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The_Interloper

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I read a couple of post regarding XP Black Edition an I've even heard talk here about it, but when I went to torrentspy, alot of users commented about it being bundled with malware. Is there a cleaner version somewhere that you guys can testify to, or should I just keep XP until Vista matures.
 

JerseyWarp

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With all the problems with Vista, it would be best that you wait till Vista matures and all the companies can catchup with drivers for it. :idea:
 

Derek1387

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i actually use XP black... i dual boot it, and i like it. It runs well, and i like the UI. Very nice. Lots of nice software included as well....

HAvent noticed any viruses, spyware, or anything of the sort.

But as always, you should buy your software... honostly, you will always get the support you need.
 

choknuti

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From the Ineternet I got the following :
Office 2007 Enterprise
Acrobat 8.0
Photoshop CS2
Diskeeper 2007
OO Defrag 8.5.178
WindowBlind 5.04 Enhanced plus many new themes
Open Office 2.10
TuneUp Utilities 2007 English
Norton partition Magic 8.05
Registry Mechanic 6.2
IS****** 10
Microsoft Java VM Build 3809
Sun Java 2 Version5.0.6 W/SP2
Azureus 2.5.00
IE 7 Final Activated
Firefox 2.01
THunderbird 1.5.0.9
Opera 9.02
WsFTP Pro
BS Player Pro 2.12.942
Klite Codec Pack 2.80
Shockwave/Flashplayers
Win DVD 8 Platinum
WM Player 11
Nod32 2.57
ZoneAlarm 6.5.737.2006 Pro
ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 7.0.279 Beta (ROCKS!!)
Blindwrite 6.0.1.19 By eXperience
Nero 7.590A Premium Full
Nero 7.59 Lite
Poweriso 3.5
UltrIso 8.6.0.1936
DivX Create Bundle 6.4
Fraunhofer IIs MP3 Codec
Quicktime Alternative
Adaware SE Pro
Acrobat Reader
DVD DEcryptor
DVD2One
FlashFXP
GetRight
Magic Isomaker
PeerGuardian 2
VmWare 5.53
WinRAR
Winzip 10
Windows Vista RTM sidebar plus extra gadgets

Basically it is a pirate distro of XP with a lot of additional stuff (also pirated.) While it may not contain known viruses or malware, there is always a risk of custom created malware turning your system into a bot.

If you want a certain guarantee buy your software legally
 

Cassabe

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I have also come to the conclusion that it is not an operating system itself but merely just a theme, also known as the Zune Theme. This theme is a black/orange version of Media Centre edition.

You're welcome.
Hope that helped.
 

choknuti

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I have also come to the conclusion that it is not an operating system itself but merely just a theme, also known as the Zune Theme. This theme is a black/orange version of Media Centre edition.

You're welcome.
Hope that helped.

But it's not just a theme. As my post stated it is a total package windows +apps. True there is a theme manager there but i don't think it automatically changes the look (means user has to install it manually)

Anyway this is just speculation since i haven't tried it but everything seems to point to that.
 

MattJD

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My neighbor mentioned this today. He's installed it as XP Pro 64 bit edition with all of the software mentioned. No malware, bots, etc. to mention and he loves it. I'm still a bit wary of using it, for a number of reasons, but he's working at a very high skill level.
 

riser

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This thread has been marked for moderation.

I have removed the links to the warez. I welcome the option discussion about warez but I will not tolerate links being posted or flaming against reasonable answers.

Also, please feel free to use the Exclamation Mark to bring topics like this to a moderator's attention.

Thanks everyone.
 

slipmet

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I am running black xp ver 6 ultimate and it runs sweet as. not had a problem with it, but I have vista in my labtop and it is the biggest pile of crap i have come across, wish I had never got a labtop with it on, it is a disaster waiting to happen
 

Udnuttin

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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.
 

funkyspaceman

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i downloaded xp black edition just out of curiosity, 'cos it does look pretty cool. i am fully aware of the trojans etc but i have faith in my virus checker.

i downloaded xp black as an iso, so i extracted the files onto my pc and burnt them onto a blank dvd. however, when i restarted my pc and changed the boot sequence to read from the dvd drive only, it doesn't pick the dvd up as being bootable, even tho i can see the autorun files on the dvd.
does anybody know how to create a bootable dvd from an iso file? any help would be much appreciated. ps i'm using poweriso and nero

cheers

funkyspaceman
 

meman887

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it won't boot if ya just extract the files from the ISO, the ISO image needs to be burnt direct to disc, just open the image file from within Nero.
Then it will pop up a dialog box, set whatever options you want set, but best to leave it as the current settings are except for the burn speed and also make sure you checkmark the box to confirm data verification.
 

omermaras

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I have tried both:
1-burned directly from nero express from the iso image option,without chaning anything (but with "confirm data verification" box unchecked)
2-then I mounted the iso file to daemon, copied them to a dvd on nero express, and burned by selecting the bootable cd (nero detected that it was not a cd, and turned to dvd, asking me to select something, some boot default file or so, but with one single option. I just "went the straight way" and burned)

result: in both dvds, I get some strange dos version caldera or so when booting, and though I have c and d, and the dvd drive is e, it just sees c, and thinks d is the dvd drive...

what could/should I do?? just open the dvd in windows, and install it from there??
 

cranbers

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making a bootable windows xp boot disc is a pain in the butt.

The best thing you can do though is pick up nlite. http://www.nliteos.com/

This will allow you to make additions to the iso, slipstream services packs drivers etc. but it will also handle the issue of getting an iso bootable.

There are other ways, like getting iso buster, getting an original xp install disc, grabbing the bootable information, then using nero etc etc. it is a real pain.

Just use nlite. Save yourself some trouble.
 

xaneth

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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.
 

rachana

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hello i been using black xp for 2 year now .# 1 it 20x faster then xp and vista .# 2 need to use the right tool to burn the image file not just copy them .# 3 all the tool like side bar and RL bar will not slow down the computer at all .#4 their is no trojans, viruses, etc.at all your viruses tool will only pick out the keygem this is not a trojans, viruses, etc..# if you want real info and help about this super op then go here www.deploymentcommunity.com. you will be glad you did .so s--t on m$ .alot of post here on bxp are all wrong ..thank ,a happy bxp using for 2 year now .black xp is at ver 14 not on 4.7 gig
 

sandmanwn

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What did you smoke before posting this? 20x faster??? Are you nuts? :pt1cable:

If anything at all its guaranteed to be slower just by all the extra crap it adds. :sarcastic:
 

mafadecay

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Anyway my XP install CD is not reading again so I downloaded one incase I need one in the future. It has a black install screen instead of the standard blue one when the CD boots and installs the RAID devices. Is thia XP black edition? The file size is similar to normal XP and SP2 on a CD so I can't see how there is loads of crap bundles with my copy.
 

motley462

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Just stumbled on your post. Yeah I'm familiar with XP Black. It's basically a trimmed down version of XP. I remember reading posts by it's author talking about the unneeded crap that he cut out of a regular XP Pro installation to create it. And yeah, those who use it all seem to claim it runs much faster than standard XP. Please don't tell me that I should run out and buy XP. I bought and paid for Windows XP way back when it first came out. I can no longer get a working installation off my disk though, and the only option Microsoft gave me was to repurchase another copy... not gonna happen. I'll make no comment about about the things the author bundled it back up with, but yeah everyone who I've heard from that uses it claims that it runs much much faster than standard. I'm thinking about trying it myself. Wanted to leave my condolences over the abusive replies you got such as the one claiming you must be smoking something. Hope such posters always remain in their ignorance, while they pat themselves on the back for how savvy they are.
 

motley462

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"After scanning, 10 virus were found in keygens"

Seems like every keygen I've ever scanned popped a virus flag, though did nothing harmful to my comp.
 

motley462

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Okay, I had to catch up on the whole subject. Forget Black XP, it's rather being left behind now. There's a better streamlined XP out. It's called Vision XP. Also, it doesn't come with a whole bunch of pirated ware. I'm not advocating pirating anything. I've paid Microsoft to use XP, and I'm gonna assume that others have as well.
 
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