Udnuttin :
XP Black is no more than a well thought out skin. In the most basic sense this is true.
Windows XP was designed to allow network administrators (and others who like to tweak with their software and hardware) to customize and automate installation for multiple installs (usually with multicomputer license on a network). Windows XP professional (the one I own, I don’t know about XP Home), on the installation disk, has instructions and files to customize and automate your install. Additionally, there are dozens of free and share ware programs available to increase this functionality beyond the standard (or modified) installation. Microsucks own packaging development tools are an example to be found at:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3E90DC91-AC56-4665-949B-BEDA3080E0F6&displaylang=en
Windows XP Black is indeed a well thought out semi-unattended installation package. There is nothing illegal about this, in fact see this url for Microsucks own guided tour of how to create an install exactly like Windows XP Black:
http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/
With, of course, one exception: The CD-Key Code.
However, any mild tech and net (that’s internet, not .NET) savvy individual, could easily find the one file containing the instruction script for the XP install (WINNT.SIF) and edit the file (it is only a .txt file with a different extension) to include your own Windows XP CD-Key Code. Re-burn the DVD and voila you have a LEGITIMATE copy of windows XP with the “Black” skin and mods.
In theory (that is the “letter-of-the-law”) you cannot legally do this without violating copyright laws. However, Microsucks provides a walkthrough of exactly ho to do this, so they have provided their own work around for the copyright laws. It’s like copying your DVDs and CDs to back them up to protect your investment — theoretically it’s illegal, but software companies provide you the means (legally) to work around copy protections with their software and codecs.
OK, I'm not sure, but I think a lot of you posting on this thread either don't have much experience with not only slipstreaming, but automated application silent installs. XP Black Edition, as of this writing, version 10 is 8 GB and burns to a DVD DL disc. In fact it is a bit oversized, and I have yet to find a way to burn it even with overburning options. DL isn't too overburnable from what I've read on several forums, and even if so, it requires a burner that allows for overburning of this format.
I downloaded Black XP 10, and extracted it to disk, to trim some of the files out. After scanning, 10 virus were found in keygens for multiple products, as well as silent installers for other products. After removing all references to the infected software, I was able to fit the resulting ISO onto one DL disc. Black XP 10 uses WPI (Windows Post Install) to install applications. You pick the apps you want it to install, and it installs them silently, including the necessary keys. It's not just some "theme". In fact the themes used are based on Stardock's Window Blinds software, and a ton of themes are included, however Stardock's software was loaded with trojans, so I removed it, personally.
One of the things I did not like about the install was the excessive use of transformation packs to make it look like Vista. In fact there were a couple of WPI's, the first was to apply all the transformation packs, so it may be possible to bypass all the Vista crap by choosing not to install any of it, I'll have to give it another go later. If I want Vista, I'll install Vista. Keep it XP for crying out loud. In addition to many transformation packs, there are Vista icon packs, logon software and sidebar to make it look just like Vista. Waste of time and system resources if you ask me. I'll be modifying my build of Black XP to exclude all that crap. WPI is very easy to work with to remove menu items, just double click on WPI.hta to configure the menus and remove the excess and delete the application from the folder indicated under the menu configuration, mostly under the install folder.
All in all, it is a very nice, up to date, collection of software with automated installation. So the thing I like about it, is the ability to autorun the CD on an existing version of XP, and install all the software you need in one pass. For this reason alone, it is worth the download.
In addition to the spyware and virus found on the build, one of the infected files was found in the windows\system32 folder called HideCMD.exe. This, coupled with a user account that was created by default with administrative privileges, seems pretty dangerous to me. Deleted the user account, disabled the administrator account and renamed the account I was logging in under and set a password on it. I recommend anyone else do the same.
Please research before just posting what you speculate to be the case. As for not being bootable, I had similar issues after shaving down the distro, so nLite is your friend. Use it, love it, simple.