What do you do next after installing a fresh copy of Windows XP SP2 from the installation CD supplied by Microsoft ?

Chances are that you’ll connect to the Windows Update website and wait for your computer to download and install the hundreds of security patches / updates released by the Windows team since the launch of XP SP2. Imagine if you have do repeat the exercise on your laptop.

One of the options we discussed sometime back was AutoPatcher XP – it contains all Windows XP hotfixes neatly packaged into an Microsoft style installer. Just run the program over your existing copy of XP SP2 and it will patch it with all the available Windows updates without connecting to the computer.

The only issue with AutoPatcher XP is that it takes two steps – you first have to install the XP SP2 on a computer and then run the AutoPatcher XP program to patch the Windows installation. How about combining them into a single step ?

Enter RyanVM MSFN pack – Unlike AutoPatcher XP which updates your Windows XP SP2 installation, RyanVM’s pack will integrate all patches and hotfixes into your installation CD itself [also called slipstreaming]

This post XP SP2 patch slipstream option is supported for English versions of Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional. Life would have been much smoother had Microsoft not delayed the release of Windows XP SP3 but until then, you can build the XP SP3 installer disk with RyanVM.

– Digital Inspiration

Great news from Microsoft, if you’re running the Windows XP operating system, your not left hanging anytime soon. Microsoft plans to support XP for 7 more years, they will continue to roll out with updates and fix bugs, you will be able to call them for support as well [however I don't know how much help they are ].

“Microsoft on Wednesday extended support for its Windows XP Home and Windows XP Media Center operating systems through 2014 to match policies already in place for the business-oriented Windows XP Professional.

The addition of a five-year “extended support” phase to Windows XP will take effect in May 2009. In Microsoft parlance, extended support is the period when all support is fee-based and non-security hotfixes are produced only for corporate customers. Until April of 2009, Windows XP Home and Media Center will remain in what is called “mainstream support,” which offers some no-charge support and free updates that don’t deal with security issues.”

Windows ME and 98 has discontinued support for about 1 year now and those of you who still runs those operating systems, you’re left hanging, upgrade to Windows XP now. I’m writing this just so people should not be pressured to use Windows Vista yet, Windows XP is still HOT!!

Want free T-Mobile wifi service? Well, you’ll either have to run Microsoft IE 7 with Windows Vista or you can access it with a Agent changer hack for Mozilla Firefox. As part of the T-Mobile, Microsoft partnership, they are allowing Vista users to get 3 free months to T-Mobile Wifi service which expires in April, 30th 2007. If you go and purchase this wifi plan alone, it will cost you $39.99 a month. This is a real deal right here!

Here’s how to use the service without Microsoft or Vista:

1. Download Mozilla Firefox here.
2. Download the Agent Switcher plugin.
3. Add the following values:
   1. Description: Internet Explorer 7 (Windows Vista)
   2. User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 6.0)
   3. App Name: Microsoft Internet Explorer
   4. App Version: 4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 6.0)
   5. Platform: Win32
4. Signup for T-Mobile wifi here!

After you register, you will be able to surf the net at all nationwide T-Mobile wifi locations!

**UPDATE**

Mozilla Firefox hack does not work, an ActiveX required to install on IE 7. Sorry.

Are you all ready for Windows Vista? Today is the eve if the long awaited launch date. January 30th! Too bad for me, Stony Brook does not give Vista out for free until the summer says my friend “Pepi” but, i’ll wait and see. This is because of the Educational Licensing program, a partnership between institutions and Microsoft, where they cannot get it until a certain amount of time passes. I’m sure if you wait a couple of more days, the cracked version of Vista would be all over the place. Besides, my laptop I’m using at Stony Brook is not Vista Compatible so I’m not really looking forward to it. I have the Vista Transformation Pack 6 installed so it looks just like Vista.

Bill Gates has a live webcast going on now!

Bill Gates Celebrates Worldwide General Availability of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office System

January 29, 2007
1:45 p.m. PST / 4:45 p.m. EST

From Times Square in New York City, join Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates for a live webcast celebrating the worldwide launch of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office System. The celebration pays tribute to the millions of Microsoft customers, partners and product testers around the world who provided input and feedback on these products — helping Microsoft transform the way people communicate, create and share content, and access information and entertainment in the new digital age.

Watch the webcast here!

For those of you out there who can’t install Vista for whatever reason, you can install the Vista Transformation Pack. It patches all your system shell files and makes your current XP installation look like Vista. You can find it here! Office 2007 is out today as well!

I’ve gotten used to using linux until I was forced to switch back to Windows because of the school campus network validation processes. What If I wanted to use (CLI) command line interface like I did in linux? I really can’t with the MS-DOS tool. MS-DOS is old and is really crippled in Windows XP, one reason is because XP is really Windows NT.

Well I wanted to find a solution so I can use linux CLI commands on Windows, browse directories, etc. Microsoft was already on it, formally called Monad, it’s now called PowerShell. It looks just like MS-DOS but has the advance features of linux or unix based CLI shells. Vista is suppose to have it!

Interested? You can grab PowerShell here and the quick start guide here!

Tell my how stupid this is. This guy which I’m not going to mention is trying to sell his Windows XP license keys online but he takes a picture of it fully exposing the key. Whats the point in selling that if he already showed it to the world for free? I really feel bad for the AGAIN, dumbass who are bidding on it. People already know you key. LOL! Then I go tell my friend Andrew that there is a free CD Key online, he goes and tries to copy it on a post it! DUMBASS! just right click and save the picture! LMAO!! Btw, are OEM license keys even transferable?!

Windows XP Home Edition:
XH7PY-H4TQK-KX469-7824D-9CJ9M
RYFJF-C72Q7-F6R2H-2MMJD-76YGW

Click here to enlarge and save the license key for yourself!

Another cool marketing and promotional tool from Microsoft, it’s the virtual test drive tool which allows you to run Windows Vista LIVE right on your browser. Essentially, this is how it works, when you login, Microsoft creates a demo account on their AMD Opteron server and allows you to remotely connect to it, unlocking all the features of Windows Vista on a fast processor and delivering it right to you via Microsoft Internet Explorer! Isn’t that concept sweet? I just ran a test drive of it and apparently you need a good graphic card to test out all of it’s features.

Want Vista without the wait? Test drive it today! IE 6+ Required

Look at this cute little thing, it’s a Home Server! It’s uses are for data storage so you can share you videos, pictures, music and more all across your wireless network. You can logon as 10 wireless users on this one! Microsoft says that this is the OEM version and that it would be sold to you via vendors like HP. It even comes with an IDE Disc Drive, it is not clear about what type of drive it is. Probably DVD if you asked me. Go Ian Herman [the dude probably has nothing to do with this!! LOL!] – My Microsoft Man!

Can wait to get this Q2 from HP. Isn’t it just a STUD? I mean look at the glowing lights.

Cool features such as DreamScene is only available on Windows Vista Ultimate! This program allows you to play 30fps video and use it as your background. It even works with HD video, however this program is only available for the higher end of Windows Vista which is the Ultimate Edition. Guess Microsoft is whipping out all the incentives to get their better version of Vista. Also as an extra for Ultimate, you can now play Texas Holdem.