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Hack your Windows Experience Index

Posted August 2007 by Steve Sinchak

The results of the Windows Experience Index are stored in an XML file that you can modify to spoof your score. Who wants to show off a 2.1 system? Let’s make that a 9.9 powerhouse.

  1. Navigate to C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore.
  2. Open up the most recent file in that folder. On Windows 8, edit the newest "Formal.Assessment" file. Make sure that your account has write access to that file. If not change the file permissions.
  3. Parse the file looking for the WinSPR entry. These are the items you want to edit.  The maximum value you can use is 9.9.

4. Save the file and you just turned your 2.1 system into a supercomputer.

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