How to Crack a Palm OS Application

Get the tools., Disassemble the program and extract all resources. , Run the program (on a Simulator or on a PDA) and cause it to show a nag screen, registration failure, expiration screen, etc., Note some text in the dialog and find it among the...

12 Steps 1 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Get the tools.

    You need a hex-editor (any will do), disassembler (pilotdis.exe), and resource extractor (prc2bin.exe).

    You also need Palm Simulator (Palm Emulator for older versions of PalmOS).
  2. Step 2: Disassemble the program and extract all resources.

    , Try to register the program with any serial, change date to a future date to make it expire, etc. , Note the resource ID. , Find where the dialog (form or alert) is activated. ,, Do the change manually using the hex-editor at the correct address in the original prc file. ,,
  3. Step 3: Run the program (on a Simulator or on a PDA) and cause it to show a nag screen

  4. Step 4: registration failure

  5. Step 5: expiration screen

  6. Step 6: Note some text in the dialog and find it among the resources (use some search utility).

  7. Step 7: Read the listing of the disassembler (in a *.prc.s file).

  8. Step 8: Find a branch before the dialog that determines good or bad outcome.

  9. Step 9: Change the branch to a non-conditional one (BRA) or remove it (replace with NOOP 4e71 code).

  10. Step 10: Test the modified application.

  11. Step 11: Once all nags are removed

  12. Step 12: create an XML patch and submit it to pilotwares.com (pilotwares no longer exists)

Detailed Guide

You need a hex-editor (any will do), disassembler (pilotdis.exe), and resource extractor (prc2bin.exe).

You also need Palm Simulator (Palm Emulator for older versions of PalmOS).

, Try to register the program with any serial, change date to a future date to make it expire, etc. , Note the resource ID. , Find where the dialog (form or alert) is activated. ,, Do the change manually using the hex-editor at the correct address in the original prc file. ,,

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Ann Robinson

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