hi everyone
i just wana ask that what r the things that a newbie cracker should learn before start cracking

The meaning of the different jumps: jne, je, jmp, ja, js, jg, jl, jle, jge

at least a rudimentary understanding of ASM and Windows API's

How to use the basic tools of the trade is also good knowledge (RTFM's)

I aint a daft bloke (take my word for it) and very recently i've developed an interest in "cracking" namely Paint Shop Pro's evaluation has run out and i still wanna play with it!....Ok i've cracked the ansa myself...simply change your date on your comp to co-inside with the evaluation download date....and hey presto IT WORKS!!
Am i a genius?.....well i thought i was until i looked at this site..

upon further investigation and having downloaded the free IDA thinngy (as advised) i set to work on paintshop 7 (just for a giggle) ida set off at a rate of knots (doing sommit) and eventually stopped.... i waited for something else to happen but nothing did. just then i realised that i hadn't got a clue how to use the programme...wot it did...and how it done it. With my never say die attitude i set off to learn...but this stuff aint easy to pick up.....I equate this to something like me explaining how to do the lead guitar bit in Queen's "bohemian rhapsody" to someone who has recently started strumming.

So wot have i learned? I've learned that i'm a beginner at cracks and i need help to find out wot i need to know to progress. I wont even bother asking for instructions regarding PSP7.......cos it seems like everybody takes offence at that!

anyway steam let off......any advice?

well, you have the right attitude, you dug around a bit, got stumped......then asked ;-)

the question is still somewhat vague though ;-)

Ideally, you would know ASM programming, how to use a debugger(SoftIce is by far the debugger of choice), a hexeditor (HexWorkshop is user friendly, HIEW is a lot better IMHO, but the user interface can be intimidating for a newbie who's used to Win32 apps), and a disassembler (IDA is the king, but again kinda intimidating for newbies....W32Dasm is quite user friendly)

These are the bare essentials for your toolkit, learn them well, RTFM's, ask questions on TOT MB if you get stuck.

There will doubtless be other tools you will use (or create), but these are almost mandatory.

Get an API reference and an Intel OpCode reference...study them too ;-)

Learn how to use the search engines, they will be your very good friends, or you biggest apin in the a$$ ;-) ....you can find any info or program you desire if you know where to look and how to ask.

I hope that is enough info to get you started (and I hope it was at least partially relevant LOL)

If you get stuck along your journey....feel free to ask questions....as long as you try yourself first :-D