HowTo: Block Adobe Activation using the Hosts file (Updated Jan 2011)

I've re-posted an updated list of activation block addresses.

you can read all about it here:
http://blog.yaronmaor.net/2010/04/howto-block-adobe-activation-using.html

Enjoy!
YaronM

Fix: Windows 7 Activation Error saying the Product Key you entered can be used only in certain countries or regions

Problem:
When you try to activate you geniune license you receive an error saying:

"the product key you entered can be used only in certain countries or regions. Either activate windows where you bought it or buy a new product"

Cause:
This behaviour is related to licenses sold in developing markets such as southeast asia, south America and more. Microsoft's activation server is geographically oriented and cannot verify your location correctly.

Solution:
Click on the Start menu, and type the following command:
SLUI 4
In the wizard- choose your country and click Next. Now complete the Phone Activation procedure as instructed.

Fix: Windows XP Ask for Activation but is Already Activated

Fix it using the following article from Microsoft:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312295/en-us

Manually remove the script that interferes with Windows activation

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756  How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

Before you start

To complete these steps, you must have the following:

• The Windows XP CD. Or, access to a folder that contains the files from the i386 folder on the Windows XP CD.
• An account that has administrator rights and permissions.

Step 1: Start the computer in safe mode

1. Start the computer.
2. After the computer runs the Power On Self Test (POST), press F8 repeatedly to open the Windows Advanced Options menu.
3. On the Windows Advanced Options menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode, and then press ENTER.
4. Use the arrow keys to select the Windows operating system that you want to start, and then press ENTER.
5. When the computer is running in safe mode, log on by using an account that has administrator rights and permissions. Then, click Yes in the message that states that Windows is running in safe mode.

Step 2: Start Registry Editor

Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.

Step 3: Remove the RESETS registry subkey

1. In Registry Editor, expand My Computer, and then expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
2. Expand SOFTWARE, and then expand Microsoft.
3. Expand Windows NT, and then expand CurrentVersion.
4. Expand Winlogon, and then expand Notify.
5. Under Notify, right-click RESETS, and then click Delete.
6. Click Yes to confirm the removal of the RESETS subkey. 
   
   Note Do not exit Registry Editor. You must use Registry Editor in "Step 4: Modify the registry to deactivate Windows."

Step 4: Modify the registry to deactivate Windows

1. In Registry Editor, expand My Computer, and then expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
2. Expand SOFTWARE, and then expand Microsoft.
3. Expand Windows NT, and then expand CurrentVersion.
4. Under CurrentVersion, click WPAEvents.
5. In the right pane (topic area) of Registry Editor, right-click OOBETimer, and then clickModify.
6. Click to put the pointer in the Value data box. Then, modify any character that appears in the Value data box.
7. Click OK.
   
   Note This step deactivates Windows.
8. Exit Registry Editor.

Step 5: Rename the corrupted Windows activation file

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
   
   ren %windir%\system32\WPA.dbl wpa.old
   This command renames the WPA.dbl file to WPA.old.

Step 6: Determine the CD or DVD drive letter

1. Insert the Windows CD.
2. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
3. Note the CD drive letter or the DVD drive letter that appears under Drives with Removable Storage. You have to use this drive letter in the next step.

Step 7: Replace the corrupted Windows activation file

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
   
   expand drive :\i386\wpa.db_ %windir%\system32\wpa.dbl
   In this command, replace drive with the letter of the drive that contains the Windows CD.
   
   For example, if the Windows CD is located in drive D, the command appears as follows:
   
   expand d:\i386\wpa.db_ %windir%\system32\wpa.dbl
   This command extracts a copy of the Wpa.dbl file from the Windows CD. Then, it puts this file in the System32 folder of the Windows installation.
3. Examine the output that appears at the command prompt. If the command runs successfully, information that resembles the following appears:

Microsoft (R) File Expansion Utility Version 5.1.2600.0 Copyright 

(C) Microsoft Corp 1990-1999. All rights reserved. 

Expanding d:\i386\wpa.db_ to c:\windows\system32\wpa.dbl. d:\i386\wpa.db_: 

2222 bytes expanded to 2126 bytes, -5% increase.

1. Type exit, and then press ENTER to exit the command prompt.

Step 8: Remove the files that are associated with the script

1. Click Start, and then click Search.
2. Under What do you want to search for, click All files and folders.
3. In the All or part of the file name box, type the following, and then click Search:
   
   reset5.exe; reset5.dll; reset5.dat; reset5.dt*; srvany.exe
   This action performs a search for all the following files:
   
   • Reset5.exe
   • Reset5.dll
   • Reset5.dat
   • Reset5.dt*
   • Srvany.exe
   Note If you use a different search tool such as Windows Desktop Search, use this tool to search for each of these individual files.
4. In the results pane of the Search Results dialog box, right-click each file, and then click Delete.
5. Click Yes to confirm the removal of the file.
6. When you have finished removing these files, exit the Search Results dialog box.
7. Restart the computer and let Windows restart in normal mode.

Step 9: Reactivate Windows

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Activate Windows.
2. If the Windows Product Activation Wizard prompts you to activate Windows, follow the instructions in the wizard to activate Windows.
3. Restart the computer, and then repeat step 1 of "Step 9: Reactivate Windows" to start the Windows Product Activation Wizard again. You take this step to verify that the wizard does not prompt you to activate Windows again.
4. If the Windows Product Activation Wizard displays a "Windows is already activated" message, click OK to exit the wizard.

KB971033: How to Block Or Uninstall Windows 7 Activation Update

Microsoft has pushed their latest Windows 7 Activation Update checker which checks whether Windows 7 is activated legally through Microsoft or it has been cracked using several activation methods. Installing this update creates a process that checks for activation method of the Windows every now and then to see if the Windows is legal.

In some cases even legit licenses suffer from these genuine validation warnings.

Fortunately Microsoft has made it easy for the people who don’t want this update to uninstall it. If you haven’t downloaded and installed this update then you can disable it using the following method:

Block Windows 7 Activation Update KB971033 Installation

1. Go to Start Menu and write Windows Update in the Start Menu Search
2. Select Windows Update to go to Windows Update program
3. Select Optional Updates
4. Search for the update labeled “Update for Windows 7 (KB971033)”
5. Right click it and select Hide Update

This will disable this update from automatically installing into your system.

Uninstall Windows 7 Activation Update KB971033

If you have already installed this update. Follow these steps to uninstall this update the safer way.

1. Go to Control Panel –> Programs –> View installed Updates
2. Search for “Update for Windows 7 (KB971033)”
3. Right click it and select Uninstall.
4. It is now advised to block the updated as described above to prevent it from reinstalling itself.

Disable the Windows 7 Activation Update KB971033

If the update is already installed and you don't want to remove it completely, you can just prevent it from running using a "Software Restriction Policy". 

This procedure will work on Windows 7 Professional/Enterprise only, because Home versions don't include the Local Security Policy tool needed for the job.

Open Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Administrative Tools > Local Security policy
Right click on Software Restriction Policies and create new Policy
Go to Additional Rules and right-click for more options.
Create two New Hash Rules and on each rule browse and choose one of these files:

C:\Windows\System32\Wat\WatAdminSvc.exe
C:\Windows\System32\Wat\WatUX.exe

Apply, close & Restart Windows.
The update was installed but the operating system is now blocking it from ever running.

HowTo: Block Adobe Activation using the Hosts file (Updated Jan 2014)

Adobe applications includes an activation mechanism since version 8.0 (CS) and later.
You can prevent the application from calling-home by manipulating the system's Hosts file.

After we update the host file, when the application will try to contact the activation server it will be redirected to the loop-back address 127.0.0.1 and therefore will be blocked.

The Hosts file is a static name-resolution table that overrides the system's DNS server settings.
it can be edited using any text-editor such as Notepad. the file is located at:

%systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
Please note that the file has no extension.

To find the file manually:
1. Open "My Computer"
2. Open Drive C
3. Open Windows folder
4. Open System32 folder
5. Open Drivers folder
6. Open Etc folder
7. Double-click the hosts file and choose to open using Notepad when you're asked.
** if you get "access denied" errors when trying to save the file, try openning the file using "Run as Administrator". this issue happens usually when you're working on Win Vista/7 with UAC turned on.
*** on Win8 you can't just edit the file and save it on it's original location. instead, edit the file and save it on the Desktop. later replace the original file with the new one you saved on the desktop using the file explorer's Copy-Paste. You will probably be asked to confirm the action using Administrator account.

At the end of the file add the following list and save:


127.0.0.1 3dns.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 3dns-1.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 3dns-2.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 3dns-3.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 3dns-4.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 3dns-5.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 activate.wip1.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 activate.wip2.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 activate.wip3.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 activate.wip4.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 activate-sea.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 activate-sjc0.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 adobe-dns.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-1.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-2.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-3.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-4.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 adobeereg.com
127.0.0.1 ereg.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 ereg.wip.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 ereg.wip1.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 ereg.wip2.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 ereg.wip3.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 ereg.wip4.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 hl2rcv.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe
127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.ipp
127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.newoa
127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.ntp
127.0.0.1 wip.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wip1.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wip2.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wip3.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wip4.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip100.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip101.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip102.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip103.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip104.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip105.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip106.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip107.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip108.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip109.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip110.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip111.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip112.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip113.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip114.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip115.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip116.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip117.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip118.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip119.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip120.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip121.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip122.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip123.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip124.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip125.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip30.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip31.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip32.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip33.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip34.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip35.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip36.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip37.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip38.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip39.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip40.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip41.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip42.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip43.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip44.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip45.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip46.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip47.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip48.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip49.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip50.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip51.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip52.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip53.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip54.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip55.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip56.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip57.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip58.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip59.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip60.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip60.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip60.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip61.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip62.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip63.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip64.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip65.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip66.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip67.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip68.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip69.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip70.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip71.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip72.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip73.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip74.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip75.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip76.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip77.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip78.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip79.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip80.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip81.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip82.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip83.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip84.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip85.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip86.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip87.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip88.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip89.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip90.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip91.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip92.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip93.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip94.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip95.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip96.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip97.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip98.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip99.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 crl.versign.net
127.0.0.1 ood.opsource.net