei.cfg is deleted.

But this is *only* necessary, if for some reason the
Heidoc DVD happens not to open to the correct version.
If you download the right one using Heidoc URL generator,
then you'll likely just be able to use it as is. Using
7ZIP and friends, is if you're a fanatic.

Paul

There you go with that geeky stuff again, Paul. Since I never heard of
Heidoc before, this whole thing sounds Greek to me as well. But thanks
for trying.


Heidoc is easy to use, and even if you ignore all help
with it, it's still going to get you a DVD. The
part you provide, is selecting the right version
of DVD. Heidoc is not a mind reader, and can't do that
part for you.

Don't waste the Win7 download opportunities when using
that tool. The developer has to work hard to make the
Win7 download method work... It used to be slam-dunk easy
to abuse TechBench at one time, but not any more.

I mentioned the geeky stuff, because of the way
the Win7 DVD works. The DVD may harbor multiple
versions, but if the DVD will not present a menu,
you can't access them. The "ei.cfg" breadcrumb is
meant to help you identify an "ei.cfg removal tool",
for doing that sort of conversion of the ISO. The
other poster helpfully points out that a utility
is available to do the work for you. You could
apply it to the Heidoc ISO when you get it.

I think I've removed the ei.cfg from one DVD
by hand, rather than use a utility to do it.

Paul

On Sat, 13 Jul 2019 19:24:07 -0700, Cameo
wrote:

On 13/7/2019 4:24 PM, Lucifer wrote:
On Sat, 13 Jul 2019 11:39:40 -0700, Cameo
wrote:

On 13/7/2019 11:05 AM, Paul in Houston TX wrote:
Cameo wrote:
My good old HP laptop that I had Windows 7 running on, has finally
kicked the dust. I also have a newer Lenovo IdeaPad laptop that runs
Windows 10. I needed the Win 7 installation to run my home automation
software (ActiveHome Pro) on because the vendor have not upgraded it to
run on Win10. I also have an old Umax Astra 2200 flat bad scanner, that
can only run on Windows XP, which I virtual machined in the Win7 Pro.

So I decided to install these Win XP and Win7 operating systems in Win10
within the Oracle VM Virtual Box. Unfortunately that only works for 30
days without valid Windows Product Keys from Microsoft. Also
unfortunately, over the years I tossed out the original XP CDs and I
only could find an updater CD set for my Win7 whose Product Key is not
acceptable by my virtual installation. So here I am now without valid
Product Keys even though they must be embedded somewhere in the hard
drive of my old Win7 which I removed from and can access as a USB drive
with an adapter.

Can anybody suggest an easy, and hopefully free way to extract those
product keys from the Win7 HD or Microsoft Support?

Have you tried a Key Finder?
https://www.digitaltrends.com/comput...t-key-finders/


Thanks, but I haven't tried any of them because they seem to imply that
they do the find in the HD of a functioning Windows system. I need a key
finder that will find the product key in a removed Windows 7 HD that is
attached to my Win10 as a USB drive.

Boot your working PC from your Windows 7 HD then use the key finder.


That would not work because the two laptops need different hardware drivers.

It may work well enough to run the key finder.

Cameo wrote:
On 7/13/2019 4:24 PM, Lucifer wrote:
On Sat, 13 Jul 2019 11:39:40 -0700, Cameo
wrote:

On 13/7/2019 11:05 AM, Paul in Houston TX wrote:
Cameo wrote:
My good old HP laptop that I had Windows 7 running on, has finally
kicked the dust. I also have a newer Lenovo IdeaPad laptop that runs
Windows 10. I needed the Win 7 installation to run my home automation
software (ActiveHome Pro) on because the vendor have not upgraded
it to
run on Win10. I also have an old Umax Astra 2200 flat bad scanner,
that
can only run on Windows XP, which I virtual machined in the Win7 Pro.

So I decided to install these Win XP and Win7 operating systems in
Win10
within the Oracle VM Virtual Box. Unfortunately that only works for 30
days without valid Windows Product Keys from Microsoft. Also
unfortunately, over the years I tossed out the original XP CDs and I
only could find an updater CD set for my Win7 whose Product Key is not
acceptable by my virtual installation. So here I am now without valid
Product Keys even though they must be embedded somewhere in the hard
drive of my old Win7 which I removed from and can access as a USB
drive
with an adapter.

Can anybody suggest an easy, and hopefully free way to extract those
product keys from the Win7 HD or Microsoft Support?

Have you tried a Key Finder?
https://www.digitaltrends.com/comput...t-key-finders/


Thanks, but I haven't tried any of them because they seem to imply that
they do the find in the HD of a functioning Windows system. I need a key
finder that will find the product key in a removed Windows 7 HD that is
attached to my Win10 as a USB drive.

Boot your working PC from your Windows 7 HD then use the key finder.


That would not work because the two laptops need different hardware
drivers.


Nirsoft has an OfflineRegistryView. This will show the
hex string, without needing the Kaspersky rescue CD.

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/offlin...stry_view.html

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/offlineregistryview.zip

What you do, is connect the hard drive from the dead copy
of Windows and locate the "SOFTWARE" file in config. That's
where HKLM\Software is stored.

I copied the 140MB SOFTWARE file to my scratch drive and
put a copy of OfflineRegistryView.exe there as well. Using
that program, plus the "getkey2.vbs", I can get the
license key.

https://i.postimg.cc/0QmP3YWx/nirsoft-to-the-rescue.gif

Paul

On 7/16/2019 3:49 PM, NotMe wrote:
On 7/15/2019 6:00 PM, Paul wrote:
Cameo wrote:

Now you're talking, guys. Even a cave man could understand it after
this. However, in the meantime I found a program that extracted the
product key and after I tried to register it in the virtual Win7, it
was rejected with the following error msg:
---------------------
The product key you have entered will not work with this edition of
Windows 7.

You must either run Windows 7 Setup or enter a Windows 7 Home Premium
product key.
---------------------

My problem is that I only have the Home Premium Upgrade CDs, not the
original Home Premium. I also don't quite understand what is meant by
Windows 7 Setup. Would that be on a Windows 7 Bootable Repair Disc
that I made at one time? It's a 64-bit version though and the virtual
Win7 is 32-bit.

Generate download URLS with Heidoc URL generator, then
download using a regular browser. Heidoc works best
with a Win7 or more modern OS, with a high version
of .NET. It needs this for some trickery it performs
at TechBench with Internet Explorer.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techno...-download-tool


Once you have a file downloaded, if the DVD doesn't have the
version you want, you can cause the DVD to "expose" all the
versions inside. The file to be removed is "ei.cfg".

*******

Find the "install.wim" or "install.esd" inside the "sources"
folder of the Win7 ISO.

Use 7ZIP to open the WIM file, and there should be an XML file.
The listing inside the XML (text) file tells you which SKUs
of Windows 7 are actually on the disc.

I will take my (nominal) Pro DVD as an example.

It has four folders showing in the WIM. The XML
file tells me these are HomeBasic, HomePremium, Professional, Ultimate.
The DVD contains only x64 OSes.

This picture shows how to use 7ZIP with the Windows.iso
you download, to figure out how many versions of Windows
are on the DVD, then expose them.

https://i.postimg.cc/XNDmXJxS/remove-ei-cfg.gif

(The MSDN version of Windows 7 disc already has ei.cfg
removed and all versions on the DVD are available for install.)

You will need something to remaster an ISO. As you need
to write out a fresh ISO file, once ei.cfg is deleted.

But this is *only* necessary, if for some reason the
Heidoc DVD happens not to open to the correct version.
If you download the right one using Heidoc URL generator,
then you'll likely just be able to use it as is. Using
7ZIP and friends, is if you're a fanatic.

*** Paul

i used the utlility below (I only copied the readme.text)to expose all
versions without without needing to create a new iso. I always thought
it was only Ultimate that had all the versions?




Forgot the readme text.

ei.cfg Removal Utility
Version 1.2.1
http://code.kliu.org/misc/winisoutils/

When used on an original Windows 7/8 ISO image, this utility will
disable the
ei.cfg file, thus converting a disc image into a "universal" disc image.

When used on a Windows 7/8 ISO image that has already been patched by this
utility, this utility will undo the ei.cfg removal and restore the disc
image
to its original state.


Troubleshooting
===============

The inability to open the disc image with write access is, by far, the most
common error. Make sure that the disc image is not read-only, that you have
write privileges for the disc image, and that the disc image is not open
in or
currently in use by another application.


Technical Details
=================

This works by toggling the deletion bit in the UDF file table, which
instructs
the operating system to ignore the file and to treat it as if it does
not exist.
By not physically removing the file, this eliminates the need to rebuild the
ISO, and makes this sort of fast, unintrustive patching possible. This also
makes it possible to reverse the patch and to restore the image to its
original
state, if so desired.


Changelog
=========

2012/08/06 - 1.2.1
The search for ei.cfg is now case-insensitive.

2011/01/25 - 1.2
Made the error messages more helpful.

2009/08/10 - 1.1
Changed the patching methodology to use the UDF deletion bit instead of
renaming the file.

2009/08/10 - 1.0
Initial version.


Version Compatibility Note
==========================

ei.cfg Removal Utility versions 1.1 and later use a slightly different
patching
method than version 1.0, and as a result, the newer versions cannot
reverse the
patches performed by version 1.0, and vice-versa; to reverse a patch
that was
performed by version 1.0, you must use version 1.0.

Since version 1.0 existed for only 8 hours before being replaced by
version 1.1,
this should not be a problem for most users.