Windows Forum
Have any of you ever heard of this?
http://newxpower.blogspot.com/
What do you think? Do you think that this is ligit? Is it even feasible? Besides the obvious legal implication, what are the fallout from this? Will you be trying it?
TCB
by w2ktechman
Slim, and none. Slim lives in Texas, and the 'nones' don't leave their convent.
First post in a brand new blog. No related Google results when searching for the terms nCipher or xpower.
"In a recent telephone interview..."
With no interviewer details like name, date, interviewer organization, etc.
If you're lucky it's just a reskinned Windows PE / Bart PE / UBCD. I'm betting it's a preconfigured zombie, and I wouldn't even run it in a virtual machine. Let us know how it worked, after you've formatted your drive and reloaded your OS.
by fregeus
It looks totally bogus to me. I wouldn't put it on my system at all. It almost looks like an elaborate attempt at phishing for identity and personal information thief purposes.
I was just wondering if any of you had heard of it.
by w2ktechman
"all of the bugs in XP were fixed"
yeah, I'll believe that remark.
I dont trust it right now. That is why I have no intention of downloading it. However, at this time of year, this pops out as people start shopping for Christmas (and looking to save some cash).... It does have the stink of ID theft all over it.
Even if it works (at least to load the Internet) it is probably calling home with your personal info (not yours as you didnt install it, just an example).
by argent350
There is a review of it:
http://forums.montrealracing.com/showthread.php?t=506124&page=2
by be_free
I've used this version and I like it. Normally when I load a regular copy of XP I need to spend considerable time to tweak it to where I want it, removing animations, ts Iurning off services I don't need, etc. I'm an IT tech, and for large clients I can do this using GPOs, but for smaller clients it needs to be done manually. This version has already removed most of the XP annoyances I strive to get rid of.
The license code is hard coded in the installation, so I don't have to worry about that. I've added it to domains, ghosted and SIDed it, and haven't found any problems with it. As far as license go, my clients already has XP or VISTA licenses, and I just use this version instead. I'm sure it's "illegal" from a M$ point of view, but if I'd stuck to M$ all recommendations and guide lines, I wouldn't have gotten anywhere in my M$ and IT career. I don't recommend it, but just wanted to share that for me it has served me well.
by neil higgins
of a Windowblinds skin,only "this one" is probably sent from a server in an asiatic republic,courtasy of "Boris and his mates".
It has to be a scam.I bet MS are talking to their lawyers as I write this.
by argent350
I installed it on my old machine. It is not a cracked version of Microsoft XP, it is completely modified.
Oh, by the way - the XPower blog is on the first page of google, result # 6, search if you look for Windows XPower : http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-40,GGLJ:en&q=windows+xpower
--------------------------------------
also check this post on another forum, you will find a description and screenshots:
http://forums.montrealracing.com/showthread.php?t=506124&page=2
by argent350
Sure, I agree with you.
My point was that I hate it when people JUDGE something without even trying it...
CRACKED is one Thing, remade is another.
by tig2
Anything that is so dependent on using the Windows logo to garner a second look is, if not completely illegal, certainly tainted.
I think that keeping to the ethics here is the correct answer. If this was a Linux distro, as much would be said. This claimant states that the OS is Windows XP based. I want to know where they got the source from. Then I want to see something from Microsoft, whose rights may have been violated here, stating that they support this.
I may not love Microsoft dearly but that doesn't mean that I have to start stealing from them.
by argent350
I partially agree with your comment.
However, as long as its distributed for free I, personally do not consider it "stealing".
by argent350
You sound like an expert! Thumbs up!
" I never installe dit, but it is pure BS, I just know it, because I know everything"
Please do your research before talking.
by w2ktechman
by argent350
by argent350
Negative? If you read well those are people's thoughts... not actual reviews. The ones who DID dowmload it had only good things to say.
#2 I agree with you about the "racing forum". People that like cars do not anything about computers or informatics... right? lol
"There is a review of it:"
But then you said,
"If you read well those are people's thoughts"
You can't point to a resource and then complain about it.
by nicknielsen
As one of the posters in the racing forum linked by argent350 asked, how did this guy speed it up? Has he discovered a new process scheduling algorithm?
I'm inclined to think it's a prebuilt environment with pretensions at identity theft.
by nicknielsen
All those left turns in NASCAR bore me and Formula 1 lost its appeal for me when it left Watkins Glen. Give me a good CART, SCCA or USAC race, though, and I'm there!
But not around here!
by computerd}}
Here is what is "Modified". Haven't tried to install it yet.
Boot and Shutdown - Auto-Kill hung applications immediately
Boot and Shutdown - Auto-Kill hung services immediately
Boot and Shutdown - Ctrl-Alt-Del at logon - Disabled
Boot and Shutdown - Logon Page - Classic
Boot and Shutdown - Setup Prefetch-Cache - Applaunch and Boot enabled
Boot and Shutdown - Show Administrator on the Welcome Screen
Boot and Shutdown - Status Messages - Extended
Desktop - My Computer icon - Show
Desktop - My Documents icon - Hide
Desktop - My Network Places icon - Hide
Desktop - Recycle Bin icon - Hide
Explorer - Add (un)register libraries in Context Menu
Explorer - Add 'Command Prompt' to folder context menu
Explorer - Advanced Search: preconfigure options
Explorer - Associate additional file types with Notepad
Explorer - Change Windows Explorer folder view - List
Explorer - Classic Control Panel
Explorer - Disable Autorun
Explorer - Disable Beep on errors
Explorer - Disable Prefix: Shortcut to
Explorer - Display the contents of system folders
Explorer - Recycle Bin: allow to rename and delete
Explorer - Recycle Bin: delete files directly
Explorer - Restore previous folder windows at logon
Explorer - Show extensions of known file types
Explorer - Show hidden files and folders
Explorer - Show protected operating system files
Explorer - Show Statusbar in all windows
Explorer - Show the full path in the Address Bar
Internet Explorer - Disable Internet Explorer link creation
Internet Explorer - Disable Market Place bookmark
Internet Explorer - Disable Password-Caching
Internet Explorer - Disable sound when popup is blocked
Internet Explorer - Enable Google URL-Search
Internet Explorer - Keep IE URL-History for - 10 Days
Internet Explorer - Set Homepage - about:blank
Internet Explorer - Set IE-Cache limit to - 8 MB
Internet Explorer - Set Internet Explorer to accept 10 connects at a time
My Computer - Add Control Panel
My Computer - Add Control Panel to Context Menu
My Computer - Add Device Manager to Context Menu
My Computer - Add Services to Context Menu
My Computer - Add Software to Context Menu
My Computer - Remove Shared Documents
Network - Allow Network Logins without passwords
Network - Allow receiving Remote Assistance - Disable
Network - Disable administrative shares
Network - Disable automatic search for network folders and printers
Network - Disable LAN-Manager from caching passwords
Network - Disable LM HOSTS lookup
Network - Disable restoring mapped network drives on logon
Network - Remote Desktop - Disable
Network - Remove remote computer NameSpace
Performance - Disable Info Tips on Files and Folders
Performance - Disable Last accessed Timestamp on files
Performance - Disable Optimize harddisk when idle
Performance - Disable paging of kernel and core-os
Performance - Disable Tracking of Broken Shortcut Links
Performance - Disable Warn on low disk space
Performance - Disable WBEM logging
Performance - Do not cache thumbnails
Performance - Enable USB Idle Endpoint support
Performance - Processor scheduling - Programs
Performance - Speed-up Access to AVI Media Files
Performance - Use Windows classic folders / No Tasks Sidepanel
Privacy - Disable Driver Update Internet prompt
Privacy - Remove Alexa
Security - Always show Updates under Software
Security - Disable Screensaver
Security - Re-Enable user:pass URLs
Security - Screensaver Password-Protection - Disabled
Start Menu - Control Panel - Display as a menu
Start Menu - Disable Highlight newly installed programs
Start Menu - Do not use Personalized Menus
Start Menu - My Computer - Display as a link
Start Menu - My Documents - Display as a link
Start Menu - My Music - Don't display this item
Start Menu - My Network Places - Don't display this item
Start Menu - My Pictures - Don't display this item
Start Menu - Network Connections - Link to Network Connections folder
Start Menu - Number of programs on Start Menu - 10
Start Menu - Printers and Faxes - Display as a link
Start Menu - Reduce popup delay
Start Menu - Remove Logoff User
Start Menu - Remove Search the Internet from Search
Start Menu - Remove Set Program Access and Defaults
Start Menu - Remove User name
Start Menu - Remove Windows Catalog shortcut
Start Menu - Use small icons in Start Panel
Taskbar - Disable Group similar Taskbar buttons
Taskbar - Disable Hide inactive icons
Taskbar - Lock the Taskbar - Yes
Visual Effects - Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing - Disable
Visual Effects - Combo box animation - Disable
Visual Effects - Cursor shadow - Enable
Visual Effects - Display mouse pointer trails - Disable
Visual Effects - Fade out selection - Disable
Visual Effects - Gradient captions in windows - Enable
Visual Effects - Keyboard shortcut underline - Disable
Visual Effects - Menu animation - Disable
Visual Effects - Menu shadows - Enable
Visual Effects - Menu style - Normal
Visual Effects - Show translucent selection rectangle - Enable
Visual Effects - Show window contents while dragging - Disable
Visual Effects - Slide taskbar buttons - Disable
Visual Effects - Smooth edges of screen fonts - Standard
Visual Effects - Smooth-scroll list boxes - Disable
Visual Effects - Tooltip animation - Disable
Visual Effects - Use a background image for each folder type - Disable
Visual Effects - Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop - Enable
I didn't read all of them, but a quick scan didn't reveal anything that can't already be done from standard Properties menues, Control Panel, or Tweak-UI.
Nothing to see here; move along.
if you haven't already. For some odd reason I seem to recall SCCA running there occasionally, although this could just be another of those times I've been grossly mistaken. I've driven by and seen sport bikes running around, but I was with my in-laws and they didn't want to stop.
I'll watch almost anything with an engine, but prefer some form of small oval where I can see everything. I can't watch drag racing; my attention span is too short. Also there's too much turn-around time between runs.
by nicknielsen
Porsche Club of America races this weekend.
[i]...prefer some form of small oval where I can see everything.[/i]
You couldn't possible mean I-20? :0 I've been down there a couple of times. It's actually not too bad. Since most of the races are less than 25 laps, I don't get too bored. But I do get dusty!
by argent350
by argent350
Only computerd was bored enough to download it. (computerd, thanks for scoping it out.) What he found doesn't motivate any of the rest of us to bother with it. Few of the tweaks he listed will result in any performance improvement.
Frankly, it's more entertaining yanking your chain. Why are you so interested in this? It's not much more than a skin, isn't really an improvement to the source code, and clearly illegal. Just because you don't think it's illegal doesn't mean it isn't.
by computerd}}
only got as far as the part where the program changed to the "gamers" screen then it blue screened. Saying there was a virus and couldn't continue. Tried it with NTFS and Fat32. As for the boot time, I did try to have my own XP machine boot faster by tweaking the registry and it did shutdown quicker.
HKCU,control panel,desktop, and changing the "hungapptimeout" to 0 and "WaitToKillAppTimeout" to 0.
HKCU,control panel,desktop, and changing the " MenuShowDelay" from 400 to 100 does speed up your Start Menu.
Just log off then log back on and you will see the difference.
by tig2
I own a legal copy and I drive a Mac. I can manage my own registry. Why would I bother with something that I don't think is ethical from the outset?
I don't care if there are stupid people out there. I don't need to increase the herd.
If you think that software piracy is okay, by all means, do what you think you must. But for me and my house, we obey the EULA.
by jdclyde
I know a guy who spends a lot of time finding the latest crack to get around the licensing for xp, and then you do an update and need to repatch to keep it going. Even if there were not the chance of getting caught, who would waste that much time? [i](looking strictly from a time/cost ratio, not ethical) [/i]
As soon as hunt'en season is done, I will FINALLY start loading up a linux gamer at home. Been getting some new toys to build my cisco lab at home to get ready to write some certs! B-) You ready to hit the woods Tig?
by hal 9000
That is theft no matter if you consider it that way or not.
Have a look at the other available downloads on the listed site what do you think all the available versions of Vista Are?
Col
by hal 9000
Who wants to tell rick?
That would be interesting wouldn't it. :D
Col
by tig2
If someone handed you a Rolex- gave it to you for free- would you not (likely) be in possession of stolen property? What if the original owner came and tapped you on the shoulder?
Software piracy is wrong, regardless of the pretty wrapper you put around it. Period. This is one place that it gets really black and white.
If I want an XP load, I go to the people that created it and purchase a legal copy. I obey the terms of the EULA. God Himself could investigate the contents of every pc in this house (six or so) and discover nothing but legal licensed software. I will never have to worry that I can be turned in or turned off (WGA). Nor will I ever have to worry that my actions contributed to the creation of WGA.
And I will be able to look myself in the mirror and sleep well at night as a result.
My guess is that Microsoft and their attorneys will be having a word with the people behind this. As well they should.
by argent350
Maybe you do make sense. However, exchanging files (Let it be MP3, Software, Video) is 100% legal in Canada. As long as one does not make a profit out of it, he (she) is free do distribute it. That is why I don't feel bad.
The computer that I actually work on is a MAC. I would NEVER give another single penny to Microsoft, why? Their software is not worth it.
I NEVER buy software before downloading it for free. If i like it and it suits all my needs - I pay for a licensed copy. If I do not like it, I delete it and move on looking for something better.
Not all software is worth the money.
by tig2
I'm also a Mac user. I love my Mac.
The exchange of files is still a question to be answered here in the US. But you're right- it is legal in Canada and therefore doesn't beg the ethical question.
I've done the "try before you buy" software myself. And I pay for the stuff I like. But I guess that to me, there is implied consent on the part of the developer when they make a trial version of something. And then there are the projects that simply choose to make a freeware version available.
And I completely agree with you- not all software is worth the money.
by tig2
And in this case, a violation of copyright.
And to get the source, he either stole it or cracked it. Those are the options.
Microsoft is not in the habit of opening its code base.
by tig2
Just didn't feel good enough to climb a tree in the cold. Or swim the swamp, for that matter. Mike went up the first two weekends but I don't think that he plans to go up again.
We only get three weekends and two weeks beginning the first Saturday in November. Small game will run to the end of the year so we may go up for grouse again.
How about you?
by jdclyde
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=244308&messageID=2360002
figured people could post what they are planning for the year.
When I was in the Army I was often required to get up before dawn, put on smelly clothes, walk a long distance from my vehicle toting a rifle and a bunch of other gear through the woods in the dark, try to get comfortable at my destination; and then remain as motionless and quiet as possible for several hours.
We called it "Guard Duty", but at least we were getting paid for it. :-)
by jdclyde
If I want to take a nap, I can.
If it is raining, I roll over and go back to sleep.
If I am too hung over from the night before, I can grab a beer and go back to bed! :p
I already have permission of "fire at will" [i](whoever Will is, but what has he doen to get shot at? :0 )[/i]
by argent350
by w2ktechman
"But you're right- it is legal in Canada and therefore doesn't beg the ethical question."
Just because its legal does not mean it is ethical.
If it is unethical here, i is unethical there as well.
However, I have been very disappointed by many paid for sw packages, so now I try before I buy. If I cannot try, I dont buy.
But, I only use trials given by the company that sells it. If they say download it from one place or another, then I go to those sites only for it.
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